Garden Dirt
MEMBER OF NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INCORPORATED
Vol. 57, No. 3
June, July, August 2014
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 7
June 8
June 14
June 14-15
June 15
June 21
June 21-22
July 4
July 11-12
July 11-13
July 11-13
July 14
July 19
July 19-20
July 26
July 26
August 27-28
October 9-11
Iris Society Show – Bachman’s
Edina Garden Council Garden Tour
Japanese Garden Festival – Normandale Comm. College
Peony Society Show – Bachman’s
Father’s Day
First Day of SUMMER
Minnesota Rose Society Show – Har Mar Mall
Independence Day
Robbinsdale Diggers Flower Show
North American Lily Society Show - Bloomington
Minnesota Hosta Society Cut Leaf Show
St. Cloud Flower & Garden Club Flower & Rose Show
MSHS 12th District Flower & Garden Show – Bemidji
Tri-City Flower Show – Southtown Shopping Center
FGCM Garden Tour – Summer Quarterly Meeting
Daylily Off Scape Show
FGCM Minnesota State Fair Standard Flower Show
NGC Central Region Meeting - Chaska
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5-6-7
Page 8-9
Page 10-11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14-15
Page 16-17
Page 18-19
Page 20-21
Page 22
Page 23
Mission Statement, Change of Address, Add a Member
Officers, Contacts, Advertising
President’s Message
Plant Sales, Flower Shows, Garden Tours, Events
FGCM Annual Meeting recap
Horticulture
Scholarship Corner
Gardening Safely
Art in Bloom
Autumn Splendor Flower Show Schedule
Renaissance Festival
Butterfly Observations
Floral Design
FGCM Summer Meeting
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The Federated Garden Clubs Of Minnesota, Inc. provides education,
fosters communication and supports our membership in their endeavors to promote love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
The Federated Garden Clubs Of Minnesota, Inc. will be recognized as
an expert resource in horticulture and floral design. Through relevant
and effective communication and active cooperation of our membership and the cultivation of partnerships with other organizations and
agencies, we will increase our involvement in civic and environmental
efforts.
FGCM Newsletter Change of Address,
Name or Add a New Member
In order to ensure continued receipt of the FGCM Newsletter please send
your Name, Mailing address, Email address Changes or Add a New Member promptly.
If your newsletter is returned and we do not receive your correct mailing
information before the next issue is mailed, your name will be dropped
from the mailing list until the correction is received.
If you would like to receive your newsletter via email or would rather
view the newsletter on the FGCM website contact Barb Halverson, 11017
Ewing Av S, Bloomington, MN 55431.
Home Phone: 952.884.4922 or email her at
bhalverson2000@gmail.com
Pertinent information would be:
• *New Name/New Member’s Name
• *New Address &Phone Number/New Member’s Address & Phone number
• *New Email Address/New Member’s Email Address
• *Club Name must be included with the pertinent information.
Please help us keep you up-to-date with any
new and exciting events.
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Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota, Inc.
President, Rene’ Lynch, 112109 Haering Circle, Chaska, MN 55318-1378
Home Phone: (952) 361-6393
Email: renelynch@aol.com
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
President, Linda Nelson, 543 Lakefair Place N.
Keizer, OR 97303-3590
Home Phone: (503) 393-4439
Email: LindaNelson4439@msn.com
National Garden Clubs Central Region
Gerry Ford, Director
Email: gkford1022@aol.com
Home Phone: (847) 234-7074
WEBMASTER:
Carolyn Beach 4046 Zenith Ave N, Minneapolis MN 55422-1595
Home Phone: (763) 208-2077
Email: cbeach3598@aol.com
CHANGE OF NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL:
Barb Halverson, 11017 Ewing Av S, Bloomington, MN 55431
952.884.4922
Email: bhalverson2000@gmail.com
NEWSLETTER
Pat Almsted, 2908 Sunnyside Circle, Burnsville, MN 55306-6951
Home Phone: (952) 892-3457 Email: palmsted@gmail.com
SEND NEWSLETTER MATERIAL TO:
Pat Almsted, 2908 Sunnyside Circle, Burnsville, MN 55306-6951
Home Phone: (952) 892-3457 Email: palmsted@gmail.com
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The distribution for the Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota newsletter is approximately
600 per issue. There are four issues per year. We encourage our members to support and use
the services of our advertisers. You may email your ‘print ready’ advertisement to
fgcm.newsletter@gmail.com or mail your copy with a check to Barbara Halverson, 11017
Ewing Ave. So., Bloomington, MN 55431
Make checks payable to: Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota.
Mail checks to: Barbara Halverson, 11017 Ewing Ave. So., Bloomington, MN 55431
3
President’s Message
By Rene’ Lynch
“Cherish the Past and Cultivate the Future”
Get that adrenaline flowing; time is of the essence!
Once again we have arrived at the “so much to do and so little time to do it in” phase.
We prepare and plan and are ready to go…and Mother Nature just isn’t cooperating.
What shall we do?
Frustration can easily overshadow the process. Calmly continue to haul those plants in
and out of your garage and wait for the soil temperature to reach somewhere near
acceptable as we continue to anticipate suitable planting weather. Eventually it will
arrive. We will soon get to experience the hope, joy and satisfaction of growing something… and remember it is wonderful!
This is much like Garden Club. You’ve been planning and preparing your many activities
for the upcoming year. Frustration may enter into accomplishing your plans. Stay calm
and urge each member to contribute in whatever way they can, and your group can
have hope, joy and satisfaction of accomplishing your goals. If you have a description
and pictures of your event, please share them with the newsletter and website. This
inspires other clubs.
FGCM is here to help you and your club to reach your goals. You can contact any of
your Executive Board Members directly. We may have just the answer you need to
help move your project forward.
FGCM will be looking toward the future too. Part of that process is to appoint a Nominating Committee for our state officers for 2015-2016. If you would like to be on this
committee, please let us know. If you have someone in your club who has leadership
skills, accounting skills, great ideas, computer skills, etc., let us know who they are.
Their contribution is needed to continue building a better FGCM.
Don’t forget to enter your horticulture and design in one or more of several flowers
shows that are being planned. If you have never entered before, think of it as an opportunity for you and the public to learn.
Remember to be kind to one another and hope, joy, and achievement will follow.
René
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” Plato
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PLANT SALES –
June 1
June 7
June 7
August 23
Times listed if avail. Contact org. for more info.
Master Gardeners of Washington County – Plant Sale
Washington County Fairgrounds, corner Manning Trail & Hwy 5, Lake Elmo
Plants for butterflies, rain gardens, natives, shade/sun, vegetables/herbs,
trees/shrubs from gardens of Master Gardeners. Diagnostic Clinics.
Robbinsdale Diggers – Annual Plant Sale
4915 42nd Ave. N., Robbinsdale (grounds of Robbin Art Gallery)
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Contact: Jo Ann Hall – 763-588-3534
Minnesota Hosta Society – Plant Sale
Dunn Bros., 8107 Eden Prairie Rd, Eden Prairie. 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Carver-Scott County Master Gardeners – Plant Sale
Chaska Commons, Rainbow Foods parking lot, 200 Pioneer Trail, Chaska
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
and FLOWER SHOWS –
June 7
June 14-15
June 21-22
July 11-12
July 11-13
July 11-13
July 14
July 19
July 19-20
July 26
August 16-17
August 27-28
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Iris Society Show – Bachman’s on Lyndale
Peony Society Show “Peony Fantasy” – Bachman’s on Lyndale
Minnesota Rose Society Rose Show
Har Mar Mall, 2100 N. Snelling Ave., Roseville; 12:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Robbinsdale Diggers Flower Show
Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Ave. N., Robbinsdale
Entries 7/11, 8:00 – 10:30 a.m. Public viewing 7/11 from 11 to 4:30 and
7/12 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. (robbinsdalediggers.com for show schedule)
North American Lily Society 2014 Show and Convention “All Star Lilies”
Hilton Mpls/St. Paul Airport Hotel, 3800 American Blvd. E., Bloomington
Show is open to the public; floral designers are encouraged to participate.
7/11: 1:30–10:00 pm; 7/12: 9:00 am–10:00 pm.; 7/13: 9:00–12:00 noon.
Minnesota Hosta Society Cut Leaf Show – Bachman’s on Lyndale
St. Cloud Flower and Garden Club and Granite City Rose Society – Flower
and Rose Show – Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr., St. Cloud
7:30 – 9:45 a.m. (set up) followed by judging and public viewing. All exhibits must be picked up by 5:45 p.m. Contact: dkeiser@charter.net with
questions and a copy of the show schedule.
MSHS 12th District – Annual Flower and Garden Show
Northwest Minnesota Foundation Bldg, 201 Third St. NW, Bemidji
Open to the public 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. (Entries – 8:30 to 10:30; Judging –
10:30 to 12:30) Contact: wildrice@paulbunyan.net
Tri-City Flower Show – Southtown Shopping Center, Bloomington
Presented by Edina Garden Council, Richfield Garden Council, and Bloomington Affiliated Garden Clubs. Open and Free to the Public.
July 19 – 2:00 to 5:30; July 20 – noon to 4:00
Daylily Off Scape Show – Bachman’s on Lyndale
Men’s and Women’s Garden Club of Minneapolis – MN Arboretum
Flower, Food and Foto Show – Sat. 12:30 – 4:30; Sun. 10:30 – 4:30 p.m.
FGCM Minnesota State Fair Standard Flower Show – Fairgrounds, St. Paul
Registration due via mail or email NO LATER THAN 4:30 Mon. August 11.
Entry registrations not received by the deadline will not be eligible for show
so be sure to enter even if you’re not certain how your specimen will look
at fair time. For schedule and more information, go to:
http://www.mnstatefair.org/competition/ag_hort_bee.html If problems/
questions, call Phyllis Andrews (651-455-5077) or State Fair (651-288-4417).
and GARDEN TOURS –
June 8
June 21
June 29
July 12
July 12-13
July 12
July 12
July 17
July 19
July 21
July 23
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Edina Garden Council Garden Tour (1:00 to 5:00)
Great Gardens of Southwest Edina, Sponsored by the Edina Garden Council
(EGC). Proceeds Support Projects in Edina’s Parks. $12 Tickets Available in
Advance at Edina Senior Center or $15 on the Day of the Tour after 12:00
Noon at 7013 Comanche Ct, Edina On-Line Ticket Sales will be available beginning May 1st – (URL tba). Plant Sale to be Held at 7013 Comanche Ct.
Four private gardens plus Arneson Park.
Como Park/Falcon Heights Garden Tour (10:00 – 2:00)
(see www.district10comopark.org for details)
Mahtomedi Garden Club Garden Tour (12:00 – 4:00 pm.)
Self-guided tour of gardens in and around Mahtomedi. Proceeds support
community beautification projects around the city.
$10 advance; $15 day of tour
(see www.mahtomedigardenclub.org for details)
Richfield Beautiful Garden Tour (1:00 – 5:00)
The Richfield Federated Garden Club and the City of Richfield will sponsor
the Richfield Beautiful Garden Tour on July 12, 2014 from 1-5 pm. The selfguided tour will be held rain or shine and maps may be purchased from
Richfield Community Buildings and Liquor Stores for $5 beginning June 15,
2014. For information call Susan Rosenberg – 612-866-2683
Northfield Garden Club Garden Tour (10:00 – 4:00)
Tour six gardens in the Northfield area. Artists and garden club members at
every garden. Tickets $10, available at Knecht’s Nursery and Eco Gardens
by July 1. (www.thenorthfieldgardenclub.org)
Maplewood Nature Center – Butterfly Garden Tour (10:00 – 12:00)
2659 E. Seventh St., Maplewood – (register by July 10 at
www.maplewoodnaturecenter.com). Tour the nature center butterfly and
rain gardens; learn how to attract butterflies & hummingbirds to your yard.
FamilyMeans – St. Croix Garden Tour (9:00 – 3:00)
Self-guided tour of Stillwater area gardens – supports FamlyMeans,
A Stillwater based social service agency. $15 (children under 13 free).
www.familymeans.org
Rochester Garden and Flower Club – Annual Garden Tour
(3:30 – 9:00 p.m.) Rochester Community and Technical College SMART
Gardens at Heintz Center west side, 1926 Collegeview Dr. SE., Rochester $10 (students, children free). For ‘Take the Trolley to the Tour’ info, go to
www.rochestermntours.com
Scott County Master Gardeners – Garden Tour (10:00 – 4:00)
Tour showcases seven gardens including the teaching gardens at the Scott
County Fairgrounds where docents share information on building and maintaining flower and vegetable gardens. $12 in advance (sold at Sailor’s
Greenhouse, Marshall’s Gardens, Pearson’s Greenhouse, Holasek Greenhouse, Carver County Extension office, Scott County Extension office and
online at www.carverscottmastergardeners.org; or $15 day of the tour
St. Cloud Flower and Garden Club – Garden Tour (10:00 – 4:00)
Self-guided tour of gardens in the St. Cloud and surrounding area. Meet at
the east parking lot of Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr., St. Cloud
to pick up map.
Olmsted County Extension Master Gardeners Garden Tour (4:00 – 8:30)
Tour six private gardens, including a roof top garden, vertical planting of
vegetables, rose garden, prairie planting, ponds, etc. Tickets ($5) can be
purchased at the west parking lot of the Heintz Center, Rochester commu-
July 26
nity and Technical College, 1926 College View Rd SE, Rochester, beginning
at 4 p.m. the day of the tour, or Sargent’s, 1811 Second St. SW, starting July
9. Tickets are also available for purchase the day of the tour at each of the
gardens. For a list and description of the gardens, go to
www.co.olmsted.mn.us/extension – click on Master Gardener Program
and then click on Events.
FGCM Garden Tour
Free and open to the public. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at 12070 48th Ave. N.,
Plymouth, MN (see on page 23)
EVENTS –
June 14
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Japanese Garden Festival – 6:00 p.m.
Normandale Community College, 9700 France Ave. S., Bloomington
Events to include performances and demonstrations, Martial Arts, boutique
shopping and more. Come in your best Japanese dress and have photos
taken by Sajous Photography. $6 in advance; $8 at the door. Meal $14. All
proceeds benefit the Normandale Japanese Garden. For more info contact
tjhara@q.com
FGCM ANNUAL MEETING – recap
APRIL 12, 2014
By Pat Downing, 3rd Vice President
Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota met at the Lowell Inn in Stillwater,
MN for its annual meeting on April
12, 2014. It began with registration
and a delicious breakfast buffet in a
beautiful room at the Inn. After a
brief introduction, welcome, and
acknowledgement of former state
presidents and life members, we
listened to our first very interesting
speaker, Ardith Beveridge, on leaf
manipulation for designs.
Ardith Beveridge is Director of Education, Koelher & Dramm’s Institute
of Floristry, Mpls., MN and she has
designed for the Tournament of
Roses Parade, presidential and MN
governor inaugurations. Books she
has authored: “Faux Floral in Glass”,
“Fabulous Faux Florals”, and a ”Design Styles and Forms” guide. Ardith
has also appeared on national cable
and HGTV regarding floral topics.
Some of the incredible leaf manipulation creations she did for us are pictured
at www.mngardenclubs.com under “members only”. She demonstrated weaving and plating leaves such as Sago Palm, Auzzi Typha, Steel Graph, Umbrella
Fern and Flexi Grass which are from New Zealand.
A brief break and then into our business meeting where concerns were
highlighted. With the concern being
the budget, Renaissance garland
making was the number one challenge. Kathy Compo stressed that
there is a high need for dried floral
garlands. Also regarding budget,
postage and materials needed for the
newsletter are costly and will have to
be addressed due to declining membership. Pat Anderson has one more
opening for a day to make arrangements at the VA for the Flower for Vets
Project. Roberta Turgeon stressed a need for garden clubs to send in money
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for the scholarship program. The summer quarterly meeting is scheduled for
Saturday, July 26th, from 9:00-12:00 and will be a tour of four gardens in the
Plymouth area. It will be open to the public so invite your friends and relatives. The State Fair Flower show schedule is out and can be found on our
website under ”flower shows”. Chairman is Rene Lynch, and Vi Hague is handling the entries.
After the awarding of scholarships
by Roberta Turgeon to Laura
Hayes, Lila Westreich, and Ericka
VanKrevelen , we broke for lunch,
shopped the vendors, then sat
down to another interesting
speaker, Joan James, on vertical
gardening.
Joan James has been backyard farming
for most of her life. She specializes in
growing heirloom tomatoes and enjoys
sharing her knowledge of succession of
growth and density planting. Joan
explained in detail how to prune tomatoes, but mostly on gardening in small
spaces where vertical gardening really
pays off. Her examples of gardening
and her website are on our website
under “members only”.
We adjourned having learned a little more about design and gardening and
looking forward to the warm summer months ahead.
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HORTICULTURE –
By Barb Halverson
Our Butterfly Garden
Last year I decided to plant an area in the garden for the butterflies. The year before
our garden club had visited a local garden dedicated to the monarch butterflies. It was
beautiful and during the summer, was full of the wonderful Monarchs.
I did some additional research and bought the flowers. As I was preparing the garden,
I noticed my two young neighbors, Michael, 12, and Sophia, 8, observing from across
the street. I went over and asked if they would like to help me plant a butterfly
garden. After asking their dad if it was ok, they eagerly started digging the holes for
planting.
I found out that many flowers are attractive to butterflies. The first flowers to be
selected were asclepias currassavica, a colorful form of milkweed grown as an annual
in the northern climates.
Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Deep Red’ and
‘Silky Gold’
Milkweed pods from asclepias.
(Photos: Google Images)
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I found additional compatible plants from other areas of my yard. I transplanted them
to the south-facing area behind the garage, where they flourished.
Yarrow Achillea millefolium var. rubra
Liatris spicata 'Kobold'
Monarda ‘Violet Queen’
And, finally, I bought several varieties of bright and colorful zinnia which are also
attractive to the butterflies.
Zinnia ‘Benary’s Giant’
We got a few butterflies – not a lot -- but the ones we saw seemed to like our garden!!
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THE SCHOLARSHIP CORNER
By Roberta Turgeon
Three students received our 2014 scholarships. At the Federated
April meeting two University students were present for the awards
presentation. Our Technical College recipient was unable to attend.
Laura Hayes, a junior at the University of Minnesota, is majoring in Horticultural Science and
Human Nutrition. Her occupational objectives are to be a part of the University faculty for
research and community outreach, sharing the connection humans make with plants. She will
graduate in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Horticultural and Bachelor of Science in Human
Nutrition. Laura has already conducted research on
growing organic day-neutral strawberries in Minnesota climate. She has been working for Gertens in
their greenhouse and plant nursery
the last two years. She said “The Federated scholarship will allow me to continue my education in
Horticultural Science and assist me in paying for
items necessary to be a student. These funds will
be immensely helpful and will allow me to focus
more on my studies.”
Rene’ Lynch, Laura Hayes, Lila Westreich, Roberta Turgeon
Lila Westreich, also a junior at the University, is majoring in Plant Science within occupational
objective as a Plant Breeder and Geneticist. She will graduate in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Her hometown is Rochester. She began her college career in England studying
urban parks in London but missed her family. She enrolled in Brandeis University studying old
growth forests and volunteering at local organic farms. She was able to research and analyze
tree species. When she returned to Minnesota, Lila was involved with Camp Kesem, a studentrun camp for children of parents with cancer. She said, “My goal was to inspire a love of nature
and science through fun activities and encourage campers to become involved in the
world around them.” Lila will continue her education in graduate school and said “I hope that
through this research I can make a difference in the world and follow in the footsteps of my
hero and role-model, Dr. Norman Borlaug.”
Erika Van Krevelen is a senior at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park. Her major is
Landscape/Horticulture with an occupational objective as a horticulturist. She will receive her
Associate in Applied Science in Landscape and Horticulture degree this year. She has always
loved working with plants as a hobby and now as a way of life. She wrote in her application
letter “”I appreciate the variety that horticulture affords me. In the same day I can learn how
to propagate a plant and also the science behind what makes it possible.” She enjoys getting
her hands dirty in her vegetable and perennial gardens. She has continually been on the President’s list with her 4.o grade point average. Another quote from her letter she writes “I fully
dedicated myself to doing the best work I can and feel this is reflected in my academic performance. It is this dedication that I plan to take into the working world.
We are proud of our recipients and wish them well in all their future endeavors.
Our Scholarships are viable only through those who have contributed so generously. With
appreciation to the following Federated Garden Clubs for their donations for the 2014 Scholarships:
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Floralia Arrangers of Minnesota
Bloomington Affiliated Garden Clubs
Back acres Garden Club
Perennial Garden Club Trillium Chapter
Richfield Garden Club Council Inc.
Normandale Garden Club
Hidden Valley Garden Club
Woodhill Garden Club
Sweet Sioux Garden Club
Ramblewood Garden Club
Kelodale Garden Club
Lake Owasso Garden Club
Winahbar Garden Club
Edina Garden Council
Late Bloomers Garden Club
Many thanks to these faithful contributors who have always been willing to keep our Scholarship Fund alive and growing with their generous donations.
Respectfully submitted by Roberta Turgeon, Scholarship Chair
GARDENING SAFELY –
putting safety first:
By Pat Almsted
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
We’ve covered this before, but it doesn’t hurt to remind everyone when
it comes to safety. We will soon (if not already) be out in the garden
where sunburn, strains, muscle pulls, tripping and falling are a possibility if we are not careful.
Before you begin, take a few moments to stretch your body. Dress for success – wear shoes that
fully enclose your feet and have good traction. No matter how hot it gets, never mow the lawn
barefoot. Safety glasses and earplugs are also recommended.
Inspect your lawn before you mow. Walk the lawn and remove any debris, such as rocks, sticks
and other objects that could cause serious injury if hit by the mower’s blade. Be aware of immovable objects such as sprinkler heads and partially buried rocks or tree roots. Fill your mower’s fuel tank outdoors, not in the garage, and do it before you start, when the engine is turned
off and cool. Never fill the tank while the engine is still hot. Keep children and pets in sight and
away from the mower. Do not allow them to operate the machine, and never carry children as a
passenger on a riding mower. When mowing an incline, mow across the incline. Mow dry – wet
grass is slippery. Turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire before making any repairs or adjustments, such as changing the blade or cleaning under the deck. Turn off the mower
and wait for the blades to stop before crossing gravel paths, removing the grass catcher or unclogging the discharge chute. Keep your hands and feet away from the mower’s blades (duh!).
When using power tools, read the manual (before, not after you begin).
Stay hydrated!
Remember to pace yourself. It is easy to get caught up in your task, trying to finish “just one
more thing,” but you also need to take time to enjoy your garden. Sit and rest a spell; listen to
the sounds of your garden, drink in the fragrance of the flowers, feel the breeze on your face.
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ART IN BLOOM –
by
Pat Almsted
Several FGCM members participated in this year’s Art in Bloom at the Minneapolis Institute of
Arts. Below are a few of their designs.
Kat Hanson chose ‘Salome with the Head of
Saint John the Baptist’ as her art work; while
hard to see from the photo, she shows Salome
gently wrapping his head with a veil. Kat is a
9-year participant in Art in Bloom.
Photo: Google Images
Photo: Kat Hanson
Denese Erickson’s design for ‘The
Comtesse d’Egmont Pignatelli in Spanish
Costume’ included a small bouquet delightfully depicting the little dog with
outstretched paw at the feet of the
Comtesse. Denise is also a 9-year participant in Art in Bloom.
Photo: Google Images
Photo: Pat Almsted
Bev Munson’s design incorporated red Celosia, blue Agapanthus, white mum and baby’s breath in the vase created
by her son, Stuart to depict ‘Fall, from “The Four Seasons”
series’. Bev has participated in Art in Bloom 9 years.
Photo by Niles Munson
Phyllis Andrews, a 31-year veteran of Art in
Bloom, had two designs in the show; in this
team design by Phyllis and her granddaughter,
Erin Malody, they used fantail willow, mums,
statice and foliage to suggest the sweep of the
river as it moves past Minneapolis. The container holds it all together as the rail yards tie
Minnesota to the nation. The art work is ‘Mill
Pond at Minneapolis’.
Photo by Kathryn Malody
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Letti Delk’s friend chose her piece (Art-glass Panel for a Bay
Window) for her, knowing her interest in architecture. The
yellow orchid spray portrays the biplane wing; the white
mums, the puffy clouds; and the equisetum, the window
square. This is Letti’s 6th year participating in Art in Bloom.
Photo by Kathryn Malody
Jill Risse chose ‘The Union of England and Scotland (Charles I
as the Prince of Wales) as her subject; the flowers were
chosen to complement the round shapes and the color in the
painting. Jill is a first year participant in Art in Bloom.
Photo by Niles Munson
Ellen Stinger, another first time participant in Art in
Bloom, has an interest in Native American art work
and selected ‘Friendship Blanket’ as her subject.
Photo by Niles Munson
I am always interested to see how the designers interpret their chosen art piece; some are quite
literal, while others are more abstract. We are given a chance to vote for the design that we feel
best depicts the art work, in both interpretation and use of materials. We also get to pick our
own personal favorite design. They are all so well done; it is difficult to choose just one.
“A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or
to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them.”
Liberty Hyde Bailey
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This is the design section only; for full schedule see:
www.mngardenclubs.org
DIVISION I DESIGN “FALL TOGETHER”
Award of Design Excellence
SECTION A “CRAZY RHYTHM”
Award of Distinction
Class 1. Dancing in the wind - mobile not to exceed 8” in height, width,
and depth. Dried plant material and other components. Exhibitor
to supply mechanics to hang mobile from S hook, 3 feet above table of 28
inches tall.
2. Barn Dance – A design of dried plant material and other components.
May not exceed 8” in height, width and depth.
3. Autumn Leaves Dance – A design of dried plant material and other
components. May not exceed 5” in height, width and depth.
SECTION B “SIGNS OF FALL”
Tricolor Award
Fresh plant material only
Class 4. Shadow Play - May not exceed 8” in height, width and depth.
5. Harvest Moon - May not exceed 8” in height, width and depth.
6. Northern Lights - May not exceed 5” in height, width and depth.
SECTION C “AUTUMN GLORY”
Designers Choice Award
Fresh and /or Dried plant material and other components
Class 7. Late Bloomers - May not exceed 8” in height, width and depth.
8. Hay Ride - May not exceed 8” in height, width and depth.
9. Frosty Mornings - May not exceed 5” in height, width and depth.
SECTION D “CRISP AND COOL”
Table Artistry Award
Designer’s choice of plant material and other components. Allotted space 12”
Class 10. Trick or Treat – exhibition table - May not exceed 8” in height,
width and depth.
11. Autumn Alfresco – picnic in a niche – Exhibitor to supply
niche. Niche may not exceed 8” in height, width and depth.
12. Game Day - exhibition table - May not exceed 5” in height, width
and depth.
“However many years she lived, Mary always felt that ‘she should never forget that
first morning when her garden began to grow’.” Frances Hodgson Burnett, “TheSecret
Garden”
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RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 2014
By Kathy Gamble Compo
Is It Spring Yet?
If you look to the far left, you will see our booth, wrapped in a tarp for the winter. The front gate is dead center.
It’s May and I still don’t know if we’ve seen the last of that four letter word S***. It’s been really
hard to turn on the ambition, but time’s a-wasting—we have to get ready for the fall!
I’ll keep this very short and sweet: PLEASE MAKE GARLANDS! PLEASE SIGN UP TO WORK THE
BOOTH!
Remember that you earn $2.00 for every garland that you make. We ran out of floral garlands
last year with three weeks left in the Festival, so we really need more garlands, especially the
dried flower garlands.
If you do decide to make garlands, please, please, please read the directions or ask for help in
making them. Ann and I will be happy to come to your club to have a “how-to” workshop. Here
are some reminders:
FLORAL: Stretch the floral tape. Use the same color floral tape for the bundles, the
wire, and the wrap. Make wrapped bundles of flowers to apply to the wire—do not
take bunches of flowers and wrap them directly to the wire (they do not survive the
Festival and are very difficult to repair). Although you turn in the garlands straight (not
in a circle), make sure there are no gaps when the wire is formed into a garland. Keep
like colors together (a person who likes blue will not like yellow added in). Think of
color themes: jewel tones (amethyst, sapphire, emerald, ruby), pastels (light pinks and
blues), autumn (orange, yellow, brown, olive). We need about 90% jewel tones and
pastels and only 10% autumn colors.
RIBBON: Measure twice and cut once! The lengths are 45” for the satin ties, 48” for
the streamers, and 6” for the strips. We received strips that were anywhere from 4-8”
long. If the strips are longer than 6”, you will run out of materials. If they are shorter, it
will be harder to tie them on the rope. Each garland should contain from 54-59 strips
(one garland contained over 70 strips; another had only 31)! Remember, we do want
the Fairy garlands to look alike—the only difference between them should be in color.
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Here are contact numbers for you:
Kathy Compo (763-535-1817)
Ann Albrecht (651-699-8832)
Darcy Smith (612-866-8055)
(for volunteering at the booth, general questions)
(ribbons and cord for fairy garland; some floral material)
(for dried flowers, wires, floral tape, etc.)
The Festival opens Saturday, Aug. 16th and runs weekends through Sunday, Sept. 28th. Please let
me know if you or your club would be interested in signing up to work a day. Call me for details
and available dates. As always, if you can help in any way or are interested in having Ann and I
attend one of your club meetings, please contact me at kathycompo@yahoo.com, my home
phone 763-535-1817 or my cell phone at 612-308-8211.
Thanks—Kathy Gamble Compo
Garland Workshop – Sweet Sioux Garden Club, Burnsville – January, 2014
This annual event is in lieu of our January meeting; we get together as a group to get a head start
on garlands. Members come when they can and stay as long as they have time; it is a fun time as
we catch up on what has happened since we last met. When we have finished for the day, we
have approximately 20 or so garlands ready for the Renaissance Festival.
“We gardeners are healthy, joyous, natural creatures. We are practical, patient, optimistic. We
declare our optimism every year, every season, with every act of planting.” Carol Deppe, “The
Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-reliance in Uncertain Times”
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Butterfly Observation -Southeast Minn.
by Catherine Williams
Courtesy of Joel Dunnette, Northfield Prairie Partners Wild Ones
Butterfly Observation
 Butterflies are fair-weather friends; look for them mostly during warm, sunny ‘t-shirt
weather’.

Besides feeding on flower nectar, adult butterflies can be seen puddling, sipping on tree sap
or animal droppings, roosting, basking, patrolling, hill-topping, courting, laying eggs, or migrating. Caterpillars mostly just eat.

Close-focusing binoculars help tremendously in making observations.

Digital cameras can help get you a good look at details.

Approach slowly, stay low, and don’t let your shadow cross them.

Be patient but persistent.

Note what the butterfly is doing, and where. Watch to learn the intricacies of their lives.
Nothing is better than your own experience.
Butterfly Habitats and Habits
 Most butterflies have specific habitat requirements. Each type of habitat will have certain
butterflies. The few really common butterflies are habitat generalists.

Butterfly caterpillars have very specific food plant requirements.

Adult butterflies generally feed on many kinds of flowers.

Flowery grasslands are excellent places to see adult butterflies, but they can be seen in
other habitats.

Butterfly adults are most conspicuous, but with diligence you can find egg, caterpillar, or
pupa.

A butterfly species may have one or more broods per year, resulting in varying abundance of
adults. Here in Minnesota many butterfly species have only 1 or 2 flight periods per year.
Those with only one brood may only be seen flying for just a few weeks most years.

Each butterfly specie deals with winter in its own way. Few migrate; most stay and survive
as one of the four life stages. For example: fritillaries overwinter as caterpillars, swallowtails
and whites overwinter as pupae, anglewings overwinter as adults, Monarchs migrate. Butterflies seen earliest in spring have overwintered here as adults. Some species die off in
northern areas each winter, but spread north the next summer.
Butterfly Identification
 Note size, shape, colors, patterns, behavior, location and time of year.

Get a good look at details – binoculars help, as does patience and persistence

Digital photos can be quite helpful in examining details, and consulting with others.
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
Look at body parts: forewing and hindwing both above and below, antennae, head, body.

Use a good field guide.

Learn field marks: start with common butterflies.

Identify to family: swallowtails, whites and yellows, gossamer-wings, metalmarks, brushfoots, skippers.
References
The Butterfly Book, an easy guide to Butterfly Gardening, Identification, and Behavior, by Donald
and Lillian Stokes and Ernest Williams, 1991. A good beginner book; attractive, accessible and
informative.
Butterflies through Binoculars : the East; by Jeffrey Glassberg. 1999, Oxford University Press. –
an excellent field guide. The first to show butterflies in life.
Butterflies of North America, by Jim Brock and Kenn Kaufman, 2003, Kaufman Focus Guides. – a
compact, condensed field guide.
Golden Guide to Butterflies and Moths, by Robert Mitchell and Herbert Zim, 1964. Great for kids.
The Family Butterfly Book, by Rick Mikula, 2000. Butterfly basics, facts on common butterflies,
projects.
Caterpillars of Eastern North America, by David L. Wagner, 2005. Great new resource on the
larvae of butterflies and moths.
Landscaping for Wildlife, by Carrol L. Henderson, 1987. Approaches for Minnesota.
Several web sites have good information:
- www.naba.org - North American Butterfly Association, promotes non-consumptive butterflying
- www.dnr.state.mn.us/backyard/index.html - MN DNR ‘Stewardship in your Backyard’
- http://www.learner.org/jnorth/ - Journey North uses migrations to teach about nature.
- http://www.wisconsinbutterflies.org/ - Great photos and information for the upper Midwest.
- http://www.monarchwatch.org/
- http://www.thebutterflysite.com/
- http://butterflywebsite.com/
- http://bsi.montana.edu/web/kidsbutterfly/ - especially for children
GREEN TIP –
“Our most important job as vegetable gardeners is to feed and sustain soil life, often called the soil food
web, beginning with the microbes. If we do this, our plants will thrive, we’ll grow nutritious, healthy
food, and our soil conditions will get better each year. This is what is meant by the adage “Feed the soil
not the plants.” Jane Shellenberger, “Organic Gardener’s Companion: Growing Vegetables in the
West”
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FLORAL DESIGN –
by Val Wagner
Creative Design – Notes from a study of the path from traditional to creative design.
The same components were used for all three designs. Keeping the plant material and
containers identical for each design helps illustrate the differences between traditional
and creative designs. Containers are nine inch high, two and a half inch square drain
pipe that have been mounted on a piece of wood that fits tightly into the pipe and is
attached to a three inch square of half inch thick wood. Kind of like a cork. They were
spray painted with copper metallic paint. Plant material was to be all dried. Euonymus, sedum and milkweed pods were used. Using less inherently bold components
forced attention to be given to how plant materials can be manipulated to work in a
creative design.
In design #1, the plant material is about two times the height of
the container with some crossed lines that were the result of
the natural growth of the euonymus. The quantity and gradation of the plant material are typical of a traditional design as is
the naturalistic manner of assembly.
Design #2 is a traditional line design tending toward the
creative because of the handling of the plant material.
The diagonal line is about four times the height of the
container; the milkweed pod center of interest grouping is large in scale for the container. The size works as
an anchor for the strong thrust of the diagonal line.
There is some sedum filling the top of the container in a
naturalistic way. It is also edging toward a creative
design through the penetration of space and no filler or transitional material. There is
definitely a restrained use of plant material.
Design #3 is a creative abstract design in spite of only one
point of emergence. (Multi-opening containers make it easier to make a creative design.) The plant materials are used
for line and form in a non-realistic, non-naturalistic, nonrepresentational manner. The height of the plant material is
over three times the container height. The milkweed was
painted a bright blue to provide more impact from a relatively small form.
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FGCM SUMMER QUARTERLY MEETING
Garden Tours in Plymouth Area
Ponds and Waterfalls
Hosta Garden
Asian Garden
Straw bale Gardening
Federated Garden Clubs of MN, Inc.
Free & Open to the Public
July 26th 2014
Starting at 9 am *** Meet at Don Untiedt
12070 48th Ave. N., Plymouth 55442
Summer Quarterly Meeting &
Refreshments after tours
Please send your registration to:
Betty Beck, 17400 29th Ave N Plymouth MN. 55447 (763-473-7183)
RSVP BY July 21
Bring a Friend, Please Car Pool
______________________________________
Name_________________________________________________________
Phone_________________________________________________________
Club__________________________________________________________
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Bloomington, MN 55431
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