|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
march 2007 newsletter
|
|
|
Thanks to the great people at Accent Trees and Nursery who hosted our meeting!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our most recent meeting
We
Journeyed over the rainbow, well, okay, just over the Skyway and landed
at Accent Trees and Nursery. What a great bunch of people we
found there! Lesli, Joan, and Ann couldn't have been nicer, and
in spite of the icy wind, there was a lot of warmth being spread around!
Our Next Meeting:
Thankfully,
our superb photographer is back and is hosting our monthly meeting this
time. On Sunday, March 18th at 1pm, we will be converging in
Tampa at Brad's home. Remember to RSVP with Marty as martny1@yahoo.com or
by calling 727-797-8498 to coordinate items. You will want to
bring a chair since Brad tells me he has only a few to go around.
Directions to next meeting: Login to Members page
I
am sure you will be bringing lots of plants for the raffle. For
anyone who thinks that it isn't worth participating in, let me tell you
otherwise. My back yard was totally devoid of anything but weeds
and an inedible tangerine tree. Due to the wonderful plants I have won
at the raffles, I now have several beds of tropicals. I have
gotten brugmansia from Dom and Tony, hibiscus from Bob and Joe,
plumeria from Kevin and John. Then there are the heliconias from
Jim and Eric, and gingers. The weeds are slowly disappearing, and
I even ate one of the tangerines this year!
Please
dont forget to identify your plants for the next owner. I am sure
you will appreciate finding out how to care for the plants you select.
I haven't killed anything yet, so they must be effective!
Norris Crenshaw’s monthly timetable of gardening chores:
March
- Fertilize and spray roses
- Plant and trim poinsettias
- Fertilize magnolias and check for Oleander scale
- Fertilize Day Lilies and annuals to promote blooms
- Plant garden vegetables
Also of interest:
Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota
Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th Street N, St Pete.
Pinellas County Extension Service calendar for lots more gardening events.
City Beautiful Commission in St. Petersburg
Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum in St. Petersburg
Monthly meetings at Moccasin Lake Nature Park
2750 Park Trail Ln., Clearwater:
Clearwater Audubon Society
1st Monday, October – May, 7:00-9:00pm.
Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
First Wednesday of month, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Suncoast Sierra Club
3rd Thursday, 7:30-9:30pm
There
are two big plant sales coming up before the April meeting. I
have attended both in the past and they are amazing!
Florida Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Plant Sale
Saturday, March 31, 9am - 2pm
12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL
For more information please call 727-582-2599
USF Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Festival
Saturday, April 14, 10am - 4pm
Sunday, April 15, 10am - 3pm
$3.00 entrance fee/free to members
The biggest and best.
For more information, visit the Botanical Gardens Website,
or call 813-974-2329
|
|
Last
month there was a very icy wind on our meeting day, so on short notice
the wonderful gang at Accent Trees and Nursery put us up in one of
their buildings, surrounding us with fountains and flower arrangements.
We also had some of the best food yet, and plenty of it.
Jim
took the floor and discussed the current status of the Rakes and Blades
website. As he said, it is just about ready! In fact, this
is probably the last newsletter that will be emailed to you.
After this, you can go online to see the latest news. If
you get the newsletter by mail, you will continue to get it each month
the same way.
Jim also talked about
club t-shirts. The orders have started to come in, but to get
free shipping, we need a minimum purchase of $70.00, so get your
t-shirt order in quickly!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 After
the business part of the meeting, Joan and Lesli took us on a
tour of the nursery, into the butterfly house, and all around the
grounds. It was a shame that it wasn't a nicer day since so many
of
the plants had to be covered for frost protection. I'm sure the place
would be much prettier on a sunny day, since the most beautiful of
plants are usually the most fragile! The ladies were very
generous with more than just their time and facilities. They were
offering a member discount on purchases, and even donated a gift
certificate for the raffle!
Of
course we held our raffle. Jim, as always, on the cutting edge of
fashion, demonstrated how Eskimos identify plants. Did I miss the
snow?
It certainly felt cold enough to snow that day. At least he was prepared for it, which is more than I could say. 
After
the raffle, we converged inside, thankfully, away from the cold wind.
We had a great incentive - an informative presentation!
Ann
gave a very informative talk on how to butterfly garden, what
butterflies eat, and how to attract butterflies. The key point
was that butterflies start as caterpillars, which eat leaves off the
plants, so you need to plant accordingly - and be prepared for
defoliation! The beauty of the butterflies should make up for the
loss of leaves.
|
|
|
Jim’s Plant of the Month:
 Unfortunatly
for all of us, Jim and Eric were struck with a power failure preventing
Jim from getting the column to me in time for distribution. For
his procrastination, he has to go another month with his lovely photo
here!
Suggestions and Volunteers needed!
Brian
Cahill, our program coordinator, is still looking for suggestions
and/or volunteers for demonstrations. Please email him if you
would like to lead a demonstration or to suggest someone else who
might. Also email him if you have a topic you would like to
hear about.
President: Jim Nevers, president@rakesandbladesfl.com
Vice President: Ann Allen, vicepres@rakesandbladesfl.com
Treasurer: Tony Parente, treasurer@rakesandbladesfl.com
Secretary: Bruce Bates, secretary@rakesandbladesfl.com
Newsletter: Bryan Hopper, newsletter@rakesandbladesfl.com
Photographer: Brad Hissing, photos@rakesandbladesfl.com
Raffleator: Kevin Ritter, raffles@rakesandbladesfl.com
Program Coordinator:
Brian Cahill, programs@rakesandbladesfl.com
Host Coordinators:
Ann Allen, Marty Volpe, hosting@rakesandbladesfl.com
Potluck Committee:
Marty Volpe, Stan Trimmer, Scott Hoffman
potluck@rakesandbladesfl.com
I
know I will be heading back over the bridge to visit the gang at Accent
Nursery and Trees. I am sure that between Lesli, Joan and Ann,
someone can figure out what to do with my tangerine tree! I'm
thinking a nice fountain....on a paved area that used to be......
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
