RAKES & BLADES of Florida ~ Newsletter: July 2007

July 2007 newsletter

Pride is everywhere!

Our most recent meeting

Our neighborhood meeting went off without a hitch! Ken and Doug opened their home and yard for our dinner and meeting, and then we all trouped over to Scott's for dessert and the raffle. I think it was a great success.

Our Next Meeting:

Our next meeting will be on July 15 at 5pm. We will be meeting under the magnolia trees of Stan and Dwayne in Gulfport. Their pool will be available to anyone who wants to enjoy the water.

RSVP is not necessary, but if you have any questions, Marty has all the answers at potluck@rakesandbladesfl.com or by calling 727-797-8498.

Directions to next meeting: Login to Members page

I am sure you will be bringing lots of plants for the raffle. Please don't forget to identify your plants for the next owner. I have included the plant care form in the members only section for your ease. You can print out as many as you need from the site. 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!

Of Interest to Gardeners

Norris Crenshaw’s monthly timetable of gardening chores:

July

Prune and spray roses
Trim shade trees
Spray mangoes and avocados for anthracnose
Spray crepe myrtle for mildew

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

Club News

We started off at Ken and Doug's house. It was cool to see the predicta television set and all the other mid-century pieces they have on display.

We had a very productive meeting at Ken and Doug's house. There was a group of guys who helped assemble the seed packs we voted on to give out, and they all needed labels to direct everyone to our website. Bruce supplied the labels, and our great workers put them together.

This month's presentation was an informative talk on drip watering. Jim gave a great talk on the benefits of drip watering and how to set up your garden for a drip system. Due to the water restrictions, most watering is not allowed, but because dripping goes straight to the roots of the plants, it is okay. Jim showed us a few of the different drip rate ends.

There was a terrific dinner, with plenty of food. Thanks to all of you who brought something to share.

The meeting helped us to get us motivated for Pride. We got definite names for those walking in the parade, and also were able to establish a time schedule for booth workers. Jim asked for anyone with exotics to consider donating them for a cut arrangement that we would raffle off along with the other donated plants.
We then moved on to Scott's house for dessert and our raffle. I thought we would loose a few people, but we seemed to all find our way over to the next block.
The plants were an interesting array of botanical splendor; I got a couple of small heliconia that Scott donated. Sometime you will all have to come and see what I have done with all these raffle plants. It amazes me!

Jim’s Plant of the Month:

This month, unfortunately for us, Jim is on vacation in the great state of Massachusetts. Instead of putting his column here, I am going to share a few photos of our Pride day experiences. I hope you all had a chance to drop by our booth!

Stan, Dwayne, Michael, Jeffrey, Brian and I were on the set up crew early Saturday morning.

Our booth was certainly the most lush at the festival. With exotic donations from Rick, Scott and Phil, we were a tropical paradise in downtown St. Pete!

Meanwhile, Jim and the gang were gathering at Georgie's Alibi
and they put in a great performance down Central Avenue giving out seed packets to everyone along the way.

Pride is everywhere!

Club Officers Contact

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@rakesandbla desfl.com

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