Garden Club of Dearborn ~~ Founded in 1915 ~~ April, 2018

Garden Club Journal

Editor: Mindy Delano [email protected] More info: www.gardenclubdearborn.org / [email protected] / Member of Garden Clubs, Inc & National Garden Clubs, Inc

Key Meeting Dates

** Board Meeting on Wednesday, April 4th @ President’s Message 10 am @ McFadden

Ross Museum

**General Meeting on Well, this month of March really displayed its temperament in our state, Monday, April 9th @ but nothing compared to the east coast blustery of storms. The songs of newly noon @ First Presbyteri- settled birds places me in the right Spring of mind! Have you heard their chatter? an Church…”The En- dangered Flower, Ameri- can Lotus” presented by I wish to thank Mindy for chairing the March 12 General meeting in my Jeanne Micka of the absence as I assisted my son for an out-patient surgical procedure. Lotus Garden Club of Monroe & Tour Guide David Cooper, horticulturist from English Gar- dens, gave an excellent presentation at the March

meeting. His topic of “Hydrangeas 101” attracted 11 **Horticulture Therapy is guests who could be new Club members! David April 11th at 10:00 am discussed six species of Hydrangeas, their characteristics, at Oakwood Commons popularity, versatility, blooming season, & diseases. One Assisted Living. Moon- surprising fact is that Miracle-Gro is not really good for flowers are prepping the encouraging bloom. He advised any of the organic project. products for bloom growth.

Terri Bungee’s enthusiasm is refreshing and we are thankful for her dedi- April 9th Hostesses: cation to our Education Outreach Program. She encouraged teachers at Lindbergh Christel Sanecki, Betty and Sacred Heart schools to motivate students in the NGC Smokey Bear/Woodsy Sue Pisula, and Gloria Owl poster contest. Terri and I selected posters for 3rd grade and 4th grade for Rusin judging. Good news - - the poster of the 4th grade student won state level and will advance to NGC national level competition.

May you have ... Last fall’s budget allowed the purchase of 30 books published for NGC called “The Saved Seed.” It teaches children the wonder and importance of The gladness of Easter planting a seed and watching it grow. This month, Terri delivered books to 22 Which is Hope Dearborn Public elementary schools for their media centers and also gave books The promise of Easter to Bryant Library, H.F. Centennial Library, and Dearborn Heights’ two libraries.

Which is Peace th The spirit of Easter See you at the April 9 meeting. Have a blessed Easter holiday. Regards, Mary Which is Love P a g e 2

The Potting Shed By Mindy Delano April “Garden Chores!”

* Start cleanup near the house. Tidy beds by most-traveled front walkway. You can do this, a little at a time. Ease in, bit by bit.

* First things first. In the edible garden, “Spot clean” key areas, so earliest crops can get sown, then approach the next crop on your list, or just start turning over the remaining soil.

April Birthday * Gently remove matted leaves to uncover early spring ornamentals first, such as spring bulbs, even if you can’t stop to clean the whole bed. Pat Knoop Apr 22 Start cutbacks by trimming battered leaves from semi-evergreen perennials, Debbie Cox Apr 23 such as hellebores and ornamental grasses.

“More flowers for us!” * Stay on track with seed-starting. Make a chart of what to sow when, indoors or out, or organize packets week-by-week, in an accordion file or recipe-card box.

Many thanks to Elena * Make space in the compost heap for incoming debris you’ll be Lovelace who held the generating fast. Extract (and preferably screen) finished material from the bottom to top-dress beds as you clean them. “fort” down at the March * Order mulch now, preferably a bulk delivery—skipping all those plastic bags. meeting.!! xxo * Empty nest boxes of old nests, add more birdhouses.

* Muck out water gardens.

While doing all that: Never walk, or work, in mucky soil. Stay off soft and semi-frozen lawns. Delay some chores. Do another outside chore the next week.

Treat yourself to a little color—a big bowl of pansies, for instance, to cheer you on in April, because the List can feel daunting, especially after Winter!

This garden cart is extremely handy! Sharon Olshansky owns one & loves it!

The typical English trug is so charming but Submit mail, email, or phone pricey, but can be snagged cheap @ garage info to Mindy by 20th of sales! By the way, Edison Street Sale is 1st month! (313 565-1266) Saturday in June! Lots of sales there. [email protected] P a g e 3 A record??? Lend a Hand? At the March Garden Club meeting Barbara Hayes recently had surgery on her right foot, her driving foot. She we had 11 guests! Is explained that she has encountered Where does the bunny eat this a record or difficulty getting a driver for her breakfast? what?? errands. Can we offer Barbara a ride? IHOP Check in with her?

Culture Calendar

April 4: Friends of the Library Used Book Sale @ H.F. Centennial Library (9:30-6:00) April 4: Dearborn Historical Society Lecture @ McFadden-Ross @ 7 pm April 13: Dearborn Symphony’s “Best of Broadway” @ Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, with Rich Ridenour, 70 years of Tony Award Music @ 8 pm. TIX: $10-30 & call 565-2424 April 14: Matthaei Botanical Gardens “Annual Dahlia Tuber Sale” (1-4 pm) in Ann Arbor. April 21: Telly’s, “Starting Dahlias from Cuttings” (3-5 pm) at 3301 John R., Troy (734) 429-5796 April 21: Alexander Zonjic’s Jazz Series @ Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Studio A, limited seats @ 7-9 pm TIX: $20, call (313) 943-2354 April 25: Dearborn Historical Society @ McFadden-Ross “Banjo Concert” @ 1 pm FREE April 25: Dearborn Historical Society Presents…”An Evening with... II on 115 Years of ” @ Centennial Library @ 6 pm TIX: $15 and available at 915 Brady or (313) 565-3000 April 27: Meadowbrook Hall “Phenology and Garden Rhythm” @ 10 am, by Chuck Martin, Senior Horticulturist of Dow Gardens, TIX: $5 (248) 364-6210 April 28: Dearborn Historical Society @ McFadden-Ross “Antique Appraisal Clinic” (10:00-4:00) FEE

Have a joyful Easter! On WRCJ– 90.9 Radio Live Streaming from Orchestra Hall

Listen and enjoy live DSO! Free live webcast from the April 6th @ 10:45 am—12:45 pm Symphony Orchestra. Go to their web- is “Strauss and Wagner,” a live site and watch and enjoy! concert from Orchestra Hall. April 13th @ 10:45 am-12:45 March 24: 8 pm “Beethoven’s Seventh” pm is “Schumann’s ‘Spring’,” a April 7th: 8 pm “Strauss and Wagner” live concert from Orchestra April 13th: 10:45 am “Schumann’s Hall. Spring” P a g e 4

Saved Seed Project: Terri Bungee of Education/ Eve Toohey’s family The National Garden Club has been donated several items to promoting education on horticulture through Youth is doing the Garden Club. Her their new book called “The Saved Seed” K-4 great with the books will be in the Children’s Book. The book follows the life cycle Clump Sale, along with Garden Club of seed plants, and represents the second early frogs, etc. German projects, since statice & foam will reader book written to educate elementary she loves kids benefit Horticulture children. The pumpkin is chosen because of its Therapy. Bud vases will attractiveness to children. It’s a Halloween and is a retired go to Sharon Snider for staple, as well as being a fall staple on our the Prism program at dinner plates. The pumpkin has a range of the hospital. We thank varieties as well. the Toohey family for Woodsy Owl: their kindness. We will “The Saved Seed begins a journey as a The results of the Woodsy Owl are: First Place: miss Eve...a lot. smiling pumpkin seed from a Halloween 4th grader at Lindbergh, Leah Mohammed. pumpkin ... becoming a seedling, a vine, and Third Place: 3rd grader at Sacred Heart School, then a new pumpkin!” Children learn how to Paige Cashen. Awards will be given in May. care for their own pumpkin seeds and become Leah Mohammed is eligible to compete at the successful gardeners. The book is at the National level. Terri coordinated the contest. National Garden Club On-Line for $10. Terri Bungee, of Education/Youth, Paige Cashen, with Leah Mohammed, with Help Friends of the spearheaded “The Saved Seed” distribution to her teacher, Mrs. her teacher, Mr. Detroit River keep the 22 Dearborn Public Schools’ media centers, as Beirut. Goecke. Detroit Riverkeeper boat well as the Bryant Library and on the water! Annual Centennial Library. Also included in the Detroit Riverkeeper dinner distribution is the Dearborn Heights Libraries, will be at Wyandotte Boat John F. Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy. The Board meeting suggested that parochial Club on Saturday, April 7. schools’ media centers should be recipients as The Wyandotte Boat Club well. This would include: Guardian Lutheran, is located at 1 Pine Street, Divine Child, Sacred Heart, and St. Anselm. off Biddle (west Jefferson Ave.), south of Eureka, Left: Third grader of Sacred Heart School, Paige Cashen won 3rd Place. Right: Fourth grader of Lindbergh School, Leah across from Portofino Mohammed, won 1st prize and will go to the national contest. restaurant in Wyandotte. For info call (734) 288- 3889 or reach the website at: http:// www.detroitriver.org Board members would appreciate your feedback regarding the next Holly Berry Brunch’s potential for earning more money. Please send your ideas to [email protected]. Any advice is appreciated. 1. Make tickets non-refundable? 2. Make it a real brunch, not dinner? (They charged us $30 for dinner and our ticket price was $30. No profit there!) 3. Raise the ticket price? 4. Work harder to fill capacity to 500? 5. Are raffle gifts waning in popularity? 6. Do you think Mindy, as publicist, should run press releases in neighboring Garden Club newsletters in order to attract guests? 7. Ideas on centerpieces for tables? Raise price, instead of a buck? 8. Bright ideas are needed. P a g e 5

Called a “tubtrug” at R Gardener’s Supply, it’s the A handiest tool ! All sizes...all colors…. F F L E Mark your calendar for the Pops Concert at the W “Mini Mod Hod” is perfect Dearborn Symphony on with it’s holes, so you can I drain dirt from fresh picked April 13th @ 8 pm. N veggies or fruit. Don’t miss this night N $25 @ Gardener’s Supply with Rich Ridenour... 70 years of Tony Award e Music. R Incredible talent! s

According to Pat Knoop, the seminar was Ingredients Yield: 6 dozen very interesting, vendors were selling lots of 1 cup margarine garden related goods, and she came home loaded 1 cup sugar with info....huge list of shade loving plants as well 1 cup brown sugar as a brand new trowel. One presenter, in regard 2 eggs to foraging, revealed you can pick berries from the 1 tsp vanilla Service Berry Tree and make muffins. Pat was 2 c flour going to try tackling a recipe which calls for 1 tsp baking soda blueberries & substitute the Service Berry. By the 1 tsp baking powder way, be sure to ask Mary B. about her new bird. 1/2 tsp salt 1 lrg pkg choc chips Garden Club’s Next Meeting…. 2 cups quick quaker oats These look delicious! April 9th @ Noon: The speaker will be 2 cups rice crispies Jeanne Micka, from the Lotus Garden Club Optional: 1 cup sweetened coconut or any amount of nuts, of Monroe. She serves as a Tour Guide raisins, cranberries on her subject called “The Endangered 1. Mix first 5 ingredients thoroughly. 2. Mix next 4 ingred Flower, American Lotus.” She will outline in 2nd bowl & add to first one. Add remaining its beauty, characteristics, growing ingredients & add rice crispies last, folding gently so as not conditions, longevity, propagation methods, to crush. environmental benefits, and advances in 3. Drop by spoonfuls on lightly greased cookie sheet & bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. medical research. This editor had the Note: Eve’s recipe was given high praise. Taste of Home’s privilege to sign up for her tour of Ranger cookies are identical, except they added 1 cup this fantastic flower during its prime sweetened coconut. Try Eve’s version first & then adapt to blooming period. An incredible tour! whatever appeals! ~~Submitted by Judy Henn Spread the word & bring a guest! Page 6

At right, after hours with Moonflowers at the Elena Lovelace home. Viewed video on Butchert Gardens of Victoria, B.C. Discussed benefits of vinegar, Epsom salt, & baking soda. They welcome newcomers!

Wanted: Gardeners for Enabling Garden!!

Spring is just around the corner and the Enabling Gardeners would like to invite members to join our study group.

The purpose of the garden to provide fresh or dried flowers for Horticulture Therapy, of which, they in turn, take them to Oakwood Commons for projects. They assist residents in the art of beautiful flower arranging. The residents become confident and eager to create pretty arrangements.

The Enabling Garden group meets every Friday at 9:00 am, starting end of May, or early June. The garden is located near northwest parking of U of M Dearborn, next to the parking garage. Generally, we plant and weed for an hour. Most flower beds are in raised beds, making gardening easier. We expanded into the herbal garden, (ground beds) and have begun to plant annuals or perennials. In addition, along the path are large size pots which we plant each year. We try to come up with a theme (color) for these pots.

Our garden is visible to the walking/biking path and travelers love to look below at our beautiful flowers. The organic vegetable garden is beyond us on the hill, and those gardeners love to view our flowers, as well.

During mid-Summer, we have an annual Garden Tea, where we invite everyone in the Garden Club to view and tour our flower beds, have a cool drink, and nibble on tasty treats. It’s so much fun. We have a big awning for the event, just in case it is too sunny and hot, or even, in the event of a sprinkle of rain.

We will have our first meeting in April to discuss plans. We’d love you to join! For questions, call Judy Chandler at 734-812-0538 or [email protected] ~~ Submitted by Judy Chandler

Please come & join!

Left: Off-season “before” picture.

Right: Spring/Summer/Fall “after” picture with blooming out of control!

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