President's Message
Dear Garden Club Members,
How time flies when we are having fun! I hope you have all enjoyed Garden Club this year. It has been different in many ways and I know not everyone has liked all of the programs and not everyone appreciates all the email information, however on the whole the feed back that we have had has been good. We will continue to try and improve next year’s programs with as much variety as possible. There will be a few changes among the committee co-chairs but many have agreed to continue for another year. We will encourage our new members to join in all activities – flower design, Village Library gardening, Causeway Clean-up, writing articles for the Petal Pusher, or delivering it. There are many tasks to be done and it is a great way to meet long time and new friends. Many of our new members are very accomplished and will bring their talents into the club for us all to enjoy. Those of us here for the summer will continue to meet from time to time to discuss new ideas and enjoy one another’s company.
This month will be our first major gardening month after the frosts and prolonged cold of winter. John & I had dinner with friends on Saturday evening and were introduced to the upside down form of growing tomatoes. Upside down? Absolutely! That is the new way to grow tomatoes – no weeds, no slugs, perfect watering system. Deer? Squirrels? Maybe. That is the part I couldn’t quite imagine. You put the plant into a green bag with a gap in the bottom for the plant to hang and the roots are above inside the bag. It comes with organic soil and a self watering system. You can choose the type of tomatoes you want. You can buy the pole to hang it from or just attach it to your deck ceiling with a chain. Getting it high enough to stop the deer is important and far enough away from a launching pad for the squirrels is essential. The picture shows beautiful, perfect tomatoes hanging from a very strong, healthy plant grown – of course - in organic soil. We should have a competition to see who can grow the biggest and best fruit. You must send photos as proof of success, with full measurements. The prize will be to have your photo with your tomatoes on the website. Yes, well perhaps not this year.
Let us all try to go to the closing luncheon. We are going to honor our new members with a small gift of welcome and bid farewell to those leaving for the summer.
I will look forward to seeing you all there.
Anne
Ossabaw Island Trip April 27
April 27 is almost upon us. Arrangements for our visit to Ossabaw Island are completed and if you are one of the people who have paid for the trip, you need to know the following:
We leave promptly at 9 AM from the Rodney Hall Boat Ramp (aka Butterbean Beach), on the other side of the bridge that we use to leave Skidaway Island. Please be there no later than 8:40 so that we can leave by 9. Be prepared for the weather, whatever it is that day. Unless it is really inclement, we will sail. Remember that it can be a little cooler on the water than on the land, so dress appropriately.
Bring a brown bag lunch. There is a restroom on the boat and more facilities are available in the clubhouse on the island. The boat has an ice chest to keep drinks cool, and refrigeration is available at the clubhouse. Don’t forget sunscreen, insect repellant, a hat with good protection, & drinks and if you like, your camera and binoculars.
Anne Dauray -0149 & Sandra Wolf-1349 (cell: 414-559-4080 on trip day).
CAUSEWAY CLEANUP NEWS (Next cleanup: Monday, May 4th):
The weather prediction the night before our scheduled cleanup on April 6th was so dire that Nancy decided wisely to call it off. The trash (and then some) will still be there for us on Monday, May 4th. If you can, put the date on your calendar because it's our last until October!
Call Nancy with any questions (-4370).
MAY LUNCHEON ANNOUNCEMENT
The annual luncheon of The Landings Garden Club will take place on Wednesday, May 13th at 12 noon in the Azalea Room at the Plantation Club. Cost of the luncheon will be $20, payable to The Landings Garden Club and sent to Jan Kemp. Your check is your reservation.
LANDINGS GARDEN CLUB—GENERAL MEETING March 23, 2009
The general meeting of the Landings Garden Club was called to order by the President, Anne Gardner, at 9:50 AM. There were 30 members present.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Dixie Diffenderfer read the Collect.
Treasurer’s Report: Jan Kemp reported as of March 23rd there is a checking account balance of $9,315.66 and a balance of $224.31 in the money market account. In our new 501-C (non-profit) CD account we have a balance of $5,000.00. Paul Meyer, attorney, at Bart, Meyer and Company LLC, has agreed to handle all the paperwork involved for us pro bono. As a 501-C we do not have to pay taxes on Club purchases.
Recording Secretary: Minutes of the February meeting were approved as published.
Corresponding Secretary: Anne Guira made note of a thank you received from the GA Regional Hospital for our Christmas gifts. Anne also presented the results of the Nominating Committee as follows: President Anne Gardener, Vice President Lisa Hall, Treasurer Jan Kemp, Recording Secretary Leslee Bowler and Corresponding Secretary Anne Guira. Sandra Wolf made a motion to accept the slate and the motion was unanimously approved.
Committee Reports:
Charitable Gifts Committee: Patsy Dulles reported a total of $1,525 were given to the following organizations: The Brown Thrasher Scholarship Fund received $450, the Bamboo Farms and Coastal Gardens received $300, the Orphan Bird Care received $200, the Savannah Tree Foundation received $150, the Hospice of Savannah, Inc. received $75, the Landings Library front planting received $300 and the Landings Military Relief Fund received $50.
Parliamentarian: Edith Teifeld asked for a vote on changing the Dues Bylaw, Article IV, Section 2, from active members paying $30 to $35 annually and Bylaw IV, Section 3, from inactive members paying $40 to $45 annually, starting in 2010. A motion was made to accept this change and was approved.
Membership: Shirley Owen introduced new member Seekie Drysdale, and Philippa Gunn, a guest of Anne Gardner’s. Shirley also reported that Barbara Paull is recuperating at home from surgery. We now have 73 active members.
Civic Beauty: A sign up sheet was passed for the causeway cleanup Monday, April 6th.
Library: Bette Feingold reported she will be purchasing annuals and shrubbery for the Library this week. Her committee will then begin work on freshening up the front yard of the library.
State Liaison: Dixie Diffenderfer reported neither she nor Anne Gardner can attend the State Convention from April 14th to 16th in Atlanta. If there is a volunteer who will attend there is $200 in the budget for expenses. Dixie has received a thank you from the State Garden Club for our efforts in supporting legislation to prevent advertisers from cutting trees down for billboards. We must continue our efforts for this cause.
Ossabaw Trip: Sandra Wolf reported the trip is full. Everyone should be at the dock by 8:45 AM.
Design: The lovely centerpiece designed by Patsy Dulles was won by Brigitta Nooney.
Hospitality: Jean Holland thanked Marti Campbell, Marion Lottich, Ruth Casey and Sandy Humphrey for bringing today’s refreshments
Other Business:
…Linda Sue Babcock reported the butterfly garden is temporarily on hold until the Park staff makes final decisions on plants. This garden will be located in front of the Interpretation Center. The park is free on Wednesdays and Linda Sue noted there are fine examples of the Cherokee Rose Tree, the GA state tree, in the park.
…Ruth Casey told us Bonnie Taylor is now at home and would love to receive cards from other members.
…Joan Capen brought rosemary sprigs to share with everyone.
…Anne Howard would like members who are not going on the Ossabaw Trip and would like to go to her house
for coffee to call her.
President’s Announcements:
…There is an “Adopt A Highway” sign on the causeway.
…The Plant and Landscape Program held at the soccer field on March 22nd was a success.
500 residents attended and a number of people showed interest in our club.
…The Bamboo Farm plant sale is April 4th.
…There is a Historic House and Garden Pilgrimage in Waynesboro on May 2nd.
Call Nancy Buttermark at 706/437-8833 for more information.
…Savannah Garden Expo is April 17th-19th at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum.
…Interested members are invited to form car pools and go to the Bamboo Farms on May 4th to have a guided tour of the irises and camellias.
…May 13th is our year end luncheon. We hope to have a record number of members attend this year and
especially our newest members. To reserve your spot send $20 to Jan Kemp.
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 AM.
Program: We will visit Forsyth Park for a guided tree tour today.
Leslee Bowler, Recording Secretary
Trip to See Irises Cancelled
After talking with Stan Gray the owner of the Rainbow Goddess Iris Collection at the Bamboo Farm we have decided to cancel our May 4th trip. Stan explained that there will be few blooms this year due to a bacterial rot that attacked the irises last year. He feels sure that next year should be a good season. We will work on scheduling Stan to speak and then take us on a tour of his collection next year. Thanks for your patience.
Lisa Hall
