Work Around the Square This Spring

      The garden club has been hard at work this spring tidying up the areas around the square.  Here are a few pictures to show our progress.

Before and After at the back entrance of the courthouse.

Before and after at the county parking lot.

Before and After at the back of Martin Realty.

Before and after across from the police station.

LANDSCAPING THE LIBRARY

 Several husbands helped out as well as the President 

of the Friends of the Library, Sandy Smith.

LYLE SALTER PARK CLEAN UP

   

Program on "Easy Care Gardening"

 

     On March 14, 2024, the Monroeville Garden met at the Presbyterian Church.  Sharon Brewton, Jean Singleton, and Jeanne Sewell were hostesses.

   President Charlotte Lambert called the meeting to order after prayer.  Present business concerning the grooming of the downtown area and the library was discussed.  Sign up sheets for different areas were signed.  We were thrilled to learn that the Co-Op in Frisco City would give members a 10% discount on plants if the member could recite the club motto.  We were reminded of a destination meeting next month to the Wildflower Bog.

     Wanda Martin, Baldwin County Master Gardener, presented a wonderful program on “Easy Care Gardening”.  She informed and reminded us that the first rule of thumb for any garden is the correct plant zone.  Our zone is 8B.  When planting, a gardener needs to understand their soil characteristics, types of plants, plant size at maturity, water and food requirements, and when to “dead head”.  Lighting is very crucial.  We discussed full sun- 6 hours, partial sun - 3 to 6 hours, and shade - less than 3 hours of sunlight.  Different plants for different lighting were talked about and shown on a slide.  How to plant was discussed, as well as, how to fertilize and water.

     Members were informed about the Baldwin County Master Gardener Website, a very informative tool. 

     We received information about the Baldwin County Spring Plant Sale which will be April 4-6 from 9 am to 4 pm and the Alabama Master Gardeners Annual Conference in Daphne, Alabama which will be April 22-24.  Registration is required.  The theme of the conference is  The Adaptive Gardener.  The registration fee is $160.00.

    After the program, we were served delicious refreshments:  two different kinds of cupcakes (Coconut and Carrot Cake) which were beautifully decorated, fruit plate of grapes and strawberries, cheese straws, and chicken salad sandwiches.  A strawberry-lemonade punch and water were the drinks.  The table was decorated with a gorgeous flower arrangement.

     The meeting was adjourned and all went home very knowledgeable and very satisfied. (Sammye Long)

                                                         

     Our hostesses - (L to R)  Jean Singleton, Sharon Brewton, and Jeanne Sewell

                                                     

                                                     

                                                     

                                                     

                                                       

          Wanda Martin, Baldwin County Master Gardener, who presented the program.

Work Days Around the Square

      Charlotte and others from garden club worked on the Katherine Lee Rose Garden on Thursday, February 15th .  They worked so hard that no one took time to take a picture to document their work but as you ride by you will notice that all the roses have been trimmed and soon will be blooming.  This is a huge job and thanks to all who were able to help Charlotte. 

      Special thanks to Charlotte and her husband who returned on Saturday to finish trimming the large running rose which has such wicked thorns.  They braved the cold to finish this task.

       February has been designated as a work month in preparation for the Literary Festival on March 1 and 2, as well as all the visitors that will be coming for the play in the spring.  The schedule is as follows:

     Tuesday,  February 20         Time is 1:30 for each day and of course, depending on the weather.

     Thursday, February 22

     Tuesday,   February 27

     Thursday,  February 29

        Several members are already on committees for designated areas so feel free to work any time outside the schedule if more convenient for you.  

                Bev, Emilie and June worked on the beds across from the police station.

After conferring with the city, we were able to get these bushes pulled up with

the plan of planting knock out roses here.

The above bed is now considered private property and part of "The Shop at 66"

We have talked with the property owner about removing the shrubs

and replacing with more knockout roses.

This was the "before" picture of the bed by the gazebo.

June making final cleanup around the bed after it was weeded and the roses trimmed

   Emilie working to separate roses from the overgrown shrubs which we hope to replace with knockout roses.

                               

                         

Using Containers to Enhance Your Flower Arrangements

      The Monroeville Garden Club met February 8, 2024, at the home of Charlotte Lambert, hostess.  Co-hostesses were Sara Bradley, Sherri Eubanks and Scarlet Strom.

      Charlotte began the meeting with a word of prayer and then gave an informative program on using different containers for flower arrangements.  We were shown how to match a container to enhance the beauty of the flowers that were used.  Pictures of beautiful arrangements were shared as examples of this technique.

      We were so glad to welcome all of our new members at the meeting:  June Herring, Kay Wilson, Faye Estes, and Carole Parker.

      Delicious refreshments were served after the program:  Chicken Salad Sandwiches, macaroons, fresh fruit, roasted pecans, Red Velvet Cake, Coffee, Fruit Punch, and Water.

      We all left with satisfied appetites and packages of coleus seeds to use for spring planting.  This was a delightful meeting at the home of our new president.

      Happy Valentine’s Day/Month.  (Submitted by Sammye Long)

Our hostess and President, Charlotte Lambert, presenting the program.

Co-hostesses - (L to R)  Sherri Eubanks, Scarlet Strom, and Sara Bradley

Beautiful Geranium blooms that Charlotte saved in her greenhouse.  Decorative paper shred was 

used to hide the mechanics of the arrangement which was in a clear container.