A PROGRAM ON CREPE MYRTLE was given by hostess Billie Blair, president of Aldersgate Garden Club at the August Meeting. She has several of the plants in her yard and shows some of the beautiful pink blooms from one of them.
Blair, president, opened the meeting. Barbara Ector, chaplain, gave the devotion, “The Value of Disaster,” followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Joan Steward, secretary, gave the secretary’s report and Cynthia Humes gave the treasurer’s report. The benevolence report was given by Charlotte Scott.
Blair discussed the President’s Meeting and Awards Workshop held at the East Ridge Community Center on Aug. 18. Blair, Charlotte Scott, and Kay Cox attended.
An announcement was made about the Third District III Awards Workshop that will be held on Sept. 13, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Cleveland, beginning at 10 a.m. There will be a box lunch provided at the cost of $7.
The TFGC Conservation Camp will be held Oct. 3-4 at the Beersheba Springs Retreat. The theme is “Back to Basics.” Some of the members plan to attend.
The club has also been invited to attend the Dayton Garden Club Flower Show on Oct. 18, at Spring City United Methodist Church. Lelia Ware, NGC Calendar chairman distributed the National Garden Club’s 2012 Vision of Beauty calendars to those who had purchased them. These calendars are a fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund.
The hostess presented a program on crepe myrtles. She provided a handout from the Southern Living magazine that was a Beginner’s Guide to crepe myrtle. It gave information tips on where to plant, selecting the right plant, how to prune, how to plant and common problems associated with the plant.
When selecting a crepe myrtle, make sure that it is not only the exact color that you want, but also the right size and look you hope to achieve. They range in size from dwarf selections which grow less than three feet tall to several that reach 30 feet.
Before buying, consider the mature height and size of the site. A single tree can create a distinctive focal point in your landscape, while a group planted together can make a hedge or screen or a pair framing a front door can greet visitors with a warm welcome.
The larger types need room to grow and the dwarf selections can be grown in large containers or incorporated into perennial flowerbeds. They love direct sun and one can prevent or reduce blooming altogether if they are not planted in the right place. The best time to plant them is late fall to early spring. No matter when you plant, water it well before putting it in the ground. Also, apply mulch to conserve moisture and keep down weeds.
Thanks to the hostess were extended by Jackie Westfield. Other members in attendance were Kay Cox, Barbara Brown, Sheryl Gash, Dorothy Keith, Edwina Robinson and Charlotte Timberlake.
