Sue Taylor welcomed guests and President LuAnn Carey provided refreshments. Rachel Harting, chaplain, led the group in prayer. The meeting was conducted by Carey.
Members received copies of the previous meeting in October. The treasurer’s report was given by Taylor.
The Vision of Beauty National Garden Club calendars were available for sale. Fredericka Lawson reported she had visited both Bess Pirkle and Annette Stanbery recently, both longtime members of the club.
The Landscape Design School was discussed. Erma Brewer reported on her attendance at a recent school. Three members plan to attend the next session in Knoxville Feb. 28-29.
Erma Brewer presented the program, “Bluebirds — Building a Trail for Bluebirds.”
In her program, Brewer gave very interesting facts about the Eastern bluebird. The male bird has a rusty red breast and white belly, a sky-blue back and tail. The female is grayer with faint blue tail and wings. They like to nest in a tree cavity or in a manmade nest box, raising two broods a year. Their food is largely fruit and insects. They are year-round residents in our area. Bluebirds like open fields, pastures, roadsides and other open habitats.
Brewer is working with Polk County youth in establishing Bluebird Trails. A DVD, “Bluebirds, Inside the Next Box,” was shown. Linda Cross shared pictures of her bluebird houses — she has about 20 bird on her property. A drawing for a bluebird house made by Franklin Taylor was held, with Harting winning. Bradley Central High School will place five bluebird houses at the new community garden.
Other members attending were Patsy Bettis and Elsie Yates.
