Folsom Garden Club - FGC Member Photos

Folsom Garden Club
Neighborhood Gardeners since 1934
Volume XII No.9
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1681, Folsom, Ca 95763
Website: www.folsomgarden.org
November 2012 Newsletter
“A weed is plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.”
Doug Larson.
November Business Meeting
November Birthdays
Judy Hickey
1 Harriet Schaeffer
Shirley Hallfeldt 5 Mike Kelly
Gloria Hanson 11 Cathy Keegan
Sharon Peterson 17 Marge Stotenburg
Susan Chance 19 Sally Trench
Kathy Bunney 30
Catherine Elliott-Shillings 30
Thursday, 1st, 10am to 12:15pm
Rotary Club House, Lew Howard Park,
Guest Speaker: Michelle Helzer, a Landscape
Designer who owns Lotus Designs, will speak
about Japanese Garden Design and Julie AverillMartin, a certified arborist, will demonstrate
pruning Japanese maples.
Garden Tour meeting will follow
the Business Meeting
1
8
16
17
26
Be green: Bring your own cup.
Calendar of Events
November
Date
Time
Location
Event
Thurs.
15
10 to
12:00
Boonie Lang‟s
Japanese garden
Dirt Gardeners’ Field Trip
Wed.
28
10 to
12:00
Folsom Convalescent Home
Community Service Project, Tree Decoration
On Natoma and Mill Streets
More information on page 2
Thurs
29
10 to
12:00
More information on page 2
Dirt Gardeners, Wreath Creation
(Home of Joye Gephart)
More information on page 2
Contact
Nina
Sanders
Dan Knott
Joye
Gephart
December
Date
Sat
1
Thurs.
6
Time
Location
Event
10 to
12:00
Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
Community Service Project, Tree Decorating for
“Wild Nights and Holiday Lights”
Sign up at November meeting
*11 am
Business Meeting *note the time
Holiday Potluck Luncheon Party
Rotary Clubhouse,
Lew Howard Park
Sign up at the November meeting.
There‟ll be a voluntary Gift exchange (limit $10 value)
FGC Newsletter
Page 1
November 2012
Contact
Dan Knott
Joye
Gephart
The President’s Corner.
Joye Gephart
Fall has FINALLY fallen! After a week of overly warm temps for October, as
I'm writing this, we had overcast skies this morning and the weather forecast had
rumors of rain coming next week - in the last full week of October. I am ready for
this, my favorite time of the year - autumn - and I hope you are too. Even though the
temps are cooling down, the Folsom Garden Club year is just getting warmed up with
community projects to help with if you have the time. The committee held its first meeting early in October and
I hope you will find time to get involved with some of the projects as volunteers are needed. Contact David
Coolidge or Dan Knott about up-coming meetings or events. If you are in the neighborhood of the Pioneer
Village in Old Town, stop by and vote for our Garden Club entry in the first annual Scarecrow contest (one of
our recent Community Projects)! Fun family activities await and you might help us get our name in the paper
and on a plaque at the Folsom History Museum. I'm looking forward to the November meeting - hope to see
you there!
Note: Unintentionally left out of the yearbook was our Name Tag Chair, Mary Ann Pancheri, who does such a
beautiful job of calligraphy on our new member nametags. You might want to write her name in your copy of
the yearbook.
November Dirt Gardeners
Thursday 15th, 10 to 12,
Field Trip to Boonie Lang’s private Japanese Garden in Granite Bay. Boonie will take us on a tour of
her garden, “Myo Wa En”, Garden of Inspiration and Harmony, created in 1986 by the late landscape
master, Katsuo Saito.
Rain or Shine. $5 Donation.
9:30am, Assemble in Vic’s Market Parking Lot, 9580 Oak Ave. Folsom
~~~~~~~~~
Thursday 29th, 10 to 12,
Wreath Creation at the home of Joye Gephart.
Bring your wreaths and assorted materials to create Fall or Holiday decorations.
Event limited to the first 18 who sign up.
~~~~~~~~~~
Community Service Project.
Wednesday November 28th, 10 to 12.
Folsom Convalescent Home, on Natoma and Mills Streets.
Christmas Tree decorating and distribution of Christmas cards to the residents.
The Garden Club held meetings in an annex of The Murer House for many
years. Built in the 1890s, the house is open for tours the first Saturday of every
month from 11 am to 3 pm. It is maintained by The Murer House Foundation,
which also offers classes in Italian language, Italian cooking and art.
The Folsom Historical Society and Murer House Foundation are sponsoring
a Home Tour on December 7th and 8th. Tickets, $15 each, are available from
Green Acres, Bel Air at Broadstone, Folsom Lake Bank; Dorothea‟s, Folsom
Chamber of Commerce, Grapes & Ivy, Not Too Shabby and the Folsom History
Museum.
The Foundation is inviting garden club members to come to work parties each
Tuesday at 9 am as they work to beautify the grounds of this historic property.
(They also would like a volunteer to be the coordinator for Tuesday workdays.)
FGC Newsletter
Page 2
November 2012
The October Business Meeting - 66 attended: 61 Members and 5 Guests.
We now have a total of 111 members!
Please welcome these new members:
Haydee Gaffney, Georgette Branham, Cyndi Murdoch.
Hodgepodge Total for October: $96.00
The vivacious Lynn Lombard (pictured left) was our guest
speaker for our October meeting. She has been a member of the
African Violet Society for 35 years. Her enthusiasm was
contagious. She shared her hobby and passion about the proper
care of African Violets.
The key for success and survival of a thriving plant
depends on “location, location, location”. She stressed if your
plants were thriving and blooming then don‟t change anything.
If on the other hand, your plants weren‟t blooming, she offered
helpful hints involving the basics:
1. Watering: Plants may be watered from the top or bottom, however, avoid getting the
center crown wet. Try bottled water.
2. Fertilize: For more frequent blooms, use water-soluble fertilizer every time you water. (1/8 teaspoon to1 gal
of water) Select a fertilizer with a high number in the middle.
3. Light: Any window with adequate bright light, just avoid direct sunlight. They can also be
grown under fluorescent lights.
4. Potting: Repot at least once a year with soil-less sterilized potting mix with plenty of perlite
and vermiculite.
(By Nina Sanders.)
Members voted to purchase a Projector that will be used at club functions and for
educational projects.
The EPSON EX5210 (pictured left) is described as having amazing image quality
and ease of use.

2800 lumens color/white light output; native XGA (1024 x 768) resolution,
supporting input up to 1400 x 1050.

USB “Plug „n Play”; PC free slideshow function allows projection of JPEG files, without a computer,
from any USB thumb drive.
October Plant of the Month, presented by Erin Angulo.
“Pink Feather Duster” Calliandra eriophylla (kal-ee-AN-druh er-ee-oh-FIL-uh)
Group of about 200 species mainly grown for their long, silky stamens
and ferny foliage. One of the first perennials to bloom. Flower clusters
show pink to white stamens in fluffy balls in late winter or early spring
(Feb to May).
Open growth, 1-3 ft tall and 4-5 ft wide.
Prune out any dead wood after bloom.
Deciduous, Zones 10-24, according to Sunset Label, USDA 7-11.
Full sun. Drought tolerant. No irrigation needed but blooms and leaves will last
longer with summer water.
Native to southern California, east to Texas and south into Baja.
FGC Newsletter
Page 3
November 2012
Gardening Tips:
Average November weather in Folsom: 64º Max, 46º Min, 2.43’ Precipitation
The clocks change on November 4 “Fall Back”. Don‟t forget to check your irrigation timers.
• Temperatures can dip down below
freezing in many of the interior areas of
Northern California in November.
• Move frost-sensitive potted plants
indoors or against a west or south-facing
wall.
• Row covers, frost cloth, boxes or black
nursery pots (turned upside down) to
cover plants and water-filled containers
surrounding young seedlings offer a
warmer nighttime environment.
~~~~~~~
Heavy dew on the lawn every
morning is usually enough water for this
month. If rains are infrequent, water
newly
planted
landscape
plants,
vegetables and lawns to keep the soil
moist.
• Keep on top of raking and
cleanup until leaf fall is over. Be
sure to clean up under fruit trees.
Fallen leaves and dead fruit can
harbor insect eggs and fungus
spores over the winter
• Tomato hornworms are going
into hibernation in the soil beneath
your tomato plants. Dig down
about four inches and discard their
cocoons
• Control earwigs and snails:
reduce dark, cool, moist places.
Gather and clean outdoor pots and
containers to eliminate shelter for
over-wintering pests; store under
cover to prevent standing water.
.
Master gardeners recommend removing mistletoe
from trees in the fall. If possible, prune at least
one foot back from where the mistletoe attaches
itself to the tree.
The Chrysanthemum is the Designated Flower
of the Month of November. Buy them now in all
the fall colors. Cut them down to a few inches
from the ground when they finish flowering and
they will begin to grow again next March,
blooming in July. Let them bloom lightly; then
shear them back for the main bloom in the fall.
Question and Answer time at the October Meeting: a member asked
about spittlebugs. Coincidentally, Diane Stout asked about the same topic via
an email (with the photograph on the left) to Rhonda DesVoignes. This is what
Rhonda replied:
“The foam is the covering for the spittlebug nymph. They don't really damage
your plants but just look funny. The best method of control is to blast the little
brown bugs off with a strong stream of water. They seem to show up later in
the summer, and really like rosemary & lavender. Usually an early morning
blast of water about once a week seems to work pretty well. When you use
pesticides, you can also kill any beneficial insects that might be eating the
spittlebugs, which could cause more spittlebugs in the long run.”
I
My Plant!
Just for fun: If you have a plant (indoor or out) that you are particularly proud of,
send in a photo. Even if you‟re not sure of the name send it in anyway, it‟s just for
fun. ruth@toucansail.com
FGC Newsletter
Page 4
November 2012
Raffles
are now back as a part of our meeting, thanks to the good work of our
treasurer, Sally Berry. Joy Greene and our wonderful club members have worked to gather
up or contribute some wonderful prizes. Our thanks to the following contributors:
September meeting.
1. Floral arrangement donated by Charlyne Jordan from Blossom Shop, 47 Natoma St,
Suite D Folsom; 294-0174 (Value $60)
2. Facial donated by Ambers Aromatherapy Skin Care Say Salon, 330 A East Bidwell St.,
Joy Greene gives out
Folsom; 983-3245 or cell 451-6971 (Value $75)
Raffle tickets for
3. In-Home Body Massage donated by Jennifer Mullin, Certified Massage Therapist;
members to drop
903-6037
into bags numbered
4. S Barkles Dog Wash; 850 E. Bidwell St., Suite #150, Folsom; 984-0102 (Value $15)
for each prize
5. Verbena & Figleaf, High Fragrance Reed Diffuser (purchased, Value $20)
6. 2 Pounds Peanut Brittle Gift Basket donated by Joy Greene (Value $30)
7. We Olive Gift set (Value $18)
October Meeting. Total: Took In $123.00 - Spent $24.64 = Profit of $98.36
1. Floral arrangement donated by Charlyne Jordan from Blossom Shop,
47 Natoma St, Suite D Folsom; 294-0174 (Value $70)
2. Fused glass Bird Bath with metal stand donated by Joy Greene (Value $40)
3. Gourmet chocolate chip cookies 2 dozen donated by Jo Anderson (Value $20)
4. Diffenbachia in a 1 gallon clay pot donated by Judy Hickey (Value $10)
The array of prizes at
the October meeting
5. Wine basket (purchased)
6. Seasonal candle (purchased)
September 29 was the Folsom Family Expo and Wellness Festival , held
at Folsom Community Center. The Club had a “Kids Growing Strong” booth,
“Salads To Go”. Each visitor, of all ages, sprinkled lettuce seeds over a soil-filled
container to take home to experience home grown salad. Each container had a
paper sleeve with funny instructions about its care. They could also choose other
specially packaged seeds, like radish, sunflower, green beans or squash.
One parent was overheard: “Green beans? Green French Fries!”
Above, Jan Wilcox,
Mercy Folsom Faire coordinator,
Left, the student crew from “Interact”.
Right, choosing packets of seed.
Not pictured: Dan Knott, Marilyn Starbuck, and Nessie
FGC Newsletter
Page 5
November 2012
November Gardener of the Month,
Rhonda DesVoignes
We always had a nice yard when I was a kid. My Dad spent weekends
and after work hours working in the yard. My sister & I would ride in
the truck to the horse barns to pick up free manure. When my Dad
shoveled, we would pet the horses. My mother is a bit of a plant
collector.
She dragged my sister & I to all the nurseries in the
Sacramento area. Now, I love to go to nurseries.
In the 1970’s I started growing & making terrariums. Everyone in the
family received one for Christmas one year. Then, when we bought our
house I started planting flowers and a struggling vegetable
garden.
We worked on our old house in Folsom for 18 yrs, trying to get it to look
like Sunset magazine. We have been at our current house for 10 yrs and
I am still trying for the Sunset magazine look.
In 1998, I went back to college at night.
After about 6 years I graduated with an
Environmental Horticulture degree from
Sierra College. One of my favorite classes was Pest Management. I learned so
much in that class. Ever since, I try to never use chemicals in my
landscaping and encourage the use of beneficial insects.
Bat faced cuphea
& Lavender
I view gardening as both a hobby and a pleasant pastime, but like most
gardeners I
sometimes don’t know when to quit. I start out in the morning to do a
few things and
the next thing I know it is dark, I’ve been outside all day, and my arms and legs are scratched up and dirty. Not
sure it’s such a pleasant pastime some days.
I also do volunteer weeding and pruning at the Murer House (see note on
page 7) on Tuesday mornings. Growing up in the 60’s & 70’s I always
wondered who lived in that cool pink house, that looked so different from
other houses in Folsom. I am happy to be part of a group that is restoring
the property and opening the house to the public.
I also have done some landscape design
plans and consulting for clients.
Rhonda’s potting bench,
My favorites are fragrant plants and
with running water.
plants that bloom all summer and I have sentimental plants.
Sentimental plants: Mother-in-law’s – Mandevilla (pictured left) with big
pink flowers. Dad’s – Gardenia, Contorted Walking stick, Green rose, and
tree azaleas.
Fragrant flowers and foliage plants are: Citrus, star
jasmine, lemon verbena, basils, and lavenders and roses. I
love the flowers, but brushing against fragrant foliage
when working in beds is always a nice surprise.
On the trellis: Mandevilla
In the pot: fragrant Verbena
FGC Newsletter
Long bloomers: Sally Holmes rose, black-eyed susans,
Rozanne geranium and Arabella clematis.
Page 6
November 2012
Goodwin Creek lavender blooms so long, I never know when to cut it back. Also, Little John bottlebrush
blooms for 3 seasons.
My newest garden experiment is trying to mix fruits & veggies into
the front yard landscaping. Rosalind Creasy has written books
about this. This year I have two eggplants, a cherry tomato, and 3
basil plants growing in my front flowerbed. I always have thyme,
sage, chives and parsley growing in the front and back yards.
Eggplant grows in a
border beside the
front patio
My weak spots in gardening are
pruning
and
pulling
out
volunteer plants.
I go with (right) A tomato
survival of the fittest and plant reaches up through
sometimes my garden gets a bit culinary herbs
out of control. My husband pulls things out when I’m not watching.
Probably the best advice I received was to start with the soil, and compost and
mulch. One of my instructors said to just buy the 88-cent bags of composted steer
manure at the big box stores.
I’ve been a member of Folsom Garden Club for 5 yrs, also a member of the
Sacramento Perennial Plant Club for about 10 yrs.
Thank you, Rhonda!
Whimsical
Roosters
September Dirt Gardeners’ Tour of the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory
Club members who attended the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory were treated to a virtual trip around
the world to view diverse plants from the tropics of the rainforest, to the
extremely dry African deserts. The Botanical Conservatory was founded in
1959. The greenhouses and outdoor growing areas contain over 2,500 plants
species from most of the world‟s climatic regions.
As the tour began we entered a green house that is covered with
rainforest canopy plants. It was like stepping into a
virtual tropical jungle. There were many epiphytes
(air plants), which attach to trees without harming
them and some of these include: orchids, bromeliads,
stag horn ferns, and Spanish moss. Also the tropical
greenhouse included the exotic trees such as the coffee bean, the cacao (chocolate), the
papaya, the banana, and the fig tree.
The club members were also intrigued with the various types of carnivorous plants.
These plants have modified their leaves/flowers to attract, catch, and digest insects. The insects
are a source of nutrients for the plants, which live in a very nutrient-poor
environment. We learn that true cacti are native only to the Americas and
grow in an incredible range of forms. Other desert succulents were from
the dry areas of southern Africa. One amazing African desert succulent
was the Welwitschia. It has two large ribbon-like leaves, which grow
continuously throughout their life span (sometimes 2,000 years).
We left the conservatory very impressed and a little more
knowledgeable about plant diversity. Thank you to Ernesto Sandoval and Marlene Simon for giving
such an informative tour.
(Article by Nina Sanders and photos by Sally Berry. Lots more photos on www.folsomgarden.org)
FGC Newsletter
Page 7
November 2012
2012-2013 Board of Officers
President
Joye Gephart
1st Vice Presidents
Adrienne Coolidge
Nina Sanders
2nd Vice President
Garden Tour Director
Publicity committee for the garden tour
and publicity for the garden club - these
could be separate individuals or a team if
you could buddy up with someone else
interested.
Treasurer
Sally Berry
Jan-Can Prendergast
Recording Secretary
Sherril Gomes
See page 29, Section 4 in the FGC Yearbook
Preceding President
Erin Angulo
Parliamentarian
Joy Green
Correction: Last month, Erin Angulo was incorrectly named as the Parliamentarian. Joy Greene is the
Parliamentarian.
Nina and Bob have a new grandson born on Wednesday, October
17th. Congratulations to the newest grandparents!
Sally Trench just had knee surgery the same day and should be
home by now. She was at Mercy Folsom. Her son and grandson are looking
after her. She was up and moving around on Thursday with some pain but
not too bad!
Penny Pines
Progress
$42.43
DAN'S TORTILLA ROLL UPS
INGREDIENTS: Flour tortillas, Cream Cheese (whipped or the block), Horse Radish Sauce
(not straight horse radish), Arugula (a spicy salad green, available at Trader Joe's or Winco)
Sliced Deli Meat (I prefer pastrami or a good quality Roast Beef).
1. Spread cream cheese in middle half of the tortilla
2. Lightly spread horseradish sauce on the cream cheese (too much makes it too „picante‟)
3. Sprinkle Arugula over bottom half of tortilla--from the middle to the bottom
4. Spread meat over the middle of tortilla covering completely to the sides (be generous)
5. Start at bottom and tightly roll the tortilla into a tube. The top half should have little or no ingredients in
order to seal it off.
6. Can be refrigerated overnight but not essential. Cut into bite size rounds.
ENJOY!!
FGC Newsletter
Page 8
November 2012