March 2003 Vol. 3, Issue 4 Upcoming Events Kerry Wood Nature Center March 20, 7:30 pm Growing Herbs PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Last month’s meeting proved that it takes more than a cold snowy night to keep true gardeners from finding out “What’s New” in the plant world. (Or did you all just come for the delicious food and stick around to be polite?) Thank you to Marg Hoogland for the informative and inspiring slide presentation that soothed us in our long wait for spring. On behalf of the Red Deer and District Garden Club, we would like to welcome new members; Shirley & Jack Benedick, Brenda Gulka, Judy James, Ann McNaney, Bertha Rands, Alison Uhrbach, Rita & Eric Bailey, Ruth Ironside, Donna Nye, and Montanna Hunter. Join in Red Deer and District Garden Club Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 20 at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. The Guest Speaker will be Pat Aldi from Parkland Nurseries talking about Growing Herbs. Everyone welcome. Lacombe and District Garden Club are presenting, Feathers and Fins, the 51st Annual Conference of the Alberta Horticultural Association on May 3, 2003. For further information, contact Edie Beach at (403) 782-4569. The Edmonton Horticultural Society is presenting “Front Garden Trends” with Liz Primeau on March 31 at the Edmonton Provincial Museum from 6:30-7:30 PM. If anyone is interested in carpooling up to Edmonton for this evening, please call Bev at 314-1965 by March 21. ANNOUNCEMENTS Just a friendly reminder, for those who have not paid, we are still accepting your 2003 Membership Fees. Membership fee is only $10.00 per year per household. Please mail it to the Red Deer & District Garden Club, 12 McKee Close, Red Deer, AB T4N 0L9. If we have not received your renewal by March 31st we will assume you do not wish to renew and will remove your name from our mailing list. LOGO Contest The garden club is looking for a logo so put your creative caps on! The winner will receive a prize. The requirements are that the logo submitted: 1. is no larger than 3"x3" (remember if it's too complex, the details will blur when the logo is reduced). 2. may be hand drawn or computer drawn. 3. can be in color but should still be recognizable in black and white. You may use the City of Red Deer's official flower, the Crimson Star Columbine if you wish, as there is no copyright on it. Submit entries to 62 Denovan Crescent, Red Deer, AB T4R 1W2 by April 10, 2003. The winning logo will become the Red Deer & District Garden Club 's property. A committee will select a logo and the winner will be announced. The winner of the Logo contest will receive a one year subscription to the “Alberta Gardener Magazine”. PLANT PROFILE: (Sorbus ) Blooming Time: Flower Color: Fruit: Height: Hardiness: Spread Light Needed: Soil Type Pruning: Propagation: Common Name: Mountain Ash Late spring Broad 4” clusters of tiny white fragrant flowers Bright red, orange or yellow berries (a delight for birds) 10 to 50 feet, depending on variety Zones 2 to 7, depending on variety 10 to 30 feet Full sun to light shade Moist well drained, prefers acidic soils. Water regularly, especially during drought and Mulch to retain moisture Not necessary – remove dead branches in winter. Sow seeds under glass in autumn. Mountain Ash belongs to the rose family. Once the flowers disappear, bright-red, orange or yellow berries appear. The trees have red branches and leaves that form the basic shape of a feather. They turn yellow to fiery golden orange in autumn. Which make the Mountain Ash a wonderful tree to paint a vivid scene throughout each season. DID YOU KNOW March’s Flower of the month is: Narcissus, its flower color is Yellow, and it means, “The sun shines when I’m with you” Homemade suet for birds: mix together different grains, seeds, nuts, fruit, fruit peal, and crushed eggshells, into a melted suet. Pack firmly into recycled paper towel rolls and freeze. When needed take out of freezer and unroll the cardboard tube then drop “suet log” into a wire suet feeder. As promised: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. Plant list from our February’s guest speaker - Marg Hooglan - Majak Gardens Licorice – our greenhouse Dichondra Silver Falls Plectranthus Nicoletta Plectrathus Nico Purple Fountain Grass Millet Purple Majesty Coleus Aurora Chocomint Coleus Aurora Sherbet Coleus Aurora Stoplight Perilla Magella Angelonia Purple Stripe Torenia Clown Burgundy Torenia Clown Plum Lobelia Periwinkle Blue Nemesia Aromatica Dark Lavender Nemesia Aromatica Light Pink Scaveola Zigzag Diascia Wink Pink Diascia Wink Light Apricot Bacopa Abunda Portulaca Fairytale Cinderella Snapdragon Luminaire Deep Purple Snapdragon Luminaire Harvest Red Verbena Aztec Raspberry Verbena Aztec Lilac Picotee Verbena Aztec Silver Magic As promised: 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. Impatiens Fanfare Fuschia Impatiens Fanfare Light Lavender and Fuschia Calibrachoa Purple Calibrachoa Rose Calibrachoa Yellow Petunia Suncatcher Pink Vein Petunia Suncatcher Deep Plum Purple Wave Blue Wave Wave Blue, Misty Lilac and Millet Easy Wave Pink Easy Wave Cherry Easy Wave White Easy Wave Shell Pink Easy Wave Pink, Cleome and Salvia Blue Easy Wave Pink, Plumbago and Licorice Tidal Wave Purple Tidal Wave Silver Double Wave series Double Wave Plum Vein Dahlia Melody Osteospermum Passion Mix Dragon Wing Begonia Geranium Starburst Red Combo Planter This recipe was requested at last summer’s Garden Club Barbecue. It is delicious served with cream cheese on crackers as an appetizer and makes a nice hostess gift. Pepper Jelly 4 cups chopped peppers (any combination of red, green, yellow or orange) ¾ cup apple cider vinegar 1 box LIGHT Certo crystals 3 ½ cups sugar In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup of sugar with the Certo. In a large pot, mix peppers and vinegar together. Add the Certo mixture and stir well. Over high heat, cook and stir until mixture comes to a full boil. Stir in remaining sugar. Continue stirring over high heat until mixture returns to a full boil. Continue to stir and boil for 2-5 minutes until desired consistency is reached, testing on plate chilled in freezer. Take off heat and let cool for 5 minutes, skimming foam. Pour into sterilized jars and seal. Makes 5-250 ml jars. GARDEN QUOTES, THOUGHTS & HUMOUR March is known to be the: “Strategic Time for Laying the Foundations for your Summer Garden”