After the January hiatus, Carroll Garden Club met at Union Bridge Community Center. The majority of our members were in attendance with only a couple absences and we were happy to welcome some guests, returning for a second visit.
Our hostesses were Katie, Mil and Sue. Katie had conceived of a Leap Year theme, so Mil drew on her kindergarten craft repertoire to create some cute paper frogs on mirror ponds to decorate the tables. Kate used the swamp theme with cattails and lilypad-like salmon-colored anthuriums. The menu was cream of potato soup, ham and cheese tea sandwiches, deviled eggs, spinach salad with bacon, Winter Salad with cranberries, apples, pears and cashews, Russian Tea and Pink Punch to drink. Mil made white chocolate frogs to go with the theme. There were cookies, cheesecake, coconut pie and a green-themed pineapple, pecan gelatin salad. Call it a Welcome Back, Garden Friends! kind of luncheon.
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- Anthuriums on tables
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- Mil’s posed froggies
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- Lunch table with cattails
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- Dessert spread
After lunch we were pleased to welcome our speaker from Carroll County Master Gardeners, Laura O’Callaghan, who gave a presentation urging us to include native plants in our gardens.
Laura setting up
Here are her major points:
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- Overview
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- What is a native plant
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- Why Natives Matter
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- Superior natives
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- Make a sanctuary
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- Elements of native garden
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- Make a Haven
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- Attract pollinators
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- Best liked natives
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- Sun lovers
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- Shade Lovers
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- Keep out invasives
Our horticulture goal had to do with floral arrangements. Marjorie had instructed us to bring miniature arrangements no larger than 5 inches. Then she, Barb and Brenda proceeded to test entries for how well they fit the size and other criteria.
