We met at Union Bridge Community Center after a two month hiatus. We enjoyed catching up with friends.
Our hostesses Audrey, Wilma and Julia went with a St. Patrick’s theme and cleverly used some simple symbols effectively.
-
- Irish potatos on burlap
-
- Clever centerpiece with snowdrops in early March
-
- Shamrocks and green colors for dessert table
We had multiple birthdays so President Gayle had all the February and March celebrants come up to be lauded.
Our speaker was Serene Pelletier who has been growing pre-cut or pick-your-own lavender (now) Sykesville-based Serene Lavender Farm. There she grows over 1000 plants in 12 plots and keeps bees to pollinate them. She offers both English and French varieties; the former (Lavandula angustifolia) is best for culinary purposes and includes varieties like Munstead and Hidcote. French lavender (L. intermedia) is highly aromatic and useful for scented and cleaning products. Lavender essential oil is both calming and antibacterial.Bugs apparently hate it. She also makes numerous lavender based products for sale offered at various farmer’s markets in the area.
Serene, a former Master Gardener, told us that to grow lavender successfully requires full sun and well drained soil and proper spacing for air circulation and accommodation of growth of the full size which can be 3’x3′.
-
- Serene Pelletier
-
- Some of her lavender products
Featured Image:
Bee in Lavender by Ronald Saunders
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_ronsaunders47_-_BEE_IN_THE_LAVENDER.jpg
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
