Butterfly Garden Replanting

Thanks to all who participated in the CCL Spring Butterfly Garden planting.


We had a great number of club members turn out and finished in record time of 45 minutes. This usually take 1:30 hours.



Thanks to Kyle Franklin with I.M.S. Landscaping for the bed preparation, delivering the plants and placing each plant in the “spot”.

Everyone should be proud of the this community service project.



 

May General Meeting

President, Norma Chiaramonte, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center.

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED: Larry & Bev Allen, Jennifer Buchert, Norma Chiaramonte, Kathie Corbett, Sandra Gilbert, Debbie Haluch, Kristina Haygood, Liz Hearn, Gigi and John Marenco, Ian and Lyn McWilliam, David & Marcia Mausolf, Kathi Palacios, and Ann Schmidt. Guests attending were the speaker Ed Eargle, Carol Carmean, Roger and Sheila Guzman, Sandi Mueller, and Valerie Sterrett

PROGRAM: Marcia Mausolf invited Ed Eargle to speak on Keyhole Gardening. He explained that this is a method of a raised organic garden that takes very little space, uses very little water, is sustainable, and easy to care for. He gave us instructions on how to build a Keyhole Garden.

YARD OF THE MONTH: Bev announced that Dan and Sandi Mueller were May Yard of the Month winners.

HOSTESS:  Thank you to Jennifer Buchert for being hostess this month!

DOOR PRIZE: Thank you to Marcia Mausolf for the door prize, won by Kathie Corbett. Other door prizes were won by John Marenco and Kathi Palacios.

MINUTES:  A motion was made and seconded to dispense with the reading of the minutes.

OLD BUSINESS:
Jr. Gardener Event:  Liz reported that there were 52 kids decorating and planting pots for Mother’s Day gifts. The event was a great success. Larry commented that there was more participation from members at the event this year guiding the children through the decorating and planting, which kept the process moving along.

Audit: Norma reported that Doc Stokley had done the audit on the club’s bank account. He found that we needed receipts on the donation we made to CAM and receipt for the dues that were paid to District IV, Houston Federation of Garden Clubs, and Texas Garden Clubs. Those receipts have been place with the bank statements.

Bricks: Sandra reported that she will probably not place any more orders for bricks until the fall.

Butterfly Garden: Larry reported that the plant change out at the garden will be done this Saturday, May 14 at 8 a.m. He asked that we all help with the planting and it should not take more than 1 ½ hours. Please bring your garden trowel and a knee pad.

Yard of the Month: Norma reported that next year there will be 2 yards chosen because of the growth of our community. She also asked for volunteers to take over this job.

NEW BUSINESS:

Brick Installation: John reported that the five bricks will be installed on Tuesday, May 17.

Sign-Up Sheet: Norma passed the sign-up sheets for next year’s monthly speaker coordinator, hostess and door prize.

Brookwood Tours: Marcia announced that Brookwood will have Horticultural Tours of their greenhouses this summer. Tours will be Monday through Friday from 9-11 or 1-3 each day and are free. A minimum of 10 people are needed for a tour. She will coordinate getting a tour scheduled for July.

Dinner: Norma asked that we change the dinner to May 20, so it will not conflict with Memorial Day weekend. The dinner will be at Marvino’s at 7 p.m.

Planning Meeting: Norma announced that the planning meeting for next year will be August 8 at 7 p.m., at the club house.  She asked that we all come to help plan next year’s activities.

GARDENING TIP OF THE MONTH: MAY: This is the best time to start transplanting the heat loving annuals and perennials like VINCAS, CALADIUMS, ZINNIAS, PURSLANE, MOSS ROSE AND COPPER PLANTS.
1001 Garden Line Questions with Randy Lemmon.

PLANNING MEETING: AUGUST 8, 2016

Mother's Day Planters

5th Annual Jr. Gardeners Planting

The annual container gardening planting is very popular in neighborhood. 

This year, 51 containers were created for Mother's Day presents.

Thank you Liz Hearn for spearheading the project and all garden club members for making the process fun.

Getting ready for upcoming Jr Gardening Event

April Garden Club Meeting

President, Norma Chiaramonte, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center.

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED: Larry Allen, Jennifer Buchert, Bonnie Buhl, Norma Chiaramonte, Sandra Gilbert, Debbie Haluch, Elizabeth Hearn, Ellen & Mark Jones, John Marenco, Mike Owens, Ann Wiseman Schmidt, Doc & Peggy Stokley. Guest: Jo-Ann Paul and Dale Smothers

PROGRAM: “Tota” Kelly spoke on Iceland “The Land of Fire” and its flora and fauna

YARD OF THE MONTH: It was announced that to home of Tom and Mechelle Thomas was the recipient of the Yard of the Month.

HOSTESS:  Thank you to Sandra Gilbert for being hostess this month!

DOOR PRIZE: Thank you to Ann Wiseman Schmidt for the 2 containers of crinum lilies and to Ellen Jones and Sandra Gilbert for bringing plants for door prizes, won by John Marenco, JoAnn Paul, Liz Hearn, Sandra Gilbert, Larry Allen and Jennifer Buchert

MINUTES:  A motion was made to dispense with the reading of the minutes by Mark Jones and Liz Hearn seconded the motion. Thank you to Ann Wiseman Schmidt for taking the minutes for this meeting

Norma said that the books need to be audited and will have that report for the May meeting.                                                                                   

OLD BUSINESS:

BRICKS: Sandra reported that the brick had been installed and the next order will arrive on April 28. Larry, Mike and John will install the bricks.

SIGNS: Larry Allen talked about our new signs and the new Jr. Gardener Event sign.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN: Larry announced Butterfly Garden planting will be on Saturday, May 14 at 8 am. He asked for everyone to be there to help with the planting. Kyle will have the garden prepared for the plants.

WOCC FEDERATION MEETING: On April 8, Ann Wiseman Schmidt, Bev Allen, Norma Chiaramonte and Kathie Corbett attended the meeting on floral arrangement.

JR. GARDENER EVENT: Liz Hearn reported that the event will be held on April 30^th from 10-2. A sign-up sheet was passed around for members to help with the event to work from 9-12 and 12-2. Norma suggested that the members need to pass out flyers for the event and a great place to pass flyers out is at the children’s bus stops.

NEW BUSINESS:

VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT YEAR: Norma said that the end of this year is approaching and we need to start planning for next year. Everyone should start thinking about finding speakers for next year. She passed sign-up sheets for the monthly Speaker, Hostess, Door Prize, Sign Placement, and Yard of the Month.

YARD OF THE MONTH: Norma said since Cypress Creek Lakes has grown so much in the past years that we should have 2 yards chosen as Yard of the Month. The division line would be Cypress North Houston.  She asked for volunteers to help with the selection of the homes. Ellen Jones and John Marenco volunteered to help Bev and Norma. The motion was made by Mike Owens and seconded by Ellen Jones to have 2 yards of the month (one home North and one home South of Cypress North Houston) starting in September. The motion passed.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 30: Jr. Gardener Event, 10-2 (volunteers need to be here at 9)

May 14: Butterfly Garden Planting, 8 am

GARDENING TIP OF THE MONTH: Plants for attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies

NEXT MEETING:  May 9, 2016 at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center.

SPEAKER: “KEYHOLE GARDENING” by Edwin Eargle

HOSTESS: Jennifer Buchert

DOOR PRIZE: Marcia & Dave Mausolf

Meeting was adjourned at  9 p.m.

March General Meeting

President, Norma Chiaramonte, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center.

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED:  Bev & Larry Allen, Norma Chiaramonte, Kathie Corbett, Billie Fontana, Sandra Gilbert, Debbie Haluch, Kristina Haygood, Liz Hearn, Ellen & Mark Jones, John Marenco, Ian & Lyn McWilliam, Dave & Marcia Mausolf, Mike Owens, Doc & Peggy Stokley, Melissa Yahner. New Member: Bonnie Buhl. Guests: Valerie Sterrett, Beth Weers, Courtney Bliendenz and R Steele.

PROGRAM: Clara Willibey presented the program on Decorating Gourds. The members all purchased a gourd to decorate from her. Clara gave instructions on how to stain the gourd, transfer a design on to the gourd and draw or paint it.  Clara donated a wall hanging of a gourd that she had designed. Marcia Mausolf won the prize.

YARD OF THE MONTH:

Bev announced that The Russell Walker Family was the recipient of the Yard of the Month.

HOSTESS:  Thank you to Ellen & Mark Jones for being hostess this month!

DOOR PRIZE: Thank you to Ellen & Mark Jones for the door prize, won by Lyn McWilliam

MINUTES:  A motion was made to dispense with the reading of the minutes.

OLD BUSINESS

BRICKS: Sandra reported that the 5 bricks will be installed on Tuesday.

Norma made a list of all 74 bricks that have been installed at the Butterfly Garden.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN: Larry reported that he had not been able to speak to Kyle about the planting, but thought we could plant the garden the last week of April. He has the plan and needs to check the availability of the plants shown.

CAM FOOD DONATIONS: Norma reported that we will have one more food donation to CAM in May. She suggested that we have the donation four times during the September thru May year.

NEW BUSINESS

SPEAKERS: Norma asked the members to start thinking about speakers for next year’s meetings. Sign-up for volunteers to invite speakers will be next month.

JR GARDENER EVENT: Liz Hearn brought a mock-up of a terra cotta pot for the children to decorate and plant for their mothers. She also passed out flyers for the members to hand out to neighbors.

TAX EXEMPT FORMS: Norma is working on getting the tax exempt form ready. The garden club will not have to pay sales tax on items purchased for the club.

GARDENING TIP OF THE MONTH:  GARDENER’S RECIPES HORTICULTURAL OIL SPRAY: 1T. vegetable oil, 1 t. liquid dish soap, 2 C. water. Mix in a spray bottle. Shake before using. Spray tops and bottoms of leaves to kill bugs on plants. Use instead of insecticidal soap. Spray in early morning or late afternoon to avoid plant burn. Repeat weekly if necessary, to kill bugs.                                                                                                                                           SOIL FUNGUS GNAT TREATMENT: 1 T. liquid dish soap, 1 t. white vinegar, 1 gallon water. Use instead of plain water for every tattering. Let soil dry out to a depth of 2” before watering again. Eventually larvae and eggs will be killed off.                                                                FROM THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF GARDEN CLUBS NEWSLETTER, VOLUME 69, No. 7, p. 11.

NEXT MEETING: April 11, 2016 at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center.

February Monthly Meeting

How to attract Houston Hummingbirds

President, Norma Chiaramonte, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center. She welcomed visitors Ann Sansbury and Antonia George, and guests Helen Lombardo and Dale Smothers.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDED: Bev & Larry Allen, Jennifer Buchert, Norma Chiaramonte, Kathie Corbett, Sandra Gilbert, Debbie Haluch, Kristina Haygood, Liz Hearn, Mark & Ellen Jones, John Marenco, Ian McWilliam, Marcia & Dave Mausolf, Mike Owens, and Ann Wiseman Schmidt.

PROGRAM: Jennifer Buchert invited Robbie Edie with Wild Birds Unlimited to speak. Robbie spoke to us about Hummingbirds which come to the Houston area. Robbie brought 4 door prizes which were won by Ian, Mike, John, and Kristina.

YARD OF THE MONTH: Bev announced that Sandra and Kenneth Gilbert were picked this month. Their beautiful home is at 11403 Garden Shadows Lane.

HOSTESS:  Thank you to Liz Hearn for being hostess this month!

DOOR PRIZES: John Marenco and Bev Allen brought door prizes which were won by Jennifer and Dave.

MINUTES:  A motion was made to dispense with the reading of the minutes.

 OLD BUSINESS:

Brick sales: Sandra reported that the bricks should be in by the end of this month.

Butterfly Garden: Larry reported that the garden is looking good. Bev and Marcia took Helen Lombardo to see how beautiful the garden had grown. (Helen designs the flower placement for the Butterfly Garden.)  Helen said that a little rain would really help the flowers bloom. Helen also gave the new plan for the 2016 spring garden to Larry. He said that we would plant it in April.

Signs: Larry reported that he placed 6 signs and John had placed 3 signs. He also said that we will need to order 3 more signs for the new entrances to the subdivision, and that he would order them when the entrances were completed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Norma announced that Clara Willibey would be the speaker next month. Her subject is decorating gourds. Clara will bring gourds for us to decorate, with her instructions for $ 10.00 per gourd. A sign-up sheet was passed around the room and 18 members signed up for a gourd. Eighteen members signed up to buy a gourd. Norma will send an email to members who were not present, to see if they would like to purchase a gourd.

Norma suggested that the club purchase a commemorative brick for the passing of a member’s immediate family (member’s parent or child). A motion was made and passed to do so. Brick forms were given to Mark, Dave and Peggy Sue.

Norma asked if any of the members needed name tags. Sandra will make them up for those needing one.

GARDENING TIP OF THE MONTH:  Valentine’s Day is rose pruning time. Prune back hybrid tea and floribunda roses no shorter than 18” in height. Make all cuts ¼”- ½” above the outward facing buds. DO NOT PRUNE climbing roses or antique roses, until after their bloom cycle.

1001 GardenLine Questions with Randy Lemmon.