The Columns | 15
www.TWHOA.net • 941.349.0194 • December 2019• Island Visitor Publishing, LLC
GARDEN CLUB If you would like to join the The Garden Club wishes month include celery, cauliSoil Test: If plants did not THE CRAFT FAIR WAS A Garden Club, please come to the everyone a Merry Christmas / flower, lettuce, cabbage, and perform as desired this year or HUGE SUCCESS. Kudos to Carol Shields for all her hard work, Linda Hoos, a great announcer, and Everyone who helped with this event. (I cannot report on the Fashion Show, since this article was due before the deadline.) Please remember to put aside any usable items that you are thinking of giving away for the Trash and Treasure. We use the money received from the Trash and Treasure so that the Fashion Show can be a free event. Our next meeting is Saturday, February 8th. We will be collecting our $5.00 dues at this meeting. Please bring it in an envelope with your name / telephone # and email address. Cash is appreciated.
meeting. Why join the Garden Club? To meet new Ladies and be involved in Four of the fun events held in season. Don’t let the name scare you; we are more of a social club. Few members work in the garden. The Garden Club is responsible for the Craft Fair, Fashion Show, Trash and Treasure and the Butterfly Garden, and we have an end-of-season Luncheon for members only. The Butterfly Garden is near the Gazebo. Linda and John Hoos volunteered to care for the garden and have done an outstanding job. Did you see the Halloween decorations? I cannot wait to see what they do again for Christmas. A Big Thank You to Linda and John
Happy Hanukkah And a Very Happy New Year Rachelle DellaRocca 239-322-6386
DECEMBER WHAT TO PLANT Bedding Plants: To add color to the winter garden, plant masses of begonia, impatiens, and geranium. Bulbs: Amaryllis is a popular plant for the holiday season. They can be forced to bloom now or planted outdoors for spring blooms. Herbs: Plant herbs that thrive in cool weather. Some to try are parsley, thyme, sage, dill, fennel, and cilantro. Vegetables: Reliable cool season vegetables to plant this
carrot.
DECEMBER WHAT TO DO
Poinsettias: One of the most popular holiday plants is poinsettia. Enjoy it indoors now; then plant in the garden to re-bloom next year. Irrigation: Plants may need irrigation if the weather has been warm and dry. Monitor for signs of stress and water only as needed. Fungal disease: Continue monitoring for brown patch and large patch fungal disease through May. Cultural practices are key in control. Houseplants: Inspect regularly for pests on indoor plants. Keep in mind that plant specific temperature, light, and humidity are key to ensuring that indoor plants thrive.
new plantings are being planned, a soil test may be a good idea. Compost: Composting is environmentally friendly and produces a beneficial soil amendment or mulch. Plant debris provides the carbon ingredient needed for successful composting. Pests: While cooler weather generally means fewer pests, some populations actually increase at this time of year. Continue monitoring and treat as needed. Holiday Trees: Consider enjoying a live southern red cedar and then plant it in the landscape when the holidays are over. Protect: Falling temperatures may require protection of tender orchids, impatiens, and tomatoes Excerpts from the Florida Gardening Calendar University of Florida.
