Phipps Holiday Magic Winter Flower Show and Light Garden Plus Dianne's Raspberry Cookie Recipe

Martin and Anna Karl sent us some pictures of the Phipps winter show.
Dianne Machesney gave me her recipe for Raspberry Almond Cookie and this is below the pictures.
Happy New Year to all!

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies    

from Dianne Machesney, September 's dessert

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 tsp almond extract

2 cups flour

Raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream sugar, butter and extract for two minutes.   Add flour and beat two minutes.  Roll into one inch balls, press a thumbprint to hold jelly.  Put 1/4 tsp. jelly in depression.  Bake 14-18 minutes until edges lightly browned.

Let cool.  Glaze with 1 cup powdered sugar, 1-1/2 tsp almond extract, and 3 tsps water.

November Holiday Tour of Frick Mansion and Lunch

Holiday Outing - November 23, 2019

Garden club members toured the Frick mansion, beautifully decorated in the Victorian style.  Two decorations which stood out:

·      The base of the Christmas tree in the entry way to the mansion.  Instead of your typical tree skirt, it was more of a woodland scene.  Really cool to see.

·      The tree on the dining room table had ribbons leading to each place setting.  The tradition was that the guest would pull on the ribbon, and out of the tree would come a small gift for them.  

Following the tour, members were able to tour the greenhouse, on site, which had a large variety of different plants in it.

Everyone made their way to Cafe Notte, where we had a delicious lunch, and lots of good cheer and camaraderie.

Colleen thanked Denny for arranging the tour and lunch and wished everyone Happy Holidays. She also announced the first 2 programs for 2020:

·      In January, our own Dianne Machesney will be presenting a program on Butterflies.

·      In February, Roxanne from the Audubon Society will be presenting a program on gardening for difficult landscapes, primarily hillsides.

Denny arranged, here wirth Terrri

Victoria & Terri

Linda & Linda

One of the terrific guides 

Side entrance of Frick Mansion

Under the portico of main entrance

In the greenhouse, Mary Anne, Claudia, Dorothy

Same place, addition of Rose Mary

At Cafe Notte, L to R, Peggy, Jeanne, Debbie, Jane, Linda

Diana, Linda, Ellen, Linda, Denny

Janine, Chris, Andrea, Lynn

Marlow, Dorothy, Helen, Terry, Victoria, Nancy

Rose Mary, Claudia, Mary Anne, Colleen (Evan unseen, snapped picture)

May our lives be slow enough to follow the age-old and honorable occupation of plant watching. Happy Holidays!

LAGC Meeting – October 22, 2019

This is the final meeting of the year.  Colleen opened up the meeting by welcoming the members. Currently blooming in member gardens: Nicotiana, Stella D’Oro Daylilies, Perennial Begonias, Mums, Sedum, Perennial Chrysanthemums, Pineapple Sage, Monkshood, N.E. Aster.

Reminder to all members:  Dues are being collected by Denny -  $15 for the year.  Also make sure your information in the directory is up to date and provide any changes to Linda Brown or Ellen Dvorsky.

Denny collected everyone’s payment for the Christmas tour of Frick/Luncheon at Café Notte.  He also asked that for those attending the luncheon, let him know your meal, beverage and dessert choices.  Frick tour is $13, luncheon is $28, together $41.  The tour will be on November 23, at 10:30 am.  Luncheon is set for 12:30 at Café Notte.  An email will go out about carpooling prior to the tour date, to be coordinated by Mary Anne.  Dianne motioned, Andrea seconded and the motion carried to have the Christmas luncheon subsidized with up to $100 from the treasury, to cover any overages.

Cards for Bev and Flo are in the back, please sign.

Claudia brought Siberian Iris plants, Peggy brought Perennial Begonia plants, please help yourselves.  Neither wants to take them back home.

Publicity team would like program info for the first quarter, as magazines require advance notice, usually by the first week in December.

Jenna Noker has agreed to be the overall program coordinator for programs again, with various members taking responsibility for working with program speaker for individual months.  Coordinate with Jenna, getting her all of the pertinent info for the month you are responsible for, i.e. speaker or tour (and who is doing tour), short bio, any special equipment needs such as table, projector… January’s program will be presented by Dianne Machesney – “Gardening for Butterflies”.  Colleen made note of topics for the rest of the year, with who will be responsible for the month.  A spreadsheet has been developed to help assist in coordination.  Jenna will need the information by mid December, in order to get it to Marlowe for print in the 2020 directory.  If you are having difficulties, please coordinate with her. It was decided that the member planning the program will confirm with the speaker/tour guide one month prior to the program/tour date.

Marlowe is looking for any pictures from your garden for use in the directory.  Discussed having a contest for use of front cover for 2021 directory.

Dianne presented the treasurer’s report. Beginning balance of $4,119.22, plus dues deposit of $300, minus speaker fee of $100, leaves us with an ending checking account balance of $4,319.22.  Plus petty cash of $61.87 leaves us with a total balance of $4,381.09.  She indicated that there will be a surplus of approximately $4600 or 2019 budget year, and asked for ideas of what to do with the surplus.  Bring your ideas with you to the January meeting.  A couple of ideas were a contribution to the Northland Library Learning Garden (they are currently looking for gift cards to local nurseries) or a contribution to the Rosalinda Saurianni Garden that we toured in August) (Alyssa looks for “in kind” donations of things like various fertilizers, bark mulch, compost, straw … and will provide Andrea with a “wish list”. There is no guarantee that a cash contribution will be used towards the garden).

Thank you to Jane MacCredie and Janine Zink for desserts and arrangement respectively.

Jane setting up desserts and beverages

Jenna Noker presented how to make “Birdseed Ornaments”.  The activity was a lot of fun for the members.  

Tips, use large cookie cutters, with high sides, to make it easier to form the ornament, and put a hole through for the ribbon used for hanging.  The cups in muffin pans or a bundt pan for a bigger “ornament” also work great.  Once made, they will need to be refrigerated or frozen to properly set.

 

Claudia & Mary Anne

Peggy & Dorothy

Jeanne & Jane (standing)

Martin, Bill, & Chris

Chris, Diana, Mary Jo 

Evan, Chris, Diana

Peggy (note the large container & heavy spoon)

Almost finished, poke hole for ribbon, refrigerate, and remove form

Materials (will make a lot)

1 c hot water

2 packages gelatin (like knox)

¾ c flour

6 T corn syrup

8 c birdseed

Wax paper

Non-stick cooking spray

Twine or ribbon

Cookier cutters, bundt pan, muffin tins

Wax paper

1.   Place cookie cutters on wax paper.

2.   Spray cookie cutters, or muffin/bundt pans with cooking spray.

3.   Dissolve gelatin in hot water.  Add flour until combined.  Add corn syrup.

4.   Place birdseed in a large mixing bowl.  Add sticky mixture and stir until completely combined.

5.   Press birdseed mixture into cookie cutters, muffin/ bundt pans and remove excess from outside.

6.   Refrigerate until gelatin is set.

Ornaments can be hung outside for feathered friends to enjoy.

This recipe works best during cold months. Rain and warm temperatures can cause the ornament to disintegrate.  Store in freezer until ready to use.

September Meeting Summary

LAGC Meeting – September 24, 2019

Colleen opened up the meeting by welcoming the members. Currently blooming in member gardens: Zinnia, Verbena, a rebloom of Balloon Flower, Hydrangea, Gerber, Shasta & Montauk Daisies, and Helianthus. Members have noticed an increase in butterflies and bees visiting their blooms.

Reminder to all members:  Dues are being collected -  $15 for the year.  Also make sure your information in the directory is up to date and provide any changes to Linda Brown or Ellen Dvorsky.

A donation was given to the Latodomi Nature Center in remembrance of Marilyn Guertner who had passed away this summer. A moment of silence was held to remember her.

We are still looking for a program coordinator to work with Jenna the first few months of the year, and then take over.  Contact Colleen if you would like to volunteer. Colleen floated the idea to attending members of having various members be responsible for the program for 1 month, similar to what we do with dessert and flower arrangement duties.  The response was positive with many ideas being floated, of which Colleen took notes.

If anyone has a pollinator certified garden, please let Mary Anne know.  The Shaler Garden Club is putting together statistical information for our area.

Anita passed around the sign up sheet for dessert/floral arrangement duties.  If you were not present at the meeting, please get in touch with Anita to sign up for an open slot.

Eloise Peet had reached out to our club to see if anyone would be interested in helping resurrect the community garden in Ross Township.  Please reach out to her directly for more information and if you are interested.

Mary Anne reminded everyone to take note of plants to be divided for our plant sale in the spring.  If you have a place to overwinter the potted plants, do the division/potting up now, which leaves you with 1 less task for next year.

Ideas were floated for the holiday celebration. Members were interested in doing the Frick House Tour, which begins Nov 22 and runs through the 1^stweek in January  $13 for the tour.  Denny will look into coming up with the restaurant for the holiday luncheon and present at October’s meeting.

Dianne provided Andrea with the treasurer’s report.

Starting checking account balance was $4184.22. Ending Checking account balance of $4,119.22 + petty cash of $61.87 leaves us with a total of $4,181.09.

Thanks to Diane for the delicious desserts and to Helen for the lovely arrangement.

 

Helen's arrangement coordinated with Len's talk

“Hostas – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” was presented by Len Lehman, who considers himself a “hostaphile”.

Dwarf golden type

Hostas have increased in popularity lately, as many homeowners now have shady yards due to mature trees.  Hostas are considered members of the lily family, and were once known as Japanese Lily Root.

The emerging hosta shoots are considered edible in Japan, where they pickle them and used them in Sushi, as long as no insecticides are used.

Hostas were brought to the western world by Phillip Franz von Siebold, from Japan. They were first brought to America circa 1840.  Hostas are useful as border plants, for erosion control, and to brighten up shade gardens.  They are a long-term perennial, and best if left alone to mature over several years. Plant them in areas where they won’t be disturbed.  When planting, plant the crown below the ground and water well.

Pests/Diseases – slugs are a nuisance, hosta nematodes can be controlled using crab meal.  There is a Hosta virus X disease.  If your plants get this virus, remove them and throw them away, as there is no known cure.

A hosta sport is a genic variation that occurs when division of a crown takes place.

Hosta species are a group of plants with unique characteristics, capable reproducing the same plant.

Hostas come in many sizes, from miniature to giant.

When starting with hostas, a great place to start is looking for “Hosta of the Year” designation over the various years.

Fertilizing, in spring, use a 5/10/5 water soluble fertilizer, reduce fertilization in summer, and in the fall, fertilized with a weaker water soluble fertilizer, like 2/5/2.

Next Meeting:

October 22, “Hands-on Autumn Craft” by Jenna Noker

A fun filled evening of creativity, all materials will be provided