February 28, 2023 Meeting and Program Notes

            

President Nancy Madeoy welcomed members to the second meeting of the year and the first topic that was addressed was What's blooming in your garden? With the beautiful spring weather we've been experiencing for most of the winter it comes as no surprise that members have Dutch iris, crocus and hellebores in bloom in their gardens. Helen Dean brought forced branches for our dessert table: Forsythia, Carolina Jassamine and Magnolia ‘Jane’.  Although Dianne Machesney was under the weather and couldn't attend the meeting she still contributed delicious pizelles, banana bread and cookies to the table. Thank you to our hostesses.  

    

 

Nancy reviewed the new text tree that will be utilized when we need to reach club members quickly. 

 

Treasurer, Denny reported that he paid the yearly room rental fee to Northmont church and that we are current on all other payments.

 

Mary Ann Kurtz, Program Coordinator announced some programs which she has arranged for the upcoming year.  In July we will be taking a tour of Sandy Csikari's Garden. The August program will be edible landscaping which will be given by a Penn State Master Gardener.  We'll be visiting a dahlia garden in West View for our September program. 

 

It's not too early to begin talking about our annual plant sale. Mary Anne reminded members to collect garden items for the free table at our May 20th plant sale. Again this year, we will NOT be selling the items. Club members are in favor of giving the items to plant sale customers.

 

Nancy reviewed the many upcoming garden events happening around the city. Please check your email for messages from Lynn Betts for details about the following: Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania show on March 18 and 19, North Area Environmental Council seedling sale, seed swap at Phipps, online native plant sale and used orchid sale at Phipps.

 

LAGC received an invitation to set up a booth at the Sewickley May Mart on May 13th where we would sell plants or garden themed items. This idea was discussed and no members were in favor of having a booth. The thought is that club members would rather focus the attention on our own plant sale. Nancy will decline the invitation. Members may support the May Mart by attending the event on their own.

 

Program: Lawn to Nature

Speakers: Ken Knapp and Leah Fulton 

 

Here is the link to order a Lawn to Nature packet and to review additional information.

https://www.naecwpa.org/lawntonature

Our speakers are from the Latodomi Nature Center located in North Park which was established in 1969 on a former 250 acre working farm. The center provides educational programs about nature to the public of all ages. 

 

The Lawn to Nature program launched by the Latodomi Nature Center in 2022 is about encouraging property owners to convert lawn space to plant habitat. The ways to accomplish this is by removing the grass and invasive plants from a 100 foot square section of your lawn and replacing it with wildflowers and native plants. Also, reduce chemical use to improve water quality and boost insect population. Leave brush piles and dried leaves and dead trees for the birds. Ken suggested that we install bird houses and bee houses and provide water and food sources such as suet and seeds.

 

The idea behind the program is based on the teachings of author and naturalist Doug Tallamy's book entitled "Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard."  Communities are already implementing changes to public spaces to bring in more birds and insects but, it's not enough. The thought is that we can do better by making changes in our private yards by reducing our lawns and planting an area of wildflowers. 

Ken mentioned that it's important to have a native "keystone" species plant in the landscape so it's a host to a variety of insects and birds. He gave an example of the oak tree for our area which is like a cafeteria for birds and the many different insects for the birds to eat. 

 

Ken mentioned that it's important to have a native "keystone" species plant in the landscape so it's a host to a variety of insects and birds. He gave an example of the oak tree for our area which is like a cafeteria for birds and the many different insects for the birds to eat.

 

Ken suggested that we prepare an area in our yard now so that the soil is ready to be planted in the spring. The seed mix contains both annual and perennial plant seeds so you should see some flowers this year while the perennials are getting established. The Lawn to Nature website has complete video instructions on how to prepare the garden plot and plant the wildflower seeds.

 

In follow up, Ken suggested that we track what kind of birds and insects come to our yards using an app such as iNaturalist and we could consider pursuing one of the certification programs for wildlife habitat.

 

We were pleased to have 2 door prizes this evening. A guest won a Lawn to Nature packet.

Our treasurer, Denny won a sturdy bluebird box that was donated by our speaker Ken Knapp. 

 

Special mention to Arcadia Native plants in Washington, Pennsylvania, to purchase native plants and to Ernst seeds who provides the seed mix for the Lawn to Nature program.

 

 

 

 

 

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