October Garden-related Events

Here's a sampling of garden-related happenings in the wider Cottage Grove area this month.

October 4 (Tuesday), 6-8pm:
Cottage Grove Garden Club, "The Promise of Garden Clubs": We will explore some of the projects and community service activities promoted by the National Garden Club: including Blue Star Memorials, Penny Pines, and Plant it Pink. We will also hear about the varied ways that other clubs become active in these projects.

The garden club meeting starts at 6pm, and the presentation begins at 7pm. Light refreshments are provided and all guests welcome.

We meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street. Please enter through the garden area, to the left as you face the front doors.

October 8 (Saturday), 1pm:
The Cottage Grove Garden Club hosts it's last Garden Hop of the season. We will be visiting the home of Beth and Richard. Contact Julie for more information.

October 11 (Tuesday), 7pm:
The Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group. Steve Vininsky of Cherry Creek Daffodils speaking on "Bulbs for the Willamette Valley."

October 17 (Monday), 7 pm:
Avid Gardeners. James R. Myers, Professor of Vegetable Breeding and Genetics at OSU will be speaking. Dr. Myers specializes in dry and snap beans, edible podded peas, broccoli, tomato, winter and summer squash, and sweet corn.

October 28 (Friday):
Willamette District Garden Club General Meeting, open to all garden club members. 9:30am Social time, 10:00 meeting/program, 12:00 potluck lunch. There will be a raffle, a country store, the sale of gloves and “Deadline,” and a fun seed exchange. (Meeting at the Eugene Garden Club, 1645 High St., Eugene).

October 30 (Sunday), 10am - 5pm.
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum's Mushroom Festival.... music, food, art, plants, mushrooms, and a scarecrow contest. Not to be missed!

November 1 (Tuesday), 6pm.
Cottage Grove Garden Club. Roger Gossler will be speaking on "Fall and Winter Interest in the Garden." Roger will has have plants and copies of his boook "The Gossler Guide to the Best Hardy Shrubs" available for sale.

"The Promise of Garden Clubs"

Join us next Tuesday, October 4, as we explore some of the projects and community service activities promoted by the National Garden Club. Using video and photos from around the country we'll learn about old favorites, such as Blue Star Memorials (active since 1945), as well as exciting new projects like Plant it Pink (which began in 2009 as a collaboration with the Komen Foundation).

The garden club meeting starts at 6pm, and the presentation begins at 7pm. Light refreshments are provided and all guests welcome.

Meeting location: the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street, Cottage Grove. Please enter through the garden area, to the left as you face the front doors.

Tomato Tasting

Back by popular request!

This September we are featuring another tomato tasting! Bring fresh tomatoes (or any produce) from your garden to share with the club. Please bring enough of just one variety to share; noting its name, and (if it's unusual) where you bought the plant/seed.

We'll share, taste, and enjoy!

Tomatoes still green? Bring another type of produce to taste.
Don't grow vegetables? Come taste anyway!


See you Tuesday, September 6, at 6:00 pm. We meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street (the corner of 3rd and Adams).

All visitors and guests welcome.

Hot Water Treatment for Cut Flowers

I have been using this hot water treatment a lot lately. It works great! The last time I used it, I had some roses from the grocery store that were drooping. They picked up their heads and lasted for another week.

Hot Water Treatment for Cut Flowers

The life of many cut flowers can be extended considerably by giving them a good drink of hot water right after you cut them. Here’s how to do it:

Cut your flowers early in the morning or in late afternoon.
Cut the stems at an angle. They should be 12-24 inches in length.
Heat water on the stove to a temperature of 160 – 180 degrees. Use a cooking thermometer to measure the temperature.
Pour the hot water into a plastic or metal bucket so that it is about 2-3 inches deep (you can also add a flower preservative like Floral Life).
Place the ends of the cut stems into the hot water and leave them there until the water cools.
Afterword, there will be a water mark on the stem where the hot water level was. Cut the stem at this mark.
Place them into cold water – and voila! You have very firm, hydrated flowers that will beautify your table for many days.
This works especially well on Dahlias, as well as Lilacs, Gladiolas, Roses, Hydrangea, and Sunflowers. Try it on other woody or semi-woody stemmed flowers.

June Garden Events

We're going to get sun one of these days!

Here's some garden-related events happening in the Cottage Grove area this month.

June 7:
Cottage Grove Garden Club features Diana Learner speaking on "Color in Your Garden." Diana will talk about getting color from annuals and perennials in your garden. Besides a great talk, she will be bringing plants for sale from Gossler Nursery. Plus, we'll have some great door prizes!

Please note: Diana's talk begins at 6pm. We are meeting at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street.

June 12:
Music in the Garden, 14th Annual garden tour to benefit the Eugene Symphony Guild.

June 12:
Avid Gardeners BUS TOUR! Xera and Joy Creek Nurseries plus a private garden. Cost $35 for non-members. Contact: Marietta or Ernie O’Byrne 541-935-3915 or Sandra Rossi 541-343-0882 541-554-6564.

June 23 (1-4 PM):
Cottage Grove Garden Club Garden Hop, visiting the private gardens of Andrea and Vera. Contact the club for more information.

June 26:
KLCC Garden tour featuring gardens of the Whiteaker Neighborhood.