Creating Garden Art: January Program

Who says you can't garden in winter?!

When you come to Cottage Grove Garden Club's January 5th presentation, keep your garden gloves in the drawer and put on your creative hat, for we will be making garden art. Fused glass sun catchers and other "dangling pretties" for our patios and gardens are one option.

Our very own Kit Porter -- fused glass artist and instructor -- will be leading us in the making of these glass ornaments. Not only is Kit a very talented veteran artist selling at PNW shows and fairs but she is also an excellent instructor. Have no worries about being able to make something clever and pretty---Kit finds a way for everyone to "make magic happen in glass."

For those who are reticent to work with glass, we have an equally thrilling project option for you! Our president, Peggy Severns, will lead us in decorating terra cotta garden pots using an assortment of mixed media in painting and gluing. Peggy has a patio and garden filled with joyful and whimsical garden art. You, too, can learn and practice techniques to beautify your own pots at home. If you already have something in mind that requires special material, please bring it.

Our primary focus will be making "dangling pretties" and “prettified pots” as part of the club's fundraising efforts and as such, there is no fee. However, for those wishing to take their artwork home, there will be a materials fee.

Whether you are a member or not, please join us on Tuesday, January 5th, at The First Presbyterian Church (corner of Adams and 3rd Streets), and we'll put your art talents to good use while we all have a BLAST! Business meeting starts at 6:00 pm, garden art creation begins at 7:00 pm.

Who says you can't garden in winter?!

Holiday Party!

This Tuesday, December 1st, Cottage Grove Garden Club hosts our annual Holiday Party. All current and former garden club members are invited to attend.

Please bring a potluck dish to share and join us at 6pm, Friendship Hall – First Presbyterian Church 216 South 3^rd Street, Cottage Grove.

Propagation: November Program

President Peggy and Andrea stop
for a photo while working at the All America City Square.

Our November presentation will include a down-n-dirty how-to for propagation methods and techniques, plus a little hands-on of actually dividing dahlias and perennial plants.

This presentation is being led by our own Andrea Mull, and if you’ve ever been to one of Andrea’s presentations you know it will be packed with practical information you can use in your own garden!

People should bring a pair of hand pruners (ie., Felcos) and gloves if they wish and possibly a plant or tuber or something that they want to know how to divide or contribute.

We will accomplish as much as we can, and everyone should be able to take some plants home to nurse for their own gardens and for the upcoming Spring Plant Sale!!

Please join us Tuesday, November 3rd, at 6pm for the business meeting with the propagation presentation beginning at 7pm. Refreshments provided. All guests welcome.

Beyond the War on Invasive Species: Program by Tao Orion on October 6

Tao Orion, author of the book Beyond the War on Invasive Species: A Permaculture Approach to Ecosystem Restoration will be our guest speaker at Garden Club on Tuesday, October 6. Tao teaches permaculture design at Oregon State University and at Aprovecho; consults on holistic farm, forest, and restoration planning; and is focused on rethinking invasive species from a permaculture-based perspective.

Tao's book, Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers an alternative perspective on invasive species and the best practices for their management based on a holistic, permaculture-inspired framework.

Utilizing the latest research and thinking on the changing nature of ecological systems, Beyond the War on Invasive Species closely examines the factors that are largely missing from the common conceptions of invasive species, including how the colliding effects of climate change, habitat destruction, and changes in land use and management contribute to their proliferation. Beyond the War on Invasive Species demonstrates that there is more to the story of invasive species than is commonly conceived, and offers ways of understanding their presence and ecosystem effects in order to make more ecologically responsible choices in land restoration and biodiversity conservation that address the root of the invasion phenomenon. The choices we make on a daily basis—the ways we procure food, shelter, water, medicine, and transportation—are the major drivers of contemporary changes in ecosystem structure and function; therefore, deep and long-lasting ecological restoration outcomes will come not just from eliminating invasive species, but through conscientious redesign of these production systems.

Please join Garden Club on Tuesday, October 6 as we welcome Tao Orion. Our business meeting starts at 6pm, Tao's presentation begins at 7pm. Refreshments provided. All guests welcome.

First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street (the corner of 3rd and Adams), Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Canning the Summer's Harvest Garden Club's September Program

Whether they are Mighty 'Matoes from Log House Plants or Indigos from Territorial Seed, what do you do with your abundance of tomatoes? Canning is one way to preserve those luscious red globes.

On Tuesday, September 1, Cottage Grove Garden Club’s own Master Food Preservers will demonstrate how easy it is to safely can your tomatoes using the water bath method. This presentation will feature a demonstration and discussion about canning tomatoes and tomato products. Remembering the risk of botulism poisoning, the information will focus on what to water bath can and what to pressure can. SAFE and tasty recipes for combined tomato-vegetable sauces and salsas will be demonstrated and shared. Making a delicious basil tomato hors d'ouevre by dehydrating them together will also be demonstrated and tasted.

Presenters are Garden Club members Ona Chambers, Suzanne Keaveny, and Beth Pool.

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1 at the First Presbyterian Church in Cottage Grove for Canning the Summer’s Harvest with Master Gardeners and Preservers. Our regular meeting starts at 6pm and the presentation begins at 7pm.

Refreshments provided. All guests and visitors welcome.

Fruiting Shrubs for the Northwest Edible Garden

On Tuesday, June 2, please join the Garden Club as we welcome Devon Bonady, co-owner of Fern Hill Nursery and Botanical Sanctuary in Cottage Grove. Devon will share in-depth information about growing edible fruiting shrubs in our area. She will discuss her favorite shrubs and varieties as well as how to enjoy the fruit over many years of harvest.

Devon started Fern Hill Nursery in 2006, and along with her husband Brian, they propagate and cultivate a diverse array of edible, medicinal, native, and locally adapted plants. Some of those plants will be available for sale following the presentation.

We have had the pleasure of hosting Devon in the past and are excited that she will be joining us again. Garden Club meets in the Friendship Hall at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street (the corner of 3rd and Adams). Our business meeting starts at 6pm, and Devon's presentation begins at 7pm. All guests and visitors welcome. Refreshments provided.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

As you take a bright spring walk through the world famous Keukenhof Gardens of Lisse, Netherlands, you will see tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils wash over the landscape in a riot of colors - lining walkways, framing ponds and waterways, and blanketing the woodland floor.  While you meander through the Japanese Garden, you can marvel over the orchids in the Beatrix Pavilion. 

Come Tiptoe Through the Tulips with the Cottage Grove Garden Club as Club member Diane Murray shares a slide show presentation of a recent visit to these beautiful locations. We will meet on Tuesday, May 5, the business meeting begins at 6pm and Diane's presentation begins at 7:00. Refreshments provided, all visitors and guests welcome.

The Cottage Grove Garden Club meets in the Friendship Hall at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street (the corner of 3rd and Adams), Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Here's a sampler from the Keukenhof website:

Dahlias

Photo from B. Mully, Flickr/Creative Commons.

Just in time for spring planting, you will find all the information you need for growing dahlias at Cottage Grove Garden Club's April 7th presentation.

This Tuesday we feature Dan Duffy of the Lane County Dahlia Society. Dan will take us through bulb varieties, selecting, planting and growing dahlias.

If you've ever been curious about growing dahlias, or want to learn tips to grow healthier dahlias, please come join us at the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of 3rd and Adams. Business meeting begins at 6pm, Dan's presentation begins at 7pm.

All guests and visitors welcome.

Grafted Vegetables with Alice Doyle

This coming Tuesday please join Cottage Grove Garden Club in welcoming Alice Doyle of Log House Plants.

Alice will speak about the Log House's exciting new varieties of annuals, perennials, and edibles for 2015, including "Ketchup 'n' Fries" and the world's first dwarf grape.

Ketchup 'n' Fries is a tomato plant grafted to a potato plant. Territorial Seed says that this "grafted combination was first introduced to U.K. home gardeners last year and was a smashing success." For the first time it is being offered to US gardeners. Territorial says it is the "ultimate" container plant, but will do equally well in the garden.

Alice will join the Garden Club on Tuesday, March 3. Our business meeting starts at 6pm and Alice's presentation follows at 7pm.

The garden club meets in the Friendship Hall at the First Presbyterian Church at 3rd and Adams. All are welcome. Refreshments provided.

Not Your Usual Garden Variety Show

Our February presentation will be a little different this year... motivated by video clips from the Johnson Bros. newscasts on KEZI we will have informal round table discussions.

Are you wanting to know what to do in your garden in late winter and early spring? Gardeners sharing some of their tried and true techniques (and a few flops) will surely inspire camaraderie and provide solutions to your gardening challenges. If you want to get down and dirty with fellow gardeners — novice and experienced — please join us.

As always, this presentation is FREE and open to the public.

Please join The Cottage Grove Garden Club on Tuesday, February 3 at The First Presbyterian Church (on the corners of Adams and 3rd). Our business meeting begins at 6:00 pm, with refreshments following. The presentations begin at 7:00.

Hope to see you there!