On the evening of Sept. 9, the Deer Creek Daisies met at the home, or to be more precise “The Potting Shed,” of Connie Lindsey.
The meeting was co-hosted with Emily King with the theme of the meeting as “Happy Harvest.” As the days are slowly getting shorter, and temperatures soon to be slightly cooler, area farmers will soon be harvesting their crops. As a Chinese proverb would quote, “Autumn is the hush before winter.”
Garden club members were asked to bring 25 to 30 stalks of corn about 30 inches in length with tassels. The entire stalk was not used but rather the leaves were brought up to make a nice fullness of the cutting. Only two stalks at a time were used and each were wired through the grapevine wreath then cut to desired length.
Each person was given a grapevine wreath, wire, and a straw scarecrow decoration. Several made bows from the long corn leaves. The Daisies seemed to get their creative juices flowing. Everyone paired up to help each other hold the wreath or twist the wire in place. All wreaths were completed in an hour-and-a-half.
Connie was decorated with a touch of autumn but yet the summer flowers and colors still prevailed. She assured all that there would still be enough flowers and plants in bloom to make a “Summer’s End Bouquet.” She encouraged the ladies to add the many ornamental grasses now sporting their beauty and works great in design.
The Daisies played a garden game called “Name That Plant.” Here is a list of the plants they had to identify:
Grasses: Arundo Donax, Zebra grass, Northern Sea Oats, Shenandoah Switch grass, Maiden Hair, Little Bunny Fountain grass, Texas Blue switch grass, Purple Fountain grass, Pampas grass.
Other plants: Foxtail Fern, Swiss Chard, Cleome, Bee Balm, Sunflower, Coneflower, Japanese Anemone, Garlic, Sedum (autumn joy), lavender, daylily, a rose.
The bonus plant was a dried Allium (Globe Master) the largest variety.
Winner of the garden prize with the most correct answers was Shirley Pettit, with one point less, Kendra Knecht. Emily King awarded Shirley with a mum called “Edith White” which has small daisy-like blooms.
The group completed their evening with Mt. Sterling’s famous Larry’s Pizza, a seven-layered salad, lemon bars for dessert with a choice of homemade iced tea or lemonade. Connie and Emily thanked all those in attendance.
The next meeting will be hosted by Kendra Knecht and Joyce Schlichter on Oct. 3. Details will be coming soon via mail.
A GARDEN FACT: Chrysanthemums provide the last splash of garden color in many areas of the country. The shortage of daylight starting in late summer triggers these flowers to bloom.
