March Newsletter 2020
Next Meeting
March 11th
6:00 pm
Girl Scout Building
Presentation
2020 Herb of the Year
Ides of March
March 15th
Save crushed aluminum cans to use instead of drainage stones in large pots and planters. They work well without adding a lot of weight.
New moon
March 24th
Add blueberry bushes to your yard. Not only do they provide delicious berries, but also they feature creamy-white spring flowers and scarlet fall foilage.
Super Straw
In a straw bale garden, the bales break down over time, turning into richly composted planters. Want to try it? Choose an area that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sun daily. Put down newspapers or landscape fabric and arrange bales on top. Completely soak with water; several days later; soak again. After 1 to 2 more weeks, cut a small trench near the outside of the edge of the bale and 1 to 2 holes in the middle of each bale. Fill with a mixture of half potting soil and half composted cow manure. Plant flower seeds in the trench and transplant in the holes; cover with soil. Water often and fertilize weekly.
Shamrock Legend and Lore
https://www.pamsbackyardchickens.com/
The Irish legend of St. Patrick says that when he was a missionary, he had trouble getting the idea of the Holy Trinity across to people. According to Laura C. Martin in Wildflower Folklore, “The chief of a tribe asked how one could be three. St. Patrick, seeing a shamrock growing close by, bent and picked a leaf and said, “Here in this leaf, three in one, this is a symbol of my faith, Three Gods in One.” The chief was impressed by the analogy and professed his faith.” Eventually, St. Patrick became the patron saint of Ireland and the shamrock plant has been the symbol of Ireland since the 18th century. It did have some dark days when “wearing of the green” and using the symbol of the shamrock plant was associated with rebellion in the 19th century. Today, the shamrock plant is a registered trademark by the Government of Ireland. The shamrock is to Ireland what the rose is to England and the thistle is to Scotland. In fact, the shamrock is in the United Kingdom’s Royal Coat of Arms. It grows from a single stem along with the rose and thistle. It’s a symbol of unity between the three kingdoms and can be found on public buildings and such in Britain and in Ireland. It’s even on Buckingham Palace.
The leaves of the shamrock plant are said to stand upright to signal a storm’s coming.
In Irish, shamrock comes from the word seamróg which means summer plant.
Wood sorrel, a member of the Oxalis family, is a symbol for joy and maternal tenderness.
Shamrock Plant Care Tips
Don't give your plant too much water. Let the top few inches of soil dry out and then water carefully so you don't harm the delicate stems. I water my plants from the bottom.
At night, shamrock plants will close their leaves. Don't worry, your plant will perk up in the morning.
I keep my shamrock plants in bright filtered light. They sit in an east-facing window through the winter and on the deck just outside that window in the summer.
If your plants start to turn brown and look horrible, give the bulbs some time to rest and rejuvenate. This is usually done in the summer by stopping water and letting the plants die back for a few weeks.
Don't stress over giving your plants a rest. They will let you know what they need. Some people grow these plants for years and never give them a rest.
Shamrock plants do well in basic household humidity.
From time to time, shamrock plants can be repotted in a high-quality potting soil.
You can remove spent flowers by snipping them, but it's not necessary for rebloom.
Club News…Board meeting will be held March 3rd at 5:30 at the Pie Company. Any member is welcome to attend.
Meeting is March 11th, 6:00pm at the Girl Scout Council. Just a reminder that membership fees are due $16 for single or $26 for couple. A presentation on the Herb of the Year will be given. (Let’s all wear green…let’s see who reads the newsletter!)
Our club will be helping serve on Sunday March 22nd at Supper at the Center. The center is located 127 W Johnson Ave, WTH 47885. If you want to volunteer please arrive around 4pm.
The club has agreed to participate in the ISU earth day from11am-2pm , April 22nd We will be making paper pots with basil seeds
We will also be giving a presentation, “Welcoming Herb into your Landscape” to Vermillion County Home Extension club, May 6th at the Wayside Church in Clinton. Flyer will be in the next newsletter.
The bus trip will be June 27th. We will visit a lavender farm in Mooresville, DePauw nature park, Hilltop Orchid Farm, see the painted silos and a mystery stop. The club will provide dinner, and lunch is your responsibility. Stay tuned for more details. Thank you Connie and your committee for planning this trip!
At the February meeting is was approved by members to order reusable tote bags and ink pens. The order has been placed and they should be in by the March meeting.
