October - Our own seedy exchange

Were you ready for the snow?

As flakes fell, the Highlands Community League Hall felt extra cosy for our October meeting.

Some members were prepared for the snowfall (I was not one of them).  We talked about putting the garden to bed, the great re-jig of the Community Garden (thanks, Ollie!), potential club holiday plans, and some projects for the new year.

With "business" out of the way, it was on to our seed and bulb exchange!

Among the selection were Ollie's tulip bulbs and Cheri's native plant seeds.  Margaret also offered to split her lovely mums (left, still blooming) next spring.  Fingers-crossed this bout of snow doesn't stick around so we can put our new finds into the ground.  

(Below: Our youngest member was not for swap.)

November's meeting will be our holiday / year end celebration.  Keep your eyes on your inbox for an email with more details.

Dionne's Herb Garden

The night started out warm, but cooled down quickly as the sun went down.  Dionne was prepared: herbal mosquito repellent!  Thus protected we toured her garden of herbalist delights.

Amongst the towers of sunflowers (they help take the metals out of the soil) there was milk thistle, Campanula (can cut down and it just spreads and spreads), Skullcap, and California poppies. 

Members seemed most interested in the ones that had calming and sleeping benefits.

Once dark, we headed inside for the meeting and enjoyed lilac cordial with pretty floating ice cubes of calendula and violas (all homemade from flowers in her garden).


We talked about:

- Building bee hotels in the future
- the plant exchanges happening on the weekend

- The Open Farm Days at Northlands - Margaret continues to recommend the tours.  Hopefully it'll still be around next year for others in the club to partake.

Canada 150

Canada's 150 birthday is next year -- are you planning on making your garden red and white? 

Whether you're going all in or just adding a small patch of our national colours, this might catch your attention: the Netherlands's has created a special commemorative tulip --  The Canada 150. 

Club members were pretty excited about this flower last meeting.  It's certainly pretty with its smooth white petals and "maple leaf" (inspired) red markings.

Photo courtesy: National Capital Commission

To get your hands on some bulbs, check with Home Hardware the exclusive retailer.


For more info about this tulip, photos of Ottawa's spring-time tulip displays, information about Canada-Netherlands connection visit The Weather Network News. 

August's Weed and Wine

Marie in vintage Highlands Garden Club gear.

After some hard work in the community garden, we retired into the community hall for some much hard-earned wine and gardening talk. 

Dandelions as big as carrots!

 

 

 

Margaret demonstrated good technique for "slug scooping" and gave us each our own super doper slug scooper spoon (patent pending).  Perfect for all the slugs we've been seeing with our raining weather. 


Unfortunately, another pest has been attacking our gardens: the scarlet lily beetle.  Lori is following up with the Lily society for more information and help. Stay tuned!

Highlands Herb Walk with Dionne (YEG Community Herbalist)

Club member Dionne, YEG Community Herbalist, is holding guided tour of her Highlands herbal garden where participants learn what grows in our city and when/how to harvest, use, and prepare them as medicine.

Highlands Garden Club members receive a $10 discount!

See below for details and how to register.

Creative Fire: Artist Garden Tour

Part one of June 8th's meeting was a garden tour of Creative Fire Studio.  Artist Beverly Oliwa showed how she integrates her beautiful Paverpol sculptures in the garden for a whimsical and magical effect.  Sylvia and Aimee were so enamored by her work they purchased one to celebrate their wedding anniversary!

Dionne shares her photos and a few words on the visit:

It totally torrentially down poured when we arrived at Bev's house.  We got soaked & huddled in her living room looking out into the garden & learned a bit more about her sculpture making process. 

We wandered the garden, & enjoyed. 

ARLS's 31st Annual Lily Show 2016

Posted on behalf of The Alberta Regional Lily Society

The Alberta Regional Lily Society (an affiliate of the North American Lily Society) presents its 31st  ANNUAL LILY SHOW 2016 at the GREENLAND GARDEN CENTRE (23106 Highway 16 East at Clover Bar Road - Sherwood Park)

PUBLIC SHOW HOURS
- Saturday, July 23, 2016 - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, July 24, 2016 - 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Everyone Welcome.

For more information and updates:
www.arls-lilies.org
www.facebook.com/Albertaregionallilysociety