Tryon Garden Club News April 2020 · Verna, native Bleeding Heart, Dutchman Breeches, Ferns and...

Tryon Garden Club News April 2020

Can you believe? An old picture of the Depot Garden—a grassy park.

I look out my window at the budding trees, spent daffodils, bright azaleas, Hellebores (Lenten roses) still nodding in the wind and Sweet Betsy blooming like I planted them, and I think how lucky I am to be sequestered in my own peaceful part of the world. It is hard in this beautiful environment to remember how big this Covid-19 Virus Pandemic really is. Do take advantage of this quiet time at Pearson’s Falls and enjoy this membership benefit.

Opening PF to TGC members makes me proud to be one. Donna Southworth, Editor

Upcoming Events

General Meeting: CANCELLED April 15, 2020 at

Pearson’s Falls. The May Annual Meeting originally

scheduled for May 20, 2020 will be rescheduled in the

summer (everyone hopes). There may be some business,

like the election of officers that will need to be done via

an email vote of the entire membership. More

information on this as it becomes available.

From the President: Susan Kelley sent an email to all

members that during our closure to the public Pearson's

Falls will be open to Tryon Garden Club members on

Wednesday and Thursday of each week from 10 am to

4 pm. The gate will be open and the cone with the

closed sign will be in the middle of the driveway. Just

move the cone, drive in and put the cone back in place.

If you wish to bring a friend, please do. The $5 fee

for a guest is waived at this time. If you know a

prospective member, please invite them to join you.

Andy and Gene will be somewhere on the property

working. They have a long “To-Do” list.

Susan and the TGC board hopes this will give all of

the TGC members the opportunity to enjoy PF and the

beautiful wildflowers in a private and safe setting.

Please practice safe distancing.

March in Review The March General Meeting was CANCELLED due

to the Covid-19 Virus Pandemic. The club members

and general public did not get to learn from Steve

Bennett about the importance of ephemeral wetlands to

amphibians, reptiles and other wetlands beings in his

presentation—“Temporary Water.” The hope is to

reschedule this program another time, if Eva Pratt and

Donna Wise, Program chairs, and Steve can find a date

that works for both the club’s and his calendars.

Club Business Financials: Carol Newton reports that since the TGC

Board chose to close Pearson’s Falls to reduce the

spread of the pandemic coronavirus on March 28, the

gate receipts were down for March compared to last

year at this time. The financial impact of the closure

remains to be seen. March income is positive thanks to

receipt of the Kirby grant funds from Polk County

Community Foundation.

March expenses include the usual salaries,

operational items at Pearson’s Fall, professional fees

and office rent. No unusual expenses were incurred.

Our PCCF investments values are down.

Hospitality: Thank you Denny Crowe, Donna Wise and

your team of willing servers. The

membership would have liked to sample

your treats. Alas, social distancing makes it

impossible. You are appreciated!

Marketing: Ann Wendling, Janet Peterson, and Beth

Rounds report that multiple Pearson’s Falls

website/Facebook/Google updates have been made

regarding safety protocols, March meeting and spring

walks cancellations, and the PF closure. Articles have

been placed in the Saluda Lifestyles regarding PF

updates, and in the Tryon Daily Bulletin about the

March meeting cancellation, and PF closure.

2


Editor: Donna Southworth, 828-286-4324, [email protected] Member Services: Donna Southworth & Jackie Weedon, 828-894-5970

[email protected]

The monthly ad continues to be placed in Foothills

magazine. Other ads include the Spring Visitors’

Bulletin.

Ann announced that the Pearson’s Falls new website

launched March 30 th

. An announcement was emailed

to all-members. A huge thank you to Beth Rounds who

orchestrated the redesign!

The Website: Beth Rounds and Ann Wendling report

that we have a “fresh” new Pearson’s Falls website. It

went live this past week. The former site was over four

years old and needed a facelift, as well as some content

changes. Go to: pearsonsfalls.org (use: pearsonsfalls).

While the site is primarily an information website for

our PF visitors, we also want people to know more

about our club and activities, including our beautiful

Depot Garden. You can see these are highlighted on

the home page. A few pages are being fixed regarding

the Tryon Garden Club and Depot Garden, but those

should be done within the week.

New photos were used, taken by two professional

photographers, Steve Rich (Aiken, SC) and Vince

Verrecchio (Landrum). Beth said that these two guys

have been amazing to work with! Thanks to all who

provided input into this new design. Please, enjoy.

Facebook Beth Rounds reports that she created a post

on FB for our followers and within 2 minutes there

were replies! She posted 5 pictures of flowers that are

blooming now. In addition she created a post saying

“We miss our visitors, but want to you to know we are

thinking about you and want to share some pictures.

We hope to see you soon.” Beth thinks it is important

to share what’s going on while PF is closed. She

proposes posting what Andy and Gene are working on.

Facebook currently has 3125 followers, up from

2,277 followers in January, 2019.

Programs: All CANCELLED! All that planning, all

those phone calls, all the excitement and

anticipation—all to be cancelled, because of

the invisible virus. Thank you Eva Pratt for

all your hard work! All the TGC members

are looking forward to next year’s programs.

Membership: Jackie Weedon reports that she will be

updating the membership forms for the new

membership year. After the board’s review of the form;

it will be sent to the members in April.

Civic Beautification

Denise Barthold

reports that the

Crested Iris, Fire

Pinks and Blue

Eyed Grass are

blooming! The

early Meadow Rue

is up, and Iris

Verna, native

Bleeding Heart,

Dutchman

Breeches, Ferns

and Seersucker

Sedge are all

showing new spring

growth. The native

plants are making

their appearance—

Trout Lily, Dwarf

Cinquefoil,

Bloodroot, Jack-in-

the-Pulpit, Cutleaf

Toothwort, Liatris,

Spring Beauty, and

Blue-eyed grass.

The native garden

has been mulched.

Denise got help

from her daughter

Erin, spreading

mulch in the

butterfly garden.

Denise donated two large planters to replace the

small concrete planters next to the bench by the Depot

building.

Above: The TGC’s treasure—the native patch within the Depot Garden. Below: Crested Iris.

mailto:[email protected]

3



[email protected]

Before Denise and

Linda Lovelace got

the irrigation system

working, Denise

hand watered the

ferns, native and

moss areas. She

trimmed dead

branches from

azaleas and weeded

tree seedlings. She

continues to trim and

weed throughout the

garden.

Linda Lovelace

worked with Denise

getting the irrigation

system up and

running. In this

attempt, they

uncovered, cleaned

and adjusted the

sprinkler heads.

Denise has made a

request to the Tryon

Town Fund for

reimbursement.

Top left: Azaleas putting on a show. Center: The sundial

surrounded by orange native azaleas. Below: Fire pinks in the native garden area.

Photos Denise Barthold.

From the Pearson’s Falls Mist Pearson’s Falls March

Attendance: Total attendance

for the March was 1573.

Bob Tobey reports that

through March Pearson’s Falls

is behind 2019 in visitors (255)

and gate revenues due to being

closed the weekend of March

28 and 29.

What’s Blooming at

Pearson’s Falls? Pictures to the

left and on the next page.

Toothwort

Mountain Lettuce

Giant Chickweed

Oconee Bells

Bloodroot

Sharp Lobed Hepatica

Dutchman’s Breeches

Sweet Betsy Trillium

Trout Lily

Trillium Grandiflorum

Not pictured are Spring

Beauty and Halbred Leaf

Violet.

Another place to find wild-

flowers: Virginia Meador sent

this wonderful suggestion. She

walked the mile stretch between

the bridge and the entrance to

Pearson’s Falls. That mile has

an even greater diversity than

along the fall‘s trail. She says

that the flowers there were

beautiful and some species were

in groups covering large areas.

The Large-flowered Trillium

covering one hill was

spectacular.


4



[email protected]

She recommends a saunter

along the road; there are several

pull off areas where one can

park safely.

What’s Happening at

Pearson’s Falls: Pearson Falls

was open 27 days in March.

There were two English Ivy

Pulls in March, 15 TGC

members participated. On

March 7, seventeen SC Native

Plant Society members visited.

In March the invisible enemy

(Covid-19) caused PF to close

for the last 4 days of the month,

the reopening will be announced

when the threat has passed and

the governor lifts the

restrictions.

March Maintenance Report:

The glen may be closed, but

Andy Ruff reports that there still

is lots of work to be done. He

has been cleaning the roofs,

parking lot, ditches, trail, and

moving the compost. A limb fell

on Webster Way’s railing

resulting in a fence repair. He

and Gene carried eight bags of

concrete up the path to repair

several trail steps. They treated

the small Hemlocks with Bayer

Chemical. Also Andy has

marked off the possible new

Pearson’s Falls exit road.

Bob Tobey reports that if

possible the Pearson’s Falls

mature hemlock trees will be

treated for wooly adelgid in

April.

Bob and Andy are beginning

to meet with road contractors

and building contractors to

discuss feasibility and cost of

the possible Pearson’s Falls exit road changes. Some

gatehouse adjustments will be needed, so that the

person at the gate can see the exit.

For the existing driveway and parking area—thirty

tons of gravel are being delivered and spread. Two

truckloads of wood chips have been ordered that Andy

and Gene will spread.

Two March Ivy Pulls at Pearson’s Falls

The first Spring Ivy Pull was held on March 3. A small

but very efficient group volunteered. Ceille and Jim

Welch attended the ticket booth while Robin Rice, Jane

Darby, Jack Carlock, Bob Tobey, Gene Justice, and

Andy Ruff worked on the ivy. On March 12, check the

picture for Helpers. Thank you one and all for your help

reducing the amount of English ivy at Pearson’s Falls.

Pictured: Carol McCall, Pat Gass, Bob Tobey, Sandy Brunner, Linda Lovelace, Linda Watt, Eva and Sam Pratt. Not pictured were Jackie Burke, Jane Hermen and Andy Ruff.

Ceille & Jim Welch, Robin Rice, Bob Tobey & Gene Justice. Not pictured were Jane Darby, Jack Carlock, & Andy Ruff.


5



[email protected]

Top left: Pearson’s Falls April 2020. Right: Gene Justice working on spreading wood chips. Lower left: Both falls. Right: Completed path. Photos of falls by Andy Ruff. Photo of Gene by Beth Rounds.


6



[email protected]

Historical Tidbits... April—N. Carolina

(Thank you, Historian

Joy Souderquist.)

Harriet Monroe was

born December 23, 1860

in Chicago, Ill. and died

on September 1936 in

Arequipa, Peru on her way

to climb Machu Picchu. She

had been editor of Poetry

magazine.

In her autobiography, “A

Poet’s Life. Seventy Years

in a Changing World”,

published two years after her death, Monroe recalls: “I

started in early with Shakespeare, Byron, Shelley,

Dickens and Thackeray; and always the book-lined

library gave me a friendly assurance of companionship

with lively and interesting people, gave me friends of

the spirit to ease my loneliness.”

Poetry editor Don Share, writes that Monroe seemed

to have a “sixth sense” about the poetry she published.

Monroe, herself, wrote and preferred poems rooted in

19th century tradition, but in her magazine, “that

countervailing sixth sense allowed her to make literary

history. She invented a box, you could say — and

promptly set to work thinking outside it. Her magazine

was, therefore, like she was: unpredictable, difficult, and

infuriating,” but she never wavered in her assessment of

progressive American culture as a democratic triumph.

GCNC District 1 News The GCNC Annual Meeting scheduled April 26-28,

2020 is *** CANCELLED *** With great thought to

the situation with COVID-19 and the National State of

Emergency, the GCNC regrets to announce that the

GCNC Annual Meeting is cancelled, and

RESCHEDULED for Saturday, August 30, 31,

through Monday, September 1, 2020 at the Embassy

Suites, Cary, NC. The Annual meeting and Fall Board

meeting will be combined into one. The Fall Board

Meeting scheduled for September 13-14 in Lake

Junaluska is canceled. All registrations to date have not

been processed and no checks have been deposited.

Unless you request your check to be returned, it will be

shredded. New registration forms will be available by

May 1.

Madison County Garden Club joins GCNC Dist. 1:

Elaine Hefner, Dist. 1 Director, announced that she

began meeting with this club in December and received

their membership application the second week of

March. They have 12 members to date. Their president

is Scott Moore, and vice-president, Caroline Douglas.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Share

7



[email protected]

National Garden Club Update Growing Tips for Combining Vegetables

and Flowers in Con-

tainers: Pamela

Crawford offers

suggests for mixing

vegetables and flowers

on pgs 32-34 of the

Spring 1918 issue of

The National

Gardener. She points

out that historically

vegetables have

seldom been used as

part of a container

design that is mainly

flowers. She suggests

that you plant the

vegetables first and

add the flowers later.

Often the vegetable

plant is small such as

a young tomato or

eggplant plant. It is

best to wait about two

weeks until it reaches

24 inches tall. She

offered the following

ways to kill vegetable

and flowers planted

together:

1. Buy the Wrong

Plants. You need to know--How large will the

vegetable plant get? Will it grow in a container?

2. Buy the Wrong Potting Mix. Plants grow larger

and live longer with quality potting mix. Do not

buy top soil, garden soil, or potting soil.

3. Buy the Wrong Fertilizer. Plants need nutrients.

Buy a multipurpose time-release fertilizer.

4. Plant in the Wrong Season. Vegetables either like

it warm or cool.

5. Water Incorrectly. Most vegetable need a lot of

water, but can drown. Look for signs of wilting or

dry potting mix before watering.

6. Pile Potting Mix around the Stem of the plant.

Most plants other than tomatoes will die from

stem rot if the mulch or potting mix come into

contact with the stem.

7. Plant in a Pot without Holes in the Bottom.

Without holes for drainage plants will die.

8. Give the Plant the Wrong Amount of Light. Plants

have different light requirements. Tomatoes like

sun. Lettuce takes more shade. Rule of thumb is a

minimum of 6 hours of direct sun every day.

Photos: Top: Eggplant with melampodium flowers. Bottom: Lavender with purple ornamental kale and violas. Photos by Pamela Crawford.

For the Good of the Order

Yard and Garden December Job

“Don’t be an April Fool—Fertilize, Plant, Prune,

Spray, and Propagate.” Information from the Tryon

Daily Bulletin, Friday April 1, 1988, The Polk Co.

Agricultural Service:

Fertilize all early spring flowering plants like

forsythias, evergreens, and holly. Late bloomers like

azaleas and rhododendrons should wait until after

their flowers fade.

Plant annual flowers such as begonia celosia, dahlia,

dusty miller, geranium, marigold, zinnia, etc. Also it

a good time to plant warm season grasses like

Bermuda grass. Zoysia is planted in May.

Prune April flowering plants like azalea and weigela

after the flowers fade. Prune berry producing shrubs

like holly while in flower to prevent complete

removal of all this season’s berries. Clean up any

winter damage such as broken limbs.

Spray shrubs: Azalea-lace bug, boxwood-leaf

miner, camellia-tea scale, hemlock and juniper-spider

mites, and hybrid rhododendron-borer. Observe your

plants before spraying, the pests may not be present.

Propagate by lowering a branches of your favorite

shrubs and covering each with soil and a stone.

Quote of the month: “I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.”

Ruth Stout


Tryon Garden Club News April 2020 · Verna, native Bleeding Heart, Dutchman Breeches, Ferns and...

Documents

Transcript of Tryon Garden Club News April 2020 · Verna, native Bleeding Heart, Dutchman Breeches, Ferns and...