Wednesday, Sept. 11, was a perfect day to start our meetings back after a long summer break. Sylvia Murphey’s sunlit home provided a cozy retreat from recent stormy rains.
Jennifer Flautt gave a brief instruction on turning your backyard into a wildlife habitat with a few landscaping tips discussed online. Jennifer set a challenge for all Plantation Garden Club members to become a certified wildlife habitat.
Sherry Clark gave a Pollinator Study on bumblebees. The bumblebee has a lifespan of 28 days. They make their home close to the ground and only the female is able to sting. With five eyes, bumblebees are the only pollinator of potatoes. You are encouraged to read up on more interesting facts about the humble bumble.
Sherry Clark introduced our guest speaker, Allison Melton from Holcomb, where she owns Dust Gardens specializing in indoor plants, patio gardens and gifts. During the week, Allison is an elementary art teacher at Carroll Academy. Allison spent her time with us teaching us about plants suitable for terrariums while creating a lovely one as she spoke.
Not all terrariums have to be closed. Some are open, closed under a cloche.
Allison starts with a bed of loose dirt mix, the kind with coconut fibers rather than peat. She then adds a rock or piece of wood for interest, some moss she has foraged, and then plants her small plants, realizing that they will grow allowing for space. She finishes with pea gravel, which creates a nice layered look on the outside.
Once watered and closed, the terrarium creates its own water needs and only requires to be opened to maintain pruning.
Fluffy ruffles fern grows nicely, and pilea glauca vines and Haworthia come in several species.
Allison will be kicking off her Dust Gardens fall open house Sept. 21
She makes it super easy for beginners to get started with terrariums, providing containers, plants and supplies. She even offers workshops on Saturdays for groups.
