Hasn’t it been brutal this winter? Plants were steamrolled by gusting winds and super low temperatures. Fear not! Here is some hope to brighten your gray day.
The Charleston Magnolia Garden Club had its monthly meeting at First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Jan. 10. As if by a miracle, our guest speaker was Len Lawhon from Northwest Community College. He has a degree in Plant Pathology, which simply means he knows about the death of plants.
He described how the
combination of these really freezing temps and the dry high-speed winds jeopardized some of our strongest plants. Mississippi State University’s loss is estimated at 20% and Ole Miss’ is estimated at 70%.
However, he advised do not panic and cut those plants down to be tossed on the heap of the next garbage day. Instead, wait.
After Valentine’s Day, check your plants that look brown and done like over sauteed celery. Do look for green by running a thumbnail down a stem and find the green. Reclaim the plant by trimming way back to “trick” the plant to encourage bud growth.
The club enjoyed Len’s encouraging instruction and he enjoyed our luncheon by Carrie Rice, Clyde Callihan and Joy Mullen and our club’s gifts of plants. A savory chicken casserole dish, salad and peach cobbler a la mode topped off the meal.
You are welcome to join our group in February to hear from Emily Jo Wiggins, who will present ongoing conservation efforts at the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery near Enid Lake.
To reserve your place for next month, email me at glgroover@gmail.com.
Or, come in March to enjoy instruction on making our annual flower show happen. The show is charted for April 25 in Charleston.
Either month’s program proves our club has much to offer in engaging topics for garden lovers.
