Our Plantation Garden Club started off the new year Sept. 10, with Sherry Clark and Sylvia Murphey hostessing a full turnout at the Friendship Baptist Church.
Sherry gave the horticulture study on dahlias, that showy tuber with varieties of height and color ideal for garden borders.
Dahlias pair well with yarrow, day lilly, black-eyed Susan, zinnias and marigold. Growing in full sun, the tubers can be split every other fall to keep a strong plant thriving.
Our guest speaker, Robin Cocke, delighted us with “Love That Hummingbird Life.”
Robin, a retired speech pathologist who earned her master’s degree from the University of Virginia, resides in Clarksdale with husband John, where they have spent the last 10 years devoted to hummingbird care feeding and interaction.
One of their first tasks involved redesigning their deck for better viewing. Through years of trial and error, they found the system that worked best for their needs.
Issues to overcome were ants, bees and food freshness. A feeder with a water well between the hook and the food source is a must. The well can be shallow, and some feeders now have wells built onto them.
Bees are attracted to bright colors but are afraid of reflective surfaces. One easy tip is to remove the yellow plastic flowers attached to many feeders and wrapping tin foil around feeders where possible.
Some of the peskiest pests are raccoons. So adept at picking up the feeders and drinking their midnight cocktails, Robin has found it necessary to bring all 20 feeders inside each evening, washing them completely by hand for her own five-star health inspection and replacing them in the morning. To this end, she has found that the smaller flat flying saucer type feeder serves John and her effectively.
Plants that attract hummingbirds were brought for viewing: Two types of cuphea bat face and honey bell, then everyone’s favorite, lantana.
Robin reminded us that late August to mid-October are feeding times, with peak times in mid-September.
In closing, we were encouraged with these words: “Feed them and they will come.”
Refreshments of caramel cake, cheese straws and finger sandwiches created the ideal accompaniment to the most lovely rose arrangement in pastel fall colors of soft cream, pink and white.
Friendship Church lived up to its name as new and forever friends welcomed each other as our new year begins.
