President Cam Miller opened the meeting of the Pulaski Garden Club on May 6, with the Garden Prayer, after which the roll call included showing flowering branches that were brought. Most were lilacs, which gave a spring-like scent to the air. In total, 21 members responded to roll call. Two guests were welcomed.
The secretary’s report and treasurer’s report were given.
The night’s floral arrangement, entitled “Up, Up and Away,” was presented by Carol Wheeler. Her design portrayed a “hot air” balloon carrying a basket filled with miniature iris, brunnera, spirea, vinca minor and English daisies.
The Pest of the Month report on cabbage and tomato worms was given by Tina Lopez. Cabbage worms are larva which emerge from eggs on the underside of leaves. Worms feed for 15 days on cole crops, kale, radishes and kohlrabi. The adult has a wingspan of 1 ½-2 inches and lives for three weeks. Predators are spiders and praying mantis. Neem oil or row covers help to discourage as well as planting dill or marigolds nearby.
Tomato worms are 4-5 inch-long green worms with five pairs of legs. They have a horn-like tail. With a voracious appetite they can disseminate peppers, potatoes and eggplants. The larvae overwinter underground and emerge as adults. Till soil in the fall and mulch thickly. Natural predators are wasps and ladybugs. Neem oil and insecticidal soap discourage as well as hand picking.
The night’s program, given by Kay Beck, was “Vertical Gardening.” Using trellises and arbors and hanging baskets increases space, ease of harvesting, keeps veggies away from critters and grows healthier plants. Premade structures can be expensive but with ingenuity, hog fencing, chicken wire and over-the-door shoe holders can be used to grow plants vertically. Vines, begonias, petunias, nasturtiums, cucumbers, squash and beans can be grown vertically. One disadvantage is that plants need to be watered more often.
The regional meeting on May 1 was in Bowling Green. Twelve Pulaski Garden Club members and one member-at-large attended. The club received a superior rating of 99% on the 2024-2025 yearbook. The speaker on house plants recommended using peroxide for fungus gnats, also sticky traps. She uses 6-6-6 Algo Plus for fertilizer. Joyce Mocherman brought the raffle prize of an oak wooden wall clock in the shape of the state of Ohio which she made. Attendees enjoyed a time for “make and take” traditional floral designs. Miller was elected to serve the coming year as regional director. She will be installed at the fall regional meeting. After the meeting, members visited Wolf’s Nursery.
Six members from the club will be attending E and J School on June 6-7. Signup is available for the August school. See the Garden Path for more information.
Fairground cleanup was fast and efficient as club members had beds looking good in no time. Next fairground cleanup is on Tuesday, May 27, at 9 a. m.
Members voted unanimously to accept new changes to the by-laws.
Williams County OSU Extension Office is having a Round Table on May 19 at 6 p.m. at extension office annex on East High Street. The speaker will discuss plant diseases.
Mother’s Day Arrangement Class was May 8 from 6-8 p.m. for $10 people made an arrangement for themselves or someone else. This was sponsored by the extension office.
May 17 at 1:30 p.m. the Artisan Floral Shop had an herb gardening workshop.
At the club’s June 3 meeting there will be a plant exchange.
The Centennial Committee members met. A centennial logo is being designed by Michelle O’Dell and members are studying club history.
Yearbook Committee should begin preparing for the 2025-2026 year. Rozetta Luke will chair.
Door prize was brought by Becky Hill and won by Theresa Beal.
Miller brought fliers which told how to store peonies to bloom at a later date. Pick at the “marshmallow” stage, and store horizontally wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator.
Mocherman brought large cactus leaves for members to take home. She suggested a 6-8 inch pot.
Luke brought Delicious and Mexican Midget tomato plants for members to grow at home.
Hostesses for the meeting were Mocherman and Peggy Miller.
The next meeting of the Pulaski Garden Club will be June 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Pulaski United Methodist Church.
(Information courtesy of the club.)