January 2017 Newsletter
State of Horticulture
A Panel Discussion of the State of Horticulture in Memphis and Shelby County moderated by Paul Little of Little Hill Nursery. Memphis Botanic Gardens, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, UT Extension Service Master Gardeners, Lichterman Nature Center and TN. Federation of Garden Clubs will each have a representative to tell the group about their mission and their hopes for the future.
We will learn how each organization contributes to our State of Horticulture, how they interact, how we can help them and they can help us.
Upcoming Events
January meeting: Tuesday, January 3rd in the Goldsmith Room at the Memphis Botanic Garden, 6:30 pm
Please bring a friend and a dish and to share with members and friends!
February: Linda Beutler
March: Rare Plant Auction
April: Barbara Keathley
May: Hanna Underhill
President’s Letter
by Martha Garner
The Christmas party was fantastic; a big Thank You to everyone who worked hard to make our party a memorable occasion. The music, silent auction, door prizes, decorations, and food were great. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
I am excited about the Memphis Horticultural Society as we move into the New Year and hope to see everyone at the January meeting. Vice President Susy Askew has worked very hard for us to have a wonderful program to start this Year.
One of my goals for the Memphis Horticultural Society is to increase our membership. I encourage all of our members to share our list of speakers for 2017 with friends. The list was printed in your December 2016 newsletter.
Happy New Year
Martha Garner, President
Horticultural Notebook Page
Starting in January there will be a Horticulture Notebook Page posted each month to the Website. It will be a menu item. If you are interested in writing one, please contact Madison May our Webmaster. This is reviving an old tradition for MHS and we will try to go back and post some of the old ones occasionally. So, be sure to check it out!
Blast from the Past
Feeding the Winter Birds
by Betsy Shaver, President, Memphis Audubon Society
Winter is a time of great hardship for the birds that live here. They must have adequate food, shelter, and water. All three needs can be provided in an attractive garden setting.
Many popular evergreen plants, such as hollies, cedars, junipers, and pines, will furnish both food and shelter. The red berries of holly, both evergreen and deciduous varieties, along with the berries of flowering dogwoods, are excellent and highly desirable winter fare. The fruits ripen at different times, depending on the species of plant, and a variety of plantings will stretch out the food source. Mockingbirds will feed on these berries and each individual bird sets up his or her winter territory centered around a base of berries. Flocks of robins or cedar waxwings travel around in search of ripening berries, and will descend in large numbers to strip an entire holly tree of its fruit within a days time. The same is true of red cedar and various junipers. These plants also provide shelter from cold winter weather – They both block the direct force of wind and rain and help insulate the birds form the cold. Birds that do not eat the fruit of evergreens will seek them out for shelter.
Birds need a source of grit to help them grind up the seeds that they consume so heavily during the winter. A little patch of clean, fine sand can be a lifesaver.
Birds can neither bathe nor drink in snow or ice. Bird baths can be maintained during the winter. There are specially designed heaters for bird baths that will keep the water in them above freezing.
Scrape’s Trivia
January’s flower is the Dianthus caryophyllus or Gelanthus.
4th is National Trivia Day.
January is also national eye care, hot tea, blood donor, braille, hobby, soup, staying healthy, thank you, and oatmeal month.
The Dole/Kemp web site from 1996 is still up and running.
Google was originally named BackRub. ?
The most shoplifted food item in the U.S. is candy.
Mice aren’t particularly fond of cheese. They actually prefer fruit or grains.
I and you are the two most frequently spoken words in the U.S.
Pound for pound, Saffron is more expensive than gold.
Quotes Worth Quoting
Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening, and even the most experienced gardener can learn from the unrestrained beauty around him.
—Vincent A. SimeoneIn January, it’s so nice
while slipping on the sliding ice
to sip hot chicken soup with rice.
Sipping once.
Sipping twice.
—Maurice Sendak, "In January"When the bold branches
Bid farewell to rainbow leaves –
Welcome wool sweaters.
—B. CybrillOf winter’s lifeless world each tree
Now seems a perfect part;
Yet each one holds a summer’s secret
Deep down within its heart
—Charles G. StaterWinter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.
—Edith Sitwell