The Elizabethtown Foxglove Garden Club is growing and preparing for the holiday season. The group also took some time to learn some gardening tips for the autumn season from Jacob Barber, Bladen County Consumer Horticulture Extension Agent.
On Thursday, October 28, 2021, the club held a dinner meeting at Rondaveu in White Lake. Hosts for the dinner meeting were: Tammy Blount, Tomye Su DeVane, Cathy Gantz, Robin Herring, and Trish Inscoe.
Flaming Katy flowers, a succulent plant, decorated the tables. Club members enjoyed salad and pizza from the new restaurant with a caramel apple cake prepared by Trish Inscoe.
President Cathy Gantz, explained the Annual Katie Mac Greene Mum Sale was very successful this year with over 400 plants sold. Next, she introduced those in attendance to the three new members of the club and Barber, the guest speaker.
Barber then shared the following gardening tips for November.
Lawn Tips:
- Remove fallen leaves from beneath trees and bushes.
- Apply pre-emergence pesticides to prevent winter weeds.
Tips for Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers:
- Now is the time to plant spring bulbs such as daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, and tulips.
- Check cypress and other evergreens for bagworms. If bagworms are found, remove and destroy them.
- When chrysanthemums stop blooming, cut them back close to the ground, and they should grow back in the spring.
- It is a great time to take hardwood cuttings from shrubs.
Tips for Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs:
- Tilling a garden now will open the insects and weed seed to the winter and birds.
- Keep fruit trees and shrubs clean to reduce future problems by picking up fallen branches and fruit to prevent disease and insects from overwintering.
Barber also provided a Beginner’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening link. The link to the guide may be found here:
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/
Barber reminded the ladies that it is still an excellent time to take a soil sample. Any Bladen County resident may stop by the cooperative extension located on Smith Circle in Elizabethtown, pick up and drop off sample boxes for their soil. Once the soil sample has been analyzed, Barber said the property owner would receive the soil sample report. The sample reports help owners determine the best course of action for caring for grass, plants, ponds, and trees.
For more gardening tips Bladen County residents may contact Barber by email at Jacob_Barber@ncsu.edu or by phone at 910.862.4591.
The club’s next project will be Christmas tree decorating at the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in November. The Foxglove Garden Club has over 20 members, and they meet quarterly to discuss ways to help beautify the community with their gardening efforts.
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