Overheard at the Garden Gate

Reminder to Send Dues for 2018-2019

Nancy Zambie

Dues notices will be sent via email for the 2018/19 year.  Payment is due by June 30, 2018.  Those few members without email will receive a notice via regular mail. Any changes in status should be made at this time.   Any Active member with 10 years as active may request to slow down to Associate status.  Any member who wishes to resign should request that and we will miss you.  All requests should be sent to Lee Jacobs, Corresponding Secretary, either via email or snail mail, by May 15, 2018, so the Executive Committee may take action. Dues should be sent to Nancy Zambie at 25243 Bryden Road, Beachwood, OH 44122.

Congratulations, Martha and Cathy!

Martha Marsh and Cathy Miller entered 'Headlines',  the Memphis Major Flower Show April 13 and won the blue ribbon in their class!   Martha explains:  "The class was difficult and confusing because instead of interpreting one painting,  the class had five and we could interpret one or all of them.  The portrait of the lady in russet was the only one that appealed,  so we decided to interpret her neckline.  To help the judges understand where we were coming from, our (required) Statement of Intent was 'Neckline Redefined'.  We were appalled to arrive at the show and find the portrait (which is just out of sight on the right) was only about 4" x 4".  We were very honored to win the blue ribbon in the class."      

GCA Visiting Gardens Trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico
July 13-18, 2018

Gale Clarry

There are still places available for the tour of exciting and unique gardens in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on July 13-18, 2018. For further details and information, please go to the GCA website and read all about it. 

Managing Crabgrass in Turf

Suzy supplied a link to this article by author, Jeff Stachler, published on April 9, 2018. Click here to read.

Native Mountain Mint Named 2018 Plant of the Year by GCA

The winner of the 2018 GCA Plant of the Year is a pollinator magnet! Pycnanthemum muticum, commonly known as mountain mint, is a native perennial that attracts such an abundance of diverse bees, butterflies, moths and other beneficial insects that it has been described as providing "wildlife TV!"  It is an excellent source of nectar but also attracts predatory and/or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects. This easy-to-grow ornamental plant has noteworthy blue-green foliage, silvery bracts, aromatic leaves, and pinkish to white flowers that bloom from July through September.  It naturalizes politely and provides an attractive upright and tiered clump that is 2-3 feet high and just as wide. Pycnanthemum muticum grows in USDA Zones 4 to 8, in full sun, partial shade, both drought and wet conditions, and helps with erosion control.  It is resistant to diseases, insects, deer, rabbits and rodents, and happily grows from Maine to Michigan and south to Florida and Texas. Word is that Mountain Mint will be available at the Nature Center of Shaker Lakes plant sale in May.