Alice Young expressed her love of flowers during her program entitled “Flowers – Nature’s Miracles” with nine members of the Great Bend Garden Club at their October meeting. 

Flowers are the basis of life. They are the starting point for the continuation of life for all plant life from the tiniest plant to the tallest tree. And all plants have flowers in one form or another.

The pollen of flowers is the source of that continuation of life. It is needed to pollinate other plants and start the regrowth. Attracted by the flower’s color, or smell, or nectar, small creatures such a bees and butterflies and other insects carry the pollen from plant to plant.  Pollen is also spread, by wind, water, birds, and even bats. Some flowers such as violas and salvia even pollinate themselves.

Flowers are food sources for both humans and the smallest of creatures on earth. Some examples of flowers as food for humans include broccoli, cauliflower, and artichokes. Dandelions and elder are used in wines. Honey comes secondhand from bees which use the nectar in making honey. Many flower blossoms are edible such as nasturtiums and chrysanthemums. Daisies, roses, and violas can be candied. And squash blossoms can be fried. Many spices contain parts of flowers such as saffron which uses the stamens of the crocus flower.

Alice shared stems of a variety of flowers with members present and displayed two items of her mixed media art work featuring flowers. 

It was decided to have invited guests to the next meeting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 21, in the meeting room of the Cottonwood Extension Office located at 1800 12th Street in Great Bend. The program will be given by Master Gardeners Barbara Davenport and Gary Weiser. Interested visitors are also invited.