Great Bend Garden Club met on Oct. 20. The meeting, led by President Nancy Williams, was opened by reading the Gardener’s Creed.
A Rose Garden report was given by Alice Young. A meeting with Scott Keeler, director of public lands, and Alex Crawford from the Great Bend Cemetery was held with a few of the members of Garden Club.
They outlined the planned timeline for the removal of the current Rose Garden and the building of the new flower garden area at the cemetery. As of today, the clean-up and the removal and storage of the statuary and the benches from the old location has been accomplished.
In the spring, the remaining roses will be transplanted in other city flower beds. The financing, the design of the new garden, and the materials needed have been decided. In the spring with the help of a lawn and tree service the construction and planting of the new memorial garden will begin.
Garden Club decided to offer to buy the new roses that will be incorporated into the new flower beds. The memorial signs will also be moved to the new area. Additional varieties of perennial flowers will be added to the new memorial garden.
The morning’s program was given by Williams. Planting and growing flower bulbs was her topic. Experts often disagree as to the timing of bulb planting.
Time zones usually dictate the optimum times of the year for planting. Some suggest planting in the fall and some prefer middle to late spring. The general rule is to plant the bulbs in a sunny area in loose, composted soil at a depth of between two to three times the size of the bulbs making sure the roots are down. The heights and colors of the flowers should determine the locations of the blubs in the flower beds.
Covering bulbs with a mesh wire of some type to prevent squirrels from digging up the bulbs is not always successful. A cool, dark location such as a basement or garage and good soil is needed in order to force bulbs for use in pots. It was noted that the hybridization of many bulbs, especially tulips, has resulted in their lifespan for blooming being reduced.
The next meeting of Garden Club will be at 10 a.m. on Nov. 17 in the Senior Center meeting room. Carol Woodmansee will have the program and Jana Reed will serve as hostess. Visitors are welcome.
