Great Bend Garden Club met on Sept. 16, in the meeting room of the Great Bend Senior Center. Nine members; one new member, Jana Reed; and two guests, Kate Fiala and Linda Ludes attended. The program was presented by Alice Young, suggesting the interesting possibility of turning a lawn into a meadow of wildflowers. Young used an example from the August issue of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine describing a whole yard which had been turned into a meadow.
After first clearing the existing yard, scattering seeds and planting a wide variety of wildflowers, a few structured perennials such as hollyhocks were planted in locations around the yard. The yearly care for it entailed mowing low paths through it and mowing the entire meadow each spring to spread the seeds again. Sharing information from a book entitled “Kansas Wildflowers and Weeds,” published by the University of Kansas Press, Young prompted a discussion among the Garden Club members as they shared personal experiences with wildflowers and weeds. Interesting definitions from the book are that a “wildflower” is defined as any unplanted flowering plant and a “weed” is any unwanted flowering plant. However, to have a meadow in a residential yard does require some initial planting.
Also an interesting note was that most wildflowers currently growing in Kansas or even the whole United States did not originate in Kansas or North America but came to America mostly from the European continent.
During a business meeting conducted by president Young, program books for the new year put together by Teresa Bachand were distributed, dues of $20 were collected and an update was presented concerning the future planning for the Rose Garden in the Great Bend Cemetery. Young reported that the yearly verification of the non-profit status of Garden Club has been completed.
Refreshments were served by hostess Teresa Bachand.
The next meeting of Great Bend Garden Club will be on Oct. 31 in the meeting room of the Great Bend Senior Center, with Fern Tompkins as hostess and Pam Sweeney giving the program. Visitors are invited and welcome.
