Garden Club: February 2019 News

Our January club meeting on Monday, January 21, featured Aneta Dorhout, a Master Gardener for ten years who loves to share her passion for succulents. Her enthusiasm for this garden specialty was obvious to all and she hoped one could easily get, in her words, “the succulent bug.”
Here are some succulent facts: You probably knew that succulents are drought resistant plants with thick, fleshy and swollen stems and/or leaves. This genus makes these plants well adapted to dry environments. However, they must not be confused with cactus. Nearly all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Succulents are plants that have some parts that are more than normally thickened and fleshy, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word succulent comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning juice, or sap. Succulents have the ability to thrive on limited water sources, such as mist and dew, and are often grown as ornamental plants because of their striking and unusual appearance. Looking toward the next months, here is a summary of recommended garden chores:
■ February: Start seeds either indoors or protected outdoors for summer color.
■ March: Plant fruit trees or prune existing for increased crop.
■ April: Start watching for pests as they are starting to arrive.
■ May: Fertilize and mulch.
■ June: Feed turf. Water deep.
■ July: Same as June.
■ August: Enjoy your garden!
Our next monthly meeting is on Monday, February 18, when we will witness a great presentation on Floral Designing by Kathe Hayden, a designer whom Chris Daley and I saw give a similar demonstration at an OC District meeting last year. There will also be another surprise so don’t miss this meeting. If interested in joining us, please leave your contact information in the office and we will get in touch with you.
–Karl Kuhn