Bella Vista Garden Club

WELCOME

If you are interested in gardening in Northwest Arkansas, you have come to the right place.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The next regular meeting will be January 26, 2022

Meeting Location: Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Boulevard, Bella Vista.

Meeting Time: Social starts at 9:30 am with meeting at 10:00 am

Entrance: Please enter at the rear (west side) of the building if you need an elevator. One is located to the right as you come in the doors.

Zoom: The President will be sending out the Zoom invite in an email. If you have a problem getting on Zoom, please give me a call. 509-392-3430

Masks: The President strongly recommending everyone wear a mask. The Church will be spacing the chairs 6’ apart.

Program: Guest Speaker: Emma Pengelly, Interim Director, Home Region Program, will speak about the Walton Family Foundation's environmental imitative in NW Arkansas.

Artistic Design of the Month

Horticulture: Tony LiCausi – “What’s New in Horticulture – Tools”

YOUR PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED

Message from Pat Meyer, GC President

BVGC Members, one of my goals as your president is for every club member to have the opportunity to become involved in our projects. This involvement covers a wide range of needs and talents. Some needs involve outdoor, physical labor others will be less physically demanding, but ALL are needed for an active and effective Club.

Please look in your new Yearbook (pages 7-9) for information on committees and projects. Contact the Committee Chairman for more details and to express your interest in participating. I especially encourage our newer Members to find activities that suit their interests, talents and desires to learn.

A critical part of participation is communicating the needs and opportunities of the committees. Therefore, Committee Chairs, please address the entire Club when emailing etc. requests for help or scheduling activities. Alternatively, you can advise me and I will forward the information to the Club. Members, let the Committee Chairs know of your interest in participating and pose any questions you have about that Committee or project. The Yearbook has their contact information.

I also request Members to communicate directly with me on any suggestions you have for improving or broadening our Club. While I am presently serving as your Club President, I am primarily a member who has enjoyed working alongside some very knowledgeable gardeners and mentors with a willingness to share their knowledge. So, new and seasoned Members do not miss out on the opportunities the Club offers to learn new things and make new friends….PARTICIPATE!

Stay well and safe

Pat Meyer

2021-2023 President

MOST RECENT ACTIVITIES

BVGC Christmas Luncheon and Meeting was held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021

The Luncheon was held at Lakepoint Restaurant & Event Center, Bella Vista, AR. During a short business meeting guests were introduced and Rose Ann Hofer was awarded The Circle of Roses. The buffet luncheon was served. The entertainment was provided by the Bentonville High School Chamber Choir and a raffle drawing wrapped up the festivities.

Check out the Image Carousel for photos and the Garden Club's Facebook for video of the singers.

The Bella Vista Daffodils

On a chilly breezy morning November 12th, our members James Richardson, Doris Hammeke, Ginny Vance, Joal Miller and Deidre Cheney were at the new Bella VIsta Fire Station #3 off Glasgow Rd.

They planted 'Bella VIsta' daffodils next to every new tree.

Day lilies and grasses were planted in various spots too.

We can’t wait until next spring to see the blooms!

Jim Richardson reports that on 11/4/21, Bella Vista Daffodil bulbs were planted around the cemetery sign. John Kittelson and another gentleman from the cemetery executive board also participated. They also pulled weeds and mulched around both signs.

The sale at Allen's on10/23/21 did well with a steady stream of people.

Garden Therapy

On October 19, 2021, two very enthusiastic participants at Concordia enjoyed making pinecone/peanut butter bird feeders which were then hung outside their dining room.

On October 26, 2021, Ten happy ladies and seven garden club volunteers had a fun time making pinecone/peanut butter bird feeders at Brookfield Assisted Living.

Concordia

Brookfield

Veterans Wall of Honor

Work Day November 16th

Our Garden Club members Elaine Rooney & her husband Dave, Pat Meyers, Ginny Vance , Robyn Kirkland , and Rosalie Mikelson cleaned up the front walkway garden beds and planted pansies at The Veterans Wall. Penny Frahm cheered us on with delicious Donuts & Water She is still in a sling from a broken shoulder and we are all praying for a quick recovery

Veterans Wall of Honor

Tree Planting October 18, 2021

Finally the hollies that received severe damage due to this past winter's -17 degree temperatures have been replaced. This morning due to much planning and preparation by Tony LaCausi, a large turnout of Club members and help from Benton County inmates, 10 Zmatlik Arborvitae's have been planted. This shrub which grow's to 15' is cold hardy to -40 degrees.

Thanks from Tony LaCausi

Many thanks to all who showed up on a chilly morning. Also thanks to Garden City for helping me find a suitable plant and giving them to us at cost. If you happen to go there, be sure to thank them again. Also the cost for the plants came from an anonymous donor who happens to be a Club member. So at future meetings be nice to the person sitting next to you, as if you don't already, right. The compost was donated by the City of Bentonville and the mulch was gifted as well. So the entire project cost us zip. I'm walking on clouds to be among the members of The Bella Vista Garden Club.

Tony LiCausi

Bella Vista Memorial Garden Cemetery Work Days October 2021

It was a beautiful morning for our Garden Club Members to work at the Bella Vista Memorial Garden Cemetery

During our clean up we even found a Monarch caterpillar on one of the fennel plants

Yard of the Month will Return in the Spring

New Sand Bed Preparation

This just in from Ginny Vance.

We are so thankful for the workers at the Bella Vista Waste Water Company. They made a brand new sand bed area for our plants that we sell in the spring!! Landscape blocks were added too!! They are an awesome group of men & women

New Project - Native Plants Garden Bed

This project is chaired by Plant Sale Chairman, Joel Miller. It is an area in front of the greenhouse where the committee works on the Plant Sales. The Waste Water Treatment Plant is allowing the Club to use the area to make a garden showcasing native plants. It will feature stepping stones to allow people to walk into the area. It is mainly a learning garden but eventually some of the plants will be for sale at future Garden Club Plant Sales.

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL - HWY 71 WELCOME CENTER

James Richardson posted these photos on FB. He got some planting done at the blue star memorial garden today.

THINGS TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN

Things to do in December

· Not a lot to do in the winter but a few items need to be attended to. Annuals & Herbs Mulch and monitor moisture on pansies and herbs if they are dry.

· Bulbs - Try to get all spring blooming bulbs in the ground by early December. Mulch to protect from thawing and freezing and to conserve moisture.

· Roses - After a few freezes mulch roses for the winter.

· Lawns - Keep lawns free of fallen leaves... they smother the grass. Walking on frozen grass can cause bare spots. Use the sidewalks and paths when possible. Remember that salt is not a good thing to use on driveways if you have grass growing next to it.

· Trees and Shrubs - Monitor water over the winter months and especially newly planted trees and shrubs. Water when needed. Prune evergreens for use in holiday decorations.

· Tropicals & Houseplants - They still need water but not as much indoors in the winter months. Watch for pests and disease and treat promptly. Spray with insecticidal soap as needed. Keep poinsettias fresh with even moisture and plenty of light. Keep out of drafts and away from registers. Live Christmas trees need the water monitored daily. Recycle cut Christmas trees as fish shelter or wildlife habitat in the woods.

· Perennials - Some cut perennials and mums back over the winter and some don’t. You’ll make birds happy if you leave a few stems and seed heads uncut that will provide food and shelter. Do not cut back your salvias or other hollow stemmed plants since moisture can get in the stem and freeze which will probably kill the plant.

· Don’t forget to feed the birds over the winter. The colder it gets the more they need the protein from suet to keep them warm. Mainly enjoy the garden at rest and you can be entertained for hours just watching the birds especially when there is a blanket of snow on the ground.

LINKS OF INTEREST

New Links

New Link: How to Grow your own Butterfly Garden - This page has a step by step guide to build a butterfly garden. The site was suggested by a student in an alternative learning program.

New Link: Toxic Pesticides - This page on the ConsumerNotice.org site has a lot of information on toxic pesticides outlining the different types and how to protect yourself from their negative effects.

New Link: Yard Care Guru - This site has a multitude of links of information and this link has the Ultimate Beginners Guide to Gardening with Kids.

New Link: Consumers Base - This site has A Comprehensive Guide to Container Gardening that is very informative along with other gardening information.

New Link: University of Arkansas Yard and Garden - Pruning Crepe Myrtles - This page has information on pruning crepe myrtles and other links to more information on this plant.

New Link: Plant Care Today - This page of the site covers companion planting with tomatoes. Other pages have more gardening information.

New Link: Ultimate Guide to Gardening Resources - This site is full of links with information on general gardening, planning a garden, educating children, indoor gardening, blogs and podcasts.