"Make & Take" Compost Tumbler Workshop

The Duval County Extension is having a workshop for a "Make & Take" Compost Tumbler.  Pre-registration and pre-payment ($65) are required for this workshop.  Please contact Becky Davidson at (904) 255-7450 to pre-register.  Send your check payment made payable to DCOHAC and mail to:

Compost Tumbler
1010 North McDuff Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32254

Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Event: Make and Take Compost Tumbler Workshop
Date: Monday, May 19, 2014
Time:  10 a.m. – Noon
Cost: $65.00

Martha's Bloom Report

There are more things to write about, this week, than I have space for!  On the drain field the Ornamental Peanut ground cover (Arachis glabrata) is in bloom.  We have two patches - one for sun and one for (not shade but) less sun).  The one for sun is on the southern slope of the drain field and has a compound leaf about 1/2-inch wide.  The other (not presently blooming) in the center of the field and has the same compound leaf, but the width is about 1/8-inch wide.  Same plant, different varieties for different uses.  This is a very useful groundcover - to read more about it, go to http://ornamentalpeanut.com/types.htm.

On the west side of the drain field, the Oak Leaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are looking good.  We just planted, back toward the fence, and got (I think) too much water - roots drowned.  Yes, hydrangeas like water, but do not like to stand in water, also Oakleaf Hydrangeas don't like as much water as "mopheads" (H. macrophylla).

In the Crosby Perennial Garden, the newly planted drift roses (Rosa hybrida 'Drift') bear watching as they bloom prolifically, and are becoming highly popular in our landscapes.  Also, in the Perennial Garden, you won't be able to to ignore the False Indigo (Baptista x 'Carolina Moonlight').  This spectacular hybrid does not set seed, but spreads underground into a big patch.  After this patch stretches out its long, yellow spires, it begins to go dormant, and will completely disappear by mid-summer, only to pop up again next spring - Such a satisfactory plant for a sunny spot.  Another new addition(s) is/are the blue and white plumbagos (Plumbago auriculata) - I think these are differing varieties, not species. These plants will dependably flower and spread throughout 3 seasons, only to die back in winter.

If you look very closely as you walk around the grounds, you will see wildflowers blooming underfoot.  Flowering right now are the white and blue Blue-eyed Grasses (Sisyrinchium angustifolium - don't know whether the white is "sunbleached", or a separate species).  As well, you will see Yellow Star Grass (Hypoxis hirsuta), Frog Fruit (Phyla nodiflora), and innocence (Houstonia procumbens).  All of these are almost microscopic, so you will need to really "inspect" the ground, but you will find these tiny treasures to be captivating.

Facebook 101

Did you know the Mandarin Garden Club is on Facebook?  If you're not signed up or not familiar with navigating with Facebook, this post is a quick introduction to it.  In the last few years, social media has been the new and increasing trend.  Everyone is on social media--people, businesses, non-profits, and more.  It's a great way to connect and keep up-to-date with the latest news from your family to the Mandarin Garden Club.

Sign-up is easy; you'll need your e-mail address and basic information to get started.  Your e-mail address and user-defined password will be your log-in information.  After logging in locate the Mandarin Garden Club by searching for us in the search field at the top of the Facebook webpage.  Remember to "like" the Mandarin Garden Club and you'll be automatically following us.  Every time there is a new post on our timeline, you'll be notified on your Facebook feed.  Check out this online article from Mashable for a beginner's guide to Facebook, or click on the YouTube video guide below.

The Mandarin Garden Club shares garden photos from our club members as well as upcoming events at the club or within the community.  So take a moment and check out our Facebook page.

YouTube - Facebook Tutorial 

Source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYavtap7peA