Under Construction

Our gardens are getting a new addition!

Mary Clark is overseeing this new project and I can't wait to see the finished product.  I know the rain is great for our gardens but it can sure wreak havoc on a construction project.  Hopefully, it will remain on schedule and we will  soon be able to enjoy the latest addition to our Mandarin Garden Club gardens.

If you haven't taken time to stroll through the gardens, please do.  The ladies work very hard to make our grounds a lovely, serene place to pause and reflect.  Mary Clark, Mary Forester, and Becky Bathen with the help of many, many, many volunteers work in the rain, cold, and blistering heat to give us these wonderful gardens for our enjoyment.

Speaking of gardening and plants - don't forget our Plant Sale on Saturday, April 25th.  We will have a wonderful offering of plants and gardening accessories.  Its a great place to shop for Mother's Day gifts, thank you gifts for teachers, and most importantly - new additions for our own garden.

Hope to see you there...

Karen Rowe

Martha's Bloom Report

4/15/15 MARTHA’S BLOOM REPORT:

I seem to be concentrating on the Crosby Perennial Bed 1 in the last few reports, but that’s where the action is . . . Baptisia hybrid Carolina Moon (False Indigo) is in bloom – this is a natural hybrid and does not set seeds. It is a magnificent sight when blooming and then has the good manners to die back in mid-summer – not to be seen until next spring. Growing right beside the Baptisia is a good stand of Tulbaghia violacea (Society Garlic). This blooms off-and-on throughout the summer and is a truly bullet-proof plant. The only drawback that I can see is that when you are working in and around it the garlic odor can overwhelm you!! Mentioned before in previous reports, were the Serissa foetida (Serissa) and Osmanthus fragrans (Tea Olive). Both are still in bloom and worth your attention. Serissa derives its name from the rotten smell of its bark and roots when they are crushed or cut and foetida is literally 'foul-smelling' in Latin. The Tea Olive derives its name from the sweet aroma of its blossoms. These also go under the “bullet proof” label.

In Mary’s Butterfly garden, you should pay particular attention to the Angelonia angustifolia which has recently been planted there. Often called Summer Snapdragon because it will last in the summer without fading away as would “real” Snapdragons. The current hybrids are much improved over those in past years and are available in white, lavender, and pink.

In the Potager Garden the Punica granatum (Dwarf Pomegranate) will catch your eye immediately. It is supposed to thrive in hot, dry weather – so be careful where you plant it in our humid wet climate – find a high and dry spot !!

Again, our faithful Aloe vera (Aloe) is in showy bloom behind the kiosk. This thing blooms off and on – I don’t think it has a “season” - wonderfully orange and tall.

Mary Forester

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Beginners Bonsai Workshop

The North Florida Bonsai Club in association with the Mandarin Garden Club is pleased to present our Spring 2015:  Beginners Bonsai Workshop.  This workshop is especially for beginners who have wanted to try bonsai, but never knew how to get started.  We'll be working on Ficus sp. - a tree that is "easy care" in Florida, but needs frost protection.  Each participant will get his/her own tree, special bonsai soil and an appropriate pot.  At the end of session 3, you'll have your very own bonsai to take home and enjoy!

What You'll Learn:

• What “bonsai” really is (and how to pronounce it!)
• How to style and shape a bonsai tree
• How to prune and wire branches
• How to find inexpensive sources of pre-bonsai plant material at local stores
• How to fit a tree into those tiny little pots
• How to keep your tree happy once you get it home!

These are casual, hands-on classes for people of all ages. You will have a chance to meet people who have taken past beginners classes and talk with them about their experiences getting started in this fascinating hobby. If you love plants and have an interest in learning about bonsai, come join the fun!

Dates:  April 28th, May 5th, & May 12 (3 sessions)
Time:  7-9PM
Cost:  $35 - includes tree plus all materials
Location:  Mandarin Garden Club - 2892 Loretto Rd, 32223

To register or more information, call Joe at 262-3995 or Ron at 545-4972.

Butterfly Vine

The Mandarin Garden Club hosts a Mascagnia macroptera, more commonly known as Butterfly Vine, Yellow Orchid Vine or Gallinita. However, in the horticulture trade the correct botanical name is Callaeum macropterum and the names are not interchangeable.This is one of those plants that should be researched via the botanical name. If you use common names, you may run across another plant entirely, called the Butterfly Pea Vine, Clitoria ternatea (also on the grounds of the Mandarin Garden Club). To add to the confusion, Mascagnia was previously classified as Stigmaphyllon ciliatum.

Butterfly Vine is considered a native of Mexico and is well-suited to a western exposure because of its high heat tolerance. Although fairly drought tolerant, it looks better with regular watering as long as you don't over water. It is thornless, disease free and unattractive to pests. 

Plant it in full sun to light shade and water to get it well-established. Afterwards, this vine will be very drought tolerant and require little maintenance other than pruning. Best suited for USDA Zones 8-10 where it remains evergreen in mild winters but is cold hardy to the mid-20s. It grows fast enough to be considered an annual in climates colder than Zone 8 but it is best to plant it in a protected area. If may freeze to the ground but will sprout again in the spring. It can be grown in a container, on a pole or fence, trellised, pruned as a flowing branched shrub, or grown as a ground cover.

From May to September, this vine produces clusters of showy, yellow orchid-shaped flowers with 5 petals about 1-inch wide. These are followed by clusters of papery, winged chartreuse seed pods resembling a butterfly. Allow these seed pods to dry on the plant. Once brown, use your thumbnails to pull the butterfly "body" apart and collect the seeds. Semi-softwood cuttings can be taken in late spring or early fall. These cuttings will be ready for transplant in less than three months.

Be sure to take a look at the Mandarin Garden Club’s Butterfly Vine to see this unusual plant for yourself. It’s in that area between the main building and the shed. In the flower bed at the wall of the shed, you'll find it on a trellis.

Linda Jones

Cherokee Rose

www.southerruralroute.wordpress.com.

Garden Related Events Around Town

Spring is around the corner (fingers crossed!) and we have quite a few garden related events around Jacksonville that will be of interest to many of you.  Mary Forester our Master Garden Liaison  has kindly provided me with a list to share with all of you.


March 21, 2015             Jacksonville Herb Society Festival & Sale
                                       Glynlea Grace United Methodist Church

March 27 & 28, 2015    African Violet Show
                                       San Jose Church of Christ
                                       6233 San Jose Blvd.

March 28 & 29, 2015    Orchid Show
                                       Garden Club of Jacksonville on Riverside Avenue

April 4 & 5, 2015           Linda Cunningham's Herb Festival
                                        2440 Lofberg Drive near Parental Home Road

April 7, 2015                   Spring Extension Program
                                         Mandarin Garden Club

April 11, 2015                Blooms Galore and More
                                        Garden Club of Jacksonville on Riverside Avenue

April 16 - 18, 2015         Arboretum Brush with Nature
                                        Top Landscape artists will be painting in the gardens.

April 25, 2015                 Jacksonville Rose Society
                                         Location to be Announced

If you have upcoming gardening events to add to our website please send the information to me at  MandarinGardenClubFlorida@gmail.com and I will be happy to add it to our list.

Happy Gardening ~

Karen Rowe

Hardscape Installation

A new hardscape has been implemented in our gardens.  Mary Clark had the vision, both Mary's did the search, and Mary Forester drew the design.  However, without the service of Doug Clark, a 2013 Honorary Members Award recipient of the garden club, the implementation of our mission would have not occurred.  The installation of this artwork provides the ornamental grass garden bed a gateway to enter the haven and one of our continued improvement to our gardens.  Job well done!

Thank you ladies!

Mary Forester

Master Gardener Service Award - Mary Howe

Mary Howe (L) and Terry DelValle

Mary Howe, our on site demo gardens founder, was presented her 30 year Master Gardener Service Award at the January 7th Master Gardener organizational meeting.  Terry DelValle, Duval County's Extension Agent, presented the clock award at the meeting held at the Mandarin Garden Club with 33 Master Gardeners in attendance.

Mary was a 1985 Master Gardener graduate and continues sharing her leadership, knowledge, inspiration and gardening expertise today with all she encounters.  We are privileged and blessed to have a piece of garden heaven at our club thanks to Mary Howe.  Hail Mary!