Hillsboro Garden Club holds meeting, education program

By Lynn Luman
Secretary
Hillsboro Garden Club
 
President Jennifer West opened the June Hillsboro Garden Club meeting with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Lynn Luman, secretary, took roll call with 14 members and one guest answering the question, “Do you have red, white and blue flowers for the 4th of July holiday?”
 
The tip of the month: The term “carefree” refers more to the plant’s attitude than the gardener’s workload.
 
Treasurer Ruth Anna Duff gave the monthly financial report, then reminded the garden club of the 2024 donation of $100 to the Buck Wilkin Floral Beautification Fund for the City of Hillsboro. A motion was made, seconded, and subsequently approved by all members for a $100 donation in 2025.
 
For the horticulture portion of the meeting, Mary Smith presented her white Hydrangea’s, accented by purple Drumstick Allium flowers, showcased in a lovely purple translucent vase.
 
West announced that Smith had also submitted several addresses to be considered for the 2025 landscaping awards. West further asked club members, when “out and about,” to scout residential homes, as well as commercial and civic (community) properties in Highland County, not just the Hillsboro area.
 
Judith Stivender, a member of the nominating sub-committee, along with Nancy Baldwin and Larry Moore, submitted names for the executive committee during the next two program years. Stivender submitted for consideration Luman as president; Cindy Roche’, vice president; Duff, treasurer; and West, secretary. A motion was made, seconded, and approved by all members. The new executive committee will begin their two-year tenure in October.
 
Nancy Baldwin presented information to attendees on exhibiting in the floral shows during the Highland County Fair. Baldwin encouraged all members to exhibit their floral specimens and house plants in the coming fair. Baldwin also offered ideas to members desiring to show off their “floral flair” by showing traditional and/or artistic/creative designs as well. The general public is invited to show off their green thumb during the Monday and Wednesday floral shows, as you do not need to be a member of the garden club to participate. Please refer to the Highland County Fair Book, which will soon be published, to learn about the different classes.
 
For the educational program, West gave a really fascinating presentation on the Ruth Stout gardening method (also known as “no-dig gardening” or “no-work gardening”) versus chaos gardening. West shared that the Ruth Stout method involves creating a garden bed covered in hay or straw all year long. This type of mulch decomposes, enriches the soil, and suppresses weeds, thereby eliminating the need for traditional tasks, such as digging, weeding, and constant watering. 

West also expounded on the key principles and benefits of the Ruth Stout gardening method, including how to implement the garden strategy. West further explained chaos gardening, which shares some common principles with the Ruth Stout method, but they are not exactly the same. Chaos gardening, as a trend, is a more specific gardening method focused on letting nature take it course, while the no-dig strategy is a broader concept, encompassing various strategies to minimize effort. Other differences include level of planning, focus (priority) of your garden, such as attracting pollinators or growing for cut arrangements, as well as the desired outcome for your garden and landscaping.
 
Refreshments for the meeting were provided by Teresa Cudkowicz and Duff.
 
The next meeting, which is the annual potluck picnic, will be on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the floral hall located at the Highland County Fairgrounds. For this meeting, members will bring a covered dish or dessert to share, while the executive committee will provide drinks and ice. The horticulture will be showcased by Helen Roe. The public is invited to attend the potluck, no food required, just bring yourself. So, come and join us.