The Monroe Garden Club
The April meeting of the Monroe Garden Club was held on Tuesday evening in the James Monroe Community Room of the City Building. The program , “Gardens With Wing” was presented by Patty and Larry Bignor of Kentucky. A butterfly garden is an area that sustains as much of a complete life cycle as possible. It can be large, small, prairie, meadow, trees; grass even potted plants on the deck. A garden provides food for pollinators, recreates natural habitant, encourages biodeversity and adds to our quality of life. There are 150 species of butterflies in the Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana area. Life cycle of a butterfly is egg, larvae (caterpillar) pupa (chrysalises) and adult butterfly. It takes approximately one month to complete this cycle. Nectar plants include aster, blanket flower, milkweed, coneflower, coresposis, cosmos, dianthus, dogbane, goldenrod, ironweed, lantana, marigold, Mexican sunflower, and zinnia. Nectar shrubs include butterfly bush, Joe Pye wee, lilac, buttonbush and Chaste tree and the vine of Passionflower. Host plants for Black Swallowtail include fennel, parsley, Queen Anne’s lace, and members of carrot family. Zebra Swallowtail papaw tree, Painted Lady, leaves of Hollyhock, Monarch common milkweed and other exotic milkweed, Spicebush Swallowtail spicebush Gardens With Wings is a website devoted entirely to butterflies. Simply type in your zipcode and it will list butterflies found in your area, along with a plant-shopping list of hosts and nectars. It also list an identify butterfly page, places to visit, and nurseries. Visit this website for a wealth of information.
President Anna Hale conducted the business meeting. Items discussed were Arbor Day packaging and distribution of trees, OAGC meet on Friday, Master Gardner Plant Sale on Saturday, and Monroe Lending Library Book Sale on Saturday. President Hale appointed a nominating committee of Phyllis Sells, Beth Heinkel and Karen Branum for officers for the coming year. Blue ribbons were presented to Anna Hale and Ellen Kinsey for their exhibit “Arrangement Using Water Feature”. Hostesses were Ellen Kinsey and Geraldine Bontrager who served a delicious dessert course.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the James Monroe Community Room of the Monroe City Building. Renate Pealer, OSU Butler Co.Extension Master Gardener, will present the program “Ohio Heritage Garden” started by Mrs.Hope Taft and features our state’s native plants and geographical features.
Guests are always welcome. If you are interested in attending this meeting, please contact Peggy Abernathy at 513-539-7892.
