Evelyn Hofen hosted the monthly meeting of the Tulip Garden Club in her home on May 10. Evelyn’s theme of frogs was carried from her tablescape to her menu, which featured frog-eyed salad and included tabbouleh salad, two-toned green salad, ham and cheese served with crackers, lemon pound cake, and chocolate coconut macaroons. Beverages served were mango lemonade black tea, flavored coffees, and water. Hoping that her guests would take the fun home, she gave each member a frog figurine as a favor. Members present were Mary Ann Crow, Li Brooks, Genevieve Farris, Evelyn Hofen, Helen Janzen, Linda McCoy, April Ridgway, Rhonda Fields, Becky Smith and Donna Rhodes.

McCoy, president, called the meeting to order with members reading the collect. Members responded to the roll call by telling if they use a rain barrel to collect water for their garden. The minutes of the last meeting were read by Ridgway, secretary, and approved. Fields, treasurer, gave her report.

McCoy began the meeting by discussing the state convention held the previous week. She thanked the members for all of their hard work and passed on the many kudos that she had received from those attending the convention. Forty-four garden members were in attendance along with six guests for the two-day event. McCoy review the awards that the club was presented at the convention, which included the 3-P Award, Butterfly and Wildflower poster winners sponsored by the club, a press book award, and a tie for first place with their club book.

McCoy reported on the Alva Garden Council meeting that was held at the Alva Public Library on May 8, when the upcoming summer plans were discussed. Activities commemorating National Garden Club Week on June 3-9 were the first topic. The Tulip and Petunia clubs will select local businesses to take fresh flowers to for display during that week, and a proclamation to be shared with the community via a newspaper article featuring the two presidents and the mayor was planned. Yard of the Month and Blooming Business committee membership was reviewed and plans were made to start looking for yards and businesses. The annual Petunia and Tulip club picnic has been scheduled for Sept. 24 and the Tulip Club members will provide the meat, drinks and paperware.

Farris volunteered to lead the club’s library decorating committee to prepare a display honoring National Garden Club Week. Smith, Fields and Ridgway agreed to meet at the library on the first of June to bring items and help with the decorating. A report was given by club members who toured the Bustani Gardens in Stillwater on April 17. The contest committee discussed adding a youth garden project during the summer months.

The pyramid committee reassigned plots to members and discussed improvements to be made over the summer months. Hofen volunteered to ask Wal-Mart for a donation of mulch for the walkways.

In new business, McCoy gave dates for upcoming garden-related events including the Enid Master Gardeners Tour to be held on June 1-2, the Wildflower Workshop in Bartlesville on June 1-2. The 2019 Oklahoma state convention is scheduled for April 10-11, 2019, and immediately followed by the Southwest regional convention on April 12-13. Both events will be held in Oklahoma City in Bricktown. The Oklahoma Gardner website is closer to being ready to go live. When it does, the address will be http://www.oklahomagardenclubs.com.

The club selected Hofen to be their featured garden this summer. The article with pictures will be published in the Alva Review-Courier and on Facebook during NGC week.

Fields opened her lesson on using rain barrels by illustrating the problem of surface water runoff. Cityscapes can prevent rainwater absorption and can cause excess water to overfill streams and cause flooding and pollution. Homeowners who harvest rainwater can reduce these problems by using rain barrels, French drains, and rainwater gardens. Using this available resource can help homeowners cut back on water usage during the expensive summer months. Rain barrels can save up to 1,300 gallons of water over the course of one summer. Fields explained how to build rainwater gardens and the proper use of rain barrels. She noted that Lawton, Oklahoma, provides rain barrels for citizens to decorate and use as part of their “Stormie Frog” campaign. More information about rain barrel use and rainwater gardens can be found at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality website, http://www.deq.state.ok.us/.

Farris won the hostess gift, a lovely blooming hanging basket. Members were reminded that the next meeting will be held on June 21 at 9:30 at the home of Donna Rhodes. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.