Alva Review-Courier -

Genevieve Farris hosted the monthly meeting of the Tulip Garden Club at the Cherokee Strip Annex on May 9. Farris' spring-themed tables featured miniature wheel barrows filled with miniature roses. Each place setting was given a touch of spring with pink and purple plaid placemats and matching plates and napkins. Each member was given a pink flamingo paperweight rock for a favor. She served breakfast casserole, glazed cinnamon rolls, fruit salad, peach mango tea, and coffee. Members present were Mary Ann Crow, Farris, Rhonda Fields, Evelyn Hofen, Helen Janzen, Linda McCoy, April Ridgway and Becky Smith.

McCoy, president, called the meeting to order with members reading the the Gardener’s Creed. Members responded to the roll call by telling if they have a fruit tree in their garden. The minutes of the last meeting were read by Ridgway, secretary, and approved. Fields, treasurer, gave her report.

McCoy gave a report from the Alva Garden Council meeting held on May 1. The council set the date and location for the installation of garden club and garden council officers. The meeting would be on June 5 in Barbara Faulkner’s garden. McCoy also reported that the 2019 Wildflower Workshop has been postponed indefinitely.

The Alva Garden Council discussed plans for National Garden Club Week, June 2-8, 2019. The council will take a photo with the mayor and present him with a bouquet. The Tulip Club members voted to take bouquets of flowers and posters to various local businesses to promote the event. Ridgway, Fields and Hofen all volunteered to distribute the flowers and posters to the businesses. Smith was voted by the club to be their featured garden this summer. McCoy will take pictures and write an article.

The Enid Master Gardeners’ Tour on June 7-8 was suggested as a club field trip. Members discussed the planned hyper tufa work day, and a possible date in July was mentioned. Plans were discussed for the June meeting of the club with possible hostesses and locations with no final decision being reached.

The Yearbook Committee asked for revision suggestions for the yearbook. Activities and projects were reviewed with deletions and revisions suggested by the members.

Farris gave the lesson on “Pass Along Plants” using a wonderful book with the same title written by Steve Bender. A pass along plant is one that can usually only be obtained from another gardener, and, consequently, are rare treasures. Many are unusual in shape, texture or color, or add special aroma to the garden. Two hundred and eighty-three plants were identified in the book with some examples being red bee’s balm, angel’s trumpets, surprise lilies, and touch-me-nots. Farris shared some of the humorous stories surrounding these unique plants included in the book.

Hofen won the hostess gift, a garden sign and a set of garden chimes. Members will be notified of the date and location of the June meeting. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.