From the President
What a wonderful meeting we had in February! The room at St. Matthew’s was all cozy and full of antique valentines and delectable flavorful foods full of herbs, while the snow had begun outside.
Not only did Nancy Klammer bring her antique Valentine collection, but she presented lavender as Herb of the Month. What a romantic, aromatic herb to highlight for our Valentine’s celebration. Thank you so much, Nancy, for all your work and the wonderful presentation!
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Bonnie Bake had made adorable Valentine table favors to help decorate the tables.
Pam Cuttlers had prepared an extensive presentation about “love herbs” and had culinary samples and samples of the herbs so members could experience their amazing scents. Everyone got to take home a small bag of cloves for their purses or pockets to help cultivate friendships.
Thanks to you two ladies, too, for helping make this such a memorable program. — Janet Buck
Susan’s Corner – Help Wanted
When growing up here in Lincoln, more years back than I care to admit to, I remember the joy of watching the hundreds of different species of butterflies throughout the garden at my parents home. And in June and July at night, I would watch with total wonder the sky lighting up with the
many fireflies, sort of like a miniature 4th of July all summer long. But that was then. Now I feel fortunate to see even a few of these wondrous insects. Each year they are getting fewer and fewer. I find myself feeling sadder with the passing of time and realizing the loss occurring in
our world.
This will be one of the years in which I will not be able to have a garden where maybe I could help. Moving to an apartment, as we will be this month, will put a stop to my gardens. A few containers will be all that I will have space for. But this is another story. My reason for writing this is to ask for your help in this matter.
I will be addressing only one area and one insect, although all would be affected. I am looking towards the magnificent Monarch butterfly. The population of this beautiful creature, which migrates thousands of miles each year from winter nesting grounds in Mexico (a feat of almost unimaginable proportions in itself) has been shrinking tremendously each year. This is due largely to the increased use of herbicides on fields,
and gardens and the mowing of public roadsides thus almost eliminating the main source of the Monarch’s existence—the milkweed. The milkweed
(Asclepias)- there are several varieties – is the main plant on which they feed and lay their eggs.
So here is my request. If you have a wild garden, or even a small corner of your yard in which you could allow some milkweeds to grow and flourish, invite them in. The plant itself requires little to no care from you. The flower is really lovely and sort of fragrant also, and the pods are wonderful in craft projects. As I said a wild garden or corner is best as they sort of look weedy after blooming, so the other plants will cover that small defect. Also see if you can get some (better yet all, if possible) of your neighbors to do the same. Maybe, just maybe, we can help to turn things around and possibly save the Monarch and who knows maybe save our world for a little longer.