The Glove and Trowel Garden Club met on Wednesday, February 10, 2016, at 3 p.m. at the home of Jeanne McLaurin with 17 members present.

After delicious refreshments, President Julie Sawyer thanked Jeanne for being hostess and called the meeting to order. Recognition of February Birthdays was given to Jeanne McLaurin (4th) and Julie Sawyer (21st) followed by the reciting of our Garden Club Collect.
President Sawyer then turned the meeting over to member, Miriam Hayes, who was in charge of our program on “GOING NATIVE – NATIVE PLANT ALTERNATIVES.”  Our objective was for club members to learn about native plants and using them in their landscapes.
Miriam introduced our guest speaker, Justin Ballew, Area Horticulture Agent for the Clemson Extension Office.  Justin talked about Native Plants and the benefits of planting them.  
He said native plants are more adapted to the climate and minor drought.  

Native Plants make their own chemicals to protect them from pest and the number one rule is to plant the plants and trees in the proper location (such as Dogwood Trees should be planted in shady areas).  The best source of locating native plants is to check with local nurseries who sell them.  He gave each member a list of plants composed only of plants native to the coastal plains of South Carolina.
Minutes by Molly Pittman, Secretary, were approved.  A financial report was given by Ellen Jordan, Treasurer.  Membership Chairman, Ditto Jenkins, reported that we have one vacancy for garden club membership.  An updated membership list was given to each member.
Julie LeChette, Julie Sawyer, Linda Dutton and Maggie Riales (from Wellness Center) met recently with Daniel Hitchcock from the Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University located in Georgetown, about trying to establish a rain garden at the Wellness Center.  He is going to review the data he collected and get back with them at a later date.
Julie LeChette reminded members of our Coastal District Meeting on March 9 at the Dillon Wellness Center.  We need one page and two members to hand out gift bags.  Molly Pittman, Julia McLaurin, and Natalie Wallace volunteered.  All members are needed to decorate on Tuesday, March 8, starting at 1:00 p.m.  If you can’t come when we start, come as soon as you can.  Also, be prepared to stay after the District Meeting to help clean up.
President Sawyer reminded us that our April 13th meeting will be at Brookgreen Gardens with Becky Lyell as hostess and presenter.  She then adjourned our meeting.
The Glove and Trowel is a member of the National Garden Club, Inc., the South Atlantic Region of the National Council, The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. and the Coastal District of GCSC.