The Yellow Jessamine Garden Club of Dillon met on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the residence of Mary Ricks. All members were present.
President Mildred Mishue welcomed everyone to the March meeting. She also thanked Hostess Mary Ricks for the wonderful hospitality.
Chaplain Glenda Campbell gave the devotion for the evening. She spoke on how each person should bear good fruit and have gratitude over complaining from the book of Psalms and Galatians. Vice President Mary Ricks then blessed the refreshments. She provided homemade chicken salad, vegetable straws, coconut cake as well as the beverage of choice.
After our tasteful meal, Judy Powell called roll by the naming of each members favorite native plant. She also stated the Secretary’s report and the club was excited to have new officers for the upcoming year. New officers for the Yellow Jessamine Garden Club are as follows: President Mary Ricks, Vice President Dianne Pittman, Secretary Darlene Wilkerson, Treasurer Judy Powell, Asst. Treasurer Frances Tyler. The Secretary’s report stood as read with no additions or corrections.
Cathy McDaniel read the Treasurer’s report and financial business as Earline Moody expressed that there was no business for membership committee.
Projects and Litter Chairman Frances Tyler, expounded upon the J.P. Camp Roadside Park and Harmon Park maintenance. She removed trash and limbs from flower beds and mentioned the weeds need to be sprayed. Mary Ricks and Mildred Mishue also aided in the upkeep of Harmon Park by weeding and fertilizing both beds. Red Mulch will be applied to Harmon Park after the pollen has subsided.
Next, Ways and Means Chairman Judy Powell stated there was no business at this time. Publicist Melissa Moody, expressed the February meeting was placed in The Dillon Herald newspaper and The Dillon Herald website. The Yellow Jessamine newsletter, “The Twining Vine,” was also distributed.
President Mildred Mishue announced that our club received an email from Coastal District Director, Linda Siceloff, desiring The YJGC to attend the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. 87th State Convention in Greenville on April 27-29, 2017. She revealed that our club has won several awards and they are presented at that time.
Following this impressive news, Dianne Pittman presented the report on birds. The bird program for this month was the Painted Bunting. This alluring songbird is a medium sized finch with a thick bill. Its vivid colors of red, blue, green and yellow allow the male to look as if it was painted, hence its namesake. Female buntings and immature buntings are a pale green. They forage in thick swampy areas and weedy fields. They are very likely to visit the feeders in your yard during migration.
In addition to this interesting program, Melissa Moody read “Horticulture Moments”. She discussed of the huge variety of flowering native plants and how they can embellish any area desired. Most native plants, when planted in the proper area, require less moisture and fertilizer than non-native plants.
Our program leader, Cathy McDaniel introduced the presentation on “Why Native?” Native plants have evolved over time and tend to be very substantial and adapted in commercial and residential landscapes. They are often more resistant to insects and disease. In addition, many established native plants can grow with little or no fertilizer and irrigation.
Native plants are very beneficial to our society. They help protect water sources and beautify our landscapes. These plants also help reduce fertilizers and pesticides from being utilized. The biodiversity of the native plant is that it is a pollinator and habitat for birds, as well as, wildlife. Several native plants to the Coastal area are Sweetgrass, Indian Grass, Purple Coneflower, Native Sunflowers, Cardinal flower, Beautyberry and Yellow Jessamine.
Even though native plants are beneficial, there is a type that is very harmful. Invasive plants are a large problem in South Carolina. These plants can be found in crops, pastures, and forests right along the highways that are traveled each day. Some of these non-native plants are invasive. English Ivey, Mimosa, Chinaberry and Kudzu are a few that are non-native. These invasive plants have established a breeding population that eradicates the native plants.
Cathy presented a very valuable program on native plants and encourages everyone to plant native. For a list of native plants, search the South Carolina Native Plant Society and Clemson Cooperative Extension’s website for a listing. This program included the GCSC objective of promoting the protection and conservation of natural resources.
The finale of the meeting included unfinished business. Several ladies will attend the Coastal District Spring meeting in Pawley’s Island at Pawley’s Plantation and Country Club Conference Center on Tuesday, March 14 entitled “Treasures of The Bay.”
New business mentioned was the wall surrounding the oak tree at J.P. Camp Roadside Park, needs to be removed to allow the tree to flourish. More details will be considered at the April meeting. The March meeting was then adjourned. Names were drawn for the door prize and Glenda Campbell won a fragrant candle and silver candle holder.
The next meeting will be held on April 4, 2017 at 6:30 pm at the home of Larue Bracey. President Mildred Mishue will lead the program on “Annuals and Biennials.” (Objective: Conservation)
The Yellow Jessamine Garden Club is a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., South Atlantic Region, The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., and the Coastal District of South Carolina.