This Month's News...
New meeting location for the 2017-2018 Club year:
Falls Event Center (Evergreen Campus in Highway 18)
510 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way
McMinnville OR 97128
(It is located behind the Water Waves building with the airplane on the top.)
Upcoming Events:
- January 9, 2017 – Board Meeting
- January 16 – Meeting & Guest Speaker: Marilyn Alexander
- January 26 – Field trip to the State Capital
- January Guest Speaker and Topic
“CLIMATE CHANGE: Its effect on plants and sustainable design…Where do we go from here?”
by June Benson
We’re all aware of climate change, but these last couple years have been a doozy! No longer is it good enough to have a beautiful garden. Our gardens are going to have to survive increasing drought, heat waves, and intermittent floods. Plants and gardens as a whole will be tasked with all of these stressors and more. How can we best design gardens to take on our challenging climate and build in resiliency to survive and ultimately thrive? Discover new and time honored ways to have a beautiful, bountiful garden: one that provides service to us and habitat to other living organisms in our changing world.
Marilyn Alexander has a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Washington State University and Landscape Design and Technology Certificates. She was an instructor and department chair of the Landscape Technology Department at Portland Community College for 13 years and has operated her own landscape design business continuously since 1989. Now retired from teaching, she hopes to continue speaking, tutoring, and designing landscapes for clients in the greater Portland area, along with volunteering for landscape design organizations such as APLD and ANLD. Of course, having fun out in the garden, enjoying the great outdoors, creating beauty through textiles, and savoring moments with family and friends will always be essential to her life!
January Field Trip by Ann Silverthorn
Trip to Oregon State Capital.
Date: Thursday, January 26th.
- Meet: Baker Creek Community Church, west end parking lot.
- Time: 9:00 am to leave by 9:15 am.
We will start our tour at 10:30 am, which should last 30 to 45 minutes. Lunch at the Wild Pear in Salem.
The Oregon State Capital building is a modern Greek structure, built in 1938. It is the third State Capital building and home to the Oregon Legislature and offices of the Governor, the Secretary of State and the State Treasurer. The 1938 building is highlighted by four different types of marble and depression era art. The Capital is on the register of historic places. There is an exhibit of arts and history of Oregon. You will be able to visit the gift shop and see a variety of Oregon gifts.
I will talk about this trip at our January meeting and take names of those who wish to go. Partners and spouses are welcome to attend.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – January 2017 Elaine P.
I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. The preparations are sometimes hectic but getting to share time with family, friends and others make it all worthwhile.
The weather outside was frightful but we put on our finery and smiles. The Christmas luncheon at Hillside was once again a success. The table decorations were beautiful, the food was delicious and the entertainment was enjoyable. Best of all was the company. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in Garden Club.
The New Year brings reflection and resolve. As we look back at 2016 we see what we have accomplished, what we could’ve done better, and what is still unfinished. As we look forward into 2017 we resolve to finish old tasks and begin planning for new projects, adventures and things to learn.
The surest sign that it is a new year and that spring will soon be here is the arrival of the seed catalogs. Pore over all those gorgeous pictures. Read the accompanying information and instructions. Carefully choose new varieties or familiar standbys of our favorite annuals, perennials, shrubs, fruits and vegetables. Plan where and what we are going to plant. The anticipation helps the days pass quicker. It won’t be long before we can begin to plant our seeds.
And it won’t be long until The Garden Tour and Faire. This year’s theme is Planting Seeds to Restore Tomorrow. Please start thinking about what you can do to help make 2017 another great success.
Spice of Life – by Betty Ballentine
ALLSPICE is the hard berry of an evergreen tree native to the West Indies and Central America. Its name quite possibly reflects its flavor, which as a hint of the flavors of several spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It is most commonly sold in ground form, though the whole berry is available in spice shops and is used in pickling and to flavor broths and marinades. The mildly spicy-sweet flavor of ground allspice enhances apple desserts, banana breads, spice cakes, cookies, chutneys, and recipes utilizing squash, pumpkin, or sweet potatoes.
Jerk Chicken Recipe:
– serves 4 at 250 calories/serving
- 2 t allspice
- 2 T brown sugar
- ½ t cumin
- ¼ t cloves
- ¼ t cinnamon
- 1 t salt
- ½ t black pepper
- ½ t cayenne pepper 1 T canola oil
Combine all spices with the oil. Rub on 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Use grill pan or skillet to brown and cook meat until done. Remove from heat and allow to rest 5-10 minutes.
Pauline Eder wanted to share a picture she took with her cell phone showing her Christmas hanging basket and a resident hummingbird. Two views for the price of one! See it almost in the center of the picture?
