The Garden Club of Switzerland: May 2022

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Garden of Excellence for May

The Garden Club of Switzerland recognizes Mark and Eunice Ferris of 1405 Satsuma Road for their excellent yard scaping. Their love of palms is reflected in the variety of species they’ve planted, including pigmy date palms, Bismark, queen, and pindo, and has earned our Garden Excellence Award for the month of May. If you would like to nominate a noteworthy yard, or are interested in being a part of our garden club, see our website, www.switzerlandgc.org.

Two Meetings in May: 5/5 and 5/10

Butterflies and other pollinators are spreading their wings, and our club is holding two presentations at the Bartram Trail Library to highlight the ones that have visited the Freedom Butterfly Garden in Alpine Groves County Park over the years. The public is invited to attend.. This is an adult-oriented event.

Thursday, May 5, 10AM Manatee Room

Tuesday, May 10, 5PM Bartram Room (pollinator plant giveaways featured)

We'll have photos and information to help you make your yard more attractive to pollinators. We are collaborating with the St. Johns County Master Gardeners to install more species of native plants, including more that support caterpillars that will grow into butterflies.

PREVIEW OUR SELF-GUIDED TOUR!

We've been told how much our visitors love to walk through the garden. We appreciate that and are completing an upgrade that will allow guests to learn more about the plants and wildlife they see. We're installing signs that feature a QR code to access the native plant database with information on the over 50 plants we've planted, as well as the pollinators that utilize them. The URL to the website is www.AlpineGrovesNativePlants.org - We welcome your comments AND your photos. They can be shown at the kiosk by the garden entrance.
The QR Code is here:

If you need help using the image, refer to these help links
How to scan a QR code,

Scan a QR code with an Android phone,

or The best QR scanning aps.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OUR NATIVE PLANT POLLINATOR GARDEN?

We're working with the St Johns County Master Gardeners to upgrade and maintain the Freedom Butterfly Garden at Alpine Groves Park. Click the Resource link in the menu above to see what's happening. Our latest accomplishment is being awarded a Plant America Grant - Click the link here to see how it will enhance our garden. The Resources page also has a side bar column with sections the Document the Native Plant Garden and Forms for you to join our club or buy a commemorative brick for the garden walkway.

NEWS

The State Wildflower License Plate Gets a New Look. Show your love of Florida Wildflowers by purchasing a Florida State Wildflower license plate. The purchase raises money for wildflowers, wildlife and wild places. You can purchase a plate at your local DMV office or request one online with this link: Order Wildflower License Plate Online. More information on the purchase process and prices is at State Wildflower License Plate Information.

FFGC Announces Position Statements on Environmental Issues:

Neonicotinoids and implications for pollinators. Neonicotinoid usage has come under increasing scrutiny as a possible cause in bee colony colapse and other harms to pollinators. See the following news reports:

Are Pesticides to Blame for the Massive Bee Die-Off? PBS Newshour 11/24/15
Feds Propose Plan to Bolster Decline in Bees PBS Newshour 5/19/15
The Latest Buzz on Honeybee Colony Collapse PBS Newshour 5/3/15
Environmental Outlook: The Race Against Pests and Weeds Diane Rehm show 2/3/15

Lowes has announced a phase-out of neonicotinoid pesticides and pesticide treated plants in its Corporate Shared Responsibility Report (4/9/2015).

If you'd like to see neonicotinoids phased out completely, go to the Friends of the Earth Petition to the EPA to ban neonicotinoids and add your voice to the call.

Show your support for providing the monarch butterfly protection as an endangered species. Sign the Credo petition to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to do just that.

(Background: In response to a petition by scientists and environmental non-profits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said [on 12/29/2014] that Endangered Species Act protection may be warranted for monarch butterflies. The agency will now conduct a one-year status review on monarchs, which have declined by 90 percent in the past 20 years. More Info is in the Xerces Society's Monarch Butterfly Announcement. (posted 12/30/2014)

Environmental tip: Save resources by shopping for local produce. See our Resources posting, Local Farms Come to You for more info.

Fresh and Local Recipes

Monarch Committee Report