Although it might not feel like it in NJ it's almost the end of February.  We've been teased with some 60 degree days which got me thinking about my garden & planting for the upcoming season.

I found this useful plant calendar for your vegetable garden. You simply enter a location in the field & out pops a calendar with 30 of the most common vegetables & when to plant (indoor or outdoor) and harvest.
Link: The Old Farmer's Almanac Planting Calendar

If your into native plants for your NJ garden, come to our next meeting on Monday March 13th at 7pm to learn all about native plants for coastal landscapes. There are also online resources; such as The Native Plant Society of NJ and  Jersey Friendly Yards.

Happy Gardening

February & roses go hand in hand for Valentine's Day, however the rose is not the flower for this month - it's the Violet and Primrose. 

Marigolds are such cheerful flowers providing colors summer through fall. Marigolds are a sign of warm or fierce undying love. There are over 50 species of marigolds. They need lots of sun and do bloom better in poor soil.
In the 60's Burpee's President campaigned to have the marigold named the national flower, but the rose won out. Use the bright petals give  spicy tang to summer salads. 

Reminders - now is the time to divide some perennials. To find out when & how to divide perennials check out this article from Better Homes & Gardens 

Why do we give roses to our Valentine?  During the Victorian era flowers were used to send secret messages. Known as floriography, sending flowers was a common way for lovers & secret admirers to express secret messages that Victorian etiquette deemed unacceptable to share openly.  Red roses typically meant love and romance and have a symbol of passion for many cultures through the ages.

The rose was sacred to many goddess including Isis of Egypt, and the ancient Greeks & Romans identified the rose with their goddesses of love, Aphrodite  & Venus.

Want more information about flowers and their meanings?  Visit The Language of Flowers and for an extensive list of flowers and their meaning visit Victorian Bazaar

On Friday Dec. 18th several of our members visited the Meridian Nursing Home in Brick to spread some Christmas cheer. Sue MacDougal, Jeanne Capoano, Nancy Genalo, Ken Genalo, Mary LaPola, Barbara Marks, and Connie Keane helped residents make Christmas centerpieces. Check out the pictures.

We were also showcased by the Brick Township for our Club's work decorating one of the Township's Christmas Trees.  Check out the pictures of our tree as well as other trees decorated by different organizations in Brick.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Looking forward to you everyone in 2016.

You can't beat this fabulous weather.  It's hard to believe it's December.  However, we were all in the holiday spirit during our Holiday Party at Simko's.  Great food, great friends & great conversation. It was so nice to have everyone together & just be able to enjoy the evening with yummy food.  Check out the pictures here.

Lynne you were missed & you're in our thoughts for a speedy recovery.  

This is our last meeting of 2015. Where did the year go?  We're in full Fall swing &   Winter quickly approaching, the next several months are usually slow for most   gardeners. To help keep us going until Spring come to our November meeting   on Monday Nov. 9th at 7pm to hear one of our own members, Audrey Maihack   speak about her garden in River Vale, NJ. Her garden has been featured in the Open   Days Garden Conservancy Program. Her garden features ponds, trellises, perennials,   flowering shrubs and evergreens.
​ Click here for directions to the Bob Anstett Cultural Arts Center.