Hamblen gives tips on birds to Ben Lomond Garden Club
As Dr. Hamblen shared several tips for bird watching, he suggested locating feeders that can been seen from your home and planting bushes to offer shelter for the birds. To control the different kinds of birds in your yard, use food specifically for the birds you hope to attract. In the wintertime, provide a bird bath with a heater, then, when things freeze over, the birds still have a water source.
The club members discussed rare bird sightings and their guest told of seeing two golden eagles in his yard.
Mrs. Ramsey gave the devotional thoughts and a donation was made to Magness Library in memory of Lillian Bonner, a lifetime Ben Lomond Garden Club member.
Presenting “Gardening in a Nutshell,” Bette Myers offered suggestions on how to rid you garden of pests. To keep snails away from plants, put out a pan of beer or sprinkle the area around the plant with bran cereal because snails won’t cross over the cereal. Myers said ants do not like vinegar and for other insects make a mixture of garlic, onion, cayenne pepper and soap to spray on plants. A small amount of liquid ivory soap mixed with water is good to use for mites. Insecticide soaps are a natural way to get rid of insects that are becoming more prevalent because they contain no harmful chemicals.
Susan Gawel and Juanita Phillips were judges for the day. Ann Schultz received a blue ribbon in the arrangement category “Nesting Time.” She also won a blue ribbon for “Spring Takes Wings” while Mrs. Jones won red. “As You Like It” category saw Mrs. Jones winning blue.
Those receiving blue ribbons for horticulture were Mrs. Myers, six; Robin Phillips, three; Mrs. Ramsey, two; and Mrs. Schultz and Pat Bigbee, each receiving one. Red ribbon winners were Mrs. Myers, four; Mrs. Ramsey, two; Mrs. Phillips, two; Mrs. Schultz, one; and Mrs. Bigbee, one. Mrs. Myers received one yellow ribbon.