Distribution this month: 532 (11 States)
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It is good to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended thought.
~James Douglas, Down Shoe Lane
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OUR NEXT MEETING:
August Watermelon Feast-
- Where: Charles Moore home, Directions
- Date: Aug 5, 2008
- Time: 6:00 pm
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LAST MONTHS' PROGRAM: Homemade ice cream down by the riveside. What could be better on a hot July afternoon than a great view, a nice breeze, good friends, and the best homemade ice cream anywhere!
THIS MONTHS' PROGRAM: What could top such a great July outing? How about watermelon,
bacon and tomato sandwiches and good appetites while enjoying friends and the beauty of Charles Moore's wonderful waterfalls (come and see if
the plural of waterfall is correct).
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
While we could always use more rain, hasn't this been a great summer. Not only have we had a fantastic ice cream social but we have finished up another project - this one the
UNA/Div II Championship Sign landscaping. Thanks to all those who helped out on this project on July 19.
And more good food is on the way with our annual watermelon feast and the more recently added bacon and tomato sandwich addition. Come out, bring a friend, your chair, and enjoy Charles Moore's gardens and waterfalls. See you there!
Jim Elshoff
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NOTE OF LOCAL INTEREST. Phillip Oliver is writing three articles for Alabama Gardener this year. The third and final article will be on Charles Moore's garden and waterfall (guess the new one won't be in the article?). Watch for it on the newstands soon.
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The Eagle He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring'd with the azure world, he stands. The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls. ---Alfred Tennyson Photo provided by Wayne Wassner
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WELCOME Visitors: We always welcome you to our meetings and hope you will come again!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS. Give a big welcome to the following new member - Frank Burns.
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GARDEN TOUR 2009. Check out the latest news on the 2009 garden tour - click on the "Garden Tour 2009" logo on our home page or go directly to it at "Garden Tour 2009".
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PHOTO DIRECTORY. Our new photo directory is out - pick up yours at the next meeting. A great way to get to know all our members.
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NEW THIS MONTH! New photos in our photo archive for 2008, new garden tips for August and a new cucumber salad recipe for those who like to garden and cook too (plus an old one for gazpacho).
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COMING IN THE GRAPEVINE.
In the next few months we will have features from our "Blast from the Past" series, another Spotlight on one of our members, and an article from a specialist with garden expertise, none of which you want to miss. We already have a number of great features scheduled but what would you like to see as a feature? If you have a topic you would like to see in the Grapevine or know someone who would be willing to contribute, please let me know.
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GIVE A GIFT TO A FRIEND: Know someone interested in gardening? Sign them up for the Grapevine - just send me their email address. The price is right (nothing) and everyone I've talked to who receive the Grapevine enjoy the expertise and quality of our feature articles. We are currently distributing the Grapevine to more than 500 persons in 11 different states! The 11 States are Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. If you are receiving the Grapevine and live in any other state, please let me know so I can update our coverage.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
About our Author
Jack Scarborough was one of our earliest club members. He was a long time school teacher and principal in Florence. His wife was a teacher also and they lived on Walnut Street in the Historic district (background provided by Fuzzy Perritt).
(Photos added by editor)
HISTORY OF GARDENING
by Jack Scarborough
HISTORY OF GARDENINGfrom Grapevine archives, February 1984
Having in mind the fact that we have many different individual interests among our members, and not having any expertise in any particular aspect of gardening, I thought I would write on a general aspect level. Here are some facts abstracted from the World Book Encyclopedia article on the history of gardening. Gardening had its beginning when primitive people found that they could cultivate wild roots and other edible plants. Thereafter they progressed gradually from a nomadic to an agrarian culture. Those who were able to do this became more rapidly civilized.
In very ancient times gardening had become a highly developed skill. Many of these early gardens were medicinal gardens tended by priests and physicians. The Greeks and Romans had such gardens and most Roman citizens had vegetable patches.
The Egyptians and others in dry areas near streams or lakes learned to irrigate. Egypt grew vegetables, grain, fruits, herbs, and various trees in temple gardens and on great private estates.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, were created
by Nebuchadnezzar for his wife who missed the verdance of her native Assyria.
Persia developed the arboretum, the formally planted courtyard and plantation
of trees.
The Chinese planted sacred groves to their gods centuries before Christ, but did not reach their highest development until about A.D. 1370.
Greece originated the potted garden to use in the worship of Adonis, god of green growing things. The Greeks also began the science of botany. Roof gardens had their origin in Rome.
During the Middle Ages most of the gardens were in monasteries where they grew fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants.
During the Renaissance formal plantings of flowers, herbs, clipped trees, lawns and hedges were favored. These were accented by fountains, statues, and pools. The garden movement was strong in Italy where formal plantings, statuary and babbling streams were enclosed in a rectangle of close clipped hedges. France favored formal terraces and planted beds in regular design in front of their great country houses.
Spain designed the patio or enclosed courtyard with tall background plantings and beautiful hanging potted plants.
England combined many of these to create their great formal gardens of the 1600's,
some covering as much as 30 acres.
In the United States one will find all of these types at one place or another. One will find rock gardens, water gardens, formal gardens with the grand view, roof gardens, and informal gardens with a potpourri of gaily colored flowers and bulbs in casual borders laid out in free curves along the boundaries of the property. This account leans heavily toward the flower garden but, I suppose that the vegetable garden follows about the same format throughout time and location.
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GARDEN NOTES: Doesn't feel much like fall at this time of year but if you want fall produce from your garden, now is the time to act! It is important to know how to cope with August heat when in the garden. Ever wonder about how to collect and save seeds? Ever think how great it would be if those weeds you spend so much time on were good for something? YES! They are! Read about all this and more in our August Tips section.
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FOLLOW UP ON DAYLILIES. We got this question from a reader of Joh Jackson's article on propagating daylilies, "How many generally 'take' after carrying out your procedure?" John's answer, "If done early in the morning, almost all of them will take. The later in the day, the less likely they are to 'take'. This year has been dry after the cross polination and as a result my pods have fallen off prematurely. However, I have saved them and I think the seeds will still be OK."
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LINKS. Check out our website "Links". Know of others we may be interested in? email me.
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A young girl asked her mother what "vice' meant. Her mother carefully explained it meant doing all sorts of bad things, and then asked why her daughter wanted to know. "Oh," exclaimed the girl excitedly, "I've just been elected vice president of our home room."
-March, 1982 Grapevine---------------------------
Want to comment on anything in the Grapevine? Want to ask a question? Write an article? YES! YES! YES! Send me an email.
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Read this month's Grapevine in hardcopy using Word: August Grapevine.
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