The NGC Small Standard Petite Flower Show, presented by The Orlando Garden Club, was a wonderful event with many entries and visitors. Thank you Silvia Zuniga for organizing this event, the members on the committee and the participants. There were two Best In Show Awards: Becky Lindhorst – Best in Show for design, and Jeannie Kroemer – Best in Show for horticulture. Silvia Zuniga – Won the June Horton Award – most creative use of fresh plant material – for her hanging 12 inch design. Penny Decker – Blue Ribbon for Design, Class 1
Our February meeting also included the Green Thumb Circle hosting the luncheon with beautifully decorated tables of flowers, tea cups, tea towels, sandwich plates and orchids. An assortment of sweets, tea sandwiches and fruits were served as well as fresh pots of hot teas served to the members. A lovely luncheon was provided by a small group, most wearing hats or a tiara. Fun afternoon for all!
Our “Audubon Center for Birds of Prey” program was educational and exciting!! A big Thank You to Daisy Fiore, Sr. Educational Coordinator, and her assistant Sabrina! The organization manages sanctuaries that cover thousands of acres along with two popular nature centers; Audubon’s Center for Birds of Prey and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. We were also honored to meet two of their Ambassador Birds!
National Seed Swap Day is celebrated on the last Saturday in January, which is January 28 this year, to honor the great U.S. tradition of swapping seeds with neighbors. The final week of January lays the chilly winds of winter to rest and signals the coming of spring — a season of cherry blossoms, outdoor picnics, and fresh plantations. As the plants and trees shed their final bounty, communities gather to plan for the next year of harvest. Mark this brand new season by swapping seeds and sharing warmth with your community on National Seed Swap Day On National Seed Swap Day, we reinvigorate our love for gardening by swapping seeds with our neighbors. It is a great day to remember that nature is our ultimate currency. The food we eat represents the lives we live. And when communities come together to exchange this valuable gift, we reaffirm our promises of mutual belonging and self-sustenance.
National Seed Swap Day was established by “Washington Gardener Magazine” editor, Kathy Jentz, who organized the first seed-swapping event in Washington, D.C., on January 26, 2006. (Did you hear her on Better Lawns and Gardens Saturday? Listen to the podcast online if you missed it at betterlawns.com) The success of the event inspired other states to join and, in the following weeks, the final Saturday of January was officially declared as National Seed Swap Day. But this tradition goes back further than 2006.
The seed barter is a thousand-year-old practice. Traders carried seeds with them as they traveled across the globe, and established connections with foreigners by exchanging each other’s precious collect. Some of the most popular U.S. grains, fruits, and vegetables were brought to us by European and Dutch colonizers.
Swapping seeds is essential to our biodiversity, and it popularized the practice of gardening. The love for home gardens and urban farming has been on the rise since the 2000s, as people began delving into the trend of organic consumption and ethical harvesting. More than half of metropolitan families and suburban dwellers maintain a garden in America and spend billions of dollars in the pursuit of gardening.
This National Seed Swap Day, share your love of gardening with the world and give your gardens the promise of a new tomorrow.
s Center for Birds of Prey and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. We were also honored to meet two of their Ambassador Birds!