Looking for something fun to do while it is still too cold to work in our gardens?  Here is a winter-time roundup of area gardening happenings.

Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association  is hosting a seven-week “Day in the Yard” course beginning in early February.  It is offered in Calabash, Leland, Oak Island and Southport.  The cost is $85 and includes the publication Gardening by the Month in Coastal Carolina.

Pender County Master Gardeners are offering a course called “Leave Your Lilacs Behind!  Gardening Tips for Southern Transplants” on Tuesday, February 20.  The event is free.

Tidewater Camellia Club is hosting the 68^th Annual Tidewater Camellia Club Winter Show and Camellia Sale on Saturday, February 24 in Wilmington. Free!

New Hanover Garden Club and Harbor Island Garden Club  are co-hosting a Small Standard & Specialty Horticulture Flower Show March 9-10 in Wilmington.  Free!

Ikebana International Chapter 212 is sponsoring the Annual Ikebana Exhibition March 30-31 in Wilmington.  Free!

Cape Fear Garden Club – Azalea Garden Tour will be April 13-15. This is the 65th annual tour and part of the Azalea Festival.  Tickets are $25.

For more information on these events click here.

The Holden Beach Beautification Club welcomed Jill Peleuses from Wild Bird and Garden, who discussed the native birds in our yards and how to attract more birds.  Birds need water, food, and shelter.  Water this time of year is critical to help them clean and fluff their down to stay warm.   When we have the extremely cold temperatures that we have been experiencing the birds appreciate suet and extra seed.  Jill explained that birds may use birdhouses for shelter right now, but will be out at first light.

Bluebirds are native to our area, don’t migrate, and only range two to three miles.  They will be nesting in March-April and love shelled sunflower seeds and live mealworms.  We also have summer and winter hummingbirds here.  Mourning doves mate for life, but winter 400 miles apart.  Jill showed slides and also discussed cardinals, painted buntings, woodpeckers, house finches, tufted titmouses, chickadees, Carolina wrens, and nuthatches.

During the business meeting, 1st Vice President Beverly Compton reported that she will be chairing the nominating committee.  Anyone interested in serving on the committee or as an officer next year should contact her.  The auction was discussed.  Members suggested serving a meal and asking the whole membership about when they thought the auction should be.  The Art Committee will be meeting soon to plan the items for Days at the Docks.

Hostesses for the meeting were Dolly Mitchell (chair), Becky Willis, Linda Rast and Ros Stokes.

Our next meeting is February 14, at 1:00.

Hostesses Dolly Mitchell (chair), Linda Rast, Becky Willis, and Ros Stokes (not pictured).

The Beautification Club welcomed Sam Marshall, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent for State Extension in Brunswick County for an informative presentation on the natural history of North Carolina.  Sam shared fascinating facts about our state.  North Carolina is 1,700,000,000 years old and the Appalachian mountains are over a billion years old.  At one point they were the tallest in the world.  The Appalachians are a hot spot for biodiversity.  There is a high number of rare and endangered plants and animals.

Another spot in the state with high biodiversity is the Brunswick County area.  There are 60 to 70 ecotypes in the immediate area which are home to an astounding variety of plants and animals.  Our area has the highest concentration of Venus Flytraps in the world.  The eastern population of Painted Buntings only nest on barrier islands and move less than a mile.  We live in a very unique and special area.

After Sam’s presentation, the group heard from the Long Range Planning Committee regarding renovating Padgett Garden.  A vote was taken to endorse the renovation and the committee was congratulated on a job well done.  Click here to get all the details on the Padget Garden.   It was announced that the auction will be Saturday, March 10 from 3-7 PM at the Chapel.  Start planning your donation!

December Hostesses Cecelia Weston, Janice Schaffer Sullivan, and Gayle Todd (chair). Not pictured: Becky Willis.

Hostesses for the meeting were Gayle Todd, (Chair), and Cecelia Weston; Becky Willis and Janice Schaffer Sullivan pitched in for members out of town.

Chocolate!

Festive decor for the serving area.

Lovely tablescapes.

Cheese and crackers and to accompany the sweets!

Delicious choices for everyone.

Festive decor!

Key Lime Cake was a favorite!

The members of the Holden Beach Beautification Club and their guests enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings!  Members, spouses, children, and guests were briefly joined by Town Manager David Hewett and other staff members.  This annual potluck meal is always a favorite with members!  Marlene Barz and her committee created beautiful tablescapes which included fresh mountain apples for attendees to take home.  If you missed the meeting, the Yearbook was also distributed.

The weather didn’t cooperate with Festival by the Sea this year.  Despite a lovely Saturday kick-off, storms rolled through overnight and devastated vendor booths, resulting in the cancellation of Sunday’s festivities.  The HBBC booth was not spared, but look to see us in the spring at the Days at the Docks Festival.

Beautification Club members making hyper-tufa planters for Festival By the Sea.

Be sure to stop by the Holden Beach Beautification Club’s booth at Festival By the Sea this weekend, October 28-29.

Check out our booth for some wonderful planters and other goodies from the talented HBBC ladies.  There will be hyper-tufa planters, decorated pumpkins and a return of the very popular garden Lady Bugs!  We also have the garden gloves that everyone raves about in all sizes – perfect for getting your fall garden set for the winter months!

In addition, our famous calendars are in and you can pick one up!  Each year Beautification Club members collect their most beautiful photos of the Holden Beach area for the annual calendar.  The very best photos are selected for the calendar which is professionally produced in limited quantities each fall.  The calendars are collectible and are also popular holiday gifts.

Best of all, all proceeds from our booth go to fund the club and our mission to beautify the public garden areas of Holden Beach.

Pumpkins decorated with a coastal theme.

Set of four concrete garden ladybugs.

The Holden Beach Beautification Club participated in Boo at the Beach by hosting a game booth and candy give away.  Youngsters enjoyed a pumpkin patch and bean bag toss along with Halloween treats.  At the end of the evening, the fall decorations were moved to the multi-purpose court to bring some seasonal decor to that area of the beach.  The event was chaired by Pat Schwaiger with help from Carol Keane and other club members.

Margaret Shelton of Shelton Herb Farm and HBBC Second VP Diana Hadesty.

The Holden Beach Beautification Club welcomed Margaret Shelton from the Shelton Herb Farm to the October meeting.  Margaret spoke on “Cool Season Gardening” and brought a variety of cool-season plants for us to purchase, as well as a “salad bowl” arrangement.  Many lettuces and herbs thrive in the cooler fall weather.  Now is the time to plant cilantro, dill, and parsley as well as the perennial garlic chives! Margaret also brought examples of native ornamental grasses such as muhly grass and edible flowers.

First Vice President Beverly Compton led the business meeting.  Yard of the Month selections were discussed and can be viewed on the YOM page.  Congratulations to Marlene Barz, Dolly Mitchell and Ron Champion.  Beverly welcomed new member Pete Schwaiger.  Hostesses for the month were Carol Ann Lohman, Vicki Myers, Pat Schwaiger and Diana Hadesty (chair).

October Hostesses Carol Ann Lohman, Vicki Myers, Pat Schwaiger and Diana Hadesty (Chair).

New member Pete Schwaiger is welcomed by 1st Vice President Beverly Compton.

Support our local master gardeners by shopping their Fall Online Plant Sale!

Extension Master Gardeners of Brunswick County are sponsoring a Fall Online Plant Sale. The website will open and orders can be placed and paid for online from Saturday, August 26 through Sunday, September 17.  Orders are only available through the website.

Plants will be available for pick-up at the Brunswick County Government Center, behind Building N, Referendum Drive, Bolivia, NC  28422 from Thursday, September 28, through Saturday, September 30.

This year the Extension Master Gardeners are teaming with Gardens Direct to offer a larger variety and a diverse selection of plants including shrubs, grasses, and fall blooming mums.

Information on “How to Order” and plant listings are posted at www.BCMGVA.org.