May garden club meeting alert

With iffy weather, and limited sunlight at 8 p.m., and due to an amazing number of club member requests on the topic of attracting pollinators, we will have a class on 11 May 2021, at 7 P.M. in Camden Grange.  I think we have all noticed the lack of buzzing pollinators out in the garden, and so Diane Stutzman from Desert Jewels Nursery, in Spokane Valley, has agreed to talk with us about doing something to bring (and keep?) those invaluable insects IN our gardens.  Diane also has a lot of experience with growing plants in drought conditions, and in case you have not noticed, we are certainly WAY behind in our rain totals for this Spring.  I read that we (here in Northeast Washington) are in our eighth year of the current "official" drought, so the more we know about growing plants that are hardy, adapted, and drought tolerant, the better for our appetites and food budget.  Diane brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the class, so be sure to take notes.  This meeting and class will be video recorded, and available on-line for those members who are unable to attend in person.

Club members are encouraged to bring their favorite snacks to the meeting to share with other goodie-deprived members - several of us club members have had our lives enhanced by brownies 😉 - just sayin'.

also, our club videographer Geoff Carson tells me that our club's April meeting and Outdoor Hydroponics class (courtesy of club member Steve Byars) is now available on "Youtube".  You can access the video class here at our club's blogsite or via our club's Facebook page.

If you have not already paid your 2021 annual club membership dues, please seek out club treasurer Jane Bolz at the May meeting:  $5 for one person, $10 for a family.  Remember, our membership card has a "secret" code that allows the bearer to claim a 15% discount on garden-related items (no, not for the purchase of chinchillas, Jim Hoffman!) at "Northwest Seed and Pet" stores.

Finally, the North Country Food Pantry is looking for garden volunteers, both experienced and inexperienced, to help with the Spring garden preparations and planting.  The Food Pantry is located at 40015 North Collins Rd., Elk, WA  99009, and you can call them at 509-292-2530 to volunteer, or to donate garden-related equipment, tools, supplies, etc.

see you at the meeting, jim.