The Rainbow Gardeners of Shelby County always welcome new members and guests to our monthly meetings. We get together at CJ Highmarks, 2599 Michigan St. in Sidney, on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 for lunch and programs. Feel free to call or e-mail for more information. We have a great line-up of programs for the fall and early winter. Here’s a preview of our upcoming meetings:

September 9 – An Eye for Irises – Marcia Grigg will discuss the planting and care of irises, including the selection of different varieties, care, disease control, division, location, and depth of planting.

October 14 – Jim Zimmerman, Director of the Buckeye District of the American Rose Society, will be our special guest speaker. He will share valuable information regarding the care of roses, including propagation techniques. He will also give unique tips on using roses in fresh floral arrangements and preserving roses for dried arrangements.

November 11 – Pinecones for the Holidays – Marlene Crusey and Marianna Roth will demonstrate the many creative uses of pinecones for holiday arrangements and wreaths. They will also discuss the various types of pinecones, where to find them, and how best to use them.

December 9 – The public is invited to attend our annual Christmas Flower Show in the Amos Community Center at Dorothy Love Retirement Center. Club members will create arrangements in 10 different categories according to the theme, “The Sounds of Christmas.” Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite arrangement in each category as well as their top pick overall, the People’s Choice Award. Holiday items, such as wreaths, cards, and centerpieces will be available for sale.

Even before our fall line-up begins, the Rainbow Gardeners will host the 4th annual Flower Show at the 2008 Applefest. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talents of our local gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts. The show will take place in the front lobby of the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department, right across from the downtown Fire Department on Saturday, September 6 with judging to begin at 12:00 noon. Bernard Clinehens has graciously agreed to judge the show again this year. This is a public show, and gardeners/exhibitors from all over Shelby County are encouraged to enter, attend, and enjoy. Pre-registration is not necessary, there is no entry fee, and there are no forms to fill out. Just bring entries to the Sidney-Shelby County Health Department between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, the day of the event. Late entries cannot be accepted.

There are 5 Classes for adults and a special Youth Class so children and teens under 18 can join the show.

Class I – Mum’s the Word (Floral Arrangements)
Arrangements must include one or more chrysanthemums. Flowers and other plant materials do not necessarily have to be grown in the exhibitor’s garden. Limit of two entries per person. Arrangement should carry out the theme.

Class II – Horticultural Specimens
Limit of three different specimens per person exhibited in one’s own individual container. Each specimen must be in a separate drink bottle, jar, bud vase, or whatever container best displays the specimen. All specimens must be grown by the exhibitor.

Class III – Roses
Limit of two individual rose specimens. Each must be of a different variety or color displayed in the exhibitor’s vase. Must be grown by the exhibitor.

Class IV – Potted Plants
Limit of one entry per person. Pot cannot exceed 12 inches across the top. Entrant must have had the plant in his/her possession for three months.

Class V – Hanging Baskets
Limit of one entry per person. Basket cannot exceed 12 inches across the top. Entrant must have had the hanging basket in his/her possession for three months.

Youth Class – Exhibits by youth 17 years of age or younger
Entries in any class as described above for exhibitors under 18 years of age.

There are great Cash Awards in each class:
1st Place in each class = $25
2nd Place in each class = $15
3rd Place in each class = $10
Grand Prize – Best of Show = $50

The Rainbow Gardeners invite everyone in Shelby County to participate in this Applefest event. The display will be open to the public on Saturday until 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ann Heeley by e-mail at annheeley@yahoo.com. Come and enjoy the beauty of early fall in Shelby County by entering and visiting our Flower Show during the 2008 Applefest celebration.

At our August meeting, Nancy Morgan’s enthusiasm for ornamental grasses was contagious as she explained why ornamental grasses have increased in popularity since the 1990’s. In fact, ‘Karl Foerster,’ a feather reed grass was chosen the 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year. Grasses can be found in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and growth patterns. They are very adaptable, generally drought tolerant, and pest-free.

Some important factors to consider before purchasing one or more varieties are:

1. How does it grow and multiply?

2. Does it have an upright, floppy, or fountain-like habit?

3. Is it invasive? Some grasses have underground runners, causing the plant to pop up in unexpected places. These may need to be planted, container and all, with the top of the container extending about an inch above ground level. Others are prolific reseeders. If reseeding is not a desirable trait, cut off the seed heads when they appear and before they dry.

4. Is it a clumping type of grass? If so, how large in diameter will it grow?

5. Does it need shade or sun?

6. Is it an annual or a perennial?

7. How large does it get (width and height)?

8. How much moisture does it need? Sedges tend to need more water than other types of grass. Papyrus actually grows in the water.

9. Does it have a tag? Save the tag from the original gallon or quart container for future reference.

Nancy distributed several hand-outs with information on the care and selection of ornamental grasses. She then discussed and displayed each of the 16 varieties she had brought to the meeting. Click HERE to learn more about the ornamental grasses we saw at the meeting.

There’s still lots more growing weather ahead, and before we close up our gardens for the year, here are some tips that members shared:

--Most annuals will continue to produce abundant blooms until frost if deadheaded. Pinch off faded flowers to encourage new growth.

--Plant shrubs and individual ornamental grasses in groups of odd numbers. Planting in groups of 3 or 5 will balance out the visual aspects of your garden.

--Don’t mulch perennials until the ground freezes.

--Perennials need to finish their summer growth cycle on their own. Don’t encourage late-season growth with heavy fertilizer applications or excessive pruning near the end of the summer season.

--Perennials in above-ground containers will not survive the winter. Either bury the pot, remove the perennial and plant it in the ground, or store the pot in an unheated garage. If stored in a garage, water sparingly until spring arrives.
Thanks for visiting our site. We look forward to seeing you at Applefest, at our Christmas Flower Show, or as a guest—and potential new member—at our meetings.