Contributed
The Seven Lakes Garden Club’s plans for Weymouth Woods Ranger Hulle Talcott to speak to the group on invasive plants were washed out recently when all state park rangers were deployed in October to support the recovery efforts in our western region from Hurricane Helene.
With gratitude for the rangers who have been called to service, we look forward to rescheduling Ranger Talcott in the future.
The alternate program was a “share event,” akin to an old fashioned school show-and-tell. Gardeners love to share their stories — the joys and the heart aches. We share, and we learn.
For this share event, members were invited to “bring your favorite garden tool.” We all have them, those special tools that we reach for the most.
Everyone had great stories on how they got them, who recommended them, and especially how it has performed to make it our favorite.
The range of tools was extensive, from special trowels, favorite clippers, a great cart for moving everything in the garden and battery-operated tools that are efficient and reduce stress on our bodies.
Gardeners are also always looking for the next best tool for their garden kit. There was a lot of note taking and Googling going on to find the brand and source for the tools. It is so much better to purchase a highly recommended tool from a trusted source.
Some of our tools are old friends we have had for years. This selection ranged from 40 plus years to the newly acquired. Our sharing event was fun and informative with lots of cool tools and smiling faces.
Our gardens are our happy place and a source of pride. Our garden club has a wealth of knowledge obtained from years of individual gardening experiences. It was great to hear the stories, ask questions and get feedback.
On a serious note, Helene devastated homes and businesses in our mountains. One of the businesses impacted was the Carolina Native Nursery in Burnsville. It lost 90 percent of its stock and suffered major damage to their facilities.
The Seven Lakes Garden Club is donating $200 to its ReGrow Fund to assist in recovery. This nursery is a major supplier to landscapers and small nurseries and will play a role in the recovery of their region.
