May News
What’s the color of your eyes (iris)
The May meeting of the Independence Garden Club met on the 27th at the garden of Wanda Lunn in Cedar Rapids. We toured her garden beautifully planted with vintage bearded irises and color full peonies. She gave us a bonus of tips on the care of and growing of her irises.
The Roll call was answered by giving the color of your eyes (iris) blue, brown, green, etc.
Our hostess Rosalind and Patty Gibbs who were unable to attend the meeting but provided us with a delicious variety of cookies and a provisional baggie of a nut cup. Members provided their own beverage.
Donations were given to the Independence National Honor Society and one of the boy scout troops for their help at the clubs yearly plant sale.
A yard of the month was selected for the month of June. The yard of Mike and Bobbi O’Loughlin at 1504 Carrie Avenue, Independence was chosen.
Various Members of the club will choose different business in the area and deliver bouquets of flowers acknowledging their service to the community for national garden week.
After returning back to Independence, Members met at the club’s pink garden (planted with various plants having a pink flower for breast cancer survivors) to replenish with fresh pink flowers.
There are over 300 different varieties of iris’s Here are some tips on growing and planting them. Planting iris is best divided and done in the fall. Iris’s grow in clumps of a mother and young rhizomes which you will separate. If purchased or received rhizomes earlier or in pots plant as soon as possible. Place rhizomes horizontally with the roots lightly covered with loose soil s1ightly patted down. Lightly water them, i.e. don’t over water. After the initial planting, trim flowers and stems down to base to prevent rot.
June News
Painting flowers by hammering of flowers
The June meeting of the Independence Garden Club was brought to order by president Ruth Hamilton at the home of member Beth Weigand. Hostesses Mary Stueben and Beth Weigand will introduce us to the art of flower pounding.
Roll call, taken by assistant secretary, Mary Jane Svobada, answered the question, “What is your favorite garden tool?†A variety of answers were given from hoes, garden kneeler, extended pruners, favorite gloves, minnie shovels to long handle fruit pickers. There were two new members introduced to the club. Eleven members were present with the two new members welcomed to the club, Reagan Mason and Karen Pollock.
The Lexington Estate floral bouquet for June was provided by Mary Jane Svoboda.
The conservation report was given by Joellen Yeager. She reported on the various breeds of owls in the area and some of their habitats.
Our hostesses provided us with refreshments of a variety of fresh fruit kabobs, fresh vegetables cheese and crackers, members brought their own beverage to enjoy.
Minutes of the last meeting approved, and the treasurers report given and approved for audit.
The District 2 meeting of the Iowa garden club was held in May at the Independence Presbyterian Church with the Independence club being the host club. Other clubs in attendance were: The Quasqueton Club of Quasqueton, The Good Earth Club of Cedar Rapids, and The Town and Country Club of Decorah.
The Iowa State Garden Club held its 2025 meeting at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids by President Marlene Marolf of Davenport. New Officers were presented and inducted into office for the next two years. Many ideas for enticing new members to join were discussed. It was brought up to the state members on clubs to join districts or to redistrict the districts to make traveling easier.
The Circle of Roses awards was presented to many well deserved members of the clubs through out the state. Our very own well deserved hard working member, Mary Stueben, was awarded hers.
Congratulations Mary and thank you for all you do.
Ruth Schneider, who lives at 344 Stevens Street in Jesup, was the Independence Garden Club’s July recipient of Yard of the Month. Her tidy flower beds and the backyard are a tranquil place for her husband Wayne and her to relax. Fun memorabilia are featured throughout the yard including a tiny fairy garden tucked under a shrub.
The meeting concluded with Mary and Beth providing supplies and instructions of using hammers and many varieties of plants and flowers for hammering them to card stock to make some very interesting patterns.
