July meeting minutes

PROGRAM

Fran Glass hosted two yard tours at her Crestwood home:  Wednesday evening July 2 and Saturday morning July 12. Her yard is Platinum Certified though St. Louis Audubon’s Bring Conservation Home program. A total of 70 members and guests attended. Betty Struckhoff conducted the meeting on July 2, Ed Schmidt on July 12. Several guests were welcomed and introduced themselves to the group.

Generous members donated two species of plants as giveaways.

The planting crew after the first Native Landscape Challenge in 2006

The Wild Ones planting crew celebrates a successful Landscape Challenge

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2014 Landscape Challenge
We co-sponsor a yearly Landscape Challenge with Shaw Nature Reserve and the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program. This year’s winning yard is in Kirkwood on West Argonne Avenue. Planting date: September 27, 2014. Volunteers are welcome and needed help plant.

Southwest Illinois Chapter
An organizational meeting was held in Collinsville on June 18 to establish a Wild Ones chapter in Metro-East. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for July 16, at 6 p.m., at St. John’s United Church of Christ Annex, 307 W. Clay Street, Collinsville, Il  62234 (Google map).

St. Louis Zoo Pollinator Dinner
Linda Bennett and Fran Glass hosted a Wild Ones information table at the June 17 Pollinator Dinner in celebration of National Pollinator Week. Two-hundred thirty-five people attended this sold-out event.

Greener Garden Series at Shaw Nature Reserve
There are two remaining Friday Greener Garden Series events scheduled:

Marsha Gebhardt described the first two of the series that she attended at Shaw Nature Reserve. She highly recommends that others attend also. Each event is from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. Participants are encouraged to bring food to share. Drinks are provided.

The Friday Greener Gardens events are free, but advance registration is required and limited to the first 40 people.

Shaw Nature Reserve staff and volunteers: Terri Brandt, Cindy Gilberg, Marilyn Heller, unknown and Diane Donovan

Shaw Nature Reserve staff and volunteers: Terri Brandt, Cindy Gilberg, Marilyn Heller, ? and Diane Donovan

Cindy Gilberg
Wild Ones member Cindy Gilberg passed away on June 30.  She touched many people in so many ways through her native landscaping garden designs, her teachings and writings. Several members shared their favorite stories about Cindy.

Website and blog
Brian Hall thanked all of our bloggers. We’ve had some great posts, and there are more in the works. If anyone wants to learn how to contribute to the blog, Brian will be happy to talk you through it. If you’re interested, contact Brian.

Chapter Board of Directors Meeting
St. Louis Chapter BOD meeting was held following the July 12 yard tour. Members were invited to attend and to give feedback.

NEXT MEETING

August 6, 2014, 6:30 p.m.; Tour of the native garden at Chesterfield City Hall
Program on the many efforts in Chesterfield that promote sound landscaping practices. Melinda (Mindy) Mohrman, the City Arborist, will lead the tour of the plantings around the building and speak of the interest and policies of planting natives in the city.

For directions, see our online calendar.

Recorded by: Fran Glass, Secretary

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