Certified, Emeritus Members Vote For 2010 Officers Today From the ...

Gardener Celebrates Fall Garden’s Bounty, Looking Back on Year of BeautyBy Marilyn Solomon I wanted to celebrate here thebounty of fresh vegetables and herbs Iam still harvesting. Then I thought Ishould write about how beautiful myflowers were in spring and summer,because each month brought morebeauty than the one before. Iremembered planting the seeds, bulbs, cuttings andpotted plants in hopes of great beauty, and it bloomed. I remembered bringing in organic mulch fromfeed lots, bag after bag of potting soil, pine straw fromAlabama, cedar mulch, edging and all the various toolsand fertilizers I used; and I think that every step wasworth it. Beautiful plants are the reward. In the end, I decided to write about the lovelyfall gardens I now gaze upon. The bed in front of oureastward facing porch is like an English Garden with PinkKnock-out roses, purple cockscombs, red and pinkGeraniums, golden Mums, large, tall yellow Marigolds,purple Salvia, mauve Shrimp plants, variegated Hostas,yellow Cannas, pink Surprise Lilies, orange, yellow, andred Hibiscus, a huge Elephant Ear plant, and a Bird ofParadise (Caesalpinia). In the back, my shade garden is spectacularwith caladiums, a variety of Hostas, deep pink MorningGlories, golden Chrysanthemums and Marigolds, Redand Yellow Cannas and scads of purple Obedient plant. I listen to wind chimes and watch butterflies andhummingbirds flit around Butterfly Bushes and breath inthe delicious smells of nature. Lively colored Zinniassparkle near Moon Flowers and red Cardinal Climbers onthe garden gate, inviting visitors to sit a spell. Just to theside, an Angel Trumpet displays a potential bloom, thefirst in the three to four years that I have nurtured it.Another sweet promise. It never ends, and for that I am forever thankful.Congratulations to the Class of 2009! The Octobermeeting saw another group finish the fall educationprogram and become certified Master Gardeners.Education Chair Jane Hays and her assistant LindaRose-Evans gave them their certificates and welcomedthem to the ranks of the association. Judy Kautz photoPlease report all service and education hours to theRecording Committee. Whether they meet or exceedthe number required, these reports point up thebenefit of Master Gardener service and education tothe community and help assure adequate fundingfor the OSU/OKC County Extension. Deadline forreporting hours for 2010 certification is December31 or before. MGHours@gmail.comOKLAHOMA COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS 5 November 2009 MASTERGARDENER@OKSTATE.EDU