March 2026 Floral Arrangements at Monticello

 

The March program was a presentation by Janet Miller on floral arrangements and gardens at Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson home. She gave an overview of the grounds that includes an orchard, winery, vegetable gardens and a one acre garden for cuttings for the floral arrangements. She did fresh floral arrangements every other day from May 1-November 1! She also dried flowers from the garden and used those for arrangements for the winter. The arrangements were used for the house and events at Monticello.

          

A wreath and arrangement created by Janet plus a list of some of the famous people who visited events.

February 2026 Planning Meeting

 A small group gathered to discuss upcoming plans.  Dues are $10.  Any plants left over from the spring seedling sale will be sold at the Dodgeville Farmers' Market May 9.

The next meeting will be a presentation by Janet Miller on floral arrangements and gardens at Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson's home.  Janet did floral arrangements for the home and events as well as Christmas decorating.

December 2025 Holiday Arrangements

 

Jada from Jada's Garden and her staff helped members make holiday arrangements, using containers from Jada or brought by the member.

Each arrangement was beautiful and unique.  We then had a quick meeting and enjoyed food, refreshments and great conversations.

         

                                                                                                     

 

November 2025 Simon Gilroy Plant Reactions

 

Dr Simon Gilroy, botany professor at UW Madison, presented "Are  my plants listening to me?"  Research has shown that plants have similar senses that we have although theirs aren't controlled by nerves. They can count, like the Venus fly trap that has to be touched twice before reacting, and respond to a chewing insect by alerting other leaves to produce repellents. 

Recording the sound of a chewing insect and playing it back to another untouched plant will cause that plant to react so plants can 'hear'. Plants don't die as soon as they're cut or pulled up so Simon left us with the thought that our salad is 'screaming' at us as we eat!

October 2025 Beekeeping

 

 

Mike Smith demonstrated his beekeeping equipment, including a traveling case of working bees.  He explained how to start beekeeping and the life of bees in a hive.

                                  

         Roger spinning honey from a "box"                              working bees in a traveling hive

September 2025 Jada's Greenhouse and picnic

  

Members toured Jada's greenhouse and had the opportunity to create a fall plant arrangement.  Some are  shown below.  Then we met at Blue Mounds State Park for a potluck picnic.

   

                                                                                                       

      

August 2025 Jane Stenson Garden Tour

 

 

Jane Stenson opened her garden for a visit from our members plus the public.  A number of beautifully landscaped beds featuring native prairie plants as well as favorites like dahlias, daylilies and lilies.  A "cage" neatly holds stray branches and a nearby structure holds tubes and other crevices for native bees.