October 2017 Meeting: Queen Bee Acres

At our October meeting Fran and Pete Demo, long time beekeepers from the Darlington area, introduced us to beekeeping.

Honey bees have fascinated Pete since he was a boy growing up in New Jersey. Fran reports she was slower to come on board. But for the last 25 years, they both say they have been stung by the joys of beekeeping! Now their hobby has grown to a business, Queen Bee Acres, and involves managing 25-30 hives in Lafayette and Iowa Counties. Their hives are carefully located to promote bee health and delicious honey from an ever-changing blend of available nectar.

Fran and Pete demonstrated the basics of setting up and working with a Langstroth beehive, the preferred hive used by beekeepers because it encourages bees to build honeycomb on movable frames which makes for easier bee management and extraction of the honey.  A real, but uninhabited hive along with an observation frame was available for us to see and hear.

Fran is also a member of the Lafayette County MasterGardeners and shared her knowledge of plants and woodies that attract bees.  

September 2017 Meeting: Annual Picnic...plus a State Park Nature Walk

This years annual Uplands Garden Club Picnic took place on September 6th at Governor Dodge State Park, located approximately three miles north of Dodgeville on Highway 23.

We met at the Cox Hollow Shelter at 5pm for a guided walk led by club member Gayl Stewart.  Gayl has been the Naturalist at the Park for several years and is a wealth of information about the Park’s history, flora and fauna.

The picnic began at 6pm. Club members each brought a yummy dish to pass and an alcoholic beverage if desired.  The club provided the cutlery, plates, napkins, and nonalcoholic beverage. This was a family event so members were encouraged to invite grandchildren, children, and spouses. As always, there was a good turnout for the picnic (who doesn't love a picnic?) - and there were no “bugs” and the lake was still and beautifully reflective...a perfect evening!

Thanks to Gayl for taking us on a hike and for sharing a naturalist view of the park.  This park is truly a treasure!

August 2017 Meeting: Jeanette Golden Home Gardens

On Wednesday August 2 the Uplands Garden Club visited Jeanette Golden's home garden, located between Blue Mounds and Black Earth. Jeannette has been active in the Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society and her garden was recommended by Frank Greer, past-president of the WHPS. He calls her garden "fabulous"...and we agree!

Jeannette began her garden 25 years ago and it has now grown to an acre of gardens, all of her own design, including rock garden selections, sun and shade perennials and woodland plants. She calls herself a "Plant Geek" and has collections of plants. Some favorites include day lilies, dwarf conifers and clematis. She has two gigantic black walnut trees where hundreds of perennials and quite a few woodland plants are happily growing.

This garden was a treat for our club to visit.  Our club president summed up the visit in the newsletter with a sentiment we all share, "We had such a wonderful tour of Jeanette Golden’s incredible gardens. These tours always leave me with the feeling that maybe someday my gardens might look that good. I am always inspired when I visit these unique, well-planned gardens, and I take away so many good ideas that I would like to try."

Thank you Jeanette, for your sharing your wonderful gardens with us!