Pumpkin Pickin' at Lohstroh's!

What a great time we had at Lohstroh Family Farms last Monday night!   Michelle Lohstroh told us all about the history of their farm and showed us all the great varieties of pumpkins and gourds they sell.

A wonderful, big building is a new addition to the farm since our last visit three years ago.

Lots of great displays and areas to shop from; that big long white thing is their caterpillar haybale; kids love to play on it.

Melba and Barb check out the apple and gooseneck gourds.

Great colors in these squash and yes, you can cook with them!

Michelle showing a bumpy variety.

This striped variety is known for the oil obtained from pressing the seeds.

Ruth W. points out some great fall decor and crafts.

Ruth F. picks out a gift for a friend.

Lots of cute, smaller items at the checkout counter, including jewelry!

Items are picked and brought in on wagons to check-out.

Super-cute twins joined together.

These small gourds are called daisy gourds because of, what else, how the top resembles a daisy!  

Cute displays everywhere to give you lots of great decorating ideas.   We had a great time, despite the cold chill in the air and boy, did it get dark fast!   But thanks again, Michelle, for your hospitality, the tour and the knowledge your shared!  We really appreciate it!

Back at the church, we conducted our normal meeting and then installed our new officers for the next two years.



Pat Sarosi was installed as our new Treasurer.

Debby Paige was installed as our new Secretary.

Debbie Parzych was installed as our new President.   (Virginia Brokamp is our new Vice-President but she was unable to make the meeting and will be installed at our meeting in December.)

Our next meeting is our shared Open Meeting with two other nearby clubs.  This years meeting will be hosted by Darby Valley Garden Club.   See sidebar for the details.

Concrete Pot Party!

Boy did we have fun with another workshop, making concrete flower pots and containers.  Debby Paige's son, Adam, guided us along the way and provided us with his own secret concrete recipe.   The pots turn out beautiful and are so lightweight!

 

Several new members along with Pat S. are anxious to get started!

Good thing we brought gloves!

Ruth F. is hard at work; she is using her container for succulents!

Vickie is always one to take it to the next level and she first lined her container with a metal mesh to give the container a great textured look.

Ruth W. says This is a Lot of Fun!

Now we let them set.

Here are some pots Adam already had done; very nice and again, you would be amazed how lightweight they are!

Here are ones Adam did, using a basket for a mold; isn't the texture wonderful?

After all that hard work, Freda and Ruth F. treated us to quite the spread!!   Delicious!


Next month we are visiting Lohstroh Family Farms in Mt. Sterling.   Check out their website:  www.lohstrohfamilyfarms.com

Won't you come join us?








 

Fun Leaf Casting Session!

 

Last month, Jane Adkins of a neighboring garden club shared with us making concrete leaves.  

Here she is showing Pat how to put the mixture together.

You first want to mound-up pre-moistened sand to make a big, rounded platform for your leaf to lay on.   Place plastic over the sand mound and then place your leaf upside-down on the mound; how big and high your sand-mound is forms the shape your leaf will take (whether you want it more like a bowl or flat to hang on a wall).    We used big tobacco leaves that Jane grows in your backyard just for projects like these!

Here is a leaf ready for the concrete.   Remove the plastic from the top of the leaf, then place the concrete mixture directly onto the leaf, carefully bringing it to the edges without going over.  Unfortunately I did not get any shots of this part; sorry!

Let the concrete set-up for at least 3-4 days before removing from the leaf.   Then continue to let it cure before sealing or painting in about a week or two.

Here is our finished project:

Very cool!

Next month we are back at Debby Paige's home to work with concrete yet again; only this time Debby and her son Adam are going to show us how to make flower pots using their own special concrete recipe that is very lightweight; can't wait!

Wilma's Lovely Gardens!

Our last meeting had us at Wilma's home for a tour of her beautiful yard and gardens all in a lovely wooded setting.  

(L-R: Pat, Vickie, Freda, Janet)

(L-R: Diana, Pat, Ruth and Rachel)

Beautiful brick walkways wound their way around her home with luscious hostas and coral bells.

Lovely water feature with a small waterfall you could hear in the porch.

Walkout basement area had tiered beds for herbs and perennials.

Our beautiful and gracious host Wilma.

Lots of ooohs and aaaahs over this vintage bike with flower baskets.

Recycled clay tiles used as containers.

Thanks Wilma for the wonderful tour!  Everyone enjoyed it immensely!!