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“Soil Testing” presented by Windham Garden Club

The Windham Garden Club’s first meeting of the 2024 – 2025 membership year will be Thursday, September 19, 7:00pm at the Windham Senior Center. This is an open meeting and all are invited to attend. Following a short business meeting the featured speaker will be Ron Trexler, Advanced Master Gardener, who will present “Soil Testing”.

Wondering how to improve your home grounds and garden? Rarely discussed by gardeners, soil is, nonetheless, the foundation of a garden. Developing and maintaining productive soil begins with soil testing. Soil testing and understanding the results is critically important to growing healthy plants. Fall is the best time to do soil testing because this allows time to address any recommendations to prepare for spring plantings. Test results are used to determine the amount and kind of nutrients that should be added for the best growth of lawn, garden, and other types of plants.

Ron Trexler has been a UNH Cooperative Extension Master Gardener since 2016 and has achieved the level of Advanced Master Gardener. He is extensively involved in the training and mentoring of new Master Gardeners, trains Master Gardeners who wish to participate in the Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau, and regularly presents to libraries, garden clubs and community organizations. In addition, Ron serves in a leadership role with the Hooksett Garden Club and serves on the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs. He especially enjoys growing vegetables in raised beds that benefit from his home composting system.

The UNH Cooperative Extension provides soil analysis and fertilizer recommendations to farmers, homeowners and researchers. Recommendations are based on the latest research and are specific to the crop being grown. You can  download the form at https://extension.unh.edu/agriculture-gardens/pest-disease-growing-tools/soil-testing-services.  The cost is about $20 with a turnaround time of about 3 weeks. 

Come and join us! Bring a spouse, family, or friends. For more information or questions contact info@windhamgardenclub.com. Hope to see you there!

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2024 Raffle Winners

Victorian Style Birdcage Planter

Cheri M.		Whimsical Vintage Garden Gnome

Joanne D.
Whimsical Vintage Garden Gnome

Michelle S.		Hen and Chicks Bowl Planter

Terri F.
Kids Gardening and Birding Basket

Irene M.		Pretty Pansy Spring Wreath

Joan K.
Home Tweet Home!

Janet S.		For the Birds!

Amanda H.
Relax and UnWine’d!

Cheryl H.		Hanging Basket Coleus/Petunia

Dorothy R.
Vertical Gardening Stackable Planter

Tracy P.		I Dig Gardening Gift Basket

Lisa S.
Botanical Soap and Washcloth Collection

Robin H.		Beautiful Hand Knit Shawl

Cheryl W.
Garden Basket

Maren N.		Hanging Flower Basket – Geranium

Paula J.
Itoh Bartzella Peony

Jen W.		Woodland Beauty ‘Blood Root’

Sara H.
Daylily “Spider Girl”

Diane C.		Heliopsis “Bleeding Hearts”

Cassandra M.
Herbalicious – Four Tier Herb Tower

Erin B.		A Chef’s Favorite Herbs Pot

Joanne F.
Herb Window Box

Jill W.		Strawberry Pot Herb Garden

Kyra R.
Wine Gift Basket

Katie S.
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Windham Garden Club Plant Sale, Raffle, and Garden Treasures

Windham Garden Club will be holding its ever popular plant sale on Saturday May 18 from 9:30am – 1:00pm at 61 Kendall Pond RD. We will have a wide variety of perennials, annuals, herbs, and vegetables along with our Garden Treasures (gently used gardening items) table. In addition, our Master Gardener’s will be available to answer your gardening questions. Note that parking will be available inside the property (follow the signs and the parking attendants), please no curb/street parking.

We have wonderful raffle prizes including a beautiful herb planter, flowering hanging baskets, garden themed baskets, fairy wands, beautiful hand-crafted garden themed items, and more! Take a chance on these beautiful items! Raffle Tickets are $2 each and are on sale at www.windhamgardenclubplantsale.org starting Saturday May 11. The raffle tickets sale will end at noon on Sunday, May 19 (raffle prizes will be drawn Sunday afternoon and winners will be notified).

Proceeds from our plant sale go back to the Windham community. The money we raise benefits our Nancy Surette Memorial Scholarships (2 – $2000 awards) and the Arthur Baker Community Investment Grants. Visit our plant sale website at www.windhamgardenclubplantsale.org for the latest information on the sale.

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Windham Garden Club April Meeting – “Backyard Bird Identification”

The Windham Garden Club’s April meeting will be Thursday, April 18th, 7:00pm at the Windham Town Hall. This is an open meeting and all are invited to attend. Join us as our speaker Slater Roosa of NH Audubon presents the informative program “Backyard Bird Identification.”

Enjoying the sights and sounds of birds returning to our backyard is one of the many joys of spring. It’s also a great way to connect with nature and feel inspired by the beauty of our planet. Slater Roosa Education Coordinator for of NH Audubon will go over some bird identification basics, binocular use, some online tools, and some tips on how to encourage more birds to visit your yard/garden. One of the most important birding items is a pair of binoculars to help you see the birds. Binoculars (“bins” for short) are a basic piece of birding equipment. There are hundreds of choices from many manufacturers and there is a wide range in price. Before purchasing a pair of bins, you should check out various models. We will have an opportunity to try out and learn how to use binoculars!

Our meeting format will be a bit different for this meeting, we will meet outside at 7:00pm to try out and learn how to use binoculars. We will the transition inside for refreshments with our short business meeting to start at 7:30pm followed by Slater’s presentation.

For more information or questions contact info@windhamgardenclub.com. We hope you can join us for this wonderful presentation!

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Windham Garden Club March Meeting – “Jumping Worms, Ugh!”

The Windham Garden Club’s March meeting will be Thursday, March 21, 7:00pm at the Windham Town Hall. This is an open meeting and all are invited to attend! Join us as our speaker Marti Warren presents “Jumping Worms, Ugh!”

As gardeners, we’re already well trained to look for signs of disease, weeds, root health, and pests when buying, selling, or swapping plants. This diligence gives us confidence that as we bring new plants and soil into our gardens, we’re not bringing problems too. Today, a new threat to our soil health and successful gardening has emerged on the scene: the Asian jumping worm (Amynthas spp.), also commonly known as the crazy worm and snake worm. These worms are invasive and cause harm to the soil, unlike other common earthworm species. Unfortunately, the worms are here in New England and super widespread and likely you will encounter them in your garden, so we need to look at the best way to minimize their spread and maybe contain them. Marti Warren will share the facts about these invasive worms and there will be time for questions and discussion.

Marti is a member of the Amherst Garden Club and has spoken to his club as well as other clubs about Asian Jumping Worms. In fact, Marti has been following the conversation about jumping worms for the last three years.

For more information or questions contact info@windhamgardenclub.com. We hope you can join us for this informative presentation!

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February 15th, 2024 meeting

Windham Garden Club February Meeting – “Invasive Plants in New Hampshire”

The Windham Garden Club’s February meeting will be Thursday, February 15th, 7:00pm at the Windham Town Hall. This is an open meeting and all are invited to attend! Burning Bush, Japanese Knotweed, Oriental Bittersweet are only a few of the invasive plant species we have to contend with in our backyards. Join us as speaker Donna Lussier talks about New Hampshire’s invasive plant species, why invasive plants are a problem, and best practices for helping to control/avoid invasive plants.

Many familiar plants in our fields, along roadsides, and in our yards are not native to New Hampshire. While the majority cause no harm, some do and are considered invasive plants. An invasive is a plant or animal that is not native to a particular ecosystem and is capable of moving aggressively into an area, monopolizing light, nutrients, water, and space to the detriment of native species. Invasive plants can reduce biodiversity, imperil rare species, reduce wildlife habitat, degrade water quality, reduce forest production and cause human health problems.

Donna Lussier has been a UNH Extension Master Gardener since 2017 and a Master Gardener Speakers Bureau presenter since 2018. Through the Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau Donna periodically presents gardening topics to libraries, garden clubs, and community organizations. In addition, Donna is a member of the Pelham Garden Group and New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs. Her goal is to share her gardening knowledge with the community so others may reap the benefits of enjoyment, bonding, and fulfillment, and connect with their own gardens and nature.

For more information or questions contact info@windhamgardenclub.com. We hope you can join us for this interesting presentation!

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Windham Garden Club Baker Grant

The Windham Garden Club is accepting applications for the 2024 Arthur Baker Community Investment Fund Grant. Proposals should relate to beautification, conservation, preservation, or education of horticulture in the Town of Windham.

To be considered, applicants must be non-profit Windham organizations or non-commercial individuals. Previous winners include Windham Rail Trail Alliance, Windham Historic Commission, Windham Co-op Kindergarten, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, and Boy Scout Eagle and Girl Scout Gold Award Projects.

The attached Grant Application details the requirements. Application and all required supporting materials must be submitted to the Windham Garden Club by April 26, 2024 to be considered.

The committee will announce the award recipients no later than June 1, 2024.

An electronic copy of the application can be found below.

If you have any questions, please email bakergrant@windhamgardenclub.com

WGC-Baker-Grant-Letter-and-Application-2024Download
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Windham Garden Club Scholarship

The Windham Garden Club will award two $2,000 scholarships this year. These annual scholarships are named in memory of Nancy Surette, past Club president and Windham Town Conservation Commission Chair. Letters of application must be sent by U.S. mail and postmarked no later than April 20, 2024. 

The applicant must be a class of 2024 graduate or older. Already matriculated college students and second career applicants are encouraged to apply. Scholarships will be awarded to applicants planning to study life sciences including but not limited to biochemistry, biology, botany, horticulture, conservation, landscaping, environmental science or a plant related course of study. Applicants must be Windham, NH residents or Windham Garden Club Member’s direct family (spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild) residing in a neighboring town. Eligibility will be determined by the Scholarship Committee.

The attached notice details the requirements for a Letter of Application. The committee will announce the two award recipients by the end of May 2024.

An electronic copy of the application can be found below.

If you have any questions, please email scholarship@windhamgardenclub.com

WGC-Nancy-Surette-scholarship-letter-and-application-2024Download

If you have any questions, please email scholarship@windhamgardenclub.com

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Meeting: January 18, 2024

Windham Garden Club January Meeting – “Windham Biodiversity Surveys”

Moosewood Ecological presented information gathered in Windham during the BioBlitzes. To see the data that was collected, go to the following link:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/windham-nh-biodiversity-project

https://naturegroupie.org/

Interested in adding to the data, you can download the iNaturalist app on your phone. Here is a link to learn more about how to start.

https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started

To find out more about Moosewood Ecological, visit their site at:
https://www.moosewoodecological.com