Kentucky Nature Preserves manages four distinct programs to conserve Kentucky’s natural areas. While these programs all share common goals—rare species habitat, environmental education opportunities, and conserving natural areas through a combination of land acquisition, conservation easements, and public-private partnerships– they have some differences. Find out what’s happening in our commonwealth’s national areas by reading the 2020 Report.
Category: New and Noteworthy
Add to the Bird Book!
Though this has been an unusual year, it does not have to be a disappointing year. You and I can help to make it rewarding by participating in a project for our Garden Club of Kentucky president, Donna Smith!
Because we care for the environment, we love and care for our wild birds, our song birds, and a few other birds. In doing so, we collect personal experiences which we now have an opportunity to share.
Please take a few minutes to jot down a paragraph or two, recounting one of your personal avian experiences. Pictures of the bird are welcome! Email to me by March 15, 2021, and I will put your experiences in a small book form, honoring Donna, and we will dispense these at our state Convention in Berea come spring.
Here’s an example:
A few days ago, I ran an errand in downtown Bowling Green. I pulled into a parking space across the street from a couple of large trees. As I pulled in, I looked up into these trees just in time to see three big, black crows take off in pursuit of another large bird. I was amazed to recognize this bird as a Red Tailed Hawk – in downtown Bowling Green!
He flew into another nearby tree, followed by the crows and all settled on different branches. The crows said to each other:
“Go get him!”
“No! You go get him!”
“You two go get him, and I will keep this branch warm for you!”
While this decision was being discussed, the Hawk took wing and flew off into a bright blue, a burning blue, the wild blue yonder!
I will need at least twelve experiences from twelve members in order to go to print. So, please, take a few minutes and from your book of memories, write a paragraph or two or three about your special song bird experience for the “Bird Songs” first edition!
Jo Jean Scott, GCKY Bird Chairman
Jojogarden.34@gmail.com
About Irises
Boone County GC Receives Commission
The Boone County Garden Club has been commissioned to plant and maintain the flower pots at the new plaza in downtown Burlington.
Let’s Grow! How clubs increase their membership
‘Let’s Grow!’ is the theme for this administration, and we have grown! GCKY has 15 clubs that have grown in membership over the previous year and we have gained a new club!
Some of the clubs have shared why their club has increased in membership.
- A few new members have come from inquiries on our GCKY website and then local clubs reaching out to them.
- No doubt word of mouth about the programs and activities is one of the best ways to gain members.
- Invite potential members and then follow up repeatedly with invitations to meetings by e-mails or calls.
- Club meeting attendance has even improved when current members have been contacted as well.
- By placing information in local papers about meetings, activities, and emphasizing that the meetings are open to everyone is another good way to get potential members.
- Having a flower show in the district brought in two new members who were interested in entering the flower show with their designs…they loved floral arranging.
- Another new member wants to help their club with a webpage.
Our federated clubs have so much to offer! There is a ‘hook’ for many potential members. We need to keep letting everyone know about us and how we can impact our communities in such positive ways!
Congratulations to these clubs who increased their membership!
- Audubon District
- Gateway GC
- Blue Grass District
- Boone Co. GC
- Gardenside Green Thumb GC
- Dogwood District
- Audubon Park GC
- Beechmont GC
- GC of Elizabethtown
- Rambler GC
- Warren East GC
- Limestone District
- Fleming Co GC
- Four Seasons GC
- Millersburg GC
- Paintsville GC
- Mountain Laurel District
- Green Thumbs GC
- Middlesborough GC
- Rockcastle GC
- Appalachian Roots GC (new club!)
Smokey the Bear comes back!
Smoke
y enjoyed himself so much last year, that he is returning to Kids Day at the Arboretum on July 29 to celebrate his 75th birthday.
Come and help him celebrate at this free and fun event!
Native Plants for Pollinators and Wildlife
click this link below to download a printable chart
POLLINATOR PLANTS FOR GCKY
(from The Garden Club of Kentucky), gardenclubky.org
KEY: s = sunny, ps = part sun, wd = well drained, d = dry, m = moist
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Sun | Water | Ht | Attracts | Bloom Color |
| SPRING TO EARLY SUMMER BLOOMING | ||||||
| Beardtongue | Penstemon sp. | s, ps | d | 2-3 ft | hummingbird, butterflies, bees | purple, red, white |
| Bloodroot | Sanguinaria canadensis | shade | wd | 6 in. | Bees (important early) | White,ephemeral |
| Coneflowers | Echinacea sp. | s | d | 2-3 ft | butterflies (host), bees | pink, yellow |
| Golden Alexander | Zizia aurea | ps | d, m | 2 ft | butterflies (host), flies, wasps, bees | yellow |
| Purple Poppy Mallow | Callirhoe involucrata | s | m, wd | 1–2 ft | bees, hummers, rodents, beetles | bright pink |
| Red Honeysuckle | Lonicera sempervirens | s, d | d | 8 ft vine | Hummingbirds, bees | bright red |
| Serviceberry (shrub) | Amelanchier sp. | s, ps | m | 5-10 ft | bees, wasps, flies | white – blooms very early |
| Spicebush (shrub) | Lindera benzoin | ps, | d, wd | 6ft | butterflies (host) | yellow |
| Sweetspire (shrub) | Itea virginica | ps | m | 3-7ft | bees, butterflies/ moths, flies, wasps | white |
| Wild Columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | s, ps | wd | 2ft | hummingbirds, bees | red and yellow |
| SUMMER BLOOMING | ||||||
| Anise Hyssop | Agastache sp. and cultivars | s | d | 2-3 ft. | hummingbird, bees, butterflies | purple to pink, herb |
| Bee balm, Bergamot, etc. | Monarda sp | s | wd | 2-3 ft | hummingbird, bees, moths, butterflies, | purple, white, red |
| Buttonbush (shrub) | Cephalanthus occidentalis | s | m | 8 ft. | bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies | white |
| Garden Phlox | Phlox paniculata | s, ps | d | 2- 4 ft | butterflies, bees, moths | pink, white, purple |
| Gayfeather, Blazingstar | Liatris sp. | s | wd | 2-4 ft. | butterflies, bees, moths, wasps, flies | purple |
| Milkweed | Asclepias sp | s | d | 1 to 6 ft. | butterflies (host), bees | white, orange, purple, yellow |
| Rose Mallow | Hibiscus moscheutos | s | d, m | 3-8 ft | hummingbirds, bees, beetles | white, pink with red throat |
| Royal Catchfly | Silene regia | s | wd | 3 ft | hummingbirds | bright red |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia sp | s | wd | 2-5 ft | bees, butterflies (esp. laciniata) | yellow |
| St. John’s Wort | Hypericum sp. | s, ps | wd | 1-3 ft | bees | yellow |
| Sunflowers | Helianthus sp. | s | d, wd | 3-8 ft | butterflies, bees, wasps, beetle | yellow, orange |
| LATE SUMMER AND FALL BLOOMING | ||||||
| Aster | Aster, sp. | s, ps | wd | 1-4 ft | all pollinators, butterfly host | purple, pink white |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis | ps | m | 1-3 ft | hummingbirds | red |
| Goldenrod | Solidago sp | s, ps | d | 1-3 ft | bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps | yellow |
| Great Blue Lobelia | Lobelia siphilitica | ps, m | m | 1-3 ft | bees, hummingbirds | purple |
| Joe Pye Weed
(and cultivars) |
Eutrochium purpureum | s, ps | m | 3-5 ft | butterflies (host) moths, bees | light purple to pink |
| Mist Plant | Conoclinium coelestinum | s, ps | m | 1-3 ft | Butterflies, bees | purple |
State Champion Red Oak at Wallis Arboretum
The GCKY was presented an award on June 19, 2019, from the Kentucky Division of Forestry for the State champion Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) located in the front yard of the Nannine Clay Wallis Arboretum, headquarters of the Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc.
The certificate was presented to Judy Ferrell, Arboretum Chair, and Joanna Kirby, State Headquarters Chair, by Philip Horsley with the Division of Forestry.
Save Oct 7 for Carriage House Dedication
Wallis Arboretum Carriage House Restored
The Nannine Clay Wallis Arboretum Committee has announced the “Save This Date” for the newly restored 1903 Carriage House dedication. Monday, October 7, 1:00, The Garden Club of Kentucky will sponsor the ribbon cutting and special presentations to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for its emergency grant and to GCKY members and clubs that made possible the restoration. The public is invited to join in the celebration followed by refreshments and tour of the Carriage House.
The restored Carriage House is taking on a new function in the Arboretum. It will be used for classes, workshops, and rentals for parties, weddings and other special events.
Mrs. Wallis’ father, Thomas Clay, built the Carriage House when he purchased the 616 Pleasant Street property from his uncle’s estate. The house was in the Clay family from 1856 until 1970 when Mrs. Wallis bequeathed it to GCKY.
In the Arboretum – June 2019
Traditionally, the first full week of June is National Garden Week. What better way to celebrate gardening than at The Garden Club of Kentucky – Nannine Clay Wallis Arboretum annual Arbor Day Celebration, Friday, June 7. The dedication of plants given in honor and remembrance will begin at 1:30pm at the front entrance of the Wallis House-GCKY Headquarters with Judy Ferrell, Arboretum Chair, and GCKY President Donna Smith welcoming friends, families and all who enjoy gardening.
The Arboretum is at its most lush and flowery due to the mild winter and long wet spring particularly around Mrs. Wallis’ Rose Arbor. In preparation for Arbor Day, the Arbor was scraped, cleaned and newly painted by GCKY members. Mrs. Wallis planted it with climbing roses under planted with iris. Today, the very popular New Dawn (introduced 1989) donated by Millersburg Garden Club several years ago covers the Arbor. Connecting the Rose Garden and Arbor is one of two original elves that sits on a pedestal surrounded by low growing roses and hellebores.
American Pillar (introduced 1902), planted by Mrs. Wallis continues to grow on the left end of the Pergola. It has proved to be one of the hardiest ramblers, vigorous, drought resistant and one of the few tolerates partial shade.
Mrs. Wallis always planted the newest and best varieties when introduced. As a demonstration garden, the Arboretum continues to plant new while maintaining those that are best suited for our area.
Emphasis this year has been the addition of sun-loving annual including alyssum, begonia, lantana, marigold petunia and perennial verbena that will provide color through and into fall. and alyssum in the border beds.
May blooming Cornus kousa (Korean dogwood) are in full bloom. Unlike C. florida whose foliage appears as blooms fade, C. kousa’s foliage emerges first to highlight its stunning pointed white blooms.
