Our Mission
To encourage interest in home gardening, promote civic pride, and improve the overall appearance of our community.
Peggy’s Ponderings – Winter/Spring 2024/2025
Are you dreaming of Spring? We just started the winter season so many of our gardens have been put to “bed” for the winter, but that doesn’t stop me from planning out my garden for spring. Last year I planted some wildflowers seeds and had just a few that grew and bloomed. Since it takes a couple of years for them to be established, I am hoping to see more this coming year.
My tomatoes produced well this past year and am looking to see what varieties I may try this year. Perhaps more veggies as well. I admit I did not see the four beautiful large peppers that were hidden on one plant before the killing frost. Note to self to check the plants more carefully next fall.
Right now, the club is locating a place to pot and grow our plants for the May Market and contacting gardeners to see if they would like to participate in a garden tour in June. If anyone is interested in having their garden on tour please contact me.
For now, enjoy and rest up this winter season. It is promising to be a busy spring!
Lisa Dean and Air Plants
Our final meeting of the 2024 year was held on 11 November at the Horner Park Hall. After a short social, we learned an awful lot about “Air Plants”. 
Lisa Dean did an excellent job showing and teaching about how to grow them, where not to have them, and how to maintain them.
A wonderful source of information into these amazing plants, check out the ragnaroc website at ragnaroc.com . Click on the image above or scan the QR code below for easy access.
In addition, Lisa gave us the following sources:
* Success with House Plants (Reader’s Digest)
* The Ortho Home Gardener’s Problem Solver
* www.ourhouseplants.com
* www.houseplants.com
* University of Illinois Extension Service
Our next meeting will be in February of 2025. Watch this space for additional information.
Have You Noticed… ?
Have you noticed Garden Club members working diligently in the Mini Park? How about within the Mermaid Inn garden?
Truth be known, the members of the Garden Club of Lebanon take great pride in keeping both of these gardens looking good. You are always welcome to visit either one, sit a spell, and enjoy.
While sitting there, take a look around. City crews mow the mini-park, and Garden Club members maintain the plants by weeding, planting new areas and removing those that have come to their end.
At the Mermaid House, Garden Club members mow, weed, plant, water, and anything else to keep the gardens looking wonderful.
Yes, we spend quite a bit of time getting ready for different events such as the FALL FESTIVAL, but this maintenance actually goes on year round.
Fall Festival 2024
Fall Festival 2024 was October 5th with the Garden Club once again selling Schwartz Apple Cider.
Apple Cider left our booth in cups, 1/2 gallons, and full gallons. Samples were provided and convinced quite a few to pick up a larger container.
Thank you to all that purchased as the funds from this sale go to helping us maintain several projects around town all year long.
Into the Streets 2024
Touch-A-Truck 2024
Preparing for the 2024 Touch-A-Truck/Farmer’s Market.
It was a good time with the GCoL providing “bouquet materials” as well as a “create a pot” for the kids to take home.
A Visit to O’Fallon – July 15, 2024
Our July 2024 meeting was a field trip to the O’Fallon Garden Club’s wonderful “Community Garden” on State Street in O’Fallon.
OFGC President, Sarah Lambaria, was our guide through the 1.5 acre garden now in it’s 13th year, located on vacant land owned by the city.
Numerous raised garden beds are rented by members of the community, providing beautiful produce and flowers which were noted on our tour.
The club members have a large produce garden and give yearly to the local food pantry. Last year they provided 5,000 lbs of produce. This is recognized as the most of any garden in the National Garden Club.
Many thanks to Sarah for sharing and showing on what was a very warm but most enjoyable evening for all the GCoL members.
June in the Garden
The June meeting of the Garden Club of Lebanon was held at the Mermaid House Garden, 114 East St Louis Street, Lebanon.
Duane Olsen presented on “Herbs and Spring Planting”.
The talk was very interesting, focusing on 4 herbs that you would not normally consider for cooking. The samples were delicious and it was reported that there was none left at the end of the evening.
Thank You Duane (soon to be “Master Gardener”)!
BTW – The Mermaid House Garden is one of the Garden Club of Lebanon maintained gardens in the city. Yes – we are proud of it!
Gardening In The Sky
May 10, 2024
From the “Rock Pile” north of Lebanon
Image of the Northern Lights captured by Sandy Perkins.
Swarms!
Marty Malone – the Beekeeper has some words of wisdom for all of us (Repeated from FaceBook):
With the spring temperatures rising there should be an increase in honey bee swarms. Here’s what you can do if you see a swarm.
1. Do not spray the bees with water or insecticides.
2. Do not disturb the bees and keep your distance.
3. Contact a local beekeeper to collect the swarm.
Please don’t hesitate to FaceBook message me and I’ll gladly collect the swarm or help find a fellow beekeeper who can.
Plans for Learning and Sharing
This year’s education schedule is coming together.
Already in February we heard about “Succulents” (of which I had no idea) and in March the topic was “Bee Keeping”. Here again, great information was presented.
A week later than usual, our April meeting had us all a buzz with our own Sandy Perkins bringing us up to date on Cicadas. It appears that there will be more than enough this year as both the 13-year and 17-year broods emerg in the same year. Come and find out more. (Don’t forget the annuals are also making an appearance.)
In May, we will be attending to business at the yearly “May Market”, so there will NOT be a meeting. Instead, we will be working several days in preparing for, attending, and then putting away all that is necessary for this fun event.
More is being planned all throughout the summer and fall, so stay tuned.
If you are looking for when to plant what, The Illinois Extension offers information as to when to do just that. Good information, and we have duplicated it on our Facebook page (see link above).
May Market 2024
Just Getting Started?
Some more great advice. Check out our Facebook page for even more!
They Are Here! (Hummingbirds)
If you enjoy the wonder that is a Hummingbird, then it is time to clean up those feeders. We have already had quite a few visitors at our feeders here in Lebanon!!!
Welcome back little friends!
For an interactive map, may we suggest the folks at Hummingbird Central.
Also, the Audubon Society have some great information on their page.
Our Seed Library is OPEN!
Many thanks to our Lebanon Public Library for once again allowing us to present our “Seed Library” within their building.
Seeds are provided free of charge. All have been labeled. The first label identifies the seed. The second is a QR code that will take you to the Seed Library page on our website.
Our librarians are really great, but don’t expect them to have the answers to information about the seeds. (Use the weblink!)
Can We All Say – “Cicadas”?
Our April 15th meeting was all about CICADAS!
Sandy Perkins presented a very indepth and interesting talk that kept everyone’s attention. Thank you Sandy.
With 13 year and 17 year “broods” as well as the annual brood coming out this year, we can prepare for some very noisy nights.
Thanks Sandy!
Heartland Conservancy Information Available
The Heartland Conservancy has several activities on their calendar. Check out their website.
Julie Kids’ Pages
Though not directly a “gardener” page, this page has several fun things for the kids (and adults) to do concerning digging in outdoors. Check it out for yourself!
Membership Has Its Benefits!
From “Non-Gardener” and “Rank Amateur” to “Master Gardener” or “Master Naturalist”, the amount of knowledge within the members of the Garden Club of Lebanon is amazing. We learn from each other, help each other, and in the process help the community around us!
“Membership” is another word for “Friendship”. You will love how we all become friends! Working together on our projects we become a team. Membership dues help with the costs behind the scenes. Your membership card provides for discounts at local garden supply vendors. See the membership page for further details.
Pictures Wanted!
Did you grab some pics of the gardens on the tour? We would love it if you share?
If you would, please send them via email to webmaster@gardencluboflebanon.org. Make sure we have your information (so we can properly credit the image), and if you know which garden that would be helpful as well.
Thank you in advance!
Our Mission
