Nehrling Gardens representative Teresa Schretzmann-Myers spoke in February to Orlando Garden Club members on attracting birds to our yards and feeding them. Nehrling Gardens is the 6 acres that remains of Dr. Nehrling’s homestead and gardens. Dr. Henry Nehrling purchased 65 acres in the 1800s near the town of Gotha. As a Florida pioneer horticulturist, he developed 25 acres into a tropical garden. Today the Henry Nehrling Society cares for the property, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites.
Bird Feeder Care
Clean your bird feeder with vinegar before refilling to prevent spread of disease. Teresa recommends Sky Café bird feeder to thwart squirrels. If not replacing your feeder, add Fiery Feast seed which has hot pepper in it to foil the squirrels. There is also a Suet with hot pepper to keep squirrels away.
She encourages a ‘puddling area’ of water for bees and butterflies in a quiet sheltered corner of your yard. Cut back your butterfly weed regularly to prevent the spread of diseases butterflies leave behind. It is good for the plant as well.
Some Flowers that Attract Butterflies
Jatropha Integerrima (Coral Plant)
Buddleia Davidii Buzz (Butterfly Bush)
Cestrum (Orange Zest)
Verbena
Liatris Spicata (Blazing Stars)
Seudogenoxys Henopodioides (Mexican Flame Vine)
Feeding Hummingbirds
To feed hummingbirds mix one cup of sugar and 4 cups of water until dissolved. Clean the feeder with bleach between fillings and let dry. Store any spare sugar water in the fridge. Do not add food coloring.
Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association Inc. Seed 99% pure seed, no fillers. floridawildflowers.org, Email: businessmanager@floridawildflowers.org.
FNGLA Free Nursery and Plant Directory, Wholesale and Retail: plantant.comv Fresh Birdseed, Bird Feeders, Stations, Birdbaths Fully Washable
Wild Birds Unlimited, 8015 Turkey Lake Road, Suite 500, Orlando, FL 32819.
The Orlando Garden Club Commemorated Arbor Day in many different ways this year. Approximately 150 Florida Garden Clubs held their tree planting event at 11:00 am!!
Kathy Hall, arborist from the City of Orlando spoke on planting new trees. Her team planted a Bluff Oak on club grounds. This tree does not have aggressive roots, its canopy is rounded and upright, and it may get up to 60 feet tall. Ms. Hall shared some of her tree knowledge during a brief presentation to our members after our ceremony.
Hall is an arborist and landscape inspector for the City of Orlando.
Kathi Hall with OGC members and Karmi Shepard, OGC Grounds Chairman
Garden clubs across the state will plant more than 400 trees on January 19, 2024, to celebrate Florida Arbor Day and the 100th anniversary of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC).
In addition to planting hundreds of trees throughout the state, garden clubs will give away hundreds of tree seedlings.
Our Club will commemorate this day with a ceremony on January 19, which is our General meeting and we are also sponsoring an NGC Standard Flower Show. Don’t miss out on the exciting activity at our Club!! See you there!!
Lecture delivered by Calvin Gardner UF Extension Office Agent, Orange County
What a great way to continue nurturing our gardens after such a hot summer than with our first Program for the year: “Home Composting.” Calvin Gardner, (yes, that is his surname) of the Orange County UF Extension Office will share with us gardening techniques and sustainable horticulture.
Composting is a great way to go green. By composting you re-utilize your vegetable waste converting it into rich nutritious soil for your indoor and outdoor plants. See you all on September 15 at 10:30 am.
Calvin Gardner joined as an Urban Horticulture Extension Agent at UF/IFAS Extension Orange County in 2022.
As a follow-up to our posted Event of our November Program Presentation, Samuel Baker and Gabriel De Gaglia from “Wriggle Brew” company was fabulous! A fine group of young college grads have developed and are now distributing an organic amendment for the soil and roots of gardens and beds of any kind, “Wriggle Brew”!! The presentation was very informative and the attendees were able to purchase Wriggle Brew to see the fantastic results in our own gardens. I used Wriggle Brew in my normal watering of potted and bed plants and see amazing results already! The company website is: www.wrigglebrew.com, you can learn about the new fantastic product and the product is available for sale on-line.
The Orlando Garden Club welcomes new members year round! Visit and attend a monthly General Meeting, September – May, to see what all the fun is about! A spectacular monthly Guest Speaker starts off the meeting, followed by a short business meeting and then a relaxing luncheon. Find out about us via this website, our Facebook page, informational pamphlets or being our guest at our monthly meeting. Come Grow With Us!!
September 15, 2023, 10:30 am
Healey