P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

80º With a Little BreezeAs I write this, I think this had been the best day in a long while to me. It’s maybe around 80 with a little breeze and after that wretched heat wave we’ve had, I’m a happy camper. I confess, I hardly ventured outside in the heat

except to water in the early morning or evening, so I am very pleased to find in spite of my ignoring the garden or maybe because of it, most of our plants are doing just fine. Many plants are blooming away. The Japanese anemones have started to bloom and the gaillardia blanket flower plants, gazanias, penstemon, verbena, lantana, geraniums and gerbera daisies are all looking great. The michaelmas daisies are starting up too(thanks Carole and Steve). There are a few plants that did succumb to the heat but I’ll just look forward to visiting some local nurseries as well as our field trip to Cornerstone Gardens and Marketplace for ideas. And of course I’m really looking forward to our September speaker Rose Loveall from Morningsun Herb Farm. I just love Fall and it’s the best time to plant.Don’t forget propagation has started up on Saturdays 9:00 am at Wolff Ranch.

SEPTEMBER 25 MEETING SPEAKER—ROSE LOVEALLOwner of Morningsun Herb FarmRose Loveall was raised in Vacaville, CA. She attended U.C. Berkeley, graduating with a B.S. in Forestry in 1985. After working for the California Department of Forestry in Fort Bragg, CA, for 2 years, she returned to U.C. Davis, graduating with a M.S. in Environmental Horticulture in 1990. She managed research greenhouses for the U.S. Forest Service in Chico and Placerville, CA, for 4 years before opening

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IMPORTANT DATESWe meet on the fourth Monday of each month, 7:30 pm at the Brentwood Community Methodist Church, 809 Second Street in Brentwood.Board Meetings are held on the first Tuesday, (after the first Monday), of each month, 7:30 pm in the Fireside Room.

Propagation WorkshopPropagation has resumed. Help prepare for the next plant sale. Every Saturday from 9 am until noon at Wolfe Ranch. See back page for directions.

2016 General Meetings September 25 October 23 November 27

2016 Board Meetings October 3 November 7 November 28

DIG’s 2018 Plant SaleWill be held Saturday May 12.

Delta Informal Gardeners encourages gardening through education and beautification of the community

DELTAINFORMAL GARDENERS

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Guillardia “Blanket Flower”Photo by Connie Miller

D E L T A I N F O R M A L G A R D E N E R S T H E W E E D E R

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GARDENING EVENTS

Martin’s Garden TourMartin and Beverly Tucker’s GardenSeptember 30th, After progation, or about 12:30 pm

5414 Cherokee Way Antioch, CA 94531

Ruth Bancroft GardenSucculent Success for Beginners with Brian KembleFriday, October 13, 2017

10:30am - 11:30am

$15 Member Price $20 General Admission

New to succulents? Come over to the Garden for some of the basics to get you going: Soil, watering, sunlight...This beginner class is designed for those new to the succulent world. We’ll discuss the basic principles for care of succulents both in the ground and in containers. Learn to keep your plants happy from roots to leaves!

1552 Bancroft Road Walnut Creek, CA 94598 925.944.9352

ruthbancroftgarden.org

Thank You to Ruth Bancroft Garden for their generous

donations for this month’s raffle.

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her own herb nursery, Morningsun Herb Farm, where she propagates more than 700 different kinds of herbs, vegetables, and unusual, drought-tolerant perennials. Lavenders and Salvia are both specialties, with more than 40 types of lavender and 60 types of Salvia in production. Rose is a much sought after garden speaker, giving presentations and classes to many garden clubs and community colleges around the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley, as well as teaching classes about herb growing at her nursery. Morningsun Herb Farm is located at 6137 Pleasants Valley Road, Vacaville, CA 95688. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 to 5. Check out her website at: morningsunherbfarm.comIf you don’t feel like driving to Vacaville, there is a catalog on the website for online shopping, shipping nationwide with satisfaction guarantee.We hope you’ll join us on Monday, September 25, at 7:30 pm to learn more about Morningsun Herb Farm. Visitors are always welcome.

Helen Wheeler, Vice President, Programs

M A R T I N A N D B E V E R LY T U C K E R — O P E N G A R D E N

Martin would like to invite DIG members to tour his garden after the Saturday, September 30th work session. Martin’s address is 5414 Cherokee Way, Antioch, Ca. 94531Martin has lived in this home for about 4 years. Many DIG members

were familiar with his old garden and will find this one quite different. The back yard is smaller and is now mainly a big flower bed. There is a ledge on which most of my bonsai sit and my stone lantern still suggests some Japanese theme. The front yard lawn was taken out and replaced with drought tolerant plants and tan bark mulch.

T H E W E E D E R D E L T A I N F O R M A L G A R D E N E R S

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The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by Connie. Helen reported that our “September Speaker” will be Rose Lovall-Sale, owner of Morning Sun Herb Farm in Vacaville.The Treasurer’s report was presented.Chris reported that DIG’s current membership stands at 137. Chris stated that if you want to pay your dues for next year, you may do so. In addition, if you need the new Membership Booklet, please remember that it will not be mailed, but rather handed out at meetings, so be sure to pick one up at a meeting.Martin will open up his yard for tour for DIG members in September on a Saturday after Propagation. Steve reported that Fall Propagation begins at 9 AM on September 16 at the Wolfe Ranch location – so please come and bring your cuttings to propagate.Robin reported that the cost of soil has gone up – it is now approximately $2k (including our discount). In addition, the Field Trip Committee now has a new member - Karyn. Robin reminded us that the next field trip is Wednesday, September 20. We will be going to Sunset Magazine’s new gardens, Cornerstone Gardens, in Napa. We will be meeting at the BART Park and Ride earlier than usual at 9 AM. It will take approximately an hour and one half to drive to Napa and, therefore, we plan to leave promptly at 9 AM. FYI There is no entrance fee and parking is free at Sunset’s new gardens.Karyn reminded us to check the Brentwood Press for information about DIG.Debbie reported that the Brentwood Neighborhood Committee will have two separate Homes of the Season - one in October for Halloween and one in December for Christmas. Connie reminded us that DIG’s Bi Annual Auction will be this January. So start saving those “garden treasures” for the Auction. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 pm. Reminders: The next Board meeting will be Tuesday, October 3, 2017. The next DIG Members Meeting will be Monday, September 25th.

Sue Castle, Secretary

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Blender Banana Bread

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1/2 cup soft butter

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 T. buttermilk

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2” slice lemon with peel

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

4 to 6 bananas*

2 eggs

1 cup nuts

Method

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray pan.

Place ingredients (except nuts) into a blender.

Mix until just blended.

Add nuts & chop to blend.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes.

* I put over ripe bananas in the freezer & when ready to use, thaw, cut off the ends and squeeze into the blender.

Carole Hendrickson

Delta Informal GardenersPO Box 66Brentwood, CA 94513

Delta Informal Gardeners | PO Box 66 | Brentwood, CA 94513

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DIG meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Brentwood Community Methodist Church, 809 Second Street in Brentwood.

Winter and Spring potting up events, as well as our annual plant sale, are held at Wolfe Ranch, 700 Creek Road, Brentwood.

deltainformalgardeners.org

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DIG MembershipPO Box 66Brentwood, CA 94513ATTN: Chris Artz

Please fill out the membership form and mail it along with your dues to the address above. You may also bring your form and dues to the next general meeting.

Individual Membership ..............$15

Family Membership ...................$20(PLEASE CIRCLE ONE)

Please make checks payable to DIG.

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