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By Lynette Wikle
Bermuda Run Garden Club

The saying, “when the bloom is off the roses” seems to imply that a season has come to an end, but members of the Bermuda Run Garden Club learned at their October meeting that it’s just the beginning.
The club met on Oct. 2 at the clubhouse for a soup and sandwich lunch. Hostesses Beth Wright and Amy Bridges provided an autumn centerpiece created with live flowers and a fresh pumpkin. To add to the fall feeling they placed at each member’s seat a favor of candy corn and other sweets cinched with a black plastic spider.
Deborah Capps gave the invocation and lifted up the people of Western North Carolina.
The details of exhibiting for the Carolina Classic Fair were made final, as well as plans for the Oct. 19 shredding event. Thanks to Bonnie Rockaway and Marie Labarowski for chairing those committees.
Several accounts of individuals and agencies helping with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene were mentioned and members came prepared with donations of hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and paper products that were taken to the mountains the next day.
Susan Hawkins, guest speaker, was introduced by President Donna Lamonds. Hawkins is the horticulture agent with Davie County Extension. The Extension Service is a nationwide organization whose mission is to give practical solutions that are research-based to individuals, businesses and communities. Agents like Hawkins consult one-on-one with people who seek help with agriculture and food; help farmers and assist with technology; teach about health and nutrition; and teach youth life skills. There are 75 chapters of the Master Gardeners programs across the state under the guidance of the agency. NC State and NC A&T University are contributing educational partners. The Extension Service is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state and county budgets.
Ms. Hawkins encouraged members to get their hands in the dirt. With slides, she shared that now is the time to think about next year’s garden. She showed how to propagate by seed, and how tricky but rewarding this can be. She told us that perennial seeds are more difficult because of seed coatings that may require ‘scarification’ and showed that technique. We learned about environmental dormancy, internal stratification and the proper way to soak seeds before planting.
Her expertise was impressive and she gave us another reason to appreciate our local greenhouse operators who do all this work for us.
She reminded members that help with any of the areas mention is just a phone call away. The office is in Mocksville.