The Madill Rose Garden Club met Thursday, September 4 at 10 a.m. in the Madill Methodist Church Fellowship Hall for their monthly meeting.
The Program “Vegetable Gardening” was presented by Doris Farris, club member. Pamphlets on “Improving garden soil fertility,” “OklahomaPlantingGuides” and “Fall Gardening” were provided by the Oklahoma State Extension Office and dispersed among the membership.
Optimaltimeforfallplanting has passed as it is in July, August but there is still time to plant garlic, mustard, radish, rutabaga, spinach, swiss chard and turnip.
The presentation gave the following tips for a successful fall garden:
• A soil sample, done throughthelocalOSUExtension Office, for soil pH will determine if lime or sulfur is needed for pH correction. It is important to do this every 4 years.
• Adding yard waste compost or composted cow, chickenmanureimprovesthe soil organic matter necessary for a healthy garden.
• Use recommended seed varieties for fall planting.
• Thin plants when small.
• Use mulch to conserve moisture, control weeds and reduce fruit rot.
• Rotate specific crop family locations each year to acoid insect and disease build up.
Farris also shared a handout from Oklahoma Living that described plants to use to help fuel the fall migration of birds and butterflies. The entire state of Oklahoma is in the central flyway for migratory birds. The other three flyways in North America are along the Atlantic, Mississippi and Pacific.
Waterfowl, songbirds including backyard feeders such as finches, orioles, nuthatches and chickadees migrate through the central flyway. In the weeks before migration and during the flight, birds switch from eating insects to consuming high-energy fruits from native plants to have energy for their flights.
Planting fruit trees and shrubs that come into production in late summer and fall will not only attract songbirds but prepare their bodies for their long southward journey.
Hummingbirds migrate through Oklahoma in September and October on their way to warm winter locations. The most widespread hummingbird is the rubythroated hummingbird.
Fruiting trees and shrubs such as Carolina Buckthorn and Rusty Blackhaw are two trees that provide excellent habitat cover and autumn fruits. The shrub American beautyberry grows all over this area and with its purple color and beautyberry fruits provides a fall feast for catbirds, wood thrushes, northern mockingbirds and other songbirds.