SUSTAINABLE GARDENING TIP: Control stormwater runoff and reduce erosion by creating a rain garden, swale, or vegetated buffer. Using less water is also an important element of sustainability. Collecting rainwater in a rain barrel is an excellent way to conserve water that can then be used to water your garden.

Horticulture Chair Nancy Percivall introduced us to the pawpaw tree, Asimina triloba. The pawpaw is a deciduous tree native to North America and produces large yellowish-green to brown fruit. The fruit is fragrant and has a distinctly bright, tropical flavor somewhat similar to banana, mango, and pineapple. Nancy made shortbread cookies with a pawpaw fruit filling for members to taste the fruit.

The pawpaw is a patch-forming (clonal) understory tree of hardwood forests, which is found in well-drained, deep, fertile bottomland and also hilly upland habitat. It has large, simple leaves with drip tips, more characteristic of plants in tropical rainforests. A few fun facts: the pawpaw is the only plant on which the larvae of the zebra swallowtail butterfies will feed and if you tear the leaf, it smells like motor oil. 

Jessica Hall, owner and operator of Harmony Harvest Farm located in Weyers Cave, Virginia, joined us via Zoom and shared a grower’s perspective on the chrysanthemum – our club flower. Jessica discussed the chrysanthemum's long presence in history, the differences between heirlooms and hybrids, and Harmony Harvest’s reasons for deciding to preserve heirlooms through their newly launched The Mum Project. She also discussed planting and growing tips for these lovely fall flowers.

Twenty varieties of heirloom chrysanthemum's were distributed among members. Members were asked to adopt a mum and share their findings, e.g. date of first bloom, number of blooms, overall height, etc., and submit a photograph to Harmony Harvest Farm.

For more information on Harmony Harvest Farm and The Mum Project, click the button below.