Do you love gardening and want to learn more about plants? Are you new to the area and to gardening in the South? Do you have a new home that needs a complete new landscape? Do you have an older garden that needs an overhaul? Or, do you just want to meet some terrific people and maybe make a difference in the community? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the Peachtree City Garden Club may be a perfect fit for you.
The Peachtree City Garden Club is open to residents of Peachtree City and surrounding areas. The Club meets the third Thursday of each month, from 10:00 – 11:30 am (September – May) at The Gathering Place, 203 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City, Georgia. Guests are welcome to come to check out our group. Club membership is $15 per year. There is also a $10 yearly fee for county residents and a $20 yearly fee for non-county residents to use the facility at The Gathering Place.
Our Club is comprised of a vibrant group of over 60 members – men and women of all ages with varying degrees of experience in gardening. We share a common love of gardening and learning more about plants for the southern landscape.
We have an exciting schedule of speakers for the coming year and many interesting activities planned. Check out the speakers schedule link for specific information.
On behalf of the Peachtree City Garden Club, I want to invite you to join us at our monthly meetings. Questions? Contact the Club at ptcgardenclub@gmail.com
Happy Gardening!
Cindy Martin President, Peachtree City Garden Club
Gardening Tip of the Month:
Attracting Hummingbirds to the Garden
Summer is here and hummingbirds have returned to Georgia after wintering farther south in Central America. While the Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species of hummingbird known to nest in Georgia, our state hosts a total of ten species throughout the year. You can welcome these exotic and fascinating birds to your home by providing the right habitat and opportunities for feeding.
If you took down your hummingbird feeders for the winter, now is a great time to thoroughly clean them and prepare the nectar these birds love. You can make your own solution by dissolving one part white table sugar into four parts water. That’s it! Do not add red food coloring or honey, which can actually harm the birds.
If you have several feeders, place some in the open for males and several in more secluded areas in the trees for the females. Females will nest in wooded areas near food sources. Nests are tiny and usually found at least twelve feet above the ground.
Hummingbirds thrive when feeders are kept clean. Feeders should be cleaned at least once a week with hot or boiling water to remove bacteria and mildew. During hot and humid months, you might consider cleaning your feeders more often. A bottle brush is a good tool to give the inside of feeders a good scrubbing. You don’t need to use soap, bleach or other cleansers. If you have trouble with ants, hang your feeder from an ant trap which can be purchased at a hardware store or home and garden center.
To be successful in attracting numerous hummers to your garden, don’t stop with just hanging feeders. Plant a garden that will attract the birds and encourage them to stay all summer long. Plan your plant selection so some nectar-producing plants are blooming throughout the season. As an added bonus, you will find that plants which attract hummingbirds also attract butterflies.
Begin your hummingbird and butterfly garden now by dedicating one garden bed to nectar-producing plants. Shrubs to consider planting include: Native Buckeye and Native Azaleas, Rose of Sharon, Abelia, Weigela, Butterfly Bush, Flowering Quince and Hibiscus. There are wonderful and colorful varieties of perennials (plants that die back each year) that attract hummingbirds. These include: Cardinal flower, Columbine, Lantana, Red-Hot Pokers, Petunia, Zinnia, Cleome, Day Lily, Phlox, Salvia, Liatris and Geranium. Vines that add interest and attract hummers include: Cross Vine, Yellow Jasmine and Trumpet Creeper.
