The Monroe Garden Club met Tuesday, April 17th in the James Monroe Community Room. Jana Morse of Middletown presented the program FRAGRANT PLANTS, focusing on the Lemon scented plants. Lemon Balm is the herb of the year 2007, easily grown and many, many uses. It can be used in cooking, teas, infusions, and for medicinal purposes. Recipes were given for Lemon Balm Cordial, Pesto and Pesto Shells. Other widely known lemon herbs are Lemon Verbena , Scented Pelargoniums,Lemon Grass, Lemon Thyme and Lemon Myrtle. These can be used in a variety of ways from cleaning solutions to cooking. Nancy Walck and Marilyn Niebur were hostesses and served a delicious dessert course. The business meeting was conducted by Peggy Abernathy. Redbud trees have been purchased and will be distributed to 3rd grade students at Monroe Elementary School on Arbor Day April 27th. Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska in 1872 after a proclamation urging settlers to plant trees to provide shade, shelter, food and fuel on the largely treeless plains. Over a million trees were planted. This project soon spread over the United States and is celebrated on the last Friday in April. Monroe Garden Club has been distributing seedlings to students for the past 46 years since the club was founded. OAGC Regional 4 Spring Meeting will be held on April 27th at the Cincinnati Zoo. Ellen Kinsey, Awards Chairwoman presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Bonnie & Ralph Kindler of 158 Doverdale for Outstanding Landscaping. The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 15th at 7:00 p.m. A member of the Dahlia Society will present the program "Growing Dahlias". We invite all who are interested in gardening to join us. Please call Peggy Abernathy at 539-7892 for more information.
