It was a frigid, windy, sunny day on January 8th when the members of the Bermuda Run Garden Club gathered at the Club House for a delicious meal of beef pot roast.  Hostesses Lynn Marcellino and Jamie Johnson furnished a bright white floral display for the head table.

President Donna Lamonds presided over the meeting as we discussed opportunities to serve in the coming year. The club will continue with the established projects, which include Storehouse for Jesus, geranium sales, two shredding events, and creating senior bouquets. We will continue to sponsor our award-winning junior gardeners club at Ellis Middle School, as well.  Members are also making plans even in January to exhibit their flowers at the Carolina Classic Fair.

Cindy O’Hagan, co-chair of Senior Bouquets, reported that in 2024, we created a total of 700 tiny bouquets that Meals on Wheels drivers added to trays of Davie County recipients. With pride and passion, Cindy told of the yards of fabric and ribbon that are added to fresh flowers and placed in a little pill-bottle-sized vase. As a garden club, we enjoy not only growing and arranging flowers but ultimately sharing their beauty.

Our annual geranium sales will begin soon and plants will be available for pick up on April 15, which is before Easter this year. You can expect to hear from a club member in a few weeks. Our semi-annual shredding event is set for Saturday, April 12.  The guidelines will remain the same but watch for more details closer to the date. These two projects are the best way we can ensure that our community projects can be fully funded.

The program for the January meeting was the care and planting of spring bulbs, specifically tulips and narcissus.  Based on research from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, we learned that bulbs should be planted at a depth of 2-3 times the size of the bulb.  Planting in well-draining soil is key for bulb success and longevity. Fertilizing is not recommended after blooming, as it can cause disease. One bit of information that encouraged us is that very few critters find tulips tasty. Tulips planted in ‘waves’ will provide color in the garden over several months, beginning as early as January or February. As you plan your garden this year, be advised that the Winston-Salem area is now considered zone 8A. As this is being written the best advice I can offer is to stay inside, read seed catalogs and know that Spring will come!