Starla Kramer
The Sun Lakes Garden Club invites members and visitors to the upcoming monthly meeting on Oct. 20. The club meets all year, on the third Tuesday of the month, plus one field trip/class each month.
The featured October speaker is Margaret Dykeman, the current President of the Desert Rivers Audubon Society. It covers Metro Phoenix and the East Valley. She’s also a member of the Arizona Field Ornithologists.
An organization devoted to the scientific study of birds’ behavior, ecology, and physiology.
She has been an enthusiastic “Birder” since her Girl Scout days. She loves to share why birds are vital to our gardens and our planet. Margaret is the author of Backyard Birding in Northern Arizona.
Since the summer months are too hot to tour nurseries and gardens, the club field trips may include indoor plant shops, herb shops, museums, garden-art craft projects, and other indoor fun!
On Sept. 24, the special “indoor field trip” was a class to create a Japanese Kokedama plant ( A house plant wrapped in a live moss ball). It’s all the rage now at garden shops!
On Oct. 27, the club outing will be to the beautiful Berridge Nursery on Camelback Road in the historic Arcadia district, followed by lunch on the patio of the OHSO Brewery and Grille, nearby. Berridge Nursery Greenhouse will feature over 24 decorated Christmas Trees, plus festive pumpkins and a wonderful selection of Thanksgiving hostess gifts
Members will be greeted by the owner, Christina, who will share the history of her family and the amazing nursery. After our welcome, members will relax and listen to a short presentation about the 5,000 bare-root roses they bring in every year. Members will have time to enjoy the beautiful outdoor nursery and their “Seasons” holiday display inside their greenhouse.
Meetings are held at the Sun Lakes Chapel Center, next door to the Sun Lakes All Faiths Community Church and across the street from the Sun Lakes Country Club. (9230 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. N.)
Members and Visitors gather at 9:30 a.m. for coffee and a generous refreshment buffet. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. and concludes around 11:45 a.m.