GECC Plant Sale May 13th

The annual Glen Echo CC Plant Sale will be Saturday May 13th from 9 to 11 at the maintenance building. Plants can be charged in the usual manner. Might not have every Plant Becky has grown from babies but she will have a nice supply for you to chose from!

 

Greenhouse Plant Sale Tomorrow Saturday May 7th

Greenhouse Plant Sale will be tomorrow, Saturday May 7th from 9-11 at the maintenance building below the first tee box. Becky will be here to help with your selections for this year. All plants can be charged to your account in the usual manner. Some but not all of the plants in the picture will be available based on Becky's needs for the course this season. She is just beginning to plant on property.

How Does Your Garden Grow? Very Nicely I Must Say Here At Glen Echo

How does your garden grow is a presentation taking place this Saturday by our very own horticulturist Becky Edwards. Becky does outstanding work on our grounds and will give here insight into her work at Glen Echo. She will provide you with professional advice on how to transition what she does at Glen Echo to your landscape and or patio at home. I know my bride will want me to pay close attention since I need to finish off the front landscape of our home.

Sounds like its going to be a wet week with not much work being able to be accomplished outside. Come to the club and have some lunch before and a glass of wine or cocktail during the event or lunch at the end whichever you prefer.             

Please sign up on the club website so we can plan for proper seating for this event. 

Plant Sale Thank You

Thanks to our members who showed up and supported the plant sale on Saturday. Not a huge number of people but we still sold over $ 1,004 in plant material which was tremendous. Thanks again for your support of our program.

Greenhouse Plant Sale

Little slow on the trigger this season but our greenhouse plant sale will be on Saturday, May 9th from 9-11 a.m. at the maintenance building. We will have a few more perennials available this season and some other plants for you to add to your patio or landscape. For our newer members, most folks walk away with15-20 plants or more to fill some pots or a planting bed. Most products will be in 4" pots.  Plants are only available during the sale. We are in the process of moving plants out of the greenhouse to harden off as we prepare to plant. Plants will be sitting out and are not set out for purchase or removal without authorization.  We will charge your account in the usual manner as your other purchases at the club. Proceeds from this event help to support the horticulture program at our club which is continueing to expand with the hard work of our horticulturist Becky Edwards.

Why do we take the time to grow our own products some might ask? There are a number of reasons;

• We save money and cash is king for us at this time. It does take labor to pot the materials but we are already here working. Yes there is some water and heating costs but we purchase material at extremely low prices based even on wholesale pricing if we bought them already grown from a local nursery.
• We are able to purchases varietys of plants that local growers do not grow. Unique and different plants are not available at most local growers. They produce for the masses and you are stuck with what they grow.
• In the end, I like to grow plants. Well, Becky grows the plants now but our group is willing to take on any task that we can to help with improving your experience at the club.When you bring guests to the club, a majority of the plantings that you will see were grown from a very small size. I think many of you take pride in these efforts made on your behalf.

We are adding more work to Becky's plate this season with 7 new flower boxes on the Verandah with almost 40' of planting space on this great outdoor space at our club. We also decided to remove the strip of grass between the champions reserved parking and Mr. Ott's Clock. As mentioned in an earlier blog, the holly bushes along the parking lot were severly compromised in the winter of 2014.
We also expaned the plantings off of the main patio and the planting at 13 tee was new from late last summer. We've also added some plant material along the 6 green cart path which she will be monitoring.

Most of the plants in the pictures came from plugs but we have brought some partially grown material in to use for our pots and planters.

Middle view.

Some additional material. Becky reduced her overall purchases this season with the addition of some perennials which will be added to some of our spaces reducing the need of repeated annual installs.

First Mow, Planting Pots Waiting

We did a quick walk mow of the practice green after lunch today. We plan to roll and mow the rest of the greens in the next couple of days as conditions allow.

Becky is also preparing her 4" pots in preparation for plant plugs beginning to arrive this week.  She spaces arrivals over the next 3 weeks to give us time to get them planted.  They normally arrive on Wednesday and we want to make sure they are planted and in the greenhouse by the weekend.

Plant Sale Saturday May 10th

The plant sale will be held on Saturday, May 10th from 9-11 a.m. at the maintenance building. The greenhouse will be open but for viewing only. All plant material for sale will be in the maintenance building set up on tables.

When I first started the sale in 2009, I handled the ordering and installing all plant material. I figured many like to buy plants for their homes and I would have some extras available.  Why not share them with the members and the funds raised would offset the cost of growing the plants in the first place.  A win/win for everyone.  I ordered simpler varieties and a majority of the plants were grown in 6 pack flats and we would growing 6000 plants.  Would usually have an abundance of plants in some varieties. My bed planning was to buy the plants I liked and figure out a way to make them work.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not.

Becky who now handles our horticulture program is just in the beginning stages of planting.  She now brings in a lot less plants per variety grown.  Most are grown in 4" pots but with many more varieties.  I believe 62 varieties totaling nearly 4000 plants this year.  As a horticulture professional, she has planned her combinations, estimated the number of plants she needs and then orders in the material in January.  As most home gardeners know, you might estimate and end up falling short or have too many plants. Some of the plants we ordered in to grow are not necessarily available from garden shops.  That is the dilemma she faces with making plants available for sale, especially since we are in the early stages of planting.  She spoke with me this morning regarding what she can make available and it sounds like a wide range of plants.

We will a number of items available for sale but will probably not have large quantities of any one item.  A number of unique species for containers or small plantings.  Accounts will be billed in the usual manner.  See you Saturday!

Greenhouse planting

One of the things that I established over the first winter upon my arrival at Glen Echo was to build a greenhouse and grow our own plant material for our grounds.  Below is a video I made explaining the process we use here at Glen Echo and the work it takes to grow the plants that you will see in the various ornamental planting areas around the club.

By the way, our annual plant sale will be at the maintenance building on Saturday, May 10th from 9-11a.m. for those interested in purchasing plants.  You may charge your club account for these purchases.

Ornamental Plantings

Becky is beginning to plant the ornamental beds with our plants grown in the greenhouse.  One of the things that you might notice is that the plants are a little smaller than we would like them to be for installation.  The extreme fluctuations in temperatures, especially at night and the lack of consistent sunlight has hindered the growth of our plants.  Our over wintered and spring planting have been outstanding with a more English Garden style weather.

Once we get into June and soil temperatures begin to increase, the plant sizes will begin to expand rapidly.  

 

Ornamental plants 2013, potting day

About 2,800 of our plants for this upcoming season arrived yesterday in 5 large boxes.  20 degrees this morning so a great time to stay inside and place all of our plants in their growing pots.  Becky attended the Green Centre Conference in early January at Americas Center and found a source for bulk potting mix while in attendance.  Last season, we spent about $ 550 on smaller bags of potting mix.  By locating the large tote bags of potting mix from a local supplier, our cost will be about $ 250.  Our $ 100 conference fee for Becky was money well spent with this cost savings that we will begin to see on a yearly basis.

We have a production line going on in the shop right now.  Our potting plan includes a pot loading table that places the soil in the pots.  The second table places the plants into the pot and covers the roots.  We will move the plants out into the greenhouse later today when the temperatures moderate.  In about 6 weeks or so, the plants will be ready to go out on the golf course.

Becky removed the plants from their boxes and checked out their condition.  They were kept in the break room overnight which kept them in a warm spot.

The large tote bags of potting mix.  We will be using at least 3 of these which is about 1 cubic yard of material per bag.

Pot filling in the foreground and placing plants in the pots in the background.  Nervous day for Becky getting her babies planted properly and placed into the warmth of the greenhouse.

Finished plants waiting to go into the greenhouse.

Greenhouse update

New steel tubing was installed which allowed us to raise the roof of the greenhouse where it attaches to the building by about 8".  This will improve water evacuation off the structure.  The staff will install the tracks which help hold the poly in place early next week and will then apply the double walled poly, inflate it and begin to build up some heat for plant production which will begin around St. Patty's Day.  

Lengthened steel tubes(painted white) which allowed for improve slope and drainage away from the building.
 

Greenhouse Renovation

The greenhouse is currently undergoing renovation for the upcoming season.  It was time to replace the poly-dual covering of the greenhouse.  Along with that, we needed to adjust the greenhouse a few inches higher where it attached to the building.  It was a little too flat and allowed water to get trapped between the bubble of the greenhouse and the building.  We removed the plastic last week and the staff is fabricating the square tubes that will connect the aluminum frame of the house to the wall.  This should be completed over the next couple of days.  Some modifications will need to made with the framing around the fans and air intakes and we should get it covered next week in preparation for plants arriving in the next couple of weeks.

Preparing to weld angle iron onto tubs which will allow the tubes to attach to the building.

Skip putting a coat of paint on the tubes.  

Horticulture 2012

I've asked Becky Edwards, our club horticulturist to do a guest blog this week on the plantings that were completed this season on the grounds.  For those of you that are home gardeners, you know how challenging this year was trying to keep your plants alive from the severe heat and drought.  Becky has done an exceptional job with our landscape plantings this year from the ordering and growing of the plants that took place at the end of winter and early spring to the new plantings in front of the clubhouse as a part of the Pierson Memorial project.  This does not include the planting of all the material as well as the extra hand-watering that takes place, as well as managing the weed population, etc........................


Hooray for rain (it only took a hurricane)!  We're all very thankful (plants, people & wildlife) for the respite, regardless of the source.  I've taken a few photos of some of the plants/plant combinations that seemed to have thrived in our less than idyllic climate this summer. Also included are plants that I frequently get asked about by members, staff & guests. I've taken some of your great suggestions for plantings & always welcome your plant success/crisis stories/questions!

Variegated Tapioca tree underplanted w/pink Dragon Wing begonias

Dwarf Fountain Palm w/double impatiens

Purple Fountain grass 'Princess Caroline' w/Pink Pentas

Colocasia esculenta (giant elephant ear) Could be enough roughage in just 1 of those ears for your weekly  dietary fiber allowance.

Upright Elephant Ears with Double Pink Impatiens

Improved pool entrance beds include Cannas, Elephant ears, Lamb's ears, Coreopsis, Oakleaf  Hydrangeas, Boltonia 'Jim Crockett'

Improved parking lot bed includes 'Adagio' ornamental grass, Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita', Coreopsis 'Creme Brulee' & Boltonia 'Jim Crockett'

Pool urn plantings: 'Pretty Much Picasso' Petunias, Calibrachoas, dwarf  banana trees and  Perilla magilla

Gaillardia 'Oranges & Lemons' paired happily w/ 'Karl Foerster' Ornamental grasses

A tropical look to the patio lawn area w/variegated red banana trees, cannas, lantana & 'Hot  Lips' salvia

Front of Clubhouse new permanent plantings getting a boost from some annuals like Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' & Angelonia in multi colors.

The new
Bonfire Patio Peach tree underplanted w/several pink shades of Lantana @ the  Field Bar

Lantana in all its glory - BRING ON THE HEAT!

Lantana paired w/variegated ginger

A new bed for 2012 on Hole #13! The plants loved the leaf much amendments that the crew added before installation.
Plants include: 'Thailand Giant' Elephant Ear, Pentas, Hawaiian snow bush, Lantana, Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita'  Zinnias 'Tequila Lime' & 'Queen Red Lime' (excuse the powdery mildew), 'Marguerite' sweet potato vine, dwarf bananas, Angelonia & Perilla magilla.

Improved plantings @ the women's tee box on #9 include perennial Hibiscus 'Luna Rose', Castor Bean, Cannas,  Perovskia, Coreopsis, & 'Princess Caroline' Purple Fountain Grass

Hibiscus 'Luna Rose' seem happy acclimating to their new home on Hole #9

New flowers have arrived

Multiple shipments of new plants that Becky ordered for this season arrived last week.  Becky and a couple staff members planted one day and Becky had a couple of days of planting on her own.  She has also been busy planning the changes to the ornamental beds for the newly remodeled clubhouse area and working with vendors to get these plants shipped in for the end of the month planting.  She has also been busy cleaning and sprucing up our existing beds around the property.  She is definitely a great asset for our operation.

Becky, Tom and Jeff getting the first plants of the season placed in pots.

The greenhouse well over half full of plants.

2011 Missouri Green Industry Conference and Expo

Horticulturist Becky Edwards and I were asked to speak at the Missouri Green Industry Conference and Expo at the St. Charles Convention Center yesterday.  The event was attended by well over 400 golf, athletic field turf, irrigation, mechanic, and horticultural professionals and vendors who attended over 25 sessions regarding their particular work interest.  Our topic was "Managing and Maintaining a Golf Course Greenhouse".  Always a little anxious in preparing a presentation but it was great to share part of the hour with Becky.  She did a great job and I got through it. 

Becky's part of the presentation.

The relieved presenters and star of the show Lady somehow showed up in a couple of pictures.

Plant sale update

We sold over $ 1,000 of plant material this morning in our sale.  Thanks to everyone who came by to pick up some plants.  If you missed the sale, I will probably have some additional material left so email me or call for an appointment to come by and make a purchase early next week.

Thanks again for your support.

Greenhouse Flower Sale

Our annual plant sale will be this Saturday from 9 a.m.until 12:00 at the maintenance building.  We will have various plants available for sale.  Prices will be $ 2.00 for a 6 pack and $ 4.00 for larger potted varieties.  Listed below are a few of the plant selections that will be available.  We will not have any hostas this season.

ANNUALS 

Various Coleus types and other plants not listed.

Ace of Spades
Marguarita Sweet Potato Vine
Full sun to light shade
1' to 4' spread





Lantana "New Gold"
Full Sun
15-20" tall 18-24 spread

 



  

Begonia "Dragonwing"
Red and Pink
Sun or shade
12-15" tall 12-15" spacing




Plectranthus Silver Shield
Foliage Plant
24" H by 24" wide
Light blue flower
foliage plant
Sun to partial shade

Wave Petunia
6"-8" H 3' spread

Tidalwave Cherry Petunia
h 16-22  w 30-60



   



New Look Celosia
10-14" high 8-12" spread



 
 
 
 
 


Shockwave Purple Petunia
7-10" H  30-36"

  


Tecoma Yellow Bells
3-4' Shrub like

    


Super Elfin Impatiens Lipstick Pink
and Violet
8x10" high 12-14" wide
Shade









Setcresea Purple
1' H and spreading





Marigold Antigua Gold
looms
12" w 13-16 High

 

Zinnia  Profussion Fire
18" High 20" spread









Angelonia Carita Raspberry and Purple
16-20" h
Full sun

PERENNIALS

 



Agastache Apricot Sprite
18" tall 12" spread
Full sun
Licorce scented leaves
Perennial





Rudbeckia Denver Daisy
H 18-20" 12-14" spread
Large blooms
Tender Perennial



Coreopsis Route 66 Verticillata
24" High x 24" spread
Perennial