Flowers
are a special way to remember the life of someone who is no longer
with us. At the Schoolhouse Senior Center in Folsom, friends and
loved ones purchased plants to memorialize members who have passed
away. The garden club members wrapped each plant in gold foil and
tied them with a ribbon for presentation at a Memorial Service on
September 20. As each name was called, stories, eulogies and special
thoughts were shared by attendees. After the memorial service the
flowers were planted in the gardens surrounding the Schoolhouse
property. The garden club planted a combination of chrysanthemums
(mums) and native perennials, placing identification markers next to
each plant.
Chrysanthemums
are the largest commercially produced flowers in the US with their
roots dating back to 1884. Mums are short day plants (long night)
requiring less then 12 hours of light to form flowers. The official
“Queen” of fall flowers they represent the end of summer and the
start to fall. They liven up the garden, bringing joy and beauty
when other plants have faded away. Using mums at a funeral or
memorial service symbolizes sympathy, honor and respect.
To
help achieve the goal of having the gardens certified pollinator
friendly, native plants were purchased from Redbud nursery in Media,
PA. One shrub (or tree) and fifteen perennials where needed to
complete the application process. (For information on getting your
garden certified “Pollinator Friendly” go to ento.psu.edu). The
plants purchased should help the Schoolhouse meet the requirements
for certification!
Senior
Community Services Mission is to “provide independent and
meaningful living for older adults through direct services and
programs in the home and community”. Master Gardeners (of Delaware County, PA) work with
garden club volunteers to maintain and enhance
the gardens. We meet April through October (weather permitting) on
Monday mornings from 9-11 am. If interested in helping out in 2018,
please feel free to contact me.
“If
you would be happy for a lifetime, grow Chrysanthemums.” (a Chinese
philosopher)
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