Linda Friedlander, right, received special recognition by the Garden Club of Lake Placid at their opening meeting at Mirror Lake Inn last week. She was given Honorary Member status for her years of contributions. Here, Linda visits at the luncheon with Mary Merrill, left, also a long time member of GCLP.

A return to Mirror Lake Inn for the opening meeting of Garden Club of Lake Placid drew 33 members for a luncheon and program.

The recognition of Linda Friedlander, to Honorary Member, was a special moment shared with Linda. Members heard of her notable roles and projects over her 60 years of membership, including three two-year terms as club president.

Local residents may remember the infamous 2014 “Babes in Bloom” calendar. The club owes much of their standing in the community to Linda’s dedication. She was also instrumental with seasonal window decorating on Main Street which we continue to enjoy today. As she told the group, she was not necessarily great with flowers and such, but she did have a talent for organizing people.

The guest speaker, Mina Claire Weymouth-Little from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County presented a program shift from florals to vegetables focusing recognition on the growing interest in home gardens. The pandemic generated a revival in home gardening. With a bit of success, novice gardeners are taking greater steps to reduce their food expense by continuing those efforts.

She shared basics to increase success when growing foods in our Zone 4 locale. Soil, sun, and space will be key to a satisfying harvest. The soil of the Adirondack Mountains is mostly acidic, sandy, and low in fertility. A pH of 6.2-6.8 is good for growing vegetables.

The Triangle Garden across from the North Elba Horse Show Grounds is blooming with the seven hundred orange-eye daffodils that members planted last October. They began showing color a week ago and will be brilliant for another week while temperatures remain cool.

She also reminded us that free soil pH testing is available at their office located at 8487 state Route 9 in Lewis. When choosing plants, those identified as full sun need a minimum of six hours of direct sun daily.

If it is designated as partial sun, the plant will thrive in three to six hours of filtered sun.

A shade plant tolerates less than three hours of direct sun. Early morning watering is best. Drip irrigation is most efficient. Container grown plants require closer monitoring of water needs, even after making sure there are drainage holes in the container. Plants spacing and staking that will provide good air circulation.

The extension staff is happy to answer questions at 518-962-4810. On the flower front, soon blossoming trees like crab apples, ornamental cherry and plum will help banish memories of continuous snowfalls, downed trees, and mean winds of the past winter. Other current flowering ornamentals are forsythia, and lilacs are soon to follow. Large pots of colorful pansies have been placed along streets and around Mirror Lake by the Village and Town of North Elba. Throughout residential areas you will spot intense pink or purple, lavender or white mounds draping rock walls. These are creeping phlox, a hardy, fine foliage perennial that needs a few years to reach maximum spread, but the wait is worth it.

Other splashes of color appear with daffodils and tulips at commercial and residential locations. A welcome show of color from the 700 orange eye daffodils that were planted by GCLP members last October is now on display at the Triangle Garden across from the horse show grounds. And therein is the key. If you want to add to the community color you need to plant for the future.

Last year’s choices make a difference in what greets you in early spring. Daffodils are a better investment than tulips if you have a squirrel or deer challenge. With all bulbs it is important to not be too tidy in your gardening after they do bloom.

The foliage must be left to die back on its own, which means you will still have those browning leaves on the ground until the Fourth of July!

Resist the urge to cut them off as next year’s flowering will be smaller and reduced in number. Simply camouflage the dying foliage by interspersing some colorful annuals. By nature all of the spring color is temporary. A few warm days bring blossoms to peak, and within a week or so the color fades, particularly when temps go bonkers with a few 80 degree days. This can be offset by selecting bulb and ornamental varieties for early, mid, and late season blooming. Major suppliers will identify the bloom season in their catalogue or website information.

Bottom line — take every opportunity to enjoy the color as it appears! As you plan your summer plantings, keep in mind the GCLP does recognize and present Green Thumb Awards for outstanding home gardens.

There is still time to join GCLP to enjoy activities through December.

This season’s Program Calendar is now posted on the club’s website at gardencluboflakeplacid.org. Membership forms are also on the website.