Eleven members, including new member Julie Foster, and one guest, Brenda Sauer, attended the Sept. 18, meeting of Great Bend Garden Club.

Alicia Boor from the Cottonwood District Extension Office presented the morning’s program on Trees for Kansas. Although the prairie land of Kansas is not conducive to easily growing trees, the K-State Extension Service has available helpful brochures for those of us who live in our area. One brochure lists both the various trees environmental tolerances (such as pH adaptabilities, soil moisture needs, and probable pest problems) and landscape attributes (such as flowers, fruit, and color). Another helpful brochure describes the importance of, and the necessity for watering trees and shrubs, and lists best management practices for watering them. Alicia answered many questions from the Garden Club members about their own experiences and problems with growing trees at their homes.

During the business meeting the club members discussed the progress of the new Memorial Flower Garden in the Great Bend Cemetery. The next Garden Club meeting will be on Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. in the meeting room of the Great Bend Senior Center. Visitors are welcome.