By Kim Odom, LSC Manager & Special Events Coordinator
Members of the new Lakeland Senior Center (LSC) Garden Club have been busy planting a butterfly garden on the patio between the Center and IH Clubhouse. The patio is the Club’s first project. They are committed to caring and maintaining the beautification of the area.
Garden Club member Dottie Marshall and husband, James, are Monarch butterfly hobbyists. They raise Monarchs to help stop the rapid decline of the unique butterfly. The couple is sharing their experience and knowledge of hosting a healthy habitat with the group. At the May meeting Mrs. Marshall gave a presentation on the Monarch’s life cycle sharing a real-life collection of caterpillars in the Chrysalis stage. The couple donated milk weed plants, the only host plant for a Monarch, to plant on the patio in hopes of attracting the butterflies and providing a place for them to lay their eggs.
The garden club has also planted host plants (dill and parsley) to attract Swallow Tail butterflies. The group is watching the plants closely for any signs of butterfly eggs or caterpillars. They have created a beautiful habitat for a variety of butterflies. A rainbow of colorful flowers also provide nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds.
Members of the LSC Garden Club are Darlene Marcks (president), Dottie Marshall, Pam Neaves, and Betty Ratcliff, Barbara Taylor and Janet Hope.
The Lakeland Senior Center Garden Club recently formed and welcomes newcomers. They welcome any garden hobbyists or Master Gardeners to an upcoming monthly meeting held at LSC on the second Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m.
The purpose of the LSC Garden Club is to share in the development and growth of a common interest – the love of plants, flowers, and gardening by means of meetings, educational programs, garden tours. LSC Garden Club is committed to projects that will grow and nurture their passion for gardening and friendships.
“These ladies came together out of love for the Center and their community with the idea to care and maintain the patio area between the Center and Clubhouse. The gardening club developed from there,” said Kim Odom, LSC Manager. “The patio is now a beautiful place to enjoy a cup of coffee during our morning ‘Coffee & Chat’ program or to simply sit and observe the hummingbirds coming up to feed as well as the scene of IH Park and Lake. I can’t wait to see what the group gets into next.”
For information about the Garden Club or any of the other fun activities held at the Lakeland Senior Center, contact Kim Odom at (901) 746-8915 or kodom@lakelandtn.org.
