Through the Gardener's Eye

By GBCC Gardener Mary Lemens

The gardens are in full bloom right now, so many of you have stopped to comment on how much you are enjoying them. Its always nice to hear! I also get many questions about certain flowers or issues members are having with plants at home. I enjoy those as well.

I look at the garden beds from several perspectives:

• As a whole for color and composition
• For the health of plants 
• To see what needs weeding 

During my walks and while I'm working with the plants, my eye can be caught by small things, those little things that in our busy lives we miss. Yesterday I was doing my morning walk-through and saw the tiny drops of dew on the rose leave points. It was so beautiful and one of those things that is easily missed.

There are many things I wish I had pictures of that disappear before I can get my phone out like the herd of baby toads crossing the cart path behind nine this week. They just kept coming up the hill. There had to be a couple of dozen of them, so small, about the size of quarters.

 I also see unusual insects that land and take off to quickly or little animals looking for something to eat peeking out at me. I see a lot of baby birds looking for mama bringing their next meal .

I decided to make a collection of my pictures of the little things that are so amazing in the garden that can go unseen. There are so many surprises behind a flower or under the leaves, little treasures right in front of our eyes. I wanted to share a few of them with you. Gardener out.

Garden to Table Initiative at Green Bay Country Club

By GBCC Sous Chef Joe Sonderegger

Assorted cherry tomatoes from the GBCC Gardens

As many of you may have noticed over the past two years, our garden has expanded. Our goal is to bring you more fresh and local products, so we figured why not right outside the doors of GBCC! We have been incorporating a large variety of herbs and vegetables from our very own gardens into our lunch and dinner menus. Each year the gardens will change slightly to bring new and improved flavors to the dishes we prepare each and every day for our members and guests.

Here is a list of what we currently have: 38 Tomato plants with 6 different varieties, Sweet Basil, Thai Basil, Purple Ruffle Basil, Chives, Garlic Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Parsley, Sage, Tarragon, Thai Chilis, Jalapenos, Swiss Chard, Kale, Beans, Peas, Mint, Cilantro and Edible Pansies.

You will find these ingredients in items such as; pesto, bruschetta, mojitos, caprese salads, sauces, vegetable sides, plate garnishes, soups and many other menu items; especially in our weekly features. We hope you have noticed the quality and freshness that our garden has provided this summer.

Stay tuned for details about our “Farm to Table” dinner in October!

Pesto! Our herb garden includes six different varieties of Basil as well as over 15 other herbs.

Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea Provides Burst of Color

By GBCC Gardener Mary Lemens

One of my favorite plants is Echinacea or its more common name, the cone flower. Over the years so many new varieties have been introduced. It's not just the purple cone flower anymore. The blossoms are also more diverse in shape and petal size. Magnus and White Swan are some of the more common varieties. The newer ones have names as interesting as the colors: Hot Papaya, Butterfly Kisses, Flame Thrower, Fragrant Angel and Milkshake are just a few.

The one that stands out to me in both color and performance is Cheyenne Spirit. The pictures are of this variety, and yes they have different colored blooms. Once established all of those colors will be on each plant at the same time. They are just beautiful when in full bloom.  It's a colorful bouquet on each plant.

The plant is very hardy and disease resistant so very easy to grow. I have five plants growing in the new bed along the patio outside the 19th Hole. They just started to bloom this week so you can see the colors they show.

I'm excited to see them next year once they are a more mature plant. I think you're going to enjoy them as much as I do!

Gardner out.

Butterflies Abundant in GBCC Gardens

By GBCC Gardener Mary Lemens

The warm weather is finally a regular visitor for us. With the warmth comes insects. This mild winter and cool wet spring means no winter kill for a lot of insect species. It remains to be seen just which ones will become prominent. I have spotted early arrivals of some of my favorite insects, the Wisconsin native butterflies:

• Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 
• Black Swallowtail
• Spicebush Swallowtail 
• Monarch
• Painted Lady
• Red Admiral

Each one has unique food sources and places to lay eggs. Milkweed as we know is the only food source for Monarchs as well as where they lay eggs. The caterpillars feed on the plant leaves of the plant as well. Most other butterflies will feed on the plant nectar of any flower.  They have some preferences for plants they lay eggs on including Aster, black eyed Susan, cone flowers, hollyhocks, Shasta daisies, dill, and fennel to name a few. I try to include many butterfly and insect-friendly plants in the gardens here. It is amazing how many insects a diverse garden will bring!

I'm hoping to spot more butterfly species to add to my list of what is visiting the GBCC gardens. I hope you take a minute to enjoy watching the butterflies flutter through the Club. It is a moment to just take in the little things in life we are so apt to miss in our busy lives.

Gardener out.

GBCC Gardens Receive a Facelift

By GBCC Gardener, Mary Lemens

There have been lots of changes to our entrance to the Sports Center. Last fall we added boulders and different elevations at the gates. We loaded the area with compost and then had to call it a season. This spring I installed some shrubs, weeping larches and an assortment of brightly colored perennials. I'm excited to watch it bloom out this year and see how it comes together!

A second face lift at the Main Clubhouse is still in progress. The sod was removed from the flag area in the front of the clubhouse and boulders placed. Truckloads of compost were tilled in and a Korean pine (a personal favorite of mine) was planted as well as some carpet roses and barberry. More shrubs and flowers will be planted as soon as the path through is complete. 

Our superintendent pitched in to help us get the curve in the path just right. Ben is a hands-on boss and is very involved in making sure everything is just right in all of the club's outdoor areas.

I hope you enjoy watching the progress unfold in all the gardens this year!

Gardener out