April Club Program

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What is all the Buzz about Bees, by Karen Thomson

Beee friendly plants, interesting facts about honey bees. How a beehive works, products from the hive. Cooking with honey and honey harvesting.

Meetings are held at the Dolly Spiering Community Center

817 Holbek, Antioch lL 60002

Doors open at 12:30 and the meeting starts at 1:00

Upcoming Events at a Glance:

March 28, 2026, Spring Cleanup

April 24, 2026, Arbor Day

May 16, 2026, Plant Sale

Rainscaping, by U of I Extension of Lake County Master Gardeners

How to direct and manage water flow in a yard.

Jill gave a very informative presentation about water runoff and shared how the stormwater runoff goes into sewers, which dumps into local rivers, then into the Mississippi River.  While this was done to prevent contaminants from entering the drinking water supply of Lake Michigan, the water is diverted to the Gulf and leaves our community.  Water preservation through rain barrels, native plants with substantial roots, permeable surfaces and rain gardens will help keep the water local.  Rain barrel water can be used for plants but not vegetables due to roof contaminants. Bioscapes are becoming increasingly popular with municipalities. Rain Gardens are an excellent way to keep water in your yard, and Jill shared how to makes, establish, and maintain one in your own yard.  

Additional information about rainfall management can be found at:

https://extension.illinois.edu/rainfall-management

Animal Resistant Gardening, by Mel Zaloudek

The February meeting was the club’s first of the year, and the first official meeting since our November meeting, and it was nice to see familiar faces again.

The meeting had a lively and entertaining presenter - Mel Zaloudek, who resides in Cook County. While some of our plant and pest problems were the same, when asked about beavers and musk rats he was stumped and felt like he was in Canada. (His fur cap would have fit in!)           
           Mel shared about pest control:

Bonide Sulfur Organic Concentrated Dust Fungicide - Control diseases in your lawn and garden which can be used on fruits, vegetables and ornamentals around your home. Fine sulfur particles adhere to plants easily to prevent and control common diseases including rust, leaf spot, powdery mildew and other diseases. Apply to grapes, peaches, berries, roses, ornamental shrubs and more. And what’s best, this product is approved for organic gardening and can be used up to the day of harvest. 

Scarecrow brand motion sensor water sprinkler - When a critter moves in front of the sensor it will spray water.  Use caution, as it does not distinguish between squirrels, dogs or humans! 

Have a Heart Live traps - Be sure to relocate the animal far enough away that they do not return, at least one mile.

Metal fencing - holes must be no larger than chicken wire or baby bunnies can get through. Must also be strong, as rabbits will rise up on hind legs and lean with front feet and push over. Additionally, they can jump 2 feet high. 

Deer can travel far for food.  If they damage the bark of your tree do NOT use the tree wound paint, as it breeds fungus and infection.  Instead, after cleaning the wound hit it with spray paint. 

Wrapping the trunk with a sisal rope is a good deterrent. Mothballs, not chips, scattered in beds can help. His strongest advice is to avoid the plants that invite unwanted guests.  Rabbits LOVE hostas and you will have problems with rabbits so long as you have hostas.  Mel provided a great variety of pest-resistant options in his slide show including salvia, dahlia, cleome, tobacco, lantana, lambs ear, Joe-Pye-weed, lungwort, Herman's pride, pachysandra, butterfly bush and giant allium, just to name a few. 

Our annual Christmas party was held on December 13th, and this year’s theme—Cookies and Cocoa—made for a cozy and festive celebration. Members were invited to dress in their finest pajamas, and they certainly delivered!

Each table was set with individual jars of cocoa for every guest, complete with mini marshmallows and peppermint candy spoons, creating the perfect winter treat. Santa made a special appearance and judged the Best Pajamas contest. Judy took first place dressed in festive white, with Mary earning runner-up honors in a burgundy robe topped with a captain’s hat.

Following the contest, everyone enjoyed refreshments featuring homemade cookies, homemade fudge, and a variety of other sweet treats. We then learned about the Crego family’s asters, and free seed packets were handed out to all attendees.

Each guest also received a complimentary gift bag filled with lotions and other small luxuries—a thoughtful surprise for everyone who came. The afternoon wrapped up with a lively White Elephant gift exchange, with participants receiving numbers as they arrived to determine the order of choosing gifts.

It was a joyful, relaxed gathering full of laughter, generosity, and holiday spirit—another wonderful way to celebrate the season together.

Tabletops and Tablescapes, by Kathi Rose

How to create a tablescape that reflects your event and personality. Learn how to use a combination of components: china, glassware, and floral accents.

Don't Squash the Bug, by James Rowan

There are over a million species of insects and spiders on the planet, with about 25,000 of them being in Illinois. In this program we will meet some of them, learn how to distinguish them and separate the "good guys" from the "bad guys".

The club members met on a beautiful day to enjoy soups and sweets and a very informative presentation on spiders and insects.  We learned why they are good for our gardens as well as in our homes.  There were gorgeous cabinets of insects collected by the presenter on display.