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Oh, how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right? Winter, spring, summer, Pumpkin… We anxiously anticipate it every year. ~ Trader Joe's Fearless Flyers As the fall leaves begin to change color and the nights become a little brisker, the season quickly swings to Halloween. Halloween is the one holiday that people seem to have very strong opinions about, they either hate it or love it. Well, it seems that most of us fall into the latter category and we love it! It has a magical spirit which seems to bring people alive, as it centers on fun, dressing up and having a great time. If you don't already do it, branch out this year - carve a pumpkin with a friend, watch a scary movie, go to a party, drive around our community and enjoy how your neighbors are sharing their creativity by decorating their porches and yard. The October Garden Club meeting is sure to pique your interest. This month we will be learning how to make decorations and centerpieces for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our guest speakers are Michael and Janice Walsh, residents of Sun Lakes. Michael was a professional set decorator, Janice was a florist as well as a wedding coordinator for Princess Cruises, and they owned an event planning business. Meanwhile back on the gardening front… Did you know that fall is prime planting time in Southern California? Here are some October tips for the garden: Add native shrubs, such as California wild lilac (Ceanothus), lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia), and manzanita (Arctostaphylos), to your garden. Grow some native monkey flower. Orange bush monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) and red monkey flower (M. puniceus) are sun loving, drought-tolerant chaparral natives. It's also the time to plant beds with cool- season flowers, such as pansies, calendula, candytuft, foxgloves, snapdragons, sweet peas, stock, and sweet alyssum. The Garden Club meeting is held on the second Wednesday of the month, in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom, at 10 am. If you aren't already a member, what are you waiting for? You don't have to be a gardener to join. Come and try us out as our guest! If you would like to become a member, please contact Suzie Messick at 769-7945. Happy gardening! GBRRR Let It Snow, Jack Frost — we need A Winter Wonderland! Save the date: Dec. 12, 10:30 am to 2 pm. Tickets go on sale in October. Watch for the poster for the Garden Club's holiday event. 50 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2018 | Garden club