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"Spring is nature's way of saying 'Let's party!'" ~ Robin Williams There is no general meeting in May. We celebrate spring with the Spring Luncheon on May 8. The theme is "Nerds Take a Look at High Fashion." Attendees dressed as nerds will be eligible for prizes. Tickets are $18. See you there! "Spring has sprung." My mom used to say this silly line, and I suppose I have repeated it every spring since I was a kid. I've heard many variations of this rhyme over the years, particularly this one: "Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is." It seems to be attributed to a British-Irish comedian, writer, poet, playwright and actor named Spike Milligan - the poem reads like this: "Spring is sprung. The grass is riz. I wonder where the birdies is? The bird is on the wing. Now isn't that absurd? I always thought the wing was on the bird! Spring has sprung, the buds all break; Spring has sprung and nature wakes. Spring has sprung, winter's gone Now we sing our happy song Tra-la, la-la, la-la, lay Sweep the old dead leaves away." Spring has always inspired. It is the season of birth for the animals and plants - life is renewed as ice melts, the ground softens, and seeds take root. For gardening enthusiasts across the country, Mother's Day is the unofficial first day of the gardening season. Think about planting annuals in May for fabulous, easy-to- grow flowers all summer long. Try planting some climbing annuals such as morning glory, scarlet runner beans, black-eyed Susan vine, sweet peas, and hyacinth bean are just a few of the climbers that do quite nicely. If you have a shady garden, try planting impatiens, monkey flower, nasturtium, California bluebell, and wishbone flower - all very shade-tolerant annuals. Did you know that newspapers make excellent mulch? Lay several sheets of newsprint over soil and then cover with mulch; they'll help retain moisture and suffocate weeds. Another garden tip: water your ferns and acid-loving plants like hydrangeas with brewed tea for luscious-looking leaves. This is also the time when we begin to tidy up our gardens, so don't forget to hunt down and remove hibernating pests. Take a close look at the crowns of your perennial plants and check for any slugs, snails and aphid colonies sheltering for the winter. But most importantly, get outside and enjoy the garden! Remember, you don't have to be a gardener to join. For membership, contact Sherry Case at (951) 533-3584 or Linda Powers at (951) 769-3101. For general information contact President, Pam Mikkelsen at (951) 797-3080. Please support the Garden Club by purchasing See's Candy gift certificates from Maureen Keeney at (951) 797-0011 or Pat Newman at (951) 845-8146. Happy gardening! 46 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MAY 2019 | Garden Club

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