About Us
History of the Club
Founded in 1948, Seal Rock Garden Club is a 70 year plus community non-profit organization formed for coastal gardeners to share their knowledge of plants and to provide a social setting for individuals interested in gardening, conservation and support of community gardening projects. A housing barracks for conscientious objectors during World War II, the clubhouse originally located at Camp Angell, Waldport was purchased at auction for $306 and was moved to its' present site in Seal Rock in the 70's.
Meetings
Monthly meetings are held from September to June with presentations on gardening topics relevant to coastal gardening. We meet when the weather starts to turn cool and rainy, allowing us maximum time in the garden during the warmer, drier summer growing months. Field trips to private and public gardens are available to members as well as visitors throughout the course of our "club season". Experts from Oregon State University, private enterprise, University of Oregon and others in their field of expertise present informative lectures and demonstrations on horticulture, flower arrangement and master gardening. Presentations begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by a business meeting and a light lunch. Our meetings are free and open to the public. The club is a non-profit organization, 501 (c) (4).
Special Events
Each year members are involved in two major fund raising events, the Greens Sale in December and the Flower and Plant Show in June.
Our annual Christmas Greens and Gift Sale takes place in early December. Locally grown greens are crafted and designed into wreaths, swags, and table arrangements made by members. Holiday gifts, small live decorated trees and a raffle of gift items are available for purchase. Funds from the Greens Sale are used for maintaining the clubhouse and grounds.
The Flower and Plant Sale on June 15 is an end of the year event with the clubhouse decorated with spring flowers and the surrounding yard full of sale plants suitable for coastal gardens. Mark your calendars for our Plant Sale. The sale is from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Gardeners start lining up early to buy plants. Sales are brisk. A portion of the funds raised go to nonprofit organizations that support gardening, education, conservation and local civic gardening projects.
GROWIN' COASTAL
From Betty Bahn:
- Now is the time to divide primroses, especially doubles, which can only be propagated by division as they don't set seed. Lift the doubles, separate and re-pot to get them ready for next year when they are in bloom and can be sold at our early spring garden club meetings.
- Spring is the time to candle or prune pines while their new growth is tender and bright green. Called candling, this process of pinching back new growth or buds to one half or more above the base of the bud, controls and shapes the appearance and overall growth of the trees and is specifically needed for grooming dwarf pines. Pines do not like to have their branches pruned. New growth does not sprout or form from pruned mature branches. Incorrect hard pruning may result in the sap bleeding for a long time and bare or very interesting tree shapes, depending on your point of view.
- Slugs are making their appearance. It's time to apply slug bait especially around your hostas and dahlias. Use bait formulated with iron phosphate as the main ingredient. I recommend "Sluggo" and "Worry Free", which are not toxic to animals. Do not use "Corry's" and "Deadline" which has metaldehyde and is attractive but deadly to birds and domestic pets.
- Question: Should I divide my columbines? Answer: Yes, you can divide the main plant, but not the seedlings. Wait until the seedlings bloom and if the color is acceptable to you, then divide. Columbines are promiscuous. They spread their seed around, but mainly they readily crossbreed with any other columbine in the area, which results in a muddy purple color. Keep plants that you like away from each other by planting them at a distance from each other.
- Question: Is free compost from a collection facility a good thing to have? Answer: This is a question for Sally who knows more about compost that I do. However, just be aware of the source of the compost. Ask: what makes up the compost?; where was the matter composted?; was all of the composted material disease free?; was the matter composted at a high temperature to kill plant diseases?
by Betty Bahn and Sally Noack
April marks the introductory column of Betty and Sally's column, a garden-wise contribution culled from their many years of coastal gardening experience, research and education. Their presentations at our monthly meetings guide members on practical, timely how-to measures on what to do in the garden, information on garden events, and in-depth answers to questions and whatever and anything anyone wants to talk about. "Growin' Coastal" aims to continue to offer their guidance here in written form. Sally's contribution to " Growin' Coastal" will appear in May as she was on vacation at the time of our April meeting.
Coming Events at the Clubhouse
May 22, 2019, "Field Trip to Gathering Together Farms", Grange Hall Rd., Philomath, OR
Gathering Together Farm is an enterprise in certified organic vegetable and fruit production that began in 1987 with their home base just south of Philomath, OR on Grange Hall Road. Their more than 50 acres of fields are small odd shaped parcels. Gathering Together is owned by John Eveland and Sally Brewer, husband and wife. In the heat of the summer, there are over 120 employees working to nurture and harvest high-quality food, prepare it for customers, and sell it at market to individuals, at farmers' markets, to local restaurants and wholesale.
The trip is for members and a limited number of spaces are set aside for visitors. Click on "General Info: Gathering Together Farms" at bottom of page for additional information.
June 15, 2019. "Flower Show and Plant Sale", at Seal Garden Clubhouse, 9 to 2 p.m., 10377 NW Rand St.
Mark your calendars for this sale. Local gardeners and bargain hunters line up early to buy plants. Sales are brisk and everyone goes home with bargains.
The photo at top left depicts a wall sized quilted mural on display at the clubhouse made by Lois Pleger, a member. The photo does not fully capture the beautiful design and craftsmanship of the quilt.