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Tillandsia garden circle ..,,PLnti V,(►«»# J MEW$-TRIBUNE, F«rt Piarea, Fla., Wad., Fa*. tt, HffJL'j WuLuj,Creates Sir cl Sanctuary.J,l White City AreaEditor's Note: This is the fourth in a scries of articles regarding the circles making up the St. Lucie County Federation of Garden Circles.By BETH MEGELINf Publicity Chairman St. Lucia County Federation of Garden CircletIji 1952 two garden circles in St. Lucie County were organized: Tillandsia and Sea Grape. Tillandsia Circle was to be the one from which our present President of the St. Lucic County Federation of Garden Circles was to lx chosen.This circle in the beginning was made up mostly of women residing in White City and because the greater percentage of them were business women (about 70 per cent of them are today), it was decided to hold their meetings in the evening. Mrs. Regner Hansen who was already associated with a garden circle, was the guiding light of this newly-formed circle, and it was through her efforts and sponsorship that on October 13, 1952 at the home of Mrs. John Waldron another Fort Pierce garden circle was formallyinaugurated.Tillandsia Mean* Alrpltnt1' , . .The n me of Tillandsia was given to this new circle. The name itself belongs to one of the plant families and means “airplantthose plants Jiving on air and moisture. Spanish Moss and the common plant resembling somewhat a pineapple, which attaches itself to the growth along the St. Lucie River in the White City area, belong to the tillandsia family. Incidentally some of these “pbieLapplc plants” provide a very beauliful reddish-colored bloom.Mrs. William Volk, Mrs. J. D. Barry, and Mrs. Robert Poysell are charier members who are still active in the circle today. With 25 members and under Hie presidency of Mrs. Volk, Tillandsia derided on two long-range, projects.50 Jacarambi Trees In White CityThey decided to beautify Midway —the main street running east and west through White City with blue flowering jacaranda trees. For a working group of women to buy plant, water, and care for Fifty Jacaranda Trees, it was a big undertaking, but TiUandsia did it. In the summer of 1953, Wednesday afternoons were devoted tu digging the holes and planting these frees. And throughout the long hot summer, every Wednesday, they formed bucket brigades to provide the water for the new' plants. Some of the holes they dug were in rich, black soil; the hole next to it might be nothing but sand. The circle was new and there wasn't enough money lu make the holes uniform in soil content, so some of the trees grew fester than others.Normally, the jacaranda tree blooms in April or May, before the poinciana tree, which it greatly resembles in general structure and leaf. The weather, if cold enough, blights them and makes their leaves fall. It doesn’t permanently injure the tree (unless we have a winter like 1958’s), but it does strip the trees to skeletons until they get their new growth of leaf and bloom, then they are heavenly tilings to behold. Not many trees have a blue-colored bloom, and when the jacaranda is in full bloom you see nothing but a bhie-culored tree, andparticularly of Mrs. Robert Poysell, who took over what Patty Backus had started, the board of County Commissioners of Fort Pierce on May 21, 1957, declared the following area would be a bird sanctuary. Tliis area was from the St.- Lucie River to Route 1, and from Sacgar Road to Welherbee Koail. Signs were posed along the roads leading into the area, informing motorists they were passing through such an area.Original Signs By Beanie BackusDuring the time from 1953 until 1957 when the area was declared bird sanctuary, the aid of Beanie Backus was solocited to make some bird signs, from which the circle hoped tu get enough money to further their project. Some 200 to 250 signs were made and sold by the circle to anyone who would post them. These signs can still be seen in some parts of the city today. There are two or three on the west side of South Dixie below Midway, showing the yellow bird in flight. And for your information, Mrs. Robert Poysell, still has two of these originals left, which she’ll sell to the first comers.When someone tried to And out from Mr. Backus what kind of a bird he had designed in flight on these sings, he just replied, “It was a Yellow Bird.” Not content with this, they inquired if it was a mockingbird, or a sea gull, or just what. But all they ever got in reply, after some deliberation, was a firm stand, and that, “It was a Composite Bird.*’ (Calling all Audubon numbers — what are the general characteristics and habitat of a Composite Bird?)Hawks Are Protected—Sparrows Aren’tThe aims of a bird sanctuary, as you might guess, are to give whatever kinds of protection necessary to this form of wild liTe. And that includes just about every kind of bird with the following exceptions: English Sparrow, ,CrowT Starling, Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture.These birds are ostracized gcner-(News-Tribune Stall Photo by Art Kelly jlilKD SANCTUARY PROCLAIMED RY TILLANDSIA CIRCLE... Mrs. W. L. Volk, Mrs. James Barry, Mrs. Robert Poysell, Mrs. Regner ITansen.ally because they do damage to other birds or crops. The litllc Eng-because it is so unusual and be- sparrow, for example, is too cause the jacarandas are so beau- prolilic ancj it disturbs the other tiful in shape, the Sight is breath- ^rcjs during their mating season.(If they've been too thick around ynur yard, you might try what I did the other day. After I informed the noisy troublemakers they weren’t protected by the Audubon Society, they scooted, and they haven't been back since!-Tillandsia Standards High Our Federation President, Mrs. J. H. Slieasley proudly pointed out that Tillandia has a number of blue-ribbon winners in both the artistic and horticulture divisions. Next lime you’re in the St. I Aide County Bank, you might admire the lovely flora I arrangements which are usually placed at strategic spots. BothMrs. J. D. Barry, who is the present president of Tillandsia Circle, and Mrs. William Volk, are members of the Bank's slnff, and have a great deal lo do with the flower arrangeuieiils there.The greater number of meetings during the year have their program presented by a member of the circle, instead of having outsiders give it. in this way, they feel the member presenting the program will have to do the actual work in learning hosv to give a program, instead of watching someone else do it. Many of the members seemed to feel nostalgic about their first meetings held in the While City Community Hail, and that those were some of the best meetings they had had.Garden Therapy and Work With JuniorsCertainly any story about Til lands!a Garden Circle would not be complete unless you knew it was this circle that first became active in the work of garden therapy to help the exceptional children at the Browning Training Center. The work they have done wilh garden therapy has been demonstrated in other localities by request, and this year Mrs. Helen Thompson, Federation Chairman of Garden Ther- j apy will apply for a Slate Award. Just as fine has been the circle’s participation in work with junior members, and they have been instrumental in organizing several clubs in the various schools to interest the young people in the rewards of gardening. For the first time, a Junior Club has been organized at St. Anastasia this year, with the aid of Tillandsia. (This is one of six clubs engaged in Junior Gardening in the Fort Pierce area at present.-Some changes have occurred during the years: in 1953 the membership limitations were raised from 25 lo 50. The 10c fine for not bringing an arrangement when request ed has gone up to 25c. And dues are now $5.00 instead of $3.50 as they were in 1932. And with the exception of its 4 charter members, a lot of new faces have been added, but I’m sure all the Tillandsia members feel the same sense of cooperation and willing spirit that was present in 1952.Westway WBA Takes Project For The YearThe WBA Westway Club has taken for its project this year “meeting the unmet needs of patients” in the TB hospital at Lantana. The club was in session Tuesday night in the home of Mrs. B. A. Bittan, Sr., when the decision was made. It is pointed out that these are needs that no money has been alloled for by any other fund.Mrs. Bittan was assisted by Mrs. W. W. Skaggs for the social time that concluded the evening. A Valentine theme proved effective for the occasion. Mrs. J. B. Buky. Jr., received Hie grandaward of the evening.♦ * *Sounds of artillery lire carry much further than thunder, which cannot be heard more than about 18 miles away.Firemen And Families To Have Barbecue^ FOKT riK! «/-s. rvfci rKnucitava MMkit iuiviTonight Wed.2 BIG ACTION HITS:Y i'4! . grfeflhBURT LANCASTER UZABETH SCOn JOHN H0D1AKM Weills' p^EzdvctionTHINKING ABOUT A SWIMMING POOL?Consider these features NO OTHER BUILDER can offer:1. I fit the pool to you — not YOU TOTHE POOL,2. You pay for what you get, as much equipment as YOU WANT OR NEED, no more.3. You pay for no large National Advertising program or pictures of pretty girls.4. I can DUPLICATE ANY POOL BUILT TODAY or CUSTOM DESIGN one for YOU.5. I CAN and WILL show you pool installations I HAVE DONE from Melbourne to Stuart and LET YOU TALK TO THE MAN WHO OWNS—also—'Not Of This Earth'Firemen’s Auxiliary, in session Tuesday night, made plans for a barbecue later in the month when firemen, volunteer firemen and their families will be entertained at the fire station.Social committee for the year was named and is made tip of Mrs. James Holman, Mrs. W. R. McCain and Mrs. Waymond Porter.An informal social iimt concluded the evening.Mrs. A. B. Titron of West Palm Beach Is with her father, Earl Giliman while her mother, Mrs. Gill man is a patient in Memorial Hospital.IT'S SHOWTIMEf/rToday Wed.All the spectacle of the monsoon-lashed Thailand coast, all the wicked delights of the Bangkok bazaaril Actually filmed where it happensltKlSiAngryiCDPMWCItUTECHNfRAM A‘TECHNICOLOR,Mary ReavesLINGERIEOne Large TableFull or Half SLIPS . . .Long or ShortieNylon GOWNS...55.95 J??Val.NOW
Newspaper Details
Fort Pierce News Tribune
Fort Pierce, Florida, US
Wed, Feb 11, 1959
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Beau B.
USA 21 Mar 2020
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