It was a cold, wet, nasty, windy day at the Maben Public Library on Feb. 19, and about 60 percent of the Maben Home and Garden Club members showed up for the meeting with Scott Cagle, who presented a PowerPoint program on butterflies: names and food sources, plus a whole host of other information about butterflies.
Sandra Bishop, the February program leader, welcomed everyone and introduced Cagle, the Chickasaw County Extension agent. After some “jury-rigging” the ladies enjoyed pictures of butterflies, lists of their favorite flower foods (nectar), favorite tree leaves, preferred rotted fruit, their lifecycle development (egg, larva, pupa and adult), their migration patterns (some flying all the way from the northeast United States to Mexico and back), which pesticides to avoid, erecting hibernation sites (better than purchased) and how to build feeders.
Cagle fielded questions as he progressed though his presentation, promising to forward hardcopy materials with info on plant material preferred by different butterflies. Obviously butterflies are picky eaters too. Whether we as good gardeners like it or not we need to let some weeds grow – like milkweed, and provide mud puddles (especially for the male puddle clubs), so they have places to drink water.
He also told distinguishing differences in butterflies and moths: moths are nocturnal and butterflies are diurnal (active in the day); butterflies fold their wings back at rest, moths latten their wings or spread them out like a jet; moths make cocoons wrapped in silk coverings, while butterflies form chrysalises; butterflies have thin antennae with club-shaped tips; moths have feathery and comblike antennae; and moths are stout and fussy while butterflies are slender and smooth. Butterflies are usually more colorful than moths.
If you have the money, you can go online and purchase some butterfly eggs and hatch your own. Amazon has several kits that young children as well as adults would enjoy.
Concluding his presentation, Cagle invited the ladies to visit area butterfly gardens: Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum in Starkville, the Butterfly Garden at the Lee County Extension Office and at the Clay Lyle Entomology Center on the MSU campus.
President Jane Collins conducted the business meeting with the reading of the minutes, the presentation of the financial report, plus various committee reports.
The Yard of the Month sign was placed by Ann Harrison with the assistance of Dottie Dewberry at the home of Don and Robin Tester, which is located on old Highway 182.
Club Member Pat Harpole has agreed to purchase some needed American flags and support brackets for the MS Highway 15 thoroughfare. It was decided to ask the Maben Fire Department if it would be responsible for putting out the flags on major holidays, taking them up and providing storage.
Years ago, the Columbus VFW originally donated to the town of Maben 25 flags and brackets. Over the years, some flags have taken wings and flown away. Go figure! After some discussion, it was decided to relocate flags in more prominent areas and move some to Second Avenue. This might take care of the fly-away problem.
A brief portion of the meeting was devoted to making a location move. After much discussion, the Maben Public Library was chosen as the new meeting place. The Olde Town Bakery will continue to provide catering for the club.
President Collins announced that the MHGC would be voting on the 2019-20 officers in March with the installation in May.
Dottie Dewberry delivered the devotion, which was titled “The Bee Sting,” substituting for Jeanette McMurry. This devotion was taken from The Daily Encourager.
The March 19 meeting will focus on hanging baskets with Sylvia Templeton serving as speaker.
Door prizes, which were candles in metal tins, were won by Lynn Head, Cathy Lollar and Harrison. The meeting then adjourned until March at the Maben Public Library.
