Co-President’s Message – September 2025

My sunflowers are 7 feet, the dahlias are in full bloom and even the roses are making a comeback after battling Japanese beetles since early July. The flowers are giving me a last hurrah but the same can’t be said for the vegetable garden. We finally got one cucumber last week and enough tomatoes to make a few BLT’s for a family of two. I’d like to blame the weather – too wet, too dry, too hot, too cold, but my friend gave me a small grocery bag filled with San Marzano tomatoes from her yard where the weather was just right.

Despite the abundance of Japanese beetles and lack of tomatoes in my yard, it’s been a great summer for Hoe and Hope. Our meetings were a highlight, beginning with the Plant Exchange in June, the trip to Light Root Farm in July, and ending with the fabulous Harvest Lunch and Fashion Show in August. I am so sorry I missed seeing you ladies sachet down the runway with your hats! Thank you, Jan Beyers, for that fabulous idea. There is nothing better than laughing out loud with friends. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next year.

Summer is winding down and our Fall programs begin this month with two dates on the calendar. The first is our monthly meeting on September 24th when we will be back at First Lutheran Church. Our speaker is Beth Conroy, owner of Bee Squared Apiaries, https://bethsbees.com/ . Thank you to Kathy Droege for arranging for our speaker.

And the second important date is the field trip to YaYa Orchard on Thursday, September 25th.

See you soon!

Mary