Open house held by garden club at Chateau Girardeau

The Chateau Girardeau Garden Club meets monthly for programs on herbs, caring for potted plants and bird identification, as well as for presentations on components that enhance a garden, including patios and blooming flowers.

A recent open house at the Courtyard at Chateau Girardeau, sponsored by the garden club, was attended by 50 residents from Independent Living, Chateau Estates, Residential Care, Assisted Living and the Health Center. Before the event, area Master Gardeners Sandy Turner, Nadine Davis, Anne Foust, Fran Haupt, Gayla Gunter and Marge Bauerle contributed to the Courtyard Open House by pruning, trimming, watering and transplanting.

A live demonstration by John Dumont during the open house covered the construction and installation of a butterfly house to provide butterflies with shelter from predators. As a result of Dumont's demonstration, garden club members plan to develop a butterfly garden to attract butterflies.

The club recently took on a project to enhance the areas around the Assisted Living area including planting and caring for raised flower beds. Marie Stalon purchased and planted geraniums and petunias for the raised bed and the bed near the gazebo in the Courtyard Garden. Prim Laux, Mildred Younghouse and Carmen Robertson have helped with deadheading and weeding. Carol Blue has watered both the pots and the raised flower bed.