Page 10
The Shoreline
March, 2002
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PKS Garden Club
Lisa Wimpfheimer, agricultural extension agent witli the Nortin
Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, addressed "Gardening
with Bulbs" at the February 12 meeting of the Pine Knoll
Shores Garden Club at Town Hall. She explained that bulbs are
subterranean modified leaf buds, the storage medium of
several classes of flowers. This medium in the daylily, daffodil,
tulip and gladiola is a CORM. The subterranean root stem in
the canna, iris and ginger is a RIZONE. The stout thick stem in
the caladium is called a TUBER.
This February in Pine Knoll Shores we have all noticed that the
warm winter weather has hastened the blooming of our
daffodils, azaleas, crocuses, snow bells and flowering fruit
trees. Instead of depending on the amount of hours of
daylight, some flowers are temperature dependent. These
harbingers of Spring have delighted us with Spring in early
February. Planting in groups or, even better, mass planting
of these bulbs creates a spectacular display of early color.
Daffodils thrive in our area, and many new varieties with colors
ranging from deep yellow to lemon, apricot or even white have
been developed, including shorties, which even withstand our
coastal winds.
The first year's bloom of tulips is all we can manage in Carteret
County if we don't dig up and refrigerate the bulbs for 10
weeks each year. Our winter soil just doesn't chill down
enough to prepare the bulb for yearly flowering. The fabulous
displays of tulips massed in the formal gardens of Tryon Palace
seem cultivated to satisfy the yearnings of our local tulip
lovers.
Bulbs should be planted in the Fall -small bulbs 5 inches deep,
large ones 8 inches deep. Bone meal should be added before
the bulb is covered, and 8-8-8 fertilizer used as continued
food. Two important remonstratives-Plant in well drained soil
and never remove or even braid yellowing leaves. Doing so
steals energy from the plant preparing for next years bloom.
Maureen Kocher, Martha Randall and Mary Ann Shapiro
created a delightful refreshment table with marvelous
gastronomic treats set with a red and white Valentine theme
including a large red heart decorated with white lace and
February birthday recognitions.
President Sheryl Woodbury welcomed three new members -
Kay Howe, Carol McVitty and Shirley Schaeffler.
Paulette Murphy distributed order forms for the annual Plant
Sale, April 27.
Arbor Day will be celebrated at Brock Basin Friday, March 22
at 10 a.m. Everyone in town is welcome.
The garden club will be distributing FREE tree seedlings
supplied by the Community Appearance Commission at Brock
Basin March 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Anyone needing
new trees is urged to participate.
Irene Doremus shared the Didjano tip. Spider mites on housag
plants, caused by dry winter house heat, can be eradicated b*
spraying with a miticide or placing a liquid soap and water mix
on the soil, or by rubbing the leaves with an alcohol and water
mix.
Three exciting garden-related trips were discussed-Brookgreen
Gardens in Litchfield, South Carolina March 20-21; a garden
tour of Bath, North Carolina by the Bath Garden Club April 20;
and the international Floriade in the Netherlands, which is held
every ten years, from April 26 to May 3.
The program for the March 13 meeting will be conducted by
Park Ranger, Randy Newman at Fort Macon State Park.
Submitted By: Clare Winslow
A vote for the beach
For a beautiful sight on the coast, drive
to Pine KnoU Shores on Bogue Banks in
Carteret County, and observe the dramat
ic transformation of a severely eroded
beach into a wide new beach. By spring,
this rebuilding project will be extended
through Indian Beach.
Although local taxpayers are funding
this initial project, the Army Corps of
Engineers’ Long Term Protection Project
will continue any necessary rebuilding
begirming by 2010. However, the adjacent
Atlantic Beach shows that rebuilding
should be minimal. Hurricanes Bertha,
FYan, Dennis and Floyd had minor effects '
on Atlantic Beach because of nourishment
shortly before those storms.
The last section of Bogue Banks need
ing nourishment is in Emerald Isle, par-
ticularly the eastern half and the point on
the west end. On March 5, Emerald Isle
voters will decide on a bond referendum
to fund this beach rebuilding project. If
approved, oceanfront home owners will
have an average $1,630 annual property
tax increase for seven or eight years.
Non-oceahfront homeowners w^l have an
annual increase of about $53, a small
price to pay for a stable ocean&x>nt assur
ing that the overall town property tax
rate will remain as one of the lowest in
North Carolina.
Is nourishing the beaches of Bogue
Banks justified? Coastal geologists and
environmentalists agree that not every
beach is suitable for nourishment. How
ever, scientists and coastal geologists
agree that the excellent nearby soutx^s of
beach-quality sand make Bogue Banks
one of the most worthy candidates for
nourishment of any North Carolina
beach!
CHARLES W. STUBER
+ Raleigh