Garden Club

What to Plant in May

Annuals/Bedding plants: Plants that can take summer heat include coleus, salvia, torenia, wax begonia, and ornamental pepper.

Bulbs: Some lilies do better when their roots are crowded. Try planting Amazon, Aztec, and Clivia lilies in containers to increase blooming.

Herbs: Plant heat-loving herbs, including basil, Mexican tarragon, ginger, cumin, summer savory, and rosemary.

Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, boniato, hot peppers, and tropical “spinach” such as Sisso, Malabar, and New Zealand can be planted now.

What to Do in May

Pests: Watch for thrips, scale, and mites on ornamental plants because they become more active in warm weather.

Gardenias and ixora: Distinguish between the normal yellowing of older leaves and the yellowing of new growth, which usually indicates a micronutrient deficiency.

Oleanders: Inspect chewed or ragged leaves for oleander caterpillars

Lawns: Watch for damage from chinch bugs in St. Augustine grass and begin scouting for newly hatched mole crickets in Bahia grass lawns.

Tomatoes: Watch for pests, disease, and nutritional disorders on tomato plants.

Trees: Prepare for hurricane season by checking trees for damaged or weak branches and prune if needed. Hire an ISA-certified arborist.

Lawns: Prevent or minimize disease by following proper cultural practices when caring for lawns.

Excerpts from the University of Florida Gardening calendar.

Rachelle DellaRocca 239-322-6386

MORNING HUMOR OR STARK REALITY • Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks.

The other half will come out with a drinking problem. • I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune.

Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe. • I need to practice social distancing from the refrigerator. • Still haven’t decided where to go for Easter – the Living Room or the Bedroom. • PSA: every few days try on your jeans just to make sure they fit.

Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom. • Homeschooling is going well. Two students suspended for fighting and one teacher fired for drinking on the job. • I don’t think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks, we’d go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone • This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her. I came into my house, told my dog…we laughed a lot. • So, after this quarantine… will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me or do I find them? • Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN.

You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal.

I have no clue how this place is still in business. • My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when

I pee it cleans the toilet. • Day 5 of Homeschooling: One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat. • I’m so excited – it’s time to take out the garbage. What should I wear? • I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda.

I’m getting tired of Los Livingroom. • Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun. • Day 6 of Homeschooling: My child just said “I hope I don’t have the same teacher next year”.... I’m offended. • Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under. Mike Renzulli

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

Due to the COVID-19 virus, all gatherings have been cancelled until further notice. This includes the “Hurricane Preparedness Seminar” we had scheduled and all the little topics at Saturday Morning Coffee. So, I will try to get as much information as possible to you via the website and The Columns newsletter.

I know it’s hard to think about possibly another crisis when we are in the middle of a pandemic, but Hurricane Season begins Monday, June 1st.

Frank Millette has procured many “All Hazards Guides” for everyone in Tara Woods. They were distributed with The Columns April issue, thanks to Linda Hoos and her team. There is a lot of good information; please take time to read it. If you didn’t receive one, call Sue Cook at 239-599-4597 and I will get one to you.

Bill Loveday was able to put valuable information about the “Special Needs Program” on the website. He also put the “Special Needs Application” online so you can fill it out and hit “Submit”, boom it’s done. Or you can print it off, fill it out and mail it in to:

Special Needs Program Lee County Emergency

Management P.O. Box 398

Ft Myers, FL 33902-0398

This information is located on the website: www.twhoa.net under Hurricane Plan 2020.

If you don’t have a computer and need an application, please call Sue Cook at 239-599-4597 and I will arrange to get you one.

If you have any questions about the “Special Needs Program” you can call 239-533-0640.

Thanks, and everyone stay safe. Sue Cook, V.P.

Basic Hurricane Checklist

WATER - One gallon per person per day or 10 Gallons per person FOOD - At least a 10-day supply of non-perishable food per person NON-ELECTRIC CAN OPENER MEDICINE - Prescription and over-the-counter CASH - Large and small bills BATTERIES CELL PHONE with chargers and a backup battery FLASHLIGHTS or solar lamps RADIO - Battery-powered or hand-crank PROPANE GAS or CHARCOAL for grilling PAPER TOWELS, moist towelettes, toiletries and garbage bags PET FOOD and extra water IMPORTANT FAMILY DOCUMENTS

The Columns | 27 www.TWHOA.net • 941.349.0194 • May 2020 • Island Visitor Publishing, LLC MAY BIRTHDAYS 1 Dean Stump, Jane White 2 Lori Bostic, Luba Fulmas,

Sally Morini 3 Joe Bent, Delma Everhart,

James Malone 4 Ernie St. James 5 Celia Jacoby, 97 Yrs.,

Sue Muscato 6 Kay Bender, Barb Jakacki 7 Connie Lessard,

Betsy Pierce 9 Joe Waldron 10 Joe Macri, Nancy Wendorf 11 Bev Brockhagen, Tom

Erhardt, Lynda Francey, Ed Sandre, Ron Smith 12 Alice Benoit, Abbie

Swanson, Connie Wing 13 Spike Makia 14 Doris Brockmeyer,

Debbie Objartel, Pat Virkus 16 Jim Sorenson 17 Wanda Bishop 18 John Andrus, Bill Hubbs,

George Thomas,

Jean Weaver 19 Bill Goodhue, Doris Katz 20 Joe Burza 22 Marty Rudo 23 Helen Boettger, 102 Yrs.,

Sophie Wojcik 25 Joe Brown, Erika Futrell,

Diana Hoffman,

Aileen Reese 26 John Anderson,

Danny Hicks, Vic Sharps 27 Lin Clegg, Jean Guy,

Ann Lappano, 98 Yrs.,

Pauline Young 28 Kay Hampton,

Jean Smith,

Doris Wallace, 94 Yrs. 29 Chris Doyle, Joan Dubell 31 Rudy Diaz, Ron

Selvaggio, Sylvia Stump

MAY ANNIVERSARIES 1 Vera & Jim Cawlfield 2 Jean & Bob Bozick 4 Mary & Denny Biglin 5 Beth & Howard Gross,

Lannie & Pete Pracher 7 Marcia & Dan Duda,

Jan & John Goers 8 Chris & John Olson 10Sue & Paul Finn 11 Barbara & Peter

Krilivsky 13 Chris & Larry Fonner,

Robin & Don Swartz 15 “D” & Emmett Linderman 16 Holly & Doug Ulrich,

Sheri & Richard Osborne 17 Bobbie & Homer Felknor 18 Jennifer & Joe Bottoms,

Barb & Gary Dodge 19 Janet & Joe Waldron, 20Nancy & Jim Mason,

Barb & Ed Pollitt 22 Ginny & Pat Achen,

Nancy & Ray LeClair, Judy & Bill Machnicz, Connie & Norm Wing 23 Paula & Rich Dykstra 24Judy & Tom Powers,

Tina & Mikey Smith 25 Carol & Ed Malatesta 29 Pat & Ron Adriance,

Barbara Werner-Lubich & Bruce Lubich 30Jeannette & Jack

Conley 31 Judy & Dominic

Cirillo

Contact Sue Clark - randsclark@verizon.net or 412-780-3584 before May 10th for Special Recognition of Birthdays 90+ and Anniversaries 50, 55, or 60+ in June and July. Please note that some birthdays and anniversaries in the database do not have years listed. Therefore, we need your help to identify birthdays over 90 and special anniversaries.

Inspiration Hour

Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8