The Hill & Dale Garden Club has had a busy few months.

In May, Pam McCarthy, president, opened at meeting of the group with devotions and prayer led by Eleanor Johnson at Lottsville United Methodist Church. Refreshments were provided by Ruth Ann DeVore, Lila Myer, Barb Alexander and Eleanor Johnson.

Christine Kuntz of Warren Garden Club spoke about bees, saying a bundle of bees is called a “nook.” She said people are getting more interested in bees; there has been a loss of 42 percent of honey bees in the last few years, and she lost two hives. Mason bees are native, and they are better adapted to this climate. There are social bees. Honey bees live in groups, while the Mason bees are solitary. Mason bees start pollination earlier than honey bees as they like the cooler weather, while honey bees like the hot weather better. Bees that are bought today are more than likely “Italian bees,” Kuntz explained. With Mason bees, the females are a little bigger than the males. All the female Mason bees are fertile; they put their eggs (usually 50 to 75) in tubes and then die.

The group led Rouse Home garden therapy on May 18 with about 29 residents in attendance. Members took care of Sugar Grove Park, and local Boy Scouts mulched. The Miles Marker was planted with geraniums from Yvonne Lee. Eleanor Johnson, Audrey Cable and Debbie Robeson took care of the Northern Area Homes planter.

At the June meeting, a tureen dinner was held, and cakes were provided by Lynn Allen. She thanked her committee for their hard work and explained the cakes. Allen baked the cakes, and they were decorated by Elizabeth McMillen with help from her daughter, Linda Cross.

Guest speaker was Tom Atkins from WJET TV in Erie. Atkins said he has been interested in the weather from an early age and was about 6 years old when his parents bought him his first small weather station equipment. He said he loves snow, part of reason he ended up in Erie. Lots of questions were asked of Atkins, and he was very willing to answer them all and was very informative.

Members’ informal flower arrangements were checked by Ruth Ann Devore and Louise Dyer, flower show judge.

Section 1 had some really nice hanging baskets and planters. Before bringing flowers, they need to groom them. Betty Flasher got a blue ribbon for her bridal veil plant. A flowering orchid of Betty Flasher’s was potted in dirt; it will be interesting to see if this works because usually they aren’t in dirt.

Section 2 Ferns, dish garden, baby tears one blue ribbon went to Irene Berg.

Section 3 Cut flowers and annuals blue ribbon for clematis went to Eleanor Wilcox. Irene Berg got a second place for her dahlia. There were hostas, white hydrangea, hibiscus and peony.

Section 4 blue ribbon went to flowering house plant Irene Berg, second for purple waffle leaf, third prayer plant.

Arrangements blue ribbon went to Eleanor Wilcox, second place Elizabeth McMillen, and third place to Carol Eckert.

There were a lot of honorable mentions and some beautiful plants, flowers and arrangements.

Carol Eckert, McCarthy and Nancy Waite provided a sundae bar.

On July 22, the group had its joint picnic with Warren Garden Club at Sugar Grove Park. Catering Plus served chicken, salad and fruit, and the Hill & Dale Garden Club committee of Ruth Ann Devore, Peg Stino and Eleanor Johnson welcomed everyone. Devore led devotions. There were 31 combined members of both clubs in attendance.

Guest speaker was Jeff Tome from the Audubon Center, who gave a great talk on butterflies, bees and other flying objects.