Here is a message from Mary Griesbach who will be presenting in September on Gathering and Using Natural Materials for Fall/Winter Decorating!
This is an advance "head's up" for our September presentation on gathering and using natural and wild materials for decorating: NOW is the time to collect CATTAILS! (Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia) The ditches and marshes are still fairly dry and easy to access. Cut long stems in bunches and then bring inside a garage or shed to dry. You can hang them upside down, but it's not necessary. I just have mine upright in a 5 gallon bucket. If you wait until after the September meeting, it might be too late because the brown cattail heads will start to explode. Even if they're not exploding, they are so mature that they won't set up well for you and will disintegrate prematurely.
Another plant to gather NOW are stems of the yellow-blooming TANSY (Tanacetum vulgare). Although this is a non-native plant and somewhat invasive, it does make for nice fall arrangements. Their populations are scattered and I don't know of any real strong stands in our immediate area. However, they are common along most roadways and can be really dense. These should be cut and hung upside down to dry so that their stems stay straight when they dry and stiffen. Again, if you wait until our September meeting, tansies will likely be finished blooming, so you need to get them now if you want them this fall and winter.
Hope this gets everyone excited about our fall lineup of Burnett Garden Club meetings. Bring a friend!!
