Q:
At a recent convention, I heard the term “tri-council”
mentioned several times.
Exactly what is the tri-council?
A: In
addition to Flower Show School, National Garden Clubs sponsors
three other schools. These are Environmental Study, Gardening Study, and Landscape Design Study.
Each of the schools is composed of four courses. After completion of the four courses,
students earn the designation of Environmental Consultant, Gardening Consultant, or Landscape Design
Consultant. Students are encouraged to join the council of the school/s they have completed.
The councils of all three groups combine to make up the Tri-Council, which meets 3 times
a year in January, May and September during State Board Meetings and Convention.
Q: Why
is Florida's State Tree NOT a tree?
A: Because it is a palm – Sabal palmetto, or sabal
palm. Also called cabbage palm, because of the edible core, it is sometimes eaten as “swamp cabbage.”
Palms are members of the Arecaceae (syn. Palmae) family, which are not truly trees. (See Florida Flower
Arrangement Calendar November 4-10, 2012)
Q. We often
see Asparagus in design as well as in horticulture – not
the edible kind, but A. aethiopicus"Myersii? and Sprengeri?
(A. densiflorus misapplied). The common names are foxtail fern
and asparagus fern. Is this really a fern?
A:
No, this is not a fern. Recently placed in the asparagus (Asparagaceae)
family (previously in the Liliaceae or lily family), ornamental asparagus is a Category
I exotic invasive plant as listed on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s list of invasive plants.
True ferns do not flower, as does this plant, whose tiny flowers become attractive seeds, forming green then
red round berries. These will germinate and spread on the ground and are difficult to eradicate.
Call it by its correct name to be eligible for a Top Exhibitor Award
