Dear Gardeners and Habitat Owners,

Let us hope that March will come in like a lamb and leave like a lamb!  The winds I can do
without – but let them come gently if they must.  So much is starting to open up and burst into
bloom – the redbuds, daffodils, pushkinia, and all the rest of our early bloomers.
Saturday night those who were interested met at Allison Metheny’s home for a potluck to
discuss the Garden Tour.  We have selected the date of May 30.  This is the week AFTER
Memorial Day.  We have a number of helpers, but are still looking for gardens to be on the tour.
Please let us know if you are interested, or if you have a neighbor who would be good. If they
aren’t certified, we might persuade them to become so.  Bunny Fulton is especially good at
this!  This is a beautiful time of year and our gardens should show off well. We had some new
folks attending, and I especially want to recognize our youngest habitat owner, 3rd grader
Sarah Anne Goodwin. She’s quite the young lady – not only for her flower garden for
butterflies, but also for being on her swim team and being a Chinese dancer!  Sarah Anne will
be helping us as a volunteer at the Tour.

Our next meeting is Monday, March 2, 7:30 PM at D’Youville Condominiums. This is across
from the First Methodist Church on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The clubhouse is to the right at
the top of the hill.  Claire Hayes, director of Dunwoody Nature Center will be our speaker –
many of you know her, and know what a delightful and vibrant person she is!  Please come and
welcome her!  She is a great advocate for the Chamblee Community Wildlife Habitat, and has
wonderful native plant sales twice a year.

April 6 will bring us Jim Yellow Horse Man, a Peace Elder from our Native American tribes.
Jim lives in Clayton, and will bring us wonderful stories and crafts – visit his website at
www.yellowhorseman.com . Plan to bring your children and grandchildren to this extraordinary
meeting.  May is still unclear – have two programs in mind – will let you know later.
With our plants starting to show themselves, it’s time to be sure they have an annual
dressing of compost. If fertilizing, it’s best to use a time release such as Osmocote. This only
has to be put on once.  If you didn’t divide your perennials in the fall, now is the time.  As
hostas show their heads, they can be dug and divided, although this is not necessary. You
might want to mark your other bulbs for dividing in the fall.  As for the weeds, well – they just
are. If anyone has discovered the magic touch for getting rid of them – let us know!  Remember
that chickweed and dandelion leaves are great salad greens.  As you put in new plants, I hope
you will remember to go native as much as possible.

I’m going to ask Tom for an update on the progress at Chamblee Middle School. It sounds
as if he’s going full speed ahead!   Anyone interested in the Flyway Cities Coalition meeting on
March 12, I’ve attached the info to our e-mail recipients. Any others who may be interested, call
me at 770-451-6079.  It would be great to see a good group of our folks down there. I plan to
go if I can get a ride – I would really like to show off the new building, etc. – I was on the Board
of Directors during construction and it has a warm place in my heart.

I hope to see you next Monday – Love,  Kay