Planting Knowledge In The Community: Plants For Cooper Memorial Library And Clermont City Hall

Every month from September through May, Clermont Garden Club members loan plants to Cooper Memorial Library and Clermont City Hall to promote horticulture awareness and connect our community to Clermont Garden Club’s programs, civic activities and community outreach.

 

For the month of September, Clermont Garden Club member, Suzanne Hutchinson, loaned a potted Vriesea Bromeliad to Cooper Memorial Library. Vriesea bromeliads, also referred to as “Flaming Sword” do well indoors or outdoors in light shade at temperatures above 60 degrees, but no warmer than 80 degrees. Outdoors, the bromeliad can even tolerate slight frosts if planted under overhanging foliage. They prefer moist, well draining soil with water directly in the ‘cup’ or center of the plant. The mother plant may bloom once in its lifetime, thereafter propagating by sending out offshoot pups.

Ruth Webber loaned a potted chrysanthemum to Clermont City Hall. The chrysanthemum, or “mum”, belongs to the Asteraceae family. This is the largest family of flowering plants and includes over 23,000 species. Florist mums are usually the ones that are sold indoors during the fall season. While technically a perennial, these are bred as annuals because they don’t have a rooting system that keeps them returning year after year. Planting these in your garden is not optimal. Chrysanthemums need bright light and should be kept moist, but not wet. Trimming the spent flowers will help produce more buds.