Spring weather, Jack in the Pulpit, Grange news

There has been a tremendous amount of rain and snow melt over the last couple days. Rainfall amounts range from one to two inches and possibly more in some locations. My small pond, the Frog Bog, was overflowing and flooding some sections briefly.
So the weather did give me some time and I finally found the above photo of a Jack in the Pulpit I took last spring. The native plants are exotic looking and grow well in shady areas with the proper soil conditions. They should start to bloom, with any luck, in about six weeks.
And a quick update, there is new, updated gardening information and links at Rosy Reds, the Frogs and the Vegetable Garden. Just click the title to get there. Click on Jack in the Pulpit for further information.
The Crawford Pomona Grange held a meeting last week at the Hayfield Grange. From the minutes sent by Susan Tau, it must have been a busy yet interesting meeting. The historical presentation was about the Baldwin Reynolds House in Meadville, Pennsylvania. There is quite a fascinating history about the place. Click on Baldwin Reynolds for information on the historic site, it has a fascinating history.
The Pomona Grange normally has some very good history presentations during their meetings. Many times there are local insights that will not be discovered in books and scholarly works.
But the Grange is much more than history; it is an active organization throughout Crawford County will a whole range of activities for every member of the family.
Membership is open to anyone, you don't have to live on a farm or even in a rural area.
Some of the upcoming events are:
1.Pomona fund raiser at Hoss's Steak and Sea Food on April 26; 20 percent of the proceeds are donated to the Grange.
2.The week of April 27th the Mobile Ag Science Lab will be at Maplewood Elementary
3.Pomona sponsored Grange bake sale at H&H in Saegertown on April 11.

March Maddness: Get Ready

The Grange, a longtime staple in rural living, is alive and well throughout the northwestern Pennsylvania region. Crawford County alone has over a dozen active Grange Halls including the Hayfield Grange, the oldest and the largest Grange Hall in Crawford County.
On Saturday, March 7th, the Hayfield Grange will host a Pomona Grange (the county wide Grange). The meeting opens at noon with a luncheon.
Membership in the Grange is open to all, you don't have to live on a farm or even a rural area. There seems like an unending list of different activities for the entire family always going on in the organization as well as a wide range of community service projects. The Hayfield Grange Hall is located in Hayfield Township, Crawford County at the intersection of Grange Center and Broadford Roads.
If your interested in the Grange, just show up. It's a good starting point for the entire family and individuals.
The weather seems to be breaking, though certainly there will be some more nasty weather. But winter is just about gone. Already we have just over 11 hours of daylight (Note: Clocks go ahead March 8th).
There is a lot to do in March, maybe more so this year than in the past several years. Winter is a good time to prune the blueberry bushes,to get a good crop later this summer. Until now, the snow has been too deep to get that job done. Winter this year was messy and there seems to be a lot of clean-up work to do. How is your yard/garden?
Apples trees and other fruit tree should also be pruned now before the weather gets too warm.
And I may as well note this important date: March 1st is National Pig Day, a day designated to celebrate one of our most intelligent farm animals.
For some added insights and information of spring garden tips, go to Rosy Reds, the Frogs and the Vegetable Garden.