Steve Wilde, Vice President of Wolfe‟s Camera Shop gave TAWGS a very interesting and informative talk about landscape photography and digital cameras at the October meeting. Steve said he has 38 years of experience in photography, starting with a job at the department of Kansas, where he worked for our own TAWGS member Bob Saathoff.

February 12 - 14 at the Topeka Expo Center

Once again we have teamed up with the Topeka Beautification Association and Old Prairie Town Ward Meade to bring you an entertaining, educational and outright beautiful display.  This years display will have a Hosta Bed, Herb Garden, Butterfly display and pollinators, waterfall with pond, arbor by Dennis Lowry, Chainsaw sculptures by, Windmill and tulip bed.  Register to win a bluebird house donated by Steven Traw owner of fifth Day Creations and Beyond.

Volunteers are always needed.  Come to this months meeting and sigh up to help construct or represent our organization during the show or contact Chris at 785-633-4854.

Several of us in TAWGS have been overheard saying, "The two happiest days in February for us every year are the day we begin to construct our Water Garden Display at the Kansas Expocentre and the day we tear it down after the Show ends." When chatting with other Show Displayers during tear-down there is always a comment like, "Well, another one is done, and now it is time for Spring to arrive."

Earlier in the year, Don Taliaferro and Bob Saathoff from TAWGS met with Jerold Binkley and David Hedstrom from Topeka Beautification Association (TBA) to discuss a rough plan for this year's Garden Show Display. Jerold and Bob gathered specimen native stone prior to the Show and contacts were made to coordinate donated use of plant materials, man-made stone, mulch and other accesories. As is the case with most garden designs this one developed and grew as we went and turned out great.

As you can see in the photos there was a lot of "green" in our Display. Some of the flowering plants didn't cooperate as planned but overall the Display was a beauty. A taller than usual waterfall was the centerpiece including a smoother than usual water flow. A bubbler urn, provided by Water's Edge in Lawrence,was placed in an oval island at the edge of the Display.