Catholic Women's League bake sale at St. Mary was a 'huge success'
Nobleton Notes
By Angie Maccarone (905) 859-5174
Second Sunday of Lent

at St. Paul's

Join us this Sunday (Feb. 17) at 9:45 a.m. as we continue our Lenten services.

The preacher will be Rev. Chris Carter, our interim moderator. Nursery care, for children five years of age or younger, is available and Sunday school for all ages follows at 11 a.m.

The Youth Group meets tonight (Feb. 13) at 7 p.m. and the Prayer Group meets at 7:30 p.m.

The Thursday morning men's and women's studies continue tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. and the Saturday morning men's study begins at 8:30 a.m.

There is also a Prayer study Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.

Have you noticed the "God speaks" messages on the church sign? He certainly has a lot to say doesn't He?

For more information about any of our activities or events, please contact the church office at (905) 859- 0843 or visit our Web site at www.stpaulsnobleton.ca

St. Mary annual bake sale

A big thank you goes out to all the people who baked for our bake sale, which was held Sunday. It was a huge success and the net profit was $416, thanks to your support for the purchasing of the baked goods as well.

These funds will go towards helping needy families in York Region and other charitable donations made by the CWL.

Horticulture

". . . Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling 'yoo--hoo'. Come on it's lovely weather to share gardening tips on a sleigh ride together with you."

Here are some tips I'd like to share.

Now is the time to start geraniums (pelargonium) and New Guinea impatiens indoors from seed. The seeds of these impatiens should not be covered, as they need light to germinate. So just place them on top of the damp soil and keep this soil damp (not soaking wet) all the time. If you use one of those handy peat pellets, that require soaking first, for each seed (you only get about 15 seeds per packet) you'll save time and effort by not having to transplant fragile seedlings and these pellets, available at most garden centres, Canadian Tire and Home Depot, can be put straight into the garden come spring after all danger of frost has past.

Gloxinia tubers can be potted up now. Make sure they are planted right side up. The rounded portion is the bottom.

Wait until mid-March when dormant house plants start to show new growth to do any repotting. If African violet (saintpaulia) blooms are sparse, the plants may need repotting and in some cases dividing

I've noticed succulents, (plants with water retaining leaves) called kalanchoes for sale in florists and supermarkets. These easycare plants make great inexpensive gifts. The variety most often sold as potted house plants is kalanchoe blossfeldiana, native to Madagascar the large island off the east coast of southern Africa and named for the German horticulturist Robert Blossfeld, who introduced them into Germany in the 1930s. Now much hybridized, they come in white and vibrant shades of yellow, orange, red, rose and pink. Other similar family (crassulaceae) members are found in China and in the tropical Americas. The name kalanchoe (kal-an-coo or more properly kal-ancoo ey) is a Latinized version of its Chinese name.

Although classed as easy going, these plants need a quick draining soil. A potting mix with sand or coir (fibre from the outer husks of coconuts) is good. They don't need a lot of water and should dry out between waterings. They like exposure to full sun at least part of the day. Don't worry if some of the lower leaves drop off as this is normal.

It is difficult to persuade kalanchoes to rebloom after the flowers die but if these are cut off and the plant is put in a dark dry place and kept almost dry for about a month then brought back into the sun and watered sparingly it should flower again by late spring.