COUNTY LIFE
Restoring the bloom to the Greer House, gardens
This beautiful iris popped up this spring in the Greer garden. The house is in the backdrop. (Courtesy photo)
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
For those who love gardening there is nothing better than sharing bulbs, cuttings or seeds with a friend. Seeing them bloom and color someone else’s world is a special feeling.
A local couple hopes to revitalize what for years was a local tradition, the Bowie Iris Garden Bulb Sale, at the home of the late Bobbie Inez Greer and her husband Arthur “Bot” Greer. Their gardens located around their home at 1111 Belcherville were a showcase of color each spring as irises of all varieties bloomed.
Inez tended the gardens with loving care shipping them all across the country and local folks also came to the sale searching for a new color for their gardens. Her iris gardens became her passion, but she also cultivated roses and lilies.
Courtney and TJay McEwen purchased the Greer house in January with plans to restore it, but they have become somewhat enamoured with the Greer’s history and place in the community. It led them to plan an Iris Garden Bulb Sale from noon to 7 p.m. on Aug. 3 at the garden.
When they bought the property, family members and people in the community began telling them stories about the couple. Courtney said the sale, which was known far and wide, is a way to honor Mrs. Greer’s memory and all she cultivated through the years.
Walking through the gardens which were grown up after years of neglect, one can see the small silver markers noting the variety. Many of the irises have grown together and have not bloomed, while others popped up this past spring and summer.
“They need to be thinned and separated, so they bloom. The ones we were able to identify when they came out have a photo and their name on the bag, but others are just a grab bag of miscellaneous. The first one that came up was Coffee Royale, which was maroon, eggplant and a light purple. I have never seen irises like this,” explained Courtney.
Read the full feature in the mid-week News.
The Saint Jo City Council was scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on April 9 in Saint Jo City Hall for the regular monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a permit request from Amy and Troy Allen for property located at the corner of Meadows and N. Meigs lots one and two. City Secretary Debbie Dennis will make a request to consolidate the water and sewer fund into a general fun for the purpose of creating a consolidated cash account. This is based on a recommendation from Accountant Josh Harman and Fundview, which is the new records management program now being used by the city staff.
An executive session is planned to discuss the possible hiring of a new police officer. Any action would be taken back in open session.
The agenda concludes with minutes, monthly bills and written reports from the mayor, police, fire, water and sewer and the city secretay.
Members of the Nocona City Council were scheduled to meet at 5 om. on April 8 in council chambers.
The councilor will receive the annual financial report for 2023-24 from its outside auditor.
A resolution approving the Nocona Economic Development Corporation (Type A and B boards), to spend $2,250 in funds for L&M Barber and cigar shop signage will be considered.
A second resolution is set to allow the two NEDC boards to participate in a grant of $19,225 to the Indian Oaks Golf Advisory Committee for equipment, aerifying and top dressing greens, plus batteries in the rental carts.
The third resolution would allow the boards to participate in a grant of $20,000 to the Nocona Chisholm Trail Rodeo Arena Committee to build new concrete bleachers, railings, fence and a platform. And the final resolution would allow the boards to expend loan funds of $5,000 to Studio 940 (Circle F Salon) for furniture and equipment.
The council will consider reappointing Kevin Kirkpatrick for the NEDC Type A Board for a three-year term.
During the workshop agenda, the council was going to discuss a new date for the Nocona Gas Junkies Car Club race moved from April 19 to April 26.
The city council also has an item where it will act as the building commission to discuss a request from Bradley and Barbara Lawrence to install a new 2024 manufacture home at 605 Travis.
Michael Bohling, chief meteorologist from Channel 3 in Wichita Falls, will have a presentation at the Montague County Courthouse Annex Community room in Montague from 7-8 p.m. on April 8. It is sponsored by the Montague County Amateur Radio Club.
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