Fairfield Harbour Garden Club – General Meeting
January 12, 2026, 9:30am
Harbour Club – Room: Cape Lookout
Minutes
Called to Order at 9:35 am
New Member– Brenda Parish,
Guest- Julie Burrill
Speaker – Mark Eubanks, of the Craven County Extension Office, presented on a topic many of us face in our gardens: “Deer Management and Deer-Resistant Plants.”
Mark serves as the Extension Agent for Horticulture (Consumer Horticulture and Field Crops) and shared practical insights and strategies to help manage deer while keeping our gardens thriving.
Deer in the area are white-tailed and not the smartest animals, but they can learn to adapt as you try to keep them away from your yard. Reasons are food in the yard and loss of their natural habitat. No interest in fields with mature crops. They prefer new leaves and easy-to-chew plants.
Scare tactics include having a dog in your yard, lighting, and a sprinkler system.
The students at NC State are working on a robotic dog, still in development, that would chase the deer out of the yard. The deer soon learned this was not really a threat.
Chemicals can be used, but they are often smelly and have an unpleasant taste to deer. Mark recommended cutting the amount used in half and reapplying if it rains. Change the scents so the deer don’t get used to them.
Another option is hair shattered near plants. This doesn’t work very well.
The best option is a fence. Farmers use a 9-foot fence. For a small garden, a 3-foot fence would work. If there is a larger space, try fishing lines that deer will bump into. A suggestion was to put sticks inside the fence to help keep deer from jumping over it.
The NC Toolbox (https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/) is a good resource to use for 8B zone plants. Use the filter to see plants that are deer resistant- i.e., Holly, Foxglove, Snap Dragon, Zinnia, and other toxic plants. The toxic plant will make them sick.
Netting is also good for young plants to keep the deer from eating the new growth.
There is no foolproof method, but these can be helpful.
We learned a great deal from the talks and can access the website for information on thousands of plants.
Secretary Report: Approved by Hazel Alcock and 2nd by Minta Fannon
Treasurer Report:
The total in the checking account at the end of November 2025 is $5,771.73. No activity in December.
Within our budget, expenses were $2,104.34 with income of $2,745 for the first half of the year.
Corresponding Secretary Report
Two cards were sent out. Thank you, Will Caudel, and recovery, Kate Castle.
General Info…
- Yearbooks are available
- Pinecone Birdfeeders – update: The event went well.
- Holiday Parade – Update: The event went well.
- FH Garden Club Christmas Tree – update. The tree was beautiful and was at the new club for Christmas.
Nominations Committee
All Board positions are available. The position as president will need to be filled as Barbara has completed her two years allowed by the By-Laws.
Robin is organizing a meeting with the committee.
Nominations are needed prior to the May meeting when the slate of officers will be presented for a vote.
Installation of the Board will be the June meeting.
Position descriptions are in the By-Laws, and a more in-depth description is in a binder if anyone would like to review.
Committee Needs:
Hazel will need another member for the scholarship committee to help review applications. Contact Hazel Alcock at [email protected] if you are interested in helping choose the 2026 scholarship recipient. The time commitment is about a total of less than 5 hours and includes reviewing the applications and meeting with the committee to make the final decision.
Member interest forms were handed out to refresh members’ interests.
Comment cards were also handed out and can be anonymous
Future Meetings:
- February 9th- David Hite of the Tryon Palace Kitchen Garden will talk on herbs.
- Rebecca Taylor Bloom will give a short presentation.
- March 9th, Flower Arranging with Ruth Well. Cost is $30 for the class. Sign up will be at the February Meeting.
- April 13th Herbalist. TBD-Jan.
- May 11th Master Gardener Round Table- Bring questions.
- June 8th Recognition Event and Installation of officers.
Day Trip – April 23rd– Need headcount to arrange drivers/cars and to give a number for lunch. More information and sign up in February and March.
FH Garden Tour- May date not decided yet, $5 charge to cover drinks and snacks. More info in March and April.
Hazel suggested that if there is interest in a Butterfly Garden, she has a contact who can speak at our meeting.
Door Prize Drawing- Winners: Mary Harouni and Pat LePera
Next Meeting – February 9 – David Hite of the Tryone Palace Kitchen Garden – herbs and kitchen garden
Rebecca Taylor – Bloom
Adjourn at 11:03 am – 1st: Ginger Thompson /2nd: Jean Paladini