Horticultural Society

Bien Venu, May 7, 1963

The May meeting of Horticulture was held May 7, with Bea and Walter Wilson at Bien Venu. It was a delightful May evening as we gathered around sunset, the showers earlier in the day had freshened laws and brightened our garden hopes.

It would be difficult to imagine a more propitious time to see the wild flower garden at Bien Venue. As we approached the striking millis azalea, apricot colored, reflecting the sunset dominated this lovely spot. There were masses of wild columbine, wild geraniun, johnny jump ups; very special were the specimens of trillium, in stages of white and pink and even several red ones; Others were solomon's seal wild azalea, -- well just name it, Bea has it. And be very careful of her because with her generosity and enthusiasm it may be that several embryo wild gardens arein the making.

The appropriateness of the place name is seen in the lower garden, with its charming lake view. This garden, with its stone wall, colorful plantings and the view across the water combines the best of both an inlooking and outlooking garden.

After supper President Bentley called the meeting to rder; the minutes of the last meeting were read and approved with two corrections which your secretary has noted on those minutes.

Pete Hutton, substituting for Rose, who was in Boston, read an article on wild flowers. What more appropriate subject could have been chosen for this meeting; we saw wild flowers and we heard about them. The article from the Wild Life magazine described various wild flowers, gave their habitat, their blooming period and whether they could be started from seeds. Among these discussed were genetians, trilliums lady slippers, lupines, cardinal flower, Indian paint brush, iris, columbine, violets. This magazine is published by the National Wild Life Federation, 1412 16th Street, Washington, and Pete passed it around so the membership might see if they would like to subscribe. Bea Wilson has in her garden all the flowers mentioned except the cardinal flowerss which so far has resisted herefforts.

H/9/1963-2-

items It was suggested that these garden might be exhibited at the meeting in October. members are asked to bring garden exhibits in October and antique horticultual

Our meteorologist has returned and gave his reportm which is attached. Rainfall was 5..65 inches, which was gratefully received by all our gardens.

Sylvia gave the forethought; manure the strawberry bed and prepare to set out plants. Prepare soil for bulbs and plant immediately on receipt. Take in house plants. Slips of verbena, petunia, lantana make good house plants

Birds: All birds, except sparrows are planing to leave us. Mr. Wilson told an unusual and delightful experience regarding the friendliness of a humming bird. He was cutting zinnieas when the bird lit on them; the bird watched him, looked him over; He looked the bird over and then it flew away.

Members are asked to make suggestions for membership.

Questions: As to why zinnieas grow so tall before blooming, it was suggested this may be caused by too much water, too much shade or the variety may just be tall.

Mr/ Wilson has had large brown spots in his lawn, which are said by the Univ. of Md. to be caused by a fungus. Spread a good fungicide powder, then spray again in two weeks, and rake; replant with merion blue grass.

Edward Iddings asked about the cornus cousa branch brought by the Huttons. This a chinese variety There are dozens of varieties of dogwoods

Betty Ligon wondered whether asparagus coming after a rain should be cut. NO. She did not.

Chicken is concerned about the dying oak tree acroos from the cottage. It is not a pin oak and there are a number of oak trees dying in the community

Caroline has been asked by the Librarian to what garden magazine should be in the library. Flower Grower was suggested. Someonesuggested Sunset but it is devoted to the west coast. Some one asked if the Holld Society had a magaizine of suggicient interest.

H/5/1964-1-

101st year 2d meeting

May 1964

Helen and Jack Bentley entertained Horticulture the first Tuesday in May at the Community House. This was the second meeting of the society in its 101st year.

After partaking of the food, which was generous in all departments except desserts, and this limitation was delightfully supplemented by the out of this world creamy mints brought by the guests Mr. and Mrs. Sowder. The President opened the meeting. He welcomed our new members Wendy and Clive Lawrence whose garden interest and garden lore many of us have enjoyed.

Ellis Manning read from Beverly Nichol's new garden book GARDEN OPEN TODAY, which is informative as well as delightful. Ellis selected Mr. Nichols guides and cautions on tree planting. Mr. Nichols reminds us that the nursery man can not do all your work. Your responsibility begins when the tree arrives and it is highly essential that you have the right mental attitude. Here you have on your hands a hospital case to be given immediate attention. The little tree has been through a surgical operation. It is all wrapped in bandages and has been forced perhaps to stand up for several days without food or water. Prepare your soil to a two foor depth, not just deep enough to crowd the roots in. Dig in a little c mpost. Get some one to help you plant it, unless you are anexpert nursery man. As one plants the other person must juggle it so the loose soil gets around the roots. Stake it, and put your stake in asyou plant. Staking is vital. The tree is in a state of convalescense and it may not survive the wintery winds if it is constantly windrocked. With these instructions the tree should live.

With Sylvia's resignation, Horticulture was without a Forethougher. The president quickly remedied this by appointing Bea Wilson, whose garden demonstrates what we have in store. But Bea and Walter were absent so again we had no advice for us to need the coming weeks.

H/4/1967-2-

Hutton- the Thomases- Alan that is- Ligons and Walter Wilsons. And Mary Moore Miller had a Grimes Golden apple picked in Sept. amd kept in the refridgerator. It was in good condition, and the tree had not been sprayed.

During the bird discussion Flora Goff reported that the sparrows and the blue birds are fighting for possession of the home they have provided with blue birds in mind. Helen Farquhar said a Carolina Wren has built a nest on a shelf in the play house in their yard. There seems to be a great number of birds this year- many varieties were reported togehter with 3 deer and a flock of pheasants seen by Alan Thomas.

The president appointed a new membership committee : Alan Thomas, chairman with Elizabeth Ligon and Mary Moore Miller. They will bring in the names of two new families at the May meeting.

Before asking for questions we welcomed two guestsIris Beall and June Thomas Lemke. It was also noted that the only abesntees were the the two families whose resignations were on the desk.

Mary Moore Miller was told it is not too late to trim roses- and it was also noted that roses have had a hard wintermany have been lost.

Flora Goff told of a poinestta, given her at Christmas- w which is still blooming- not having lost a leaf- it has been on a table in the hall- with no sun.

Iris asked if it is now time to put out her geraniums for the voles to eat. They distroyed them all last year. She was advised to leave the plants in the pots- sinking the pots in the ground, to ground level.

Elizabeth Canby has bought some prennial gloxeniaand asked if anyone had tried them. No one had, and we will be interested in keeping tract of them. She got them at Benke's and was told they did well in semi-shade.

Caroline Hussman asked about the best red raspberries to plant. John Weske recommended some he got years ago from The Highlands, but no one knows the name.

And so another delightfull meeting closed, and another year was begun, and we adjourned to meet on May 2nd- with Bea and Clair Hutton- with Elizabeth Canby as reader.

Mary Reading Miller

Mary Reading Miller - Secty.

July 4th-1967

THE COTTAGE with Mary Moore Miller

The wather was promising- and Mary Moore had tables all ready on the lawn for supper- when as we were gathering the biggest, blackest cloud came rolling along, Stopped right over our tables and guests- set them up again in the living room which was all ready for the meeting- and went on with the usual delectable dinner. After which everyone helped to take down the tables and ready the room for the meeting, which was called to order at the usual time-8.00by the president, Ellis Manning.

We were glad to have with us former members, Jack and Helen Bentley and Helen's sister- Ruth and Raymond Havens and Sallie Brooke and Jean Coulter.

And we were sorry to not have with us :- Rust and Elizabeth Canby, Dick and Sylvia Woodward, Harry and Flora Goff, Walter and Bea Wilson, Alan and Dale Thomas and Claire Hutton.

The minutes were read and approved.

We voted on the names of WIlliam and Zela Hechendorn for membership- the membership committee having presented them at the last meeting. they were elected, and Ellis and Lucy Manning will call on them to invite them to become members.

Helen Farquhar read fromt he newest Edward Teale booka diary of the seasons. She read his July 4th notes- when he listened to and observed the insects around him- calling them by name- and made them sound so friendly and interesting one hesitates to spray! No volunteer articles and no Forethought.

Douglas Farquhar gave his weather report for Junea very dry month after a rather wet May- only three days when we had a measurable rainfall- totaling 2.1 inch with and average temperature of 81 degrees.

Elizabeth Ligon told them of watching a row of young robins patiently sitting waiting while the mother went back and forth into the strawberry bedd bringing them the fruit.

QUESTIONS;

Elizabeth Ligon wants to know why she lost an azelia, one of a group of the same kind and age in the same location- which just died very quickly. No good answer unless it was attacked by some bug - but why just that one.

John Weske asked about where there had been formal gardens in Sandy Spring. Theere were several- none of which survive, as the informal ones seem more in keeping with our lives- and help now. There was a lovely one at Norwood one at Alloway- Tanglewood, and other were mentioned.

The question was asked about cuttingover the strawberry bed after it stops bearing. After some discussion, mostly against- Robert Miller said he always do so- and found it very satisfactory.

There were not too many exhibits but what there was was very good- from Great Ease, The Cedars, The Highlands and The Mannings.

Adjourned to meet at Great Ease on August 1st- with Alan Thomas as the reader.

Mary Reading Miller, Sect'y