Horticultural Society

H/4/1988 - 3 -

Beds should be prepared for seed planing. Carrots, peas, should go in. Not long after second rows should be planted. Late in the month, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes can go in. Asparagus patch should be weeded and fertilized. Nitric of soda or sodium nitrate on asperagas is recommended. Lawns should be fertilized but not mowed until 2 inches tall. Special care should be taken with any weed killers one plans to use.

Peter Conlon provided the Meteorologist Report. In March we had 2.52 inches of rain. The peak temperature was 79 degrees on the 24th and 25th. The low was 12 degrees on the 22nd. The questions regarding whether the weather had been warmer than normal, wetter than before, and the winter shorter than usual, the consensus opinion was non-committal with patches of cloudiness. In closing Peter Conlon promised a descriptive graph of the winter's statistics to be handed out at the May meeting.

Leslie Rogers passed the exhibits. Quailhill offered daffodils. White japonica came from Roslyn. There was daffodils, hyacinth, and heather from Lea House. From Jackpine came hyacinth, jonquils and forthysia. Riverside brought daffodils, grape hyacinth, myrtle, blood root, iris, violets, bluebells, spyrea, phlox, candy tuft, ivy & weeds arranged tastefully, and woodruff. Lakeview had daffodils, forsythia and mahonia. The Earps offered flowering cherry, magnolia, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, andromeda, daffodils, and primrose. Clifton brought narcissi and spirea.

The report on birds brought up a mention of an influx of crows near Lydia Haviland's. Attention was drawn to the buzzard hanging out at Quailhill. Peter Austin protested that he wasn't feeding them any failed efforts at raising sheep but that the black ugly birds had been kicked out of the Springdale woods by construction there of large opulent houses. Quailhill was the closest low-rent area for them to move into...much to Peter's discomfort and esthetic chagrin. Peter Conlon was along the Arkansas River in Colorado and saw hawls, eagles, thousands of ducks & teals and in trees, 30 pair of nesting blue herons. Purple Martins were reported back in the Area on March 15 - if you didn't get them this year better luck next.

The redundancy Cmmitee under John Hartge's guidance and impetus wowed the gathering with an impressive showing of its winter data organizing efforts. 11 years of old Society minutes have been digested and the program is progressing nicely.

Forethought started the advice to trim evergreen candles to make the growth thicker...to block out the visual scourge of encroaching housing developments, for instance. We were told that nothing is dormant and that when transplanting, prune to balance root system and foliage. Don't cut bulb greens. Divide and replant spring blooming perennials. Spray peonies if necessary. Prune spiria drastically after blooming and prune magnolia sparingly. May is a good time to layer plants. Rhododendrons need a shot of holytone and need pruning after blossoming. Sendyour house plants out and cut your grass high. Be on the lookout for the Holly leaf miner - apply sevin or diazanon now and orthene in June. All veggies should be seeded or otherwise ensconced in the garden in May.

The forethought was followed by Peter Conlon's meteorological report. It was mentioned that on the Sweetbriar compound in Ashton the high for the Month was 79 degrees - 63 being the average high. The low was 30 degrees - 39 being the average low. April's rainfall was 3.04 inches. Peter also brought graphs detailing rain and snow fall as well as temperatures throughout the 1987-88 season. These will be entered with the minutes.

The exhibits came next: The Lawrences brough bellwort, juge, sweer woodruff, white and yellow violets, phlox, lunaria, sweetbria, dog wood, lilac, red bud, and apple blossoms. From Clifton came 2 kinds of forgetmenots (snowflake and lucage), columbine, lilac, pulmonaria (lungwort), lillies of the valley, bishop's cap, armeria, phlox dicaricata, and an unkown bulb flower. The Earps brought lilac, jack in the pulpit, primrose, scilla, wisteria, jacob's ladder, azalia, wood hyacinth, iris, daffodil, and lungwort. From Amersley came lilacs, tulips and azalea. The Chance's brought lilacs, tulips, bleeding hearts, clematis, daffodils, viburnum, dog-toothed violet, and virginia bluebells. Rose Hill offered wisteria, lilac (white and purple), redbud, bleeding heart (white and pink), columbine, and iris. Jackpine brought azaleas, bleeding heart, tulip, and a mysterious array of flora called "et al" The Cedars brought azaleas, dogwood, candytuft, tulips, mint, strawberry blossoms, bleeding hearts, and pansies. Riverside brought lilacs, tulips, wisteria, candy tuft, azalea, kerria, columbine, springwort, and chhives.

The questions opened with an inquiry on gypsy moth control. For the month of May a band of sticky tape (brand name Repel-3) around afflicted tree trunks was recommended. Caterpillars get hung up on the band where they can be killed and their progress thus arrested. Tent caterpillars were also inquired after. Their harmfulness was downplayed and if the colonies are out of reach they should be abandoned to the appetites of coocoos. Mary Seller asked after the least offensive and economical weed killer for lawns. Since the problem weedes included everything, some of the suggestion were to plow, pave, or turn the lawn over to an effortless meadow-in-a-can. On the other hand, Weed-be-gone or 2-4-D was mentioned.

H/6/1988-2-

Vegetables should be weeded and mulched. Sow seeds for brussel sprouts, cabbage, beans and carrots. Plant marigolds amongst vegetables to repel insect pests.

The meteorological report detailed a lovely month with plenty of rainfall. Our 7.95" of rain rbought us to within 1/2" of the average to date according to the Washington Post National Airport Report. A couple notable rainfalls at the Conlons happened on the 15th when 3/4" fell in 15 minutes and on the 18th when 1.22" fell in 10 minutes. The month's high temperature reading happened on the 30 & 31st when it was 38 degrees. It seemed the consensus believed the auguries were favorable for our area to escape the crushingly dry summer conditions of the past two years.

Exhibits included the following: 2 varieties of lettuce, roses, bearded wheat, and 3 varieties of mint from Sweetbriar. From the Cedars; Irish Cobbler potatoes, sugar snap peas, kohrabi, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, broccoli, and an "Enigmatic Egg" found buried in the garden. See Bird Report for details. Lydia Haviland brought in a shrub. Lakeview presented peonies, mock orange, clematis, a Dr. Van Fleet rose, pansies, coreopis. The Earps brought chives, strawberries, fuchsia, clematis, heliotrope, iris, a gardenia, and a yellow allium. Lea House shared lysanthus, fox glove, burnet, lavender, lemon balm, and wormwood. Riverside put forth Selma Lollo lettuce, La Brillant lettuce, strawberries, snow peas, sugar pod peas, coriander, bronze fennel, borage, sage, a Dr. Van Fleet rose, coral bells, siberian iris, coreopsis, Dianthus, galardia, potentilla, love-in-a-mist, a maltese cross, Crane's Bill geranium, and yarrow. Rose Hill brought coreopsis, purple andwhite love-in-amist, foxglove, phlox, oregano, french tarragon, lettuce, and caultiflower.

The bird report detailed strange goings on at the Cedars. Mary Grady found a lone phoebe egg in the middle of the garden - with no nest, overhanging tree, or phoebe in the vicinity. Tom Farquhar found a goose egg 4 inches in the ground while he was turning the soil. The first occurrence was blamed on poor maternal timing on behalf of the phoebe. The second phenomena was downgraded to the actions of a fox who was putting aside for a later day goose eggs filched from across the street.

H/7/1988-3-

July 5, 1988: page 2

Elizabeth Thornton read the minutes from July 12, 1888 when the Society met at Alloway. The temperature at noon was 83 degrees. Bits of enduring wisdom came from the Committee on Grapes who pronounced that bagging is the method to save one's grape crop. We also learned altho not from the Grape Committee that Turner, Cuthbert, and Brandywine raspberries are the best. An update of raspberry appraisals follows under "Questions".

The Forethought report entreated us to water and increase mulch around the flowers. Delay moving bulbs because of the hot and dry conditions. Iris bulbs, however, should be dug up, washed and scrubbed in hot soda water, and the bad parts cut out. Before replanting, bulbs should be rolled in a mixture of lime and sulpha. Mummified grapes should be removed and the vines should be watered. Inspect fruit trees for borers and water. Vegetables should be watered. Remember that cucumbers don't like rapid changes between hot and dry and cool and wet conditions - it makes them bitter. Continue sowing seeds for fall crop. Cut lawns high if at all and water.

Our meteorologist was absent but since the month had been one of arid and hot monotony with a maximum rainfall of .08 inches, the Society gracefully allowed him an absence. Not so gracefully we roundly complained that the weather had been cruel and unfair.

Exhibits From Roslyn came monarda (2 kinds), chocolate mint, catmint, yarrow, daylillies, oregano, blue salvia, lavendar, butterfly weed, and lythrum. Riverside brought onions, romaine lettuce, garlic, zucchinis, green beans, cabbage, and daylillies. The Earps brought columbine, salvia, snapdragons, astilbe, lavendar, 5 marigolds, lily regal, lily sterling, and lily citronella. From the Cedars came red hamburger onions, a sweet spanish onion, carrots, Irish cobbler potatoes, red pontiac potatoes, harcots verts beans, yellow beans, a Gopherit mole repeller, and roses; Brandy, Mr. Lincoln, and King's Ransom.

The Bird Report was brief - the gist being that the Bluebird outlook was good by several accounts.

The Redundancy reported proceeding with enthusiasm reported proceeding with enthusiasm.

New Business. Lydia Haviland suggested that for one of our remaining meetings - this our 125th year -, we should make a point to gather as many of the previously active members as possible. The notion was greeted positively. Mary Grady and Tom Farquhar agreed to host the expanded gathering at the Cedars in September. To assist in this task Ellen Hartge volunteered to help the Cedars prepare.

New Business concluded with a stern reminder for the Society members to warn the hostess of any absences or extra guests. Failure to abide by this

H/7/1988-5-

July 5, 1988: page 4 undercoating was mentioned but spray pruning paint seems to do a better job of on site destruction of the eggs. Peter Austin had been gearing up for a rousing diatribe aimed at gypsy moths. Susan Canby sensing the threat that such long-winded vehemence posed to the polar ice caps, deftly asked where our next meeting would take place. Off balance the Secretary Treasurer reported back that we'd next meet August 2nd at the Earp's with the reader being, gasp, Peter Austin. In the confusion that followed, the acting secretary thanked Chances for their hospitality and closed the meeting.