Horticultural Society

53 H/5/1909-2-

Alloway could not be surpassed. Flowers from all the places were of the best.

Questions {1}What time spray Apple trees? After the blossoms fall, then a week later and last in July. {2}Is it too late to set out Apple trees? It is a good time, better than to wait until fall. {3}How can we have more asparagus? plant more now. Make the bed rich and set 18 inches apart. The Columbia is the white kind. {4}Can you use it earlier if you get 3 yr. old plants? Yes. Ashes is said to be a good application and do not let the seedlings grow.

A complaint that currants shrivel and do not come to perfection, cause unknown. The tiny white-fly on house plants is troublesome at some places. Very little is known about it. We had some weary pleasant words of commendation from our friend Lydia Haviland, a guest; She thinks our meetings improving, not only horticulturally but in increasing our interest and love for each other.

Eliza Brooke kindly wrote the following "Our Secretary is far too modest to give correct account of the surpassing beauty of Riverside the beautiful day of the horticultural meeting, the lights and shadows that fell on the hills and valleys far and near is too vividly impressed upon all minds, to need any words from me, but the horticultural work of the dear sisters does certainly need some words of prace. The vegetable garden was all planted and many things growing and giving promise of good results in the future. But the flower garden even with its natural beauties showed the labor and taste that had been extended. It was

H/4/1998 - 1- April 5, 1988 The first meeting of the Sandy Spring Horticultural Society's 125th season and overall meeting #868 met at Lydia Haviland's on April 5th. After the winter's long respite everyone's spirits were especially buoyant. The light mood drew a fine contrast to the fact that the floor upon which we stood had been very much submerged by Patuxant River floods four times during Lydia's tenure. The house was conzy, neat, and held our numbers with a familiar embrace. Lydia had baked a handsome and delicious cake to mark the occasion. A picture with a cake in pink and white was placed on the dinner table. There was the words of "125 YEARS" on the cake.

The guests were Lydia's daughter and son-in-law, Phyliss and Dave Egeler. Sad to be absent was Tom Canby.

The meeting began with a moment of silence to mark the passing of Dick Woodward, a society member of many years and considerable horticultural talent and good humor.

A reassuring side to the coin of life followed with the Society's welcome to James Rogers and Marika Austin, 2 new family members who had been born since our last meeting.

There was no unfinished business and as per the Society's by-laws, those same by-laws were read to the audience's 's rapt attention.

As Reader for the evening, Beth Bullard had two articles to share. One was a remarkably eloquent letter written in 1855 by Chief Seattle of the Squamish Indians and sent to President Pierce. In it was a short prayer that went: This we know, the earth does not belong to man; Man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family.

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.

H/4/1988-5-

Susan Canby wondered why Lakeview has blossoming mahonia and Jackpine has none. No specific reason was divulged but plant feeding was suggested.

Mo Chance commented that at the end of September in 1896 the next Horticultural Society meeting at Riverside was called off because a storm blew in between 10 pm and 2am that knocked down 16 of their big trees.

On that cheerful note we brought the meeting to a close, thanked Lydia for her hospitality and agreed to meet next on May 3rd at Quailhill, home of Peter Austin and Elizabeth ThorntonThoihton. 1988

The first meeting of the Sandy Spring Horticultural Society's 125th season and overall meeting # 868 met at Lydia Haviland's on April 5th. After the winter's long espite everyone's spirits were especially buoyant. The I could just type forever! Its so much fun.

Respectfully submitted, Peter Austin sec.

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.