Horticultural Society

H/6/1989-5.

Lakeview, June 6, 1989 ; page 4

Relating the previous comment to Christmas trees Bill Hartge allowed as how if you don't prune them they get to be about 30 feet and then a bulldozer runs into them.

There being nothing further on the agenda, we thanked Mary Seiler for her hospitality and agreed to meet next on July 11 at Rosehill, home of the Rogers at which time Iduna Hanel will be reader. In the vulnerable pause preceding the conclusion of the meeting, the Secretary Treasurer asked Tom Canby if he would be the Secretary for the next meeting since he was one of the most literate and eloquent members of the Society and generosity flowed in his veins to boot. Tom agreed and the meeting was concluded.

Tom: The next meeting is on August 1st at your place at which time Ellen Hartge will be reader. Even though this is a golden opportunity to shift the meeting to Quailhill with Peter Austin as reader I hope you will restrain yourself.

Also: Quailhill still has mulching hay.

Bird note: For two weeks in early June we had 3 immature purple martins on our martin house. At he same time we also had a house sparrow sharing the complex. The purple martins seemed to be on the way to ensconcing themselves nicely when one day they were not to be seen anywhere. The house sparrow remained.

With apologies for misspellings, bad puns, and aukward prose,

Peter Austin Secretary

H/8/1989-1-

Jackpine, August 1, 1989 : page 1

The weather favored us for the pre-dinner tour of the Canby's impressive array of landscaping and gardening delights. We had a sumptuous meal in a home whose decor and fittings perfectly match our world travelling and sophisticated hosts.

There were no guests and Priscilla Allen and the Bullards were sadly in absence.

The Secretary read the minutes and we proceeded to the selected article read by Ellen Hartge. It was taken from the May/June 1988 Fine Gardening and was entitled "Banded Cuttings". It dealt with propagating plants vegetatively. Essentially the article described how to propagate difficult items such as maples, oaks, and pines by putting opaque bands around first year growth for about four weeks then snipping off the branch below the band. The band comes off and the covered section is treated with rootone and planted. There were details and procedures that complicated matters but overall it seemed worth a try.

The minutes were read from Rockspring of August 6, 1889.

Harold Earp read the Forethought. Was August the time to sit back and relax? The negative answer was backed up with a unnerving list of plants to culture and pests to conquer.

The Meteorologist Report said the rainfall is 10 inches above the normal for this time of year. The Washington Post reported that the area has had 5.56 inches for July which is 1.68 inches above normal. The high temperature mark was on the 11th with 97 degrees. The lowest was on the 2nd with 51.

EXHIBITS

Vegetble tray from Havilands Black beans from the Earps. Lea House tomatoes, beans and peppers. From Riverside came Lord Baltimore hibiscus, platycodon, Blue Danube stokesia, zinnia, sweet bush pepper, red onion, red pontiac onion, and italian green beans. From the Earps came zinnias, dahilia, Queen Elizabeth rose, astilbe, lantana, chrysanthemum, and black berries. From the Chances came clematis, blackberry lily, Honest Pleasure day lily, marigold, zinnias, geranium, coreopsis, Goldstrum rudbeckia, Victoria salvia, garlic chives, and sea lavendar (statice latifolia).

The content and soaring spirit of the Bird Report once again was clipped perhaps because of the Bullards' absence. However, Bill Hartge reported a Great (big!) Blue Heron stalking about a small tributary on the Patuxant. Ari Preuss was on the Cacapon River in West Virginia and saw a large wild turkey. Peter Austin was told that clearing out bluebird boxes is only necessary to keep the eggs or nestlings away from the entrance and out of reach from raccoons and other predators.

Dorothy Weske amused us by recounting some of her frustrations caused by frequent messages from John, to "do this, do that" in the garden - so many directions that she is in a quandry about what to do, how to do, and when to do --. We are sympathetic with her plightits difficult trying to keep up with home chores without someone there to share the work and the responsiblity, decisions, decisions, decisions!!!

The Membership Committee had a quick meeting and submitted the names of Betty and Bill Hartge as members to fill the vacancy. They will be voted on at the July meeting.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday July 5th at The Cedars Secretary will send out cards as reminder of the change in date. Rose & Claire Hutton will report on their recent trip to Greece. Claire Hutton Secretary

H/7/1972-4-

Ithaca, N.Y. where bird calls are recorded - she heard the song of the wood thrush.

Helen and Douglas have wrens in the electrical conduit on side of their house - are raising at least 2 or 3 families.

Several pepole reported interesting items about Baltimore Orioles.

Betty Ligon presented the names of Betty and Bill Hartge as members to fill the vacancy. They were voted upon unanimously and affirmatively. Betty will notify them and invite them to the next meeting. We look forward to a return of the Riverside family!

Questions and Comments: Helen Farquhar - Are fireflies bigger this year? We're not sure but many of us have noticed them as being especially " big and bright".

Horticultural Society - Tuesday, Sept 5th 1972 at the Highlands with Mary Reading and Robert Miller as hosts.

It was a very pleasant cool evening when we met at the Highlands for our September meeting of the Horticultural Society.

We were happy to welcome Bill Hartge, one of our new members, who had been unable to attend the August meeting with Betty. We were also glad to have Iris Beall as a guest. This was an unusually small meeting with the following absentees: Flora Goff, Hussmans, Canbys, Weskes, B Ligon, Wilson, F Thomases, and Woodwards.

We enjoyed seeing the vegetable garden and a variety of colorful flowers scattered in various spots around the premises - all showing the good care they have been receiving during the summer.

After a very delicious supper our President called the meeting to