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.

A photo of 21 people posing in a garden Backrow Harold Earp Edwina Earp Bette Hartge Nancy Chance Susan Fifer Canby Rudi Hanel Elie Rogers Lydia Haviland Leslie Rogers John Hartge Ellen Hartge Peter Austin Caroline Hussman Buzz Hussman Iduna Hanel Front Row Tom Farquhar Mary Grady Nancy Preuss Mo Chance Ari Preuss Elizabeth Thornton missing - Tom Canby, Bill Hartge, Jim + Beth Bullard, Peter + Polly Conlon and Harry + Flora Goff Incomplete SSHS July 5, 1988

H/6/1991-3-

June 4, 1991, Rose Hill, page 3

opposition to hunting on her property. Along the same lines she asked about deer on highways. Available are wind activated whistlers that alert the deer before you hit them. Only way to truly avoid deer on highway is not to drive. Best thing before hitting a deer is make sure you've got lots of insurance because it's assured that the deer don't and the damage to both parties can be considerable.

Anne Jamison asked what the white flower is in the mixed vase the Canbys brought. Identified as a white flower similar to other known varieties. She also mentioned a rose bush that was 5 years red but now is red and yellow. The assembly hates to have guests ask questions we can't definitively answer so we attributed the odd rose behavior to spontaneous rootstock recidivism and moved on quickly before another question could be ventured.

Mo Chance asked about a Rose Hill vine identified as a kiwi. One needs a male and female plant and the fruits have more fiber than apples, are high in vitamin C, and have more potassium than bananas. The Rogers have had the plants for 3 years and productivity is on a par with the National Zoo pandas.

Ari Preuss has a 12 inch diameter tree that's nearly sawed through but manages to live. It's near the house. The group was evenly divided as to whether to leave it be or saw it down and start over. Wait until October so we can see the specimen firsthand and then reach a consensus.

Nancy Chance has comfrey that is imposing on neighbors and needs a way to control (i.e. eradicate). Recommended was roundup if it is applied specifically.

Caroline Hussman has red spider mites in her garden and was advised to control them with safer's or Ivory soap.

Bettes Hartge asked after strawberries grown on a pyramid. Sounds like a good idea but nobody but Tom's mother has ever tried it. Tom will inquire and report back.

Ellis has a small cutleaf maple that lost a branch and the one that grew back is green and not red like the rest of the tree. Attributed to the tree being a root and trunkstock with scions grafted onto it. If the trunkstock is allowed to sprout branches they will not be like the other branches.

Leslie Rogers has a pussy willow - is it too late to prune? Prune any time of year.

H/ 7/ 1991 -3-

July 2, 1991, Pi Acres, page 3

Jim Bullard reports overpopulated deer numbers in the Canaan Valley and also in parts of Pennsylvania and Michigan. On automobile deer whistles; 50% say they work, 50% say they don't.

Leslie Rogers asked how long the black swallowtail stays in its chrysalis. Monarchs stay in for 2 weeks if that's any help.

John Hartge inquired about egg salmonella and how viable is concern over it. Ellis Manning explained that restaurants are required to go to great measures to insure that egg inventories are as safe as possible. The effects of eating the eggs in question is said to be dangerous to the disabled or weak - of little concern to the healthy and strong. Are Ted Fletcher's chickens' eggs safe? Probably but to break open enough to make a proper meal would probably give a person carpal tunnel syndrome so better to go to a restaurant.

The hour was late and we closed the meeting with hearty thanks to the Fletchers for their hospitality. We agreed to next meet on August 6 at Riverton, home of the Ellers. Peter Austin would have been the reader if he wasn't going to be in Maine. Some people will go to great lengths to shirk their responsibility. So sue me

Humbly submitted sometimes,

Secretary/Treasurer

H/6/1987-3-

Mary Seiler has a thornless rose with bugs. Spray it with chewing tobacco that's been boiled with soap. Said to be poisonous at first but breaks down fast. Combine the treatment with fertilization with fish emulsion. Lydia Haviland has nasturtiums that hasn't had germinations the last couple years but this year she started them in wet paper towels and all germinated and are doing well. When does one start limas? Three or four weeks ago inside or last week outside. However now is not too late. Beth Bullard can't get larkspur to grow. Both Priscilla Allen and Leslie Rogers let their larkspur seed themselves. They suggest coming by and taking some to be transplanted.

We were reminded that the next meeting was on July 7 and would be held for the first time at Lea House, home of the Preusses. We thanked the Canbys for their hospitality and brought the meeting to a close.

With apologies for mistakes & bad diction,

O Peter Austin Sec.