Horticultural Society

H/10/1988 - 1 -

October 4, 1988; page 1

We had the season's closing meeting at Riverside where the Society had met from time to time for over a hundred years. Fall's first frost was a few days ahead of us but the forests were already tinged with the color of autumn's glory and winter's chill. We were sorry to be missing the Canby's, Hanel's, Goffs, and Jim Bullard. We solaced ourselves over a small and excellent sampling of Eli Roger's grapes in their vinous incarnation.

Guests included David and Linda Hartge and Peter and Anita Ligon.

The meal was splendid and we relished each other's company in consideration of the long months ahead when the Society would be dispersed until the promise of spring brings us together again like returning wayfarers.

Unfinished business dealt with the Nominating Committee (John Hartge, Nancy Preuss, and Beth Bullard) and their task of filling vacancies expected to happen within a year ahead.

Nancy Preuss was the evening's reader. She read from an article by John Thorndike entitled "Gardening by the Moon and Stars". The article was about "biodynamic" gardening as developed and promoted by the English horticulturist Alan Chadwick. Biodynamic gardening was inspired by the teachings (specifically the 1924 agricultural lectures) of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner who lived from 1861 to 1925.

Bio-dynamic gardening could be said to go above and beyond organic gardening. Many esoteric methods are used to enrich the soil with a mix of science, alchemy, perhaps astrology but no chemicals. Emphasis is put on methods to process compost so that it will address specific plants and soil needs. Steiner thought of the ideal farm as an ecological unit - its activities and philosophy being based on the cycles of nature. Biodynamic gardeners questioned in the article admitted that the rules they follow are not chiseled in stone and the theories are complicated and not likely to take the gardening world by storm. However, in these times of chemical dependence and slow crimes against nature biodynamic gardening offeres us sane alternatives - even if some of the processes seem a bit insane or mildly kooky.

There was no volunteer article.

John Hartge read from the October 2, 1888 meeting which was held at the Cedars. On that day at noon it had been 56 degrees. Th specimens on that day had been chiefly floral - said to be good as much had been recently damaged by rain.

H/8/1991-2-

Meteorologist John Hartge referred to the localness of the month's sparse rainfall--six inches here, none there. He recorded 2.1 inches for July--a figure "shamefully low."

Exhibits included a yard-long bean from a volunteer plant at the Chances', flowers and a basketball-size passport melon from the Earps, grand championquality tomatoes from Riverside, veggies and hibiscus from Roslyn, and flowers, herbs, and vegetables from Lea House.

Regarding the matter of the birds and the bees, Sally Eller displayed a finely woven gnatcatcher nest that had blown from a tree. Jim Bullard reported the extraction of honey without a sting, and Beth said that salad oil is reputed to discourage bees from imbibing at hummingbird feeders.

Reporting for the Microfilming Committee. Mo Chance said that collections were in from nine families-- not nearly enought to finance their vacation. Serious work will resume after the October meeting. Residual funds will go to Linda Hartge for making the record cover.

During the question session, Nancy Preuss asked if plants other than mums can be cropped to encourage less leggy plants, and Priscilla Allen added phlox to this category. To Tim Eller's question about heath, Nancy said it likes full sun. Regarding Priscilla's query about tomatoes, the consensus was that ripening does not require that the fruit be exposed to sunlight. Bette Hartge mentioned the opportunity to recycle virtually all clean, dry papers, including phone books, at the Clarksville firehouse Tuesdays between 2:30 and 6:30. Also did we know that a flea can jump 300,000 times without stopping? To Ellen Hartge's question about kitchen ants, Nancy Preuss recalled that cucumber skins can be a deterrent.

The secretary reminded the group that it would reconvene September 3 at Lakeview, with Jim Bullard as reader. The president concluded with appropriate remarks about the warmth and hospitality shown by our hosts, the Ellers.

Tom Canby, acting secretary