Horticultural Society

H/8/1988-2-

August 2, 1988; page 2

organized his talk chronologically starting with August blooming perennials. He was enthusiastic and descriptive. Those of us not involved with perennials were given a good primer and the more knowlegdable no doubt gained fresh insights. We appreciate the Bullards for arranging Mr. Harcy's visit and presentation.

Elizabeth Thornton read the minutes from 100 years ago. The place was Herman where it had been 95 degrees in the shade and 125 degrees in the sun. At that meeting the minutes had to be read by lamplight because a storm had blown through and driven the gathering indoors. An addition to the continuing saga of grape bagging indicates that bagging does not save ripe clusters from rotting.

Forethought advised us to fertilize Mums. Trim back pot plants, house plants, and plant cuttings. Start potting (tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, for example) in preparation for the end of the outdoor growing season. Harvest and can. Seed and plant. Water. Provide shade for transplants Check your 3 year rotation schedule in preparation for next spring garden layout.

Meteorological Report suffered from the absense of our weather watcher. It was agreed that the month had been hot, nasty, and dry. At National Airport the average temperature for the first 30 days of July was 92.3 degrees. Rainfall was normal for the month but very spotty and vicious at times. It was a month most were glad to see gone.

Exhibits Lydia brought broccoli, tomatoes, and geraniums. The Hanels brought a 14 inch cucumber that grew while they were away for vacation. Jackpine brought a mixed basket of produce. From Clifton came Clethra Alnifolia (sweet pepper bush), German statice, daylilies, Butterfly bush, calendula, and oregano. Riverside brought Lord Baltimore hibiscus, a Primadonna rose, daylilies, cuccumbers, an eggplant, tomatoe, and a jalepeno pepper. Quailhill presented a Bonica rose and ruffled basil. From the Cedars came corn, tomatoes, carrots, onions, potatoes, and a sweet potato. The Chances brought rudbeckia, salvia, Pinwheel Salmon geranium, daylilies, peppers, and tomatoes.

There was no Bird Report, Committee report, or New Business.

H/8/1990-1-

August 7, 1990, National Cathedral Garden, page 1

A stalwart collection of the Society congregated on the garden grounds of Washington DC's National Cathedral for our August meeting. Absent were the Preusses, Rudi Hanel, the Fletchers, and the Ellers. Guests were Nancy Bye and Louise Megansen. The weather favored us and our leisurely inspection of what a full-time gardening staff and the proximity to a holy edifice can do. Some of us were greatly impressed. Others of the Society could easily give the Cathedral groundskeepers a tinge of envy by what truly superlative gardeners can raise from the earth.

We repaired to the Cathedral School's cafeteria to a repast more off the cuff than usual but no less sumptuous. Caroline Hussman, Mary Seiler, Bettes Hartge, and Susan Canby did very well organizing the meal's appointments leaving nothing in absence.

Since we had invested our time and profited from the august garden tour and novel dining arrangement, our time for the meeting was diminishing fast. The previous meeting's minutes were raced through, unfinished business skipped over, the assigned article stumbled through hurriedly, and the 100-year-old minutes read with speed and grace.

Harold Earp gave us the Forethought for the month. We were to continue fertilizing tomatoes as before, advised not to prune shrubs, cut hardy perrennials to start in water. Also remove and destroy bag worms from arborvitae and other afflicted trees. Plant fall bulbs. Mentioned was the hue and cry that has recently been raised by county trash authorities regarding lawn clippings which constitutes a large part of landfill mass. We are advised to not encourage lawns to grow so vigorously, mow no more than every 5 days, and leave the clippings where they fall.

John Hartge followed with the Meterologist Report. The average low temperature was 65 and the average high was 90. The high temperature was 101.8 on the 5th and the low was 59 on the 13th. 5.7 inches of rain fell at Riverside (2 more than at National Airport who reports that their rainfall exceeds the average by 1/2 inch). Even though it seemed like a wet month July went 18 days without rain.

The Bird Report encompassed the sublime and...uh...less than sublime. Elizabeth spotted a snowy egret in the pond at Olney's Hallowell Village. On the other end of the scale, during the standard romantic, candel-lit dinner (with champagne!) at Riverside a shadow of a creature first thought to be a bird flitted uninvited and unappreciated about the dining area. Later with the assistance of Bill

H/9/1990-1-

September 4, 1990, Quailhill, page 1

The Society assembled at Quaihill for their September meeting. The Secretary was inside carving the ham - previously known to the Society as Lord Jim, Elizabeth Thornton's Christmas present and unsuccessful solution to the garden's bindweed problem. The Secretary assumes that the dark underbelly of Quailhill's horticultural anarchy was not overtly noticeable. It was ironic that missing en mass were the proprietors of the Society's most magnificent gardens namely the Rogers, the Hanels, the Earps, the Chances, and Beth Bullard. Guest includedGordy and Christie Allen-Wardell, Dr. Thea Kappahn, Dana Dameron, and Dana Tietje.

The minutes from the previous meeting were corrected and passed.

There was no unfinished business.

Ellen Hartge read an article from the May 1990 issue of Horticulture entitled "Making Sense of Scent" by Roy Genders, an English plant specialist. The article summarizied the authors research in analyzing and categorizing the scents that plants generate. The author also connected the various scents ranging from the sweet to the stomach-turning to how these different smells help the plant survive.

Susan Canby alerted us to an up-coming National Geographic article that studied the decline of certain migratory birds and how it relates to global warming.

Elizabeth Thornton read the minutes from September 30, 1990.

Ellen Hartge delivered the Forethought. We were advised to plant spinach, lettuce, radishes and other late season crops. Beware of freak frosts toward the end of the month. Move houseplants indoors when night temperatures are below 60 degrees. Plant daffaodil bulbs. Water but don't fertilize trees and shrubs. Start Fall cleanup. If you have powdery mildew on lilacs, prune or space at a later date to encourage passage of air. Plant new grass seed. In conclusion, do everything now rather than waiting until spring.

Meteorologist Report John Hartge allowed that it had been a wet month. Riverside logged 8.1 inches of rain - National Airport measured 6.75 and reported it to be 2.35 inches over the norm. August didn't see many days between rainfalls. It is reported that we are 2.89 inches ahead for the year. We had a high temperature of 92 on August 1st, 2nd, 14th, and the 22nd. The low was 54 also on the 2nd. Average high was 84 and the average low was 63.

Bird Report Elizabeth Thornton related an incident that happened on the grounds of the Oak Grove Designs workshop and residence of the Handlers. A macaw had landed high up in one of their trees and the macaw authorities had been alerted. As the day edged toward evening the effort became feverish and two pronged - other macaws had been brought in from the surrounding area

H/10/1990-1-

October 2, 1990, Roslyn, page 1

We held our last meeting of the year at Roslyn, home of the Hussmans. The warmth and familiarity of our surroundings was intimately appreciated and in direct contrast to the larger event of the moment which was the reunification of East and West Germany. Missing from the gathering included Jim Bullard, the Hanels, The Rogers, and the Ellers. Our guest for the evening was Jane Riggs.

After a meal the likes of which we would sorely miss for the next 5 months we began the meeting by reading the September minutes, dispensing with Unfinished Business and moving on to the Assigned Reader. Harold Earp had an article entitled "Talking Tidewater" by Robert Day. Mr. Day is a Kansas native who teaches at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. His wit, humor and landlocked heritage made for an amusing perspective on the ideocyncrasies of Eastern Shore lexicon.

Bettes Hartge followed with an article about foiling pests without poison. Beth Bullard contributed a treatment for black spot on roses, 1 tablespoon of baking soda per gallon should be sprayed on the plants weekly.

There were no old minutes so we went on to Forethought which gratefully included an implied respite during the cold months ahead. In these waning gardening weeks we were advised to check soil samples, start compost piles, plant green manure, and harvest the last crops of the season that could be damaged by cold weather. We were told it's a good time to plant bulbs and remember that the bigger the bulb the better the bloom. An aside included a query about which end of an anemone is up, the Solomons amongst us advised to plant those bulbs on their side. The final forethought suggestion dealt with cleaning up the garden to prepare for next year's effort as well as foiling pests from becoming entrenched in the wreckage of late gardening efforts.

The Meteorological Report mentioned September being a dry month with only 1/5 of the previous month's rainfall. Riverside reported 1.7 inches and National Airport logged .9 which was 2.6 inches below average. Our temperatures ran 77.3 for average high and 53.6 for an average low. On the 7th our high for the month was 89 degrees and the low of 36 happened on the 18th.

EXHIBITS A fine collection of late season harvests were admired. Unfortunately, the list of the offerings was misplaced. Following generations of SSHS members will have to suffer this void of information. It's the Secretary's fault - his name should live in infamy.

H/4/1989-4.

April 4, 1989; page 4 Sidwell Friends hit their full resplendency same as locally on Prince William Drive. During the upcoming Cherry Blossom Parade, it was assumed that the petals would be for the most part, blowing in the wind. Caroline Hussman had onions coming up bbut from unknown origins. Identified as coming from Mo Chance and called Potato Onions. Known for being a palate pounder. Both. John Hartge mentioned that National Airport reported the water table 1/2 inch ahead for the year. He also asked where the Ruth Page Garden Journal could be listened to. WAMU had it at 5:45 AM which was early but not too early to avoid Jack Eden for one's weekly garden talk show fix. Also what to do about protecting fruit tree blossoms from frost. Recommended was sheathing, light spraying with water, and a hands-off method which natually thins the possible crop or decimates it entirely. Susan Canby lamented that her jonquils are wimpy looking. Advised to be patient - jonquils are known to improve after first year. Buzz Hussman bumped into an article about how important oxygen is to trees' root zone. Trees can be killed by the addition of only 6 inches of dirt over existing turf because it changes i.e. diminishes the oxygen level available to the roots. The writer once was only concerned with keeping dirt away from the trunk and lost 4 large poplars possibly as a result. On request, Buzz also mentioned that Peter Hagerty of the "Peace Fleece" endeavor will not be at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this year. Jim Bullard wants free manure. Horse manure is for the taking at the Equestrian Center at Woodlawn. Hussmans also have a supply as does Joe Foreman on Mink Hollow Road. Beth Bullard asked after the crow named Elvis. Reported that the forked tongue creature was taken home by a Sandy Spring Friends School Student and is doing nicely.

The hour was late and the group thanked the Preusses for their hospitality. We agreed to meet next on May 2nd at Iris, home of the Hanels where Nancy Chance would be the reader.

With apologies for blatant lies and bad jokes.

Peter [?] Secretary