Horticultural Society

H/4/1988 -2 -

Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons of earth. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to earth, he does to himself.

The second article was titled "Wild West of the East". It detailed the Panther Knob preservation effort. This area of West Virginia has sustained great ecological setbacks the most serious being a deforestation rampage that ran unchecked from 1870 to 1920. At the close only 200 acres remained somewhat unscathed. In the decades since there have been admirable strides made in proteacting the forests's rebirth and ecouraging the reinstatement of previously eliminated or endangered species such as the snowshoe hare, the fisher, and the flying squrrel.

As volunteer article, Buzz Hussman paraphrased one from Harvard Magazine regarding the activities of Peter Hogarty, a Maine citizen who is processing and marketing wool made from a blend of Soviet and American fleece. It comes in 3 colors, gray, gray, and gray and takes 8 months of very red tape to get to market. Seriously, Mr. Hagerty calls it Peace Fleece and sees it as a gesture of fellowship and staying with the Hussmans during his attendance at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

Ellen Hartge had an article that detailed a potion made from blending orange peels with boiling water and pouring the infusion over ant colonies that one wishes eliminated.

Elizabeth Thornton had an article from Old Wives` Lore for Gardeners entitled "Sartorial". Therein was advice to test the soil for tilling and planting in various stages of undress. There was a degree of timeless common sense in the suggestions but in the 16th or 18th century it must have been less likely for a gradener's neighbors to suggest straitjackets as more appropriate attire for those inclined to test the soil with unadorned areas of one's anatomy.

Iduna Hanel gave the forethought which she admitted was more of an afterthought because most of the things to do should have already been done by now.

Everything outght to be cleaned - the lawn, the woods, the flower bed and the garden. The roses should be fertilized. Trees and shrubs should be planted and transplanted. Those already in should already be pruned, cleaned and fertilized. Seedings inside should be hardened outside before planting. Houseplants should be taken outside but, of course, brought in if there's a threat of frost. Remove mulch from strawberries. Hot or cold frames should be in full use.

H/6/1988-1-

June 7th, Roslyn page 1

A warm day preceded our meeting at Roslyn, home of the Hussmans. The trees, garden and grounds were well into the principle of flourishing growth and the house radiated a welcoming spirit of comfort and familiarity. Unfortunate to be missing were the Bullards, the Chances, the Allens, and Elizabeth Thornton. There were not guests per se but we enjoyed the presence of Nell Johnsen, Helen Farquhar, and Hannah Conlon.

After an abundant and delicious meal, Peter Conlon began the meeting with an article about spiders from the Journal of New York State's Department of Enviomental Conservation. It was entitled "Spiders - Assasins with Silky Snares". The article written by James H. Moerschel, told of his fascination with spiders and his appreciation of their webspinning capabilities.

The article said that there are about 30,000 species of spiders in the world and about 650 species in the New England area alone. Mr. Moerschel was more interested in types of spiders that spin webs and make the most of their silk. An interesting point is that the spider makes a new web each day and it takes an average of 20 minutes. He failed to mention that spiders like bats are diminutive and efficient allies in the gardener's war to control insect populations. A Dr. Bristowe of early 20th Century Britian estimated that British spiders consume enough insects a year to outweigh the entire British human population.

There was no volunteer article.

Due to Elizabeth Thornton's inexusable absence , John Hartge read the minutes from 100 years ago. Appropriately enough that meeting was at Riverside. The exhibits at that meeting included a dizzying array of vegetables and withering number of poultry and ducks. The enduring question emerged whether or not the English Sparrow has any friends. Apparently the president of the Society at that time had turned against the species and such negative influence had left the poor bird in widespread low regard. A contingent of Society members arrived late due to their earlier attendance at a neighboring wedding - it was not noted who was wed.

The forethought was simpler than usual because everything should be growing, harvested, and replanted. A few specific reminders included removing flowers from plants after full bloom. Pinch and feed mums. Prune and feed primroses. Pansies should be cut back in mid or late June for Fall bloom. Berries should be mulched and plan to rotate strawberries after 3 years.

H/6/1988-3-

While relaxing in the calm before the evening's meal, a group of us sighted a piliated woodpecker flying across the Hussman's field. Lydia Haviland reported hearing an owl late one night unusually close to her house. Harking back to the minutes of a century ago, Caroline Hussman drew attention to the doom & gloom regarding the overwhelming threat that english sparrows represented in regards to our more valuable birds. One hundred years later we still have plenty of lovely and virtuous avian friends despite the profusion of vile, pushy, prolific, feathered vermin such as starlings and English sparrows. Ellen Hartge reports a Baltimore Oriole nest near her house. Also mentioned was the ballpark orioles going a full 14 innings the night before thus setting some sort of endurance record as well as accomplishing a rare win.

The redundancy committee reports 27 complete years of Society minutes coded into the participants computers.

QUESTIONS Edwina Earp has 2 patches of Dutch iris. Both are 2 years old but one patch has flowered nicely but the other with normal foliage had flowers that rotted and otherwise failed. No impassioned advice was forthcoming but it was suggested that she sprinkle the patches with lime and sulfa dust. In the dormant season maybe dig up the patch and roll the roots in the same powder before replanting. Harold Earp has asparagus beetles in his asparagus patch. Two solutions were offered: chickens and sevin. Tom Farguhar needs blue bird houses. Advised to call Francis Eylers. He also lamented his strawberries who have problems with birds, beetles, and mold. Advised to put in more plants and hope for good weather. On an iris question he was advised to trim the flowers but not too far back. Mary Seller complains that house finches have taken over feeders meant for goldfinches. What to do short of armed defense. Recommended that she tape up the holes above the perches - house finches wouldn't like the arrangement but goldfinshes can eat upside-down and thuse would be undeterred. Lydia Haviland drew our attention to a Christmas cactus she has that blooms year round. Other Society members mentioned Christmas cactuses the've know that behave in similar fashion. Buzz mentioned the Sheep and Wool Festival and the success it was. He drew attention to Peter Hagerty of the Peace Fleece endeavor. Your humble secretary met this individual and found him to be personable, bright, on the idealistic side but with unimpeachable motivations regarding relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.. Caroline Hussman has tiny mites in her herb patch. Advised to cut and burn afflicted plants in hopes that new growth with spring forth free of mites.

H/6/1988-4-

Tom Canby brought up the ancient question of when to stop cutting asparagus and why do they heel over before the first wind. Stop cutting when you begin picking peas in earnest - about now. Staking could help limit their tendency to fall over. Nell Johnsen asked about the sycamore trees and why they all look so stricken and diseased. Unhealthy appearance attributed to fungus that attacks during an early stage of leaf development if conditions are wet enough. Tree will recover as season progresses. She also asked about Roundup - said to be strong but well prone to decompose into harmless elements. Helen Farquhar asked if it was too late to plant nasturtims. Advised to plant now without too much delay. Keep in mind that they like full sun. Transplanting was possible but operation had to be done with considerable delicacy. Iduna Hanel has ailing dogwoods - trees look sickly, the trunk are turning black and the leaves have little brown spots. Recommended that she go to the Extension Service with a leaf sample. Nancy Preuss planted peonies 3 years ago on the east side of their houses and the plants aren't doing very well. Advised to apply bone meal. Also check to make sure they weren't planted too deep. Possible they should be moved to location with full sun. Harold Earp brought the original and copies of a brochure written by Jon Kinney about the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park. The text is imbued with a profound love for these giant trees and makes for good reading. Kinney was killed in a car accident in 1986. Also distributed was a publication funded by the Environment Protection Agency entitled Baybook . It detailed ways to reduce water use and minimize wastewater. Such efforts undertaken by more and more people would have a profound effect on the good health of the Chesapeake Bay and our water supply in general.

The meeting was brought to a close. We thanked the Hussmans for their hospitality and since Chances were absent for the evening's meeting, we agreed to have our next meeting at their house on July 5.

H/9/1990-3-

September 4, 1990, Quailhill, page 3

Elizabeth Thornton asked where scraping corn was available. Todd Greenstone and the Stablers were two possible sources. She also bemoaned a large harvest of Georgia Jet sweet potatoes that were big and tasteless.

Susan Canby has powdery mildew on lilacs - should she prune them now? No, the mildew won't kill - it just weakens. Prune later.

Sally Eller inquired about japanese lotus. It was said that if the Earps were here they'd know.

John Hartge asked what favorite scents the group could come up with. Honey suckle, bridal veil, lilac, Viburnum, basil, lemon balm, wild artemesia, and mint were among those offered.

In the wake of Gordy Allen-Wardell's eloquent proponency of bee keeping, Bettes Hartge offered that a Bee Report might make a good addition to our meetings. There were nods of agreement but no movement was formally addressed.

Sherry Fletcher is looking for a stand of milkweed. Behind soccer field at SSFS suggested. She is interested in Monarch Butterfly eggs whose numbers have suffered considerably because of gypsy moth spraying. The Ellers have lots of milkweed but no monarch eggs. West Virginia Monarch count is way down.

Ted Fletcher has an adult Japanese Maple that is doing poorly. Brookside gardens has the same problem and if the missing members of the society were in attendance, they'd probably know what was wrong. Also what would be the advantage to being polluted at night? Less competition.

Ellis Manning watched a cicada killer in action. He made it sound like being next to a military proving ground crossed with roller derby and professional wrestling. Gordy Allen-Wardell related an instance when he was manning the Extension Service telephone when a concerned individual asked how he could keep his child from being attacked by a cicada killer. Gordy recommended never, never dress the child up as a cicada. Christie added that his tenure at the phones is not guaranteed.

We at some point appologized to our guests about the absence of our brain trust and agreed that in the future those members should not be given permission to slim our ranks so completely as they did that evening.

The hosts were grateful for those who did attend and congratulated themselves for passing themselves off as grownups. We concluded the meeting and agreed to next meet at Roslyn, home of the Hussmans when Harold Earp would be the assigned reader.

Humbly, Peter Austin sec/treas.