Horticultural Society

H/6/1989-2-

Lakeview, June 6, 1989 ; page 2

Our last frost date was May 4 although the month's low was recorded as 27 degrees on the 6th. The high for the month was 89 on May 31st. The most notable rainstorm happened on the 6th when 4.5 inches fell and caused major minor (or minor major) flooding in the area. The constabulary fearing that Brighton Dam might break arrived early on Haviland Mill Road to evacuate residents. Most residents chose not to move and the dam chose not to burst. We are 6 inches over the average rainfall to date.

The Exhibits were passed and admired.

The Bird Report brought to notice a hummingbird nest at Clifton. Jim Bullard reports it being about 12 feet off the ground in a norway maple near the front of the house. Jim also gave an exhausive listing of the birds spotted in the lower Seiler woods during pre-dawn bird walks. The large variety was attributed to the wide variety of habitats overlapping that area. The Chances told of a purple martin visiting their martin house briefly and moving on. Caroline Hussman has cliff swallows in her barn but no barn swallows. Iduna Hanel has chirping beasts in an undesignated part of her basement. A postscript mentions that the culprits were birds who had squeezed through a missing brick and nested in some ductwork. John Hartge spotted a white starling. Ensuing comments indicated that this occurrence is unusual but not rare. The Baltimore Orioles have a new ornithologically correct cap that is said to be a best seller. The birds that used to be know as Baltimore Orioles are labeled Northern Orioles.

The Redundancy Committee had nothing, no nothing, to report.

There was no new business.

QUESTIONS

Mary Seiler reports bees in the Sandy Spring Museum attic. Advised to call Extension Service. Ted Fletcher said that early March is the best time to evict bees as they don't have a store of honey to encourage their or another colony's tenure.

Jim Bullard recalled arduously relocating an entrenched hive to a spot within the 3 mile removal limit of which he was unaware. The next day the colony flew back to their old haunt.

Iduna Hanel brought a large book on lichens written by Eric Lundberg, Ashton, Maryland, 1962. Did anyone know this man. None of the membership knew Mr. Lundberg personally but word was that he moved to West Virginia and remains there.

Sylvia Woodward brought in a sampling of rather offensive looking galls that are festering on her azalea. Advised to pick them off and burn them. Save one for the Extension Service.

BIEN VENU Oct. 3, 1961

On the first cold rainy day of fall we met with the Wilsons, too late to enjoy the grden but we found the house bright and cheerful with attractive flower arrangements and a warm welcome from the host and hostess and some of their family. In the absence of the President and Vice President, Jack Bentley presided. The minutes of the September meeting were approved as read. Helen Bentley read "Why Blow and Cultivate?" by a Mr. Garst of Iowa who used a wchemical to keep the field weed-free after once discing it, and drilling in the corn. He has found that cultivation opens up the roots to germs and fewer trips over the fields meant less packing of the soil. His work time could be spread over lrger frms or he could use the saved time for rest. Guesses after the reading were that Mr. Garst might have been the man by that name who entertained Mr. Kruschev. Helen also read "Invite a Hummingbird to Your Garden." They need plants with nectar which we vcan give them if we want the joy of having these birds around. The third article was intriguingly titled, "The Corpse in the Compost Heap" and as author of mystery stories, the writer suggests we might find even that in a pile since most anything gets in them, including magazines. Dont put in Oxalis or anything with a disease such as rose cuttings with black spots on them.

Carrying on from last month, the Secretary described Franklinia as a shrub native but very rare in Geaorgia,-half-hardy to Mass. It grows from 6 to 20 feet tall with smooth, shiny bright green leaves and large waxy white flowers in the fall. All plants of theis species are thot to have come from the original tree in John Bartram's 18th Century garden near Philadelphia. We were told there is some of this on the banks at the Brighton Dam.

Our Forethought suggested that we gather seed pods for win winter arrangements; lift our glad corms; pot daffodils and crocuses for winter blooming; see that shrubs and perrenils are not suffering for lack of water; seed and fertilizer lawns; dust rose bushes; pot parsley; plant cover crops; put leaves in c compost put or pile with lime. An appropriate verse "topped off" the helpful advice.

Exhibits: Springdale had potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes. Rust Canby had reached over his head to pick some of the tomatoes that had started bearing in July. Rose Hutton brought magnolia, lilacs, beautyberry or callicarpa and evergreens; Roslyn -chrysanthemums and roses. The Mannings' potatoes were produced by cutting the potatoes as usual to plant and putting them on top of hay that had been put out on the ground worked up for peas, lay the peas on the groujnd, lpile dirt on them then some manure. They will grow satisfactoruily.

Meteorologist's Report: High ave. temp. 81.6°, love ave. 62°; rainfall .48 (less than ½ inch).

Edward Iddings will give next spring his findings about

H/5/1968-2.

TheAzeleas at Brighton Dam are at their peake right now.

Alan and Dale have fruit on their Apricot and plum trees, thanks to Horticultural advise on spraying which Dale did last fall.

Adjourned to meet at The Highlands on June 4th- with Elizabeth Ligon as reader.

Mary Reading Miller, Secretary.