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H/5/1950 - 1-

Riverside

MAY 1950

Riverside is such a perfect museum of interesting
and charming things that a visitor could happily
spend hours of comtemplative enjoyment there.
However, nothing but brief glimpses of quaint, pretty
nooks could be gained last April May 4th, what with
enthusiastic Horticultural members milling around
everywhere.

President Frederick McReynolds called the
meeting to order, and the minutes were read and
approved.

Edith Owings had selected from The Maryland
Gardener a good article on boxwood, which was read
by Elizabeth Ligon. No one knows the exact origen
of this romantic plant; it is found on the slopes of
the Himalayas and is also native to England. Its
romantic use in formal gardens can be traced to the
Rennaisance. Spanish explorers first brought it to
America. Francis Bacon said of it: "its aromatic bitten
sweetness refreshed the wanderer in the garden".
Varieites range from English dwarf to boxus arborescens,
12-14 feet high. Put a cow manure mulchon
around it in December and leave it on for the winter.
Every 3 years top dress it with an inch of good
rich soil.

"The Case of the Misplaced Musket", or
cranberry glades, was read by Ted Nesbitt from Ford
Times. In West Virginia may be found 5 areas of
unstable land, usually found much farther north, on
which grows plant life stunted because of the nitrogen
deficiency. Orchids, two species of carnivorous plants,
birds ordinarilly native to Canada, are samples of
the odd flora and fauna of the muskeg.

Clarence Hurrey then read us some of the
Lewis Gannetts' adventures in utilizing wild plants
for food Fiddleheads, they found, are delicious.
Nettles and very, very young milkweed make good eating.
Be sure to strain your skunk cabbage thrice. Muffins
of figweed seeds, chenopodium album to you, will
make a hit with the family. Elderberry jelly is also
excellent.

Rebecca Small, otherwise known as Madam Fore-
thought, reminded us among other things, to divide
and pinch back chrysanthemums and asters now.
Plant gladioli in succession. Use a mulch for newly