Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1966

1st April

Dear Alan,

We are sorry not to be able to attend the April meeting of the Horticultural Society - our plans the past few weeks have been upset by my Mother's illness in New York. She seems to be coming

along better now & I am returning to N.Y. to be with her for a few days again.

We look forward to the May meeting at our house, & would appreciate your relaying this welcome to the meeting on Tuesday.

Sincerely, Wendy Lawrence

H/4/1966-1April 5-1966 - In our 103rd Year At The Highlands with Bob and Mary Reading Miller

Those of us who had been used to an older, much larger home at "The Highlands", including countless spacious rooms, many buildings, several children, various animals and expansive farm acreage, can be well content with what is now found at the new "Highlands". Here we find the same gracious hosts, the same warm welcome in new surroundings, the same lovely furniture and household appointments, the same evidences of good gardening and horticulture, and above all the same enjoyable hospitality.

Evidences of Spring were beginning to show everywhere, but the singing of our birds was somehow drowned out by the general hubub of our becoming acquainted again, catching up on the news and gossip after six months' vacation. After a tremendous dinner, our President Ulric Hutton called the Society together at 7:45 pm. He welcomed our visitor from England, Miss Hunter who is a guest of the Farquhars; and we noted the absences of the Bentleys, the Goffs, V. Hussman, Claire Hutton, the Lawrences and the Francis Thomases.

The minutes of our last meeting were read by the Secretary and accepted by the audience. He read a letter from Wendy Lawrence explaining their absence, due to her mother's illness neccessitating a last minute change in our meeting place, and expressing the hope of seeing us all at their place in May. A letter from the Mid-Montgomery County Jaycees received in November in reply to oursof September First, was read and discussed. The Weskes reported on having had bushels of cans picked up. Miss Hunter informed us that being a litter-bug is a "fine-able" offense in England. Caroline Hussman spoke of police trailing some people who threw out trash, and others mentioned various experiences. It was suggested that the Secretary acknowledge the Jaycees' letter.

Our Reader for the evening, Douglas Farquhar, is also our weather recorder and prophet, who delights in giving us an imposing array of "mean" and "cool" figures. He combined a great deal of both kinds, including rain and snow for the last six months, into the following abbreviated summary: Mean Temperatures were for Nov. 46 degrees, Dec. 40 degrees, Jan. 33 degrees, Feb. 33 degrees, and March 43 degrees. Rainfall for Nov. 1.2 " " .3" " 1.5" " 2.5" " " .7", 1" snowfall in Dec., 29" in Jan. and 13" in Feb., both precipitants way below the normal. Temperatures by months for the last six years were given to show variations of only 5 or 60 at the most for each month. He predicted normal temperatures for April, with extra showers, while May would return to cool wet weather with frequent thunderstorms.

Douglas' daughter mailed him an article from the Baltimore Sun, which was very entertaining. The author got a jump on Spring by forgetting television, radio and all household chores, and concentrating on making plants grow and glow. His contemplation over tending his indoor plants, petunias, asters, platycodons, forgetmenots; the use of special lights, particular care of sprouting grape cuttings; his excellent descriptions of daily happenings in the trays and the bright prospects of an excellent harvest, all this reminds us that something wonderful happens in Spring to everyone and everything.

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Bea Wilson was so full and bubbling over with "Forethought" that your Secretary had a hard time keeping up with her. Among other things she reminded us to sow seeds for early plants in the house, to get rid of chickweed, repair your lawnmowers, prepare the compost pile, plant a highly resistant tomato the Enterprize available at Beltsville, fertilize peonies and other plants, remove mounds from your roses and make a final pruning of peach trees as the blossoms open. She suggested planting the "Madcap" Hollyhock seeds now to have early Fall blooms. Sycamores are being used in place of Elms as shade trees, there are new hybrid Pansies of more than three inches in diameter, the Chrysler Imperial Rose now has the best fragrance in five years and the Red Monarch Sweet William is now an annual.

Liz Canby, our Assistant for the evening, read the list of exhibits as follows: the Mannings brought Andromeda, Magnolia, Plum and Jonquils; The Wilsons had Nasturtiums and Hen & Chicks; Pansies and Parsley were brought by the Farquhars; the Ulric Huttons had Pieris Florinbunda, Pieris Japonica and Daffodils; the Canbys had Cabbage, Turnips and Kale, while the Thomases had some Kale; Claire and Bea Hutton brought 3 varieties of Jonquils, White Myrtle, Purple Myrtle Johnny-Jump-Ups and Hyacinth; and the Ligons had 10 varieties of Daffodils, as well as from their greenhouse 4 kinds of Begonias, 2 Geraniums, Calla Lily, 2 Stocks, 2 Orchids, Lantana and some Fuchsia.

The Ligons have songsparrows and the Weskes have purple finches, while other members mentioned seeing Gulls, Juncos, Larks, Blackbirds, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Tohees, Cardinals, and many various types of Sparrows.

As required in our By-Laws, the Secretary read the By-Laws and Resolutions at this first meeting of the year. A discussion arose on the 5th Resolution which states: "That the day before each meeting every family shall report to the hostess how many from that house expect to attend". Betty Ligon closed the discussion with the resolution: "Members should notify the hostess if they cannot attend a meeting". The members present agreed on this proposal to be voted upon at the next meeting.

Questions: Mary Reading has a Nandina which is green and lovely on one side only, leaves on the other side were frost-bitten. Also, she notified us that Mrs Brewster is anxious to get a ManGardener to "live in" at Olney Inn.

Bob Miller announced the Olney Theatre Play "Come Blow Your Horn", to be shown later this month, is being partly sponsored by the Sandy Spring Lions Club and he has tickets for sale.

Pete Ligon noted that winer killed foliage is mostly above the snow but not below it. He needs a suitable container for Watermelon and Cantaloup seeds. One-half of milk carton is good to use but "Peat" Pots should work out best.

Betty Ligon: Should we spray roses with a regular spray now? Get a good fungicide first. She also has squirrels climbing up her pipes, but we couldn't do much about that!

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Lucy Manning's Mahonia plant seems to be drying up, does it need water? All kinds of conditions cause failure before bees fly.

John Weske: Do mice like Bloodroot? No, its just too early. What is the best method for him to use on his annual boxes in the house, Peat Moss or white sand? No real answer, but moisture can be retained under plastics. Petunias need moisture and to be watched once a day. Spagnum moss can be used also. Pete would use Hutton steamed garden soil. He has a 1920 washing machine that steams a full wheelbarrow load at a time.

Miss Hunter says that England has too much water and they have difficulty finding plants to grow in water.

Helen Farquhar noted that Edward Iddings exhibit was left out of the list and it should be shown. It turned out to be a beautiful Waxplant, a member of the Tropical Asclepias family.

Caroline Hussman has an overgrown Yew bush, should she cut or prune it? It can be moved and some do prune theirs every year. In England they shape their Yew hedges. Can you suit your own eye until growth comes in? Yes, cut vigorously and shape to suit self.

Dale Thomas wanted to know if anyone had used liquid kelp? No one had any experiences yet, but let her try it and tell us.

Betty Ligon asked about Alan's indoor tomato plants. They are tropical tree tomatoes, and supposedly will bear delicious fruit in another year. He has his fingers crossed.

Dorothy Weske suggested keeping scrapbooks on our Forethought. The group decided it was not feasible now. She told of the people in Utah eating no greens, generally existing on meat, potatoes, corn.

Ulric Hutton told of the Jimson Weed poisoning of children. It seems that certain Tennessee nurseries were grafting tomato plants on the Jimson weeds, which is definitely poisonous to people. This topic created a lively discussion and description of the poisonous weeds around here.

The President finally adjourned the meeting 9:40 pm to meet again in May at The Windrush, with Commander and Mrs Clive Lawrence in Burtonsville.

Alan F. Thomas, Secretary