Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1989

H/4/1989-1-

April 4, 1989; Lea House

It had been a tantalizing spring day that preceded our meeting at Lea House on April 4. Mostly cloudy with the sun breaking through every now and then to make the temperatures in the 60's seem more proximate to the 70's than the 50's. After a winter that seemed bland and undramatic we were pleased to be starting a new season of growth and productivity. A case in point were the garden and grounds of our hosts, the Pruess' who had poised the earth's fecundity on a spring board waiting for a bit more sun and warmth to burst forth resplendently.

After the winter's string of lesser meals the evening's spread was all the more excellent and well tended by guests Lou Simpson and Rita Kuma, 2 senior students at Sandy Spring Friends School.

As the meeting followed we noted with heavy hearts that during the winter Elizabeth Ligon passed away. This unique lady had been a longtime member of the Society as well as a sturdy, twinkling, and magnificent member of the community. At 94 we all deserve a sleep but those left behind will miss her spark and are sorry to have her go. In the same vein the community will miss Raymond Havens who died on March 31st - a couple weeks short of his 98th birthday. Although a brief member of the Horticultural Society Raymond Havens was an individual of conscience and strength who figured very prominently in our Friends Community.

We continued with the previous meeting's minutes being read and corrected.

Next the by-laws were read as per custom.

Following that the Nominating Committee proposed that the Society's next 2 years should be officered by Caroline Hussman as President, Nancy Preuss as Vice President, and Peter Austin as Secretary Treasurer. With no other nominations the choices were approved rapidly.

Our reader for the evening was Elizabeth Thornton whose selection was from the 1987-88 Winter edition of the Herb Quarterly. The article was titled "Tulipomania". It concerned tulips and the Dutch of the late Renaissance. The article told of an outrageous fad that obsessed an ordinarily sober and financially prudent people. Vast sums were spent, fortunes were speculated, and ruin was experienced by those importing, propagating, trading and sometimes accidentally eating tulips.

H/4/1989-2-

April 4, 1989; page 2 John Hartge followed with a piece from the March National Gardening magazine that told of a scientist who was putting the tiniest known bar codes on the back of honeybees and a laser scanner at the hive's entrance so that their habits could be better known and understood.

Leslie Rogers had some flyers concerning gypsy moths and local spraying information. Beth Bullard brought notice to the year 1910 when the state of Massachusetts spent over a million dollars to try unsuccessfully to control the moth. The moral seems to be that the moth's population will naturally implode after it blossoms. If one can survive the damage, it sometimes works to do nothing and let the odious little monsters live themselves to death.

Beth Bullard reported that the revised new edition of Successful Gardening is out and available for $7.95 - small price to pay for sound advice on local gardening matters.

Old minutes from 100 years ago were read by Elizabeth Thornton. The Society met at Edgewood on April 8th, 1889.

The Nominating Committee made a further recommendation to press Ellen Hartge into service as Society Forethoughter. As John Hartge looked smug, the mantle of Society Meteorologist was passed to his shoulders from those of Tom Farquhar.

Iduna Hanel offered the first dizzying Forethought of the season. It included advice to pot and repot vegetable seedlings. Clean debris from areas to be planted. Spread lime to control leafspot. Spray fruit trees as soon as petals drop and leaves appear. Fertilize trees. Peonies if they are transplants will need a couple of years to acclimate and reach full stride. Early begonias and peonies will need full sun. Clean the strawberry patch. Clean as well the grape vines of any mummified fruit that might harbor fungus or pests. In preparing vegetable beds fireplace (but not barbeque) ashes are good to add. Sow boston lettuce, cauliflower, radishes, carrots and peas. Later in the month put in bean seeds and plan to put in successive plantings.

The Meteorologist Report was clouded with apologies from the dethroned Tom Farquhar who became distracted part way through his tenure by small items such as a catapulting career, attendant change of residence, etc., etc. We were able to glean data that indicated a basically mild winter. John Hartge provided some specifics he just happened to have on his person; January had a low of 6 degrees on the 5th and a high 57 on the 29th. Peak wind gust was 33mph.

H/4/1989-3-

April 4, 1989; page 3 February has a low of 11 degrees on the 10th and 11th and a high of 67 on the 1st. Peak wind gust was like January, 33mph. March's low was 14 degrees on the 8th and a high of 86 on the 28th. Peak gust was 28 mph.

Exhibits: From Rose Hill came tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, a magnolia blossom, peach blossoms, plum blossoms, redbuds, and spirea. From Jackpine came dwarf daffodils, sassafras buds, witch hazel, and pleris andromeda. The Earps brought daffodils, grape hyacinths, forsythia, a star magnolia blossom, a soulangeana magnolia blossom, andromeda, flowering cherry, and hyacinth. Riverside offered assorted daffodils, crocus, wind anemone, sorrel, salade burnet, rubarb, wigelia, bush honeysuckle, and overwintered carrots. Quailhill brought daffodils, grape hyacinth, violets, scilia, apricot blossoms, quince blossoms, and forsythia. The Cedars brought daffodils and daphne odeona.

The Bird Report raised the triumphant word that the much maligned Orioles had recently won after 11 innings of hard pitched battle. On other avian fronts, it was noted that earlier that day the cedar waxwings had flown through the area on their North-bound migration. Also noted was that purple martins had not yet been sighted in the area. Bluebird sightings were good.

From the Membership Committee came word that a verbal resignation was received from the Goffs - Flora will need heart surgery and there isn't ample time or energy for proper involvement in the society. The Committee assured the gathering that they would discuss new memberships before the next meeting.

The Redundancy Committee had nothing to report.

There was no new business.

Questions; Nancy Preuss had a couple kiskas that had been left at Lea House 2 years ago July. Could they be claimed by anyone. Yes, Elizabeth Thornton identified them as the lost kistkas of Quailhill and repossessed them. Harold Earp wanted to know if the Ground Nut is another term for peanut. Some said yea, others said nay. Before a fight ensued the term was looked up and found to be synonymous with potato bean, or wild bean. Mary Grady asked after the cherry blossoms in DC. Word had it that there are still blossoms but they're past prime. It was further noted that that afternoon the blossoms at

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

H/5/1989-1-

Iris : May 2, 1989; page 1

It had been rainy and cool with almost an inch of precipitation the day before our gathering at Iris, home of the Hanels. The day of our meeting was on the cool side but sunny, breezy and splendid. The dogwoods were in full glory and the Hanels' home nestled in the woods was perfectly designed to reap full advantage of spring's glory.

Missing from the meeting were the Canbys, the Bullards, and Priscilla Allen. As consolation we had with us that evening Mary Moore Miller and Sylvia Woodward. The Guests were Tim and Sally Eller, and Sherry and Ted Fletcher. Helping with the mechanics of our sumptuous meals were Rita Kuma and Lou Simpson who we met at our last meeting at Lea House.

After the meal the minutes from the previous meeting were read, corrected, and passed.

While the gathering was still wondering if more glaring errors and fabrications than normal in the minutes had slipped by, the Treasurer reported that the Society's coffers held $60.50. Before anyone could ask for an accounting, the yearly dues of $.50 was collected from each member family present.

Nancy Chance took Tom Canby's slot as reader while he and Susan were off gallivating overseas. She read from the Herb Companion an article by Tom DeBagio who is a commercial herb grower in Arlington, Virginia.

The article was a cautionary report on growing herbs from seeds. It was interesting not only for the folklore and mail order pronouncements that were debunked but also the various facts and procedures that the author has experienced in herb culture.

Among the warnings about mail order claims regarding growing herbs from seeds is that many seed packets have low germination rates such as rosemary. Also said is that some seeds sold are not what they are labeled. - peppermint, oregano, compacta, and lavender are four examples. Other problems is that a variety of herb sold in seed form might turn out to be tasteless, weak charactered, or non-viable such as English Thyme.

DeBagio suggests herbs that can be grown from seeds and gives pointers on starting the seeds and growing the seedlings and plants. He also mentioned herbs that are best grown from cuttings or transplants and recommends profound distrust of dissenting opinions.