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H/9/1989-1

Friends Community House, September 5, 1989; page 1

The evening was cloudy and cool but no less pleasant for it as we gathered
at the Friends Community House for our September meeting. With the Allen's
lovely house and garden a few miles away we arranged ourselves on the
porch, men on the right and ladies on the left and chatted in a relaxed and
congenial manner.

When the last anticipated participant arrived we went in to an excellent
meal. Missing were the Hanels and the Earps. A welcome sight were Sylvia
Woodward, Mary Moore Miller, and Martha Nesbitt as well as the one new
member who was able to attend, Ellis Manning.

With the meal over the meeting was called to order. Ellis Manning was
welcomed to the fold. The minutes were read, corrected, and approved. Ari
Preuss read the selected article entitled "Shrinking Gene Pool". It was taken
from the British journal New Science and dealt with a possible horticultural
crisis stemming from the standardization of plant varieties. The reason
behind this genetic retreat was commericialization at its worst and most
ambitious whereby advances in plant breeding and marketing would result in
fruits and vegetables that look alike, taste alike, behave the same, preserves
well, tastes bland, and ultimately reduces plant viability, vitality, and
resistance to disease.

Elizabeth Thornton read the minutes from 100 years ago after which we
moved on to the forethought.

Harvesting dominated the forethought some of whose content Ellen Hartge
cribbed from 1950's minutes. We were told that the war on weeds is either
won or lost by now and that we can still plant lettuce and radishes.
Pumpkins can stay on the vine up until just before the first frosts which we
should look for towards the end of the month.

Bring in houseplants and divide peonies and any daylilies over 5 years old.

Fertilize lawns and put in new shrubs. Do not waste money on scentless
marigolds and remember that grapes do not ripen after they've been picked -
a point worth debate from the vintners among the assembly.

The Meteorologist Report noted that the coldest day of the last month was
on the 9th when it was 46 degrees. The warmest was on the 6th when it was
94. Peak gust happened on the 30th when the wind puffed 23 mph. National
Airport rainfall was 1.15 inches - down for the month but still 6.8 inches
above average for the year at this time.

EXHIBITS

The Chances brought in a nice basket of vegetables.
Lydia Haviland offered a pair of big sunflowers.
Priscilla Allen brought in a tomato that had been chewed on during its youth
but the wound had scarred over into a vague likeness of Richard Nixon.
Rose Hill brought a beautiful anjou pear and some pecans.