Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1990

ReadAboutContentsHelp

Pages

Page 11
Page Status Indexed

Page 11

H/7/1990-1-

July 3, 1990, Riverside, page 1

What was in the air when we had our July meeting at Riverside? Before there was a packed house and a delicious meal the porch and garden were laced with conversations and strolling groups unaware of the passage of time and lost in the pleasure of the gathering. The meal didn't start until 7:30 and the meeting didn't start until almost 9:00 when the sun and its light slipped from our day.

We were graced with a lovely array of guests; Peter and Anita Ligon, Louie Canby, Cathy Nelson & Brian Cousin, and Margaret Jones & Michael Jones.

When the meeting finally got started Elizabeth Thornton read the minutes from the previous meeting. They were passed with the correction that slugs similar to their human counterparts will not drown themselves in vinegar - only beer will do.

As there was no unfinished business Buzz Hussman read the seleced article which was by Robert Courick in Harrowsmith Magazine. It was about asian pears; history, virtues, cultivation, and economics. A short discussion followed on the gathering's experience with the fruit and although there seemed to be no lack of enthusiasm, knowledge, or good intentions about this intriguing fruit, no one has yet grown them.

Bill Hartge next read a quote from the highly esteemed Montgomery County Journal attributed to his son John.

The Century-old minutes were read by Elizabeth Thornton. July 1st at Fair Hill, 1890. The exhibits included ripe (which was underlined) tomatoes and potatoes indicating a veiled yet fierce competition. Also mentioned was a "digusting" poultry report that detailed a night when rats stole 100 chickens. Those rodents aren't called rats for nothing.

The Forethought recommended that vegetables be watered one inch per week. Fertilize tomatoes at 3/4 cup of 10-10-10 per plant. Stake plants. Give roses their last feeding at the end of July. Stop pruning chrysanthemums. French hydranges need lime now to turn their blooms purple next year.

John Hartge's meteorologist's report mentioned 2.9 inches of rain which is 2 inches low for the year. It was a dry month with 11 days with no rain, 8 days with 1/10 and then 3 days until appreciable rain fell. The high temperature was 97 on the 5th of June and tthe low was 69 on the 31st.

Last edit over 1 year ago by mbrockway
Page 12
Page Status Indexed

Page 12

H/7/1990-2-

Julyy 3, 1990, Riverside, page 2

EXHIBITS

Exhibits included a large cabbage and some lovely cucumbers from the Hanels. Lydia Haviland contributed a nice broccoli, big potatoes, and a nice cabbage. From the Chances came nasturtiums, chrysanthemums, salvia, snapdragon, roses, and zinnias. From Riverside came zinnias, chrysanthemums, marigolds, pineapple sage, and a picture of their pepper crop. From the Earps came tuberose, snapdragon, foxglove, chrysanthemum, santana, dahlias, crocuses, colchicuums, begonia, and a rose. From Amersley came asters, chrysanthemums, nicotiana, a simplicity rose, dahlias, 1 limp colchicum, and tradescantia. Jackpine and Roslyn brought mixed flowers.

Bird Report Mo Chance told of seeing a pair of house finches making a ruckus in his umbrella pine. They were joined by a flock of their ilk. They in turn were joined by Mo who spotted a snake in the tree which he banished. On a sad note it was recalled that Frances Ayers, a local champion for the bluebird population, had died. Cathy Nelson reported a wounded red shouldered hawk had been found at Riverside and turned over to the Patuxant Wildlife Center for rehabilitation.

Committees The Redundancy Committee's efforts were on display in the next room. 2300 questions had been logged.

Questions

Buzz Hussman started the questions off in a horticultural, literary, and philosophic vein by asking what are wild oats, is it written where one can't sow wild oats, and who hasn't sewn wild oats. It seem that wild oats are a variety of rare timbered tree because the meeting was temporarily stumped. Mo followed with a question over how to keep clover out of one's lawn and thus out of one's garden. It was believed that there exists a clover specific herbicide. Referring back to Buzz and his wild oats it was mentioned that on the West Coast wild oats are considered a pest. It was recommended by the conservative elements that perhaps it's best not to sew wild oats. However, on the Eastern Seacoast sea oats are planted to protect dunes from eroding. Anita Ligon wanted to know how to move mint without destroying other plants. Advised simply to dig it up and

Last edit over 1 year ago by mbrockway
Page 13
Page Status Indexed

Page 13

H/7/1990-2.

July 3, 1990, Riverside, page 3

not worry. Best to plant in plastic container with holes in the bottom from which it can still escape but with greater difficulty. Bettes Hartge asked the identity of the shade tree near the pool; Japanese Snowball. OK, can the group identify the adjacent bush; no. Cathy Nelson planted 3 rose campions and they're not doing well - rather they are dying from the center while in flower. Nancy Preuss observed the same behavior at Lee House but hers came back the next year. Mary Seiler has benignly neglected a section of her lawn so that it is now a nice clover field of 1/2 - 2 acres. Would anyone like to come in and bale it. Advised to call the Bonifants. Jim Bullard asked after the plastic jugs in the Hartge's garden. They have pitchfork holes in the bottom are used for watering. There ensued an involved discussion on holes and plastic jugs but no blinding insights were forthcoming. John Hartge asked how to keep squirrels out of the garden. In absence of Tom Canby, mylar strips and balloons with eyes were suggested. Live traps with one-way tickets to Howard County was also offered. John's second question was if anyone needs a "magic" corn scraper. As the deafening silence descended upon him Ellen slipped out to station herself at the door with several cases of scrapers to bestow upon the departing multitude.

We discussed the next meeting to be held at the National Cathedral. Bettes Hartge and Susan Canby volunteered to do unspecified organisational work. There would be no rain date, no exhibits, bring an umbrella and Peter Austin volunteered to read...hoping that there wouldn't enough time for him.

The hour was late, the gathering exceptional, the companionship sublime. We thanked the Riverside household for their hospitality and made our way past the corn scrapers into the night's darkness and our homes beyond.

Last edit over 1 year ago by mbrockway
Page 14
Page Status Indexed

Page 14

H/8/1990-1-

August 7, 1990, National Cathedral Garden, page 1

A stalwart collection of the Society congregated on the garden grounds of Washington DC's National Cathedral for our August meeting. Absent were the Preusses, Rudi Hanel, the Fletchers, and the Ellers. Guests were Nancy Bye and Louise Megansen. The weather favored us and our leisurely inspection of what a full-time gardening staff and the proximity to a holy edifice can do. Some of us were greatly impressed. Others of the Society could easily give the Cathedral groundskeepers a tinge of envy by what truly superlative gardeners can raise from the earth.

We repaired to the Cathedral School's cafeteria to a repast more off the cuff than usual but no less sumptuous. Caroline Hussman, Mary Seiler, Bettes Hartge, and Susan Canby did very well organizing the meal's appointments leaving nothing in absence.

Since we had invested our time and profited from the august garden tour and novel dining arrangement, our time for the meeting was diminishing fast. The previous meeting's minutes were raced through, unfinished business skipped over, the assigned article stumbled through hurriedly, and the 100-year-old minutes read with speed and grace.

Harold Earp gave us the Forethought for the month. We were to continue fertilizing tomatoes as before, advised not to prune shrubs, cut hardy perrennials to start in water. Also remove and destroy bag worms from arborvitae and other afflicted trees. Plant fall bulbs. Mentioned was the hue and cry that has recently been raised by county trash authorities regarding lawn clippings which constitutes a large part of landfill mass. We are advised to not encourage lawns to grow so vigorously, mow no more than every 5 days, and leave the clippings where they fall.

John Hartge followed with the Meterologist Report. The average low temperature was 65 and the average high was 90. The high temperature was 101.8 on the 5th and the low was 59 on the 13th. 5.7 inches of rain fell at Riverside (2 more than at National Airport who reports that their rainfall exceeds the average by 1/2 inch). Even though it seemed like a wet month July went 18 days without rain.

The Bird Report encompassed the sublime and...uh...less than sublime. Elizabeth spotted a snowy egret in the pond at Olney's Hallowell Village. On the other end of the scale, during the standard romantic, candel-lit dinner (with champagne!) at Riverside a shadow of a creature first thought to be a bird flitted uninvited and unappreciated about the dining area. Later with the assistance of Bill

Last edit over 1 year ago by mbrockway
Page 15
Page Status Indexed

Page 15

H/8/1990-2-

August 7, 1990, National Cathedral Garden, page 2

Hartge, John and Ellen banished the bat to the night's embrace. There was no sign whatsoever of how the wee beast enterred the room although the chiminy was suspected.

There was no Committee Reports of substance nor New Business.

Questions

Mary Seiler spoke everyone's mind in that this field trip was a wonderful idea - a round of applause for Caroline Hussman followed. Mary also asked how to control wild grape. Like kudzu wild grape can bean aggressive pest best cut off repeatedly at ground level or exposed to sheep or goats.

Crows have found Lydia Haviland's corn and are fat and smart. Mo Chance recommends balloons with eyes - also seems to work for deer.

Nancy Chance mentions thousands of starlings roosting nearby. Edwina Erp sympathizes - had same noisy, foul smelling congregation near her house last year.

Mo Chance asked Jim Bullard if he still has bluebird houses - yes; lots.

Harold asked Eli Rogers if nets over his grape vines work. Yes, but they must be anchored or the birds find their way inside.

Beth Bullard inquired if anyone understands nicotina plants whose blooms are only fragrant at night. It is understood that that's just the way the plants behave perhaps to attract night-flying pollinators.

Jim Bullard mentioned that the franklinia tree is not known to grow in this area. Sherry Fletcher's mother, Herb Kinney and Pete Hutton, however, have grown the tree successfully.

Tom Canby wanted to know what makes asperagus plants fall over - too much fertilizer and not enough support. A discussion ensued regarding asperagus plants that were purchased as an all male selection but turning out to contain lots of females.

Leslie Rogers has a hoxta plant that us muchh taller than usual - too much fertilizer blamed.

Eli Rogers saw a magnificent fig tree on the Cathedral grounds. Caroline says it's in a very sheltered spot that

Last edit over 1 year ago by mbrockway
Displaying pages 11 - 15 of 21 in total