Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1991

H/5/1991-3

May 7, 1991, Iris, page 3

Bettes Hartge needs apiarist Gordy Allen-Wardell's phone number to arrange bee hives to be put in at Riverside. Her second question regarded the optimum distance between bluebird houses. Some say 85 yards. Others say put lots of houses in and let the birds figure it out.

Ellen Hartge asked about gypsy moth traps. Yes they really work. However, the Extension Service doesn't reccommend because they attract and bring in moths from far away thus increasing your woes and diminishing your neighbor's.

Mo Chance has a neighbor with a 5-year old wisteria that has not blossomed. Wisteria said to take anywhere fro 5 to 10 years for wisteria to flower.

As mentioned several times earlier the hour was late and the assembly that wasn't dozing off was pawing to get home. We thanked the Hanels for their hospitality, bid them improved health, and congratulations on the approaching wedding of their daughter Selma. We agreed next to me at Rose Hill, home of the Rogers at which time Tom Canby will be the assigned reader.

with apologia for erata,

Peter Austin

Secretary/Treasurer

H/6/1991-1-

June 4, 1991, Rose Hill, page 1

We returned to Rose Hill, home of the Rogers, for our June meeting. Due to the energies and creativity of its denizens, Rose Hill remains ever more so an oasis of gentility and rooted beauty amidst suburbia's younger sprawl. We were missing the Ellers, the Bullards, the Hanels, Mary Manning, and Priscilla Allen. We were fortunate to have as guests Anne Jamison, Lisa Ritter, Mike Hyser, and Susan Canby's parents. Redge and Jenny Fifer. After a splendid repast we commenced the meeting with the reading of the previous meeting's minutes. They were corrected without too much bombast and recrimination and we progressed to the selected reader.

Tom Canby chose a National Geographic bulletin article about whitetail deer overpopulation in Catoctin National Park. This is the 4th year that the numbers of deer are at a level in the park that threaten starvation of their own species, damage to other lifeforms, and extinction of others. Since there is no hunting allowed the deer have no enemies and their population has increased unhindered to the dramatic detriment of all. It was a sobering, well-written article that made an undeniable case for thinning the population before further irreparable harm to the Catoctin area or any region similarly afflicted is incurred.

Ellis Manning followed with the reading of the hundred year old minutes. Worth repeating was the entry that sulpher applied to chickens kill insects...but also kills the chickens.

Harold Earp followed with a distilled version of the Extension Service Forethought Report. We are advised to not cut asparagus after late June. Where bagworms are a problem, pick them off and follow with a BT spray later on in the month. Plant gladiolas, dalias, and mums. Apple 510-5 fertilizer to roses after first crop of blossoms to guard against black spot. Also spray roses with a solution of 1 tablespoon powdered milk to a gallon of water for sticker. Where slugs are a nuisance, let them drown in beer. Stake your tomatoes if you want bigger, less numerous fruits - cage them if you want your crop smaller and more numerous. Cut, prune, and apply 5-10-5 to annuals. If your zinnias have powdery mildew pull them out and start again from seed. To protect fruit trees from coddling moth hang red painted spent lightbulbs coated with petroleum jelly. Don't forget to water, water, water and weed, weed, weed.

John Hartge gave us the Meteorologist Report we could've done without. It was the hottest May on record with a

H/6/1991-2-

June 4, 1991, Rose Hill, page 2

lamentable shortfall of rain. We had a 9 day heatwave and usually May's average over 90 degree days number 2. We had 1 1/2" rain and last year we had 5.2. In addition to the heat and aridity, we also had a tornado watch during which green clouds were sighted. Our high temperatures fell on the 25th and 26th when it was 92 degrees. The cool spot was on the 8th when it was 39. Fears of global warming were allayed a bit when it was brought up that other regions were experiencing lower temperatures. The Mid-Atlantic region and Siberia were reporting high temperatures and low rainfalls.

Exhibits

Outstanding amongst the exhibits were an adobe brick that Lydia Haviland brought back from a visit to New Mexico. In light of the brick and Lydia's equally weighty explanation, all other offerings were overshadowed.

The Bird Report included a piliated woodpecker nest at Quailhill. Ted Fletcher has a robin's nest near a window at Pi Acres. He asked how long it was between hatching time and when the fledglings were kicked out of the nest. No one knew so Ted was asked to report back. A postscript notes that Ted watched the nest for 2 weeks at which time a cat concluded the observation. It was added that nestling survival rates is less than 25%. The Bullards are at Dolly Sods on an analytical field trip during which they study and chart bird populations by listing and studying bird songs as opposed to actual sightings.

The Bee Report indicated the continuation of a good season.

Committee Reports focussed on the microfilming effort which aims to get under full swing during the 3rd week in June. Need for prepatory work requires 5 people who volunteered without too much cajolling and threats.

There was no New Business so we went on to Questions. Sherry Fletcher has a 15 foot stewardia and it's the plant's 1st year for blossoms which stay on one day and drop off. Acknowledged as a slow grower perhaps the heat and dryness is to be blamed for the blossom's short tenure.

A report back report came up regarding the Mantis brand of mini cultivator. Although small and cheap looking it is said to work well and yield satisfying results.

Mary Seiler referred to Tom Canby's article on deer overpopulation and was thus inclined to rethink her

H/6/1991-3-

June 4, 1991, Rose Hill, page 3

opposition to hunting on her property. Along the same lines she asked about deer on highways. Available are wind activated whistlers that alert the deer before you hit them. Only way to truly avoid deer on highway is not to drive. Best thing before hitting a deer is make sure you've got lots of insurance because it's assured that the deer don't and the damage to both parties can be considerable.

Anne Jamison asked what the white flower is in the mixed vase the Canbys brought. Identified as a white flower similar to other known varieties. She also mentioned a rose bush that was 5 years red but now is red and yellow. The assembly hates to have guests ask questions we can't definitively answer so we attributed the odd rose behavior to spontaneous rootstock recidivism and moved on quickly before another question could be ventured.

Mo Chance asked about a Rose Hill vine identified as a kiwi. One needs a male and female plant and the fruits have more fiber than apples, are high in vitamin C, and have more potassium than bananas. The Rogers have had the plants for 3 years and productivity is on a par with the National Zoo pandas.

Ari Preuss has a 12 inch diameter tree that's nearly sawed through but manages to live. It's near the house. The group was evenly divided as to whether to leave it be or saw it down and start over. Wait until October so we can see the specimen firsthand and then reach a consensus.

Nancy Chance has comfrey that is imposing on neighbors and needs a way to control (i.e. eradicate). Recommended was roundup if it is applied specifically.

Caroline Hussman has red spider mites in her garden and was advised to control them with safer's or Ivory soap.

Bettes Hartge asked after strawberries grown on a pyramid. Sounds like a good idea but nobody but Tom's mother has ever tried it. Tom will inquire and report back.

Ellis has a small cutleaf maple that lost a branch and the one that grew back is green and not red like the rest of the tree. Attributed to the tree being a root and trunkstock with scions grafted onto it. If the trunkstock is allowed to sprout branches they will not be like the other branches.

Leslie Rogers has a pussy willow - is it too late to prune? Prune any time of year.

H/6/1991-3-

June 4, 1991, Rose Hill, page 4

Thus ended the questions and the gathering stirred in preparation for disassembly. We thanked the Rogers for their hospitality and agreed to next meet at the Pi Acres, home of the Fletchers at which time Edwina Earp will be reader.

Sometime before the meeting was formally concluded, Buzz Hussman returned us to the subject of deer-like highway encounters. An incident was related involving an acquaintance traveling through a remote area of West Virginia late at night. A large pig ran out of the underbrush and was struck. The driver got out of the car and inspected the injured pig and scanned the surroundings for assistance. There was no one in sight nor any homes or farms. Since it was late and the spot was an isolated backwoods, he abandoned the scene and left the animal to its fate.

Despite the deserted nature of the incident he was confronted with his involvement by state troopers the following week at his home. During the pause that followed Ellis Manning could contain himself no longer and inquired how in the world did the police find out. With a straight face ironed by years of disciplined practice Buzz related matter-of-factly that.... the pig squealed on him.

That really concluded the meeting. As soon as everyone had wiped the tears from their eyes, we broke ranks and left for home.

With apologies for mistakes, misquotes, and misquites,

Secretary/Treasury