January 2015 Meeting Notes

Business Meeting
 January 27, 2015

Mary Ann Kurtz welcomed all on a cold and snowy night while noting the good-sized crowd and wishing all a Happy New Year. She pointed to the new directories and thanked Chris Kerin for them. Colleen and Evan were thanked for finding the 2015 programs which include field trips and a variety of topics sure to interest us. Sharon Walston will follow up re our room contract. Please note the phone trees on page 4 of the directory in case of any meeting changes. Reserve May 16^th for LAGC’s Plant Sale.  

 

 

LAGC’s 65^th Anniversary events (at plant sale and at the September meeting) are progressing. Sign up sheets were passed around the group.  Not too late to sign up for invitations, publicity, color schemes, nametags, favors, etc. Tell Claudia Hickly how you can help. A group photo will be taken at the March and/or April meetings. A slide show is planned to feature past events, memorabilia, members, and also highlight the 20^th Anniversary of the LAGC Passavant Garden outside the Passavant Chapel on Babcock. Helen Dean and Peggy Elizeus began this and are the core members maintaining it.  Mary Ann said we should be very proud that our garden club is still in existence; not many are.  The budget for the celebration is proposed at $200, to be voted at February’s meeting.

 

Other: Thank you to Jenna Noker for desserts and thank you to Claudia Hickly for the arrangement.

Touch of  Spring!

Program

 Plants with Pizazz:  Mary Ann introduced speaker Carol Papas, a Master Gardener, a Phipps Conservatory teacher, and designer.  Carol had wonderful slides showing how a variety or type of unusual plants (from annual to woody types) can make our gardens pop.  She showed pictures and examples of these plants which can add to our garden’s color.

 

Take home points:

• Expand your plant use beyond the common found in big box stores.

• Think color, height, width, background color, and “have some fun.”

• Look at seasonal palates and shapes; go for a focal point with the other plants serving as supporting cast.

• Support independent nurseries.

• Lime green or variegated greens are especially eye catching.

• Substitute Brunnera “Jack Frost” for deer-loving hostas.

• Here are a few of the plants she especially liked: Stewartia pseudocamellia  (fall color, interesting bark); Chiomanthus virginicus (fringe tree, understory tree, native); plant Japanese Maple instead of Bradford Pear; Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea paniculate “limelight” cultivar (blossoms open lime green, change to white then fade to lime); Callicarpa dichotoma (berries in fall, deer don’t eat); if Clematis try “Betty Corning”  for delicate bells; underplant rhododendrons with ajuga; combine Amsonia with Achemilla mollis;  Caladium in shady spots; annual salvias (bright colors).

 

• Container filled with a wide variety of succulents (teens and younger seem to really enjoy these).

• Further reading: “The Well-Tended Perennial Garden” by Tracy DiSabato- Aust

 

Next meetings:

February 24 “Landscaping in Deer Country” by Diane Machesney

March 24 “Rain Gardens” by Debra Rudolph

May 16 LAGC Plant Sale