March 22, 2016
Business Meeting
Mary
Anne Kurtz welcomed all on a spring evening.
·
Blooming
in our gardens—Hellebores, Crocuses, Daffodils, Primroses, and “Moles!” said
Marilyn Gurtner with a laugh.
·
Needed—officers
and committee chairs for next year. Mary Anne recognized Colleen and Evan
Fingal for their excellent work as Program Chairs and asked all members to
think about their own talents and ability to serve in a leadership position.
·
Plant
sale is Saturday, May 14th.
LAGC will have extra publicity which means we need to provide hundreds
of plants. Members should pot plants now to have them looking great on sale
day. Minimum size is a 4-inch pot selling for $2. Avoid the huge pots. LAGC
doesn’t make money if we don’t have enough plants to sell. Volunteer signup
sheet for plant sale was passed around.
·
Members
approved buying a $100 six-inch brick for the Evergreen Park Community Walkway
in Ross Township.
·
Former
member news: A sympathy card was sent to Kay Gardner’s daughter, Karen
Luderer. Ann Marie Downey’s husband
died. Cards for her can be sent to the Zalewski Funeral Home in Lawrenceville.
LAGC secretary will send card.
·
Thank
you to Terry Sarver for the arrangement and Jenna Noker for the desserts.
Program – Welcoming Birds to
the Garden or Pennsylvania Winters Are For the Birds
·
Colleen
Fingal introduced Laura Hansen an
avid birder and owner of Wild Birds Unlimited stores. Her enthusiasm was
catching and her slides were excellent.
She brought several sample bird houses and feeders that are available
for purchase at Wild Birds Unlimited.
Many birds have longer seasons here in Pennsylvania and can benefit from
backyard feeding.
Take home points:
·
To
attract birds provide:
o
Layers/levels
—for quick cover and safety.
o
Housing—provide
right location and size for bird you want. Clean it after use. Some houses have
a window for occasionally peeking.
o
Water—very
important in winter to have unfrozen water source. Heaters work and keep water
clean.
o
Food—provide
food for the birds you want. Many choices are available. Hummingbirds like a
nectar of 4 parts boiled and cooled water to 1 part sugar; Orioles prefer a
nectar of 6:1 and also respond to a ripe orange cut in half. Keep ground area
clean.
·
Squirrels
aren’t fond of safflower seed.
Goldfinches like nyger seed (thistle). Oiled sunflower is preferred by
many birds. Shelled (less mess) peanuts are great for blue jays and cardinals.
Suet and seeds is a good mix for many birds. Meal worms are a high energy food
as is bark butter.
·
Store
backup bird food outside in a metal container to prevent indoor moth
infestation.
Next LAGC meetings:
April 19 – “Just Grow Up—Vertical Gardening” by Karel Ulizio.
NOTE MEETING DATE CHANGE - 3rd Tuesday for April.
May 14 –Plant Sale
May 24 – “Weeds: Friend or Foe?” by Andrea Jackson.
June 28 – Annual LAGC Picnic
Optional Events:
Now – April 10 - Spring Flower Show, Phipps Conservatory.
April 23-Garden and Landscape Symposium and Marketplace of Western PA, Shady
Side Academy Campus, 433 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Submitted by: Rose Mary Highman
