What's Blooming in Your Garden - Dianne

Dianne is sharing what is blooming in her winter garden: 

 crocus, snowdrops, winter acronite,  Lenten rose.

February 2017 Meeting Notes

February 28, 2017

Business Meeting

President, Claudia Hickly, welcomed twenty-eight members and three visitors including new member, Dorothy Maruscak. Claudia read “Blessed Is the Club” by Edith R. Fisher which celebrates gardening and friendships. Blooming in our late winter gardens are --- winter aconite, crocus, snowdrop, Lenten rose, and primrose.

·        Card Shower for Sharon Walston – High member participation.  Claudia read Sharon’s thank you note to group.

·        McCandless Museum will be delighted to accept LAGC archive (1950-2016) so says Jeff Bojarski of Town of McCandless.  Claudia will drop off items and complete the paperwork in the next six weeks after reviewing and updating the inventory through 2016. Items will be on loan only and will be available for club use in the future. A 65^th LAGC Anniversary scrapbook Claudia completed will be included.

·        Claudia suggested we maintain LAGC history using yearly folders and donate those every four years to our archive at the McCandless Museum. Each folder would include a handbook, meeting summaries with photos, plant sale summary with photos, year-end treasurer’s report, donations, correspondence, and published articles. Follow up needed re changes in committee chair responsibilities.

·        Denny Brown reported: Donations made to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Botanic Gardens of Western Pennsylvania, and the North Area Environmental Council. Church room rental remains the same as last year. Penn State Master Gardener speaker fees have increased by $10 to $75.00. Sales tax from plant sale has been paid.

·        Members declined to donate to the UPMC Passavant Cancer Treatment Center garden since the Boy Scouts have already met their $35,000 fundraising goal.  We will continue to maintain the UPMC Passavant Chapel Garden. 

·        Members approved a donation to The Learning Garden at Northland Public Library for a $150 brick paver to read “Longvue Acres Garden Club est. 1950.” Mary Anne suggested possible donation of plants (plant sale) to their project.

·        More information is needed before a donation is made to Ross Township’s Evergreen Community Garden. Plants from plant sale could be donated as Mary Anne previously suggested.

 

·        May 20^th Plant Sale – Andrea Maire will assume more responsibilities due to Mary Anne’s upcoming surgery. Please bring more than the required 10 plants per member as this is our only fund-raiser. 

·        If you have extra 4” or 6” pots, please bring them to next meeting as members need them to pot their plant sale donations.

·        Ellen Dvorsky announced that there will be a Terrarium Workshop in August at the Chartiers Valley Library sponsored by Allegheny County Parks.

·        Marilyn Gurtner asked that members consider donating household goods to North Hills Community Outreach. Call Larry Nugent 412.213.8330 for pick-up.

·        Member news: Helen Dean is recovering from successful surgery and Esther Nagy has moved.

·        Thank you to Patty Bumbaugh and Janine Zink for desserts and arrangement respectively.

Program: Cutting and Arranging Perennials 

North Journal sent a photographer to this presentation – look for photos in upcoming issues!

Jenna Noker introduced speaker Kurt Malecki, manager of Babcock Boulevard Best Feeds Garden Center. Kurt has a degree in horticulture from Penn State, owns a commercial greenhouse with his wife, and worked in a floral shop during college making 25-100 arrangements per day. He also offers classes at Best Feeds. Kurt gave points as he made a boutonniere and three arrangements which he donated to club members.

1.      Cut stems in early morning and plunge into warm water. Remove leaves before arranging.

2.      Add 1 tablespoon and 2 drops of bleach to a gallon of warm water for oasis or vase. Change water every third day.

3.      Pick a container that is about a one half the height of tallest flower stalk. Polished rocks can stabilize the stems and are attractive in clear vase.

4.      Oasis should be wet but not squeezed or damaged.

5.      Think in triangles and viewing front on or from all sides. Place greenery into container or oasis marking the triangle(s).

6.      Wrap floral wire around delicate stems. Use a small stick to make hole in oasis before putting in the delicate stem. Stem should be at the bottom of the oasis.  Place largest flower at the lowest part of the arrangement. Add the other triangle points. Next add filler such as baby’s breath or less showy flowers to the interior.

7.      Vases: crisscross tape to top of vase, finishing with tape around the top.  Use triangles again with showy flowers, filler, and interior flowers.

Calendar

·        March 28 – LAGC Meeting “Straw Bale Gardening” by Pat Morgan. Bring extra 4-6” pots for members to use for their plant sale donations.

·        April 25 – LAGC Meeting “Mushrooms” by Bob Sleigh

·        March-April – Dig perennials for Plant sale on May 20