Holiday Lunch and Tour of Johnny Angel's Ginchy Stuff

 All who attended the Holiday Lunch in November at Monte Cello's and the earlier tour by Johnny Angel himself of his Johnny Angel's Ginchy Stuff museum had a wonderful time. Thanks to Denny Brown for arranging this. Thank you also to Colleen Fingal for being president these past few years and for turning over the president's job to Nancy Madeoy. Pictures by Dianne and RoseMary

Meeting Notes October 25, 2022

 On a beautiful Tuesday evening, Colleen welcomed garden club members to the last meeting of 2022.  Blooming in member gardens:  Zinnia, Cosmos, Dahlias, Verbena Bonariensis, Montauk Daisies, Coneflowers and more.

 

A recording secretary is still needed for the next term.  Duties are to record the meeting minutes and highlights from our speaker or tour.  The notes then get sent to the Vice President who then forwards it on to our blogger.  If the recording secretary is unable to make the meeting, they just need to notify the President who will make arrangements for another member to take notes for that meeting.  This is a great way to be involved in the club.  If interested, please reach out to our current president, Colleen or next year’s president Nancy.

 

Dues of $15 are due now.  If you forgot or didn’t make the meeting, please send a check to Denny and Linda Brown.

 

Andrea volunteered to do the directory which will be streamlined.  The suggestion was made to add cell phone numbers to the directory.  Please submit all contact changes to Linda Brown. If you are not amenable to receiving texts please let Linda know.  If everyone has a cell phone number, and is amenable to receiving texts, the phone change will be eliminated.

 

Sign up sheet for the monthly meeting dessert/arrangement was distributed.  If you were unable to attend, please reach out to Jane MacCredie.  Most slots were filled, but as of the end of the meeting, there were a few slots still open.

 

Dianne provided a treasurer’s report.  After donations totaling $1,000 and dues deposit of $360, our ending checking balance was $4,857.15.  Along with petty cash, total cash available is $4,904.21.

 

As of today’s meeting, 18 members have signed up for the tour and 22 for the Christmas luncheon on November 12.  Denny will reach out to the members who had not yet responded to get a final count.

 

Mary Anne has been working diligently on the programs for 2023, and has made a lot of progress, with most of the year already having been decided.  May, July and September were still open, so please send any suggestions you might have to Mary Anne

 

Next year’s plant sale will be held on May 20.  With the beautiful weather we’ve been having, it’s a great time to get a jump on potting up plants for next year’s sale, one less thing to do in the spring.

 

Program: Our very own Victoria Ziegler led us in a group activity of creating a swag or table decoration.  A good time was had by all, and lots of beautiful decorations were created.

Pictures by Dianne Machesney

Victoria Zieger demonstrates.

Phipps Conservatory Pictures

From Martin Karl

My wife and I toured the 2022 Fall Flower Show at Phipps last Friday. The theme is "Blooms Under the Big Top" (The Circus).The show continues through Sunday, October 30. Here are pictures from the show.

 

Meeting Notes Sept 27, 2022

Pictures by Dianne Machesney

On a beautiful Tuesday evening, Colleen welcomed garden club members, and guests.  Blooming in member gardens:  Zinnia, Ageratum, Dahlias, Verbena Bonariensis, Jerusalem Artichokes, Japanese Anemone, Asters and more.

A recording secretary is still needed for the next term.  Duties are to record the meeting minutes and highlights from our speaker or tour.  The notes then get sent to the Vice President who then forwards it on to our blogger.  If the recording secretary is unable to make the meeting, they just need to notify the President who will make arrangements for another member to take notes for that meeting.  This is a great way to be involved in the club.  If interested, please reach out to our current president, Colleen.

 Spotted Lantern Fly has been seen at McCandless Crossing by Peggy.  Also seen a lot in Bellevue and the City of Pittsburgh.  It’s slowly making its way towards us.  If you see it in any form, kill it.  This is the egg laying season, so kill egg masses if you see them.  (See Penn State Extension website.)

 Dues of $15 are being collected today.  If you forget or didn’t make the meeting, please send a check to Denny and Linda Brown.

 Andrea volunteered to do the directory, which will be streamlined.  If you have any updates to your contact info for next year’s directory, please send an email  to Andrea at amaire@email.com.

‘Our October meeting will be a craft led by Victoria Ziegler.

 Sign up sheet for the monthly meeting dessert/arrangement was distributed.  If you were unable to attend, please reach out to Jane MacCredie.

 Many thanks to Mary Anne Kurtz for organizing the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Tour which was very enjoyable. She also brought in divisions from her Annabelle Hydrangea, which blooms on old wood so don’t cut it back. Thanks to Bev Steiger for the desserts and to Claudia Hickley for the beautiful arrangement from her garden

 Dianne provided a treasurer’s report.  After speaker fee expenses of $300, and Field Trip to Botanic Garden disbursement of $126, our ending checking balance was $5,497.15.  Along with petty cash, total cash available is $5,544.21. Club voted and approved donations in the amount of $250 each to Western PA Conservancy, Northern Area Environmental Council, Tree Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens. The rental fee for 2023 for use of the church will remain at $360.

 Our Holiday Outing will be a tour of Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff followed by a luncheon at Monte Cellos on November 12.  Denny will send a sign-up email to membership.  Responses needed by October 17 as to whether you will attend one or both activities.  Motion was made and carried to have the club pay the expense of the tour and luncheon per person.

 Program: April Claus gave a very informative and entertaining presentation and brought some live examples. 

“Leap Into Herpetology, Creatures that Hop, Creep and Slither in our Gardens.”

She highly recommended these books:“Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative” and “The Nature Fix.”

 Herpetology comes from the Greek “herpeton” meaning “creeping animal”

These animals are toads, frogs, salamanders, snakes, turtles, lizards and skunks.  

 Amphibians breath through their skin and are known predators of mosquito larvae. There are 18 kinds of frogs and toads in PA, and they all make different sounds. The Spring Peeper is the first sign that spring has arrived, when you start hearing them. Frogs have the ability to change their color and they lay eggs in clumps or clusters. Toads lay eggs in long strings and use their eyeballs to swallow their food. If you put a depression in the ground, partially covered by a pot or something else, you have created a toad abode. There are 23 varieties of salamanders which can be found in PA.  (I personally never knew these could be found in our gardens, as I’ve never seen one.) Beward of the red spotted newt, a salamander, as it is very poisonous and can kill you.

There are 13 variets of turtles which can be found in PA.  They make horrible pets, as all they do is eat and poop.  The outdoor temperature at the time an egg is laid determines the sex of the turtle.

 There are 22 different varieties of snakes found in PA.  All snakes can swim.  If a snake has a triangle shaped head, it is poisonous, as the venom sacs are found to the sides of the eyes.  Also, their eyes are slits like a cats eye.  The black rat snake is the longest snake to be found in PA.  A ringneck snake has a ring around it’s neck that is the same color as it’s belly.  Snakes can also change color to blend in with their environment.

 How can you help these animals:

Help make habitat

Inform/Educate others

Participate in Citizen Science Project

Get your kids and grandkids outside

Tour of Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens, August 27

August 27^th tour was on a day with excellent weather, albeit hot in the afternoon. We meandered in groups, pairs or singles and met up here and there in the gardens. Pictures were taken by either Mary Ann K or Rose Mary H with the exception of the group photo snapped by a nearby visitor. Thank you to Mary Ann for arranging the tour.