October 2017 Meeting Notes

October 24, 2017

Attendance: 26 members, 2 guests

Claudia Hickly, LAGC President, welcomed members and guests and thanked Colleen Fingal for filling in for her at last month’s meeting.

·        Plants Blooming in our gardens —Monkshead, calico asters, begonias, geraniums, and dahlias. No killing frost as of this date.

·        Member news --- Denny Brown reported Chunnie Bussinger is not renewing her membership for health reasons. Members signed a card for her. Please submit changes to personal information for the directory to Marlow Madeoy and $15 per member if not yet paid to Denny.

·        Treasurer’s report—Denny said on track for budget with current balance of $3100.

·        November 18^th lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Pines Tavern--- Colleen has sent email to members and payment is required before November 9^th. Cost is $26 for each person and includes non-alcoholic beverage, tax, gratuity, and room charge.  See Colleen’s email for your menu selection choices.  If you want to participate in the white elephant gift exchange, bring a wrapped item, gently used that is already in your home.  Helen Dean volunteered to lead the exchange.

·        Thank you --- Claudia thanked the officers and committee chairs and Passavant Garden volunteers for their work over the last year.

·        Programs 2018 --- January 23, “Winter Sowing” will be led by Janine Zink. Details below. February “Wetlands” by Dianne Machesney. Other programs and tour, more to come, are Moraine Park tour, Daffodils, Picnic in Janine Zink’s garden, and Plant Sale May 19^th.

·        Dessert and arrangement — Thank you to Andrea Maire for dessert and Claudia for the arrangement. Thank you to our speaker for bringing jam and chutney served with cheese and crackers for our enjoyment.

Program:  “Herbal Harvest” by Andrea Jackson

Claudia introduced Andrea Jackson who is a Penn State Master Gardener, an avid herb grower and

preserver for several decades, a promoter of expanded use and preservation of herbs, and member of many herb societies. Andrea was energetic and brought many jars of jam, chutney, vinegars, purslane relish, “capers,” and liquors, all made or infused with herbs, for our tasting.

·        Enjoy the wide variety of herbs and preserve them for later use. Experiment.

·        Air drying works. Label! Don’t store in plastic.

·        To preserve herbs by freezing – place single layer of leaves on cookie sheet.  Plastic storage container ok when freezing herbs.

·        Keep herbs away from the heat in the kitchen.

·        Try herb butters, teas, jams, chutneys, and infused vinegars.

·        Do not make herb infused oils; chance of botulism.

·        If needed for pest control, spray a mix of 4 oz “409,” 4 oz rubbing alcohol and enough water to make a 32 oz solution.

Resources: Herb Society of America’s “Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs,”  “The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving,” “Jekka”s Herb Cookbook,” by J. McVicar, “Hello Glow,” by S. Gerber.

Calendar:

·        November 18^th – LAGC Lunch at Pines Tavern in Gibsonia.  See details above.

·        January 23, 2018 –  “Winter Sowing," Janine Zink will lead this hands-on activity where we get a head start on some of our seeds. Members should bring: 3 or 4 gallon milk jugs and/or large rectangular clear plastic lettuce/salad containers (the ones you buy your spring mix in and typically throw away), gloves, if you like, and a variety of seeds of your choosing (lettuce, tomatoes and other slower-growing vegetables work well as do perennial flower seeds). Janine will provide the potting soil, and help us add "ventilation" holes in our containers.

·        February 27–  “Wetlands” by Dianne Machesney. What makes a wetland and what are bogs, fens, marshes, and swamps? What plants/flowers grow in those ecosystems?

·        March 27– LAGC meeting, program tbd.

·        May 19 – LAGC Plant Sale.

Other nearby events:

·        November 8 –  Greybrooke Garden Club, presentation by Steve Piskor, “Cool Tools and Other Stuff.” Business meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by refreshments, presentation, and vendor market ending approximately 12:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall, Parkwood Presbyterian Church, 4289 Mt. Royal Boulevard.

·        November 18 - Drew Mathieson Center open house, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Manchester Bidwell Corp., 1600 Metropolitan Street, Pittsburgh 15233. Browse poinsettias, orchids, and their one-acre production area. Special guests include Doug Oster and MCG Jazz. Proceeds support educational program at the center.

·        March 14-18  – Phipps Orchid Show and Sale, Phipps Garden Center. This is the one speaker Nancy Klein had recommended for purchase of orchids, supplies, informative lectures, and orchid repotting.