Longvue Acres Garden Club Meeting Summary March 27, 2018

Attendance: 22 members, 5 guests, 3 new members

Claudia Hickly, LAGC President, welcomed members and guests on another rainy, spring day. Blooms in our gardens include crocuses, hyacinths, daffodils, and squill with more to come.

·      Constitution change Article III - Officers (pg. 32): “The officers of the club shall be President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer.” Jane MacCredie moved and Anita Wagner seconded and members unanimously approved the change which will take effect January 2019. 

·      Group Photo – Due to the rainy weather, the group photo was not taken. It has been rescheduled to the April meeting.

·      Plant Sale –Members were reminded to check what plants can be divided in their gardens and aim for 10-20 4-6” pots per member. If larger, please divide into 4-6” pots. This is the club’s only moneymaker. “If we don’t have the plants, we can’t sell them.” It was announced that Denny will be the cashier. Members were asked to sign up for additional duties and what hours they can work at the plant sale. Sign up sheet will also be available at April’s meeting.

     Facebook – Anita asked members to “like” us on Facebook to receive updates about LAGC Publicity – Claudia thanked Patty Bumbaugh for the PR. It was noted that previous issue of announcement not being published was most likely due to new personnel at the paper.  Going forward, Patty will plan to send announcement to the editor and reporter which would cover any personnel change.

·      Duties report – Claudia reminded Officers and Committee Chairs to please submit your “Duties Report” by June for our information binder to assist future officers and chairs.

·      Signs – Colleen Geyer was pleased with the thank you note and check she received for her hard work on the signs she made for the club.

·      2019 Programs – Claudia has started a list of program ideas for 2019.  Members were encouraged to add to this list by giving your ideas to the Program Chair.  We will keep an ongoing list to be used to plan for next year’s program.

·      Officer spotlight on Vice President Colleen Fingal who said her duties are: preside at meetings in president’s absence, review meeting summaries, plan holiday tour and luncheon, work with president and other officers – share ideas, brainstorm, counsel with president. 

o   Interested for next year?  Let an officer know.

·      Dessert and arrangement – Thank you to Rose Mary Highman for dessert and Colleen for the arrangement.

Program: Three Seasons of Color in the Perennial Garden by Bill Goff

Bill is a longtime LAGC member, a Penn State Master Gardener, and an avid grower of perennials with his favorites being hostas, daylilies, and peonies. His garden has been featured in Fine Gardening magazine. He included beautiful pictures showing the seasons of color as he gave pointers about perennials.  Perennials do require some care, but the gardener is rewarded for years by planting them. There is a perennial for all seasons even in winter with seed heads.

•       Placement  – perennials like soil amendments, such as compost, to our heavy clay soil. Consider hours of sunshine and competition from other roots.
•       Drainage  – perennials require good drainage to prevent root rot.
•       Vary height and shape – perennials of all types are available.
•       Fertilizer  – 5-10-5 is generally the best.
•       Views  – picture garden views from your patio or from inside your house.
•        Sequential blooming  – many hostas, daylilies, peonies and bulbs such as daffodils have early, mid, and late blooming varieties to extend bloom times.
•    Neat edges make the garden appear neater than it may be. 
•       Enjoy your garden! In all seasons!

LAGC Calendar: 
April 24 – LAGC meeting, “Composting” by Kurt Malecki.
Club photo to be taken.
May 19 – LAGC Plant Sale --- Reminder: Wear your green shirt
May 22 – LAGC meeting, “The Basics of Rain Gardens” by Attila Csokai.

Announcements:

* April 7, 2018 – Litter Clean-Up in McCandless.  Meet at Town Hall by 9:30 a.m. for continental breakfast. Call 412-364-0616 x118 or eac@townofmccandless.or
*  April 28, 2018 – PSMG Garden Marketplace, Garden & Landscape Symposium of Western Pennsylvania. Marketplace is free and will be held from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the McKnight Arena at Shadyside Senior School, 423 Fox Chapel Road, Fox Chapel (15238). Free parking.
*   May 11 & 12  – May Market at Phipps Conservatory on the lawn. Many vendors. 
*   May 12, 2018 - Gardenfest & Artist Market on Saturday at the Lauri Ann West Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road, PGH PA 15238
*  Spring 2018 – McCandless began a five-year tree planting program.  Email photo of tree planted to ms4@townof mccandless.org.  This is part of their storm sewer improvement project to reduce storm water runoff.