May 2014 Meeting Notes

Business Meeting

Mary Ann Kurtz welcomed all members and asked what plants in our gardens had a terrible winter and what was now blooming. She asked us to sign up to be officers and committee chairs. Bill Goff requested program ideas for next year; bring these to the picnic June 24.

Plant Sale Report: In spite of rain, the sale was a success because all of us donated, worked, bought plants, and kept cheerful in spite of the cold, rain and wind during setup and into the sale. Selling 4-6 inch pots and displaying similar plants together made set up and pricing easier. Total income $1,391 with about 400 plants (mostly perennials) sold at reasonable prices.

Announcements: Thanks to Chris Kerin for dessert and Janine Zink for the arrangement. [My pictures don’t do justice to the beautiful arrangements and desserts.  rmh]

Program

Those Other Irises:  Bill Goff introduced speaker Len Lehman who is an avid gardener, “There isn’t a plant I don’t like,” and who wants us to know about irises other than the common German bearded ones. His program was from the American Iris Society including pictures of the iris mentioned. One prime benefit of growing these is their smaller corms discourage iris borers. He brought some of the irises mentioned and gave them away to the lucky raffle winners. 

Take home points:

·        Japanese beardless—require 6 hrs sun, like wet summers and dry winters

·        Louisiana—not hardy here, like swampy areas, heavy feeders, acid soil, clay soil fine, one commonly sold is black game cocks

·        Siberian—cooler, slight acid, good drainage, heavy feeders (kelp or crab meal good), 7 ft. pond forms available.

·        Len’s favorite Iris cycloglossa. “Grow this to save it from extinction” as the Afghan war is decimating it. Species iris are wildflowers of the world and can be grown from seed

·        Divide plants from mid-July to mid-September

·        Duplicate the conditions for the plant’s origin

Next meeting: Annual LAGC Picnic, June 24, 6:30 p.m. at Jenna Noker’s garden, 8915 Seneca Avenue, 15237.  Bring an appetizer, dessert or salad to share and your ideas for 2015 programs.  

Submitted by:  Rose Mary Highman