May 2015 Meeting Notes

Business Meeting

May 26, 2015

Mary Anne Kurtz welcomed all on a warm evening. 

Meeting discussion points included: 

• Meeting room rental—LAGC will pay $360, same as last year, and true up if needed.
• LAGC’s 65^th Anniversary Party—All anniversary committees to meet May 28, 7 p.m. at the church. Mary Anne thanked Claudia Hickly for the anniversary articles; the latest, Growing Strong, published In North Allegheny magazine.
• Treasurer’s report—Denny Brown paid $45 rental fee for the North Park Grant Grove Picnic Shelter for our annual picnic.
• Annual Picnic – June 23 at Grant Grove directly across from the Demonstration Garden.  Colleen Fingal reminded members that LAGC will provide plates, utensils, and beverages. Members should bring a covered side to share, a lawn chair, and ideas for next year’s programs. After dinner, members will tour the Demonstration Garden.
•  Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Tour is Saturday, May 30.
• National Aviary bird-banding event – Marilyn Gurtner invited all members to her home July 7th from 6:30-11:00 a.m. for this unique experience. Let her know if you will attend. In past years many birds have been banded and released and some members were lucky enough to assist.
• Mary Anne thanked members for the very successful plant sale. The net proceeds are around $1450; quite good for a club of our size. Thirty-one people donated 600 plants which were sold to 86 customers. A few minor tweaks were suggested to improve the sale.

Other: Mary Ann thanked Linda Keiser and Jeanne Schomaker (substituting for Kitty Price) for the desserts and arrangement respectively. Our thoughts and prayers go to Kitty. 

Gram's Best Brown Sugar Cake

Recipe here

Since last month’s meeting on Square Foot Gardening, Jeanne Schomaker, Linda Betts, and Clif and Rose Mary Highman have tried this and are pleased with results.

Program

Colleen introduced the program “Herbs in Containers” by Nancy Heraud who is an emeritus Penn 

State Master Gardener and holds a Certificate in Horticulture from Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. She is a contributing author for several magazines. Nancy admitted she is “Addicted to Herbs!” She brought at least a dozen beautiful containers of herbs and passed small scent leaf samples around the room for members to appreciate. Nancy’s slides showed excellent examples of containers and her enthusiasm was catching. Her blog is: http://lemonverbenalady.blogspot.com

Take home points:

• A container is a good way to test a new variety of plant. Containers add interest to your landscape.
• Invasive herbs can be reined in when container grown.
• Each container should have excellent drainage, good potting mix, and water. Be sure you consider the cause of a droopy plant before you water; it may need a cooler location.
• Have fun with combinations such as herbs de Provence, a Greek or Italian medley, or a charming fairy garden. Enlist the help of youngsters or those with less mobility for container planting.
• Place small containers together for more impact.
• As a side note, she said the National Aviary takes unwanted, too-big-to- move container type plants. 

Nancy raffled an autographed copy of the excellent reference book, Bountiful Containers, by McGee and Stuckey; Colleen was the lucky winner.

Next meetings:

June 23 – Annual LAGC Picnic, North Park Grant Grove at 6:30 p.m.

See LAGC handbook for more details.

July 28—“Fragrant Flowers and Herbs” by Peggy Trevanion.

Submitted by: Rose Mary Highman