October 2016 Meeting Notes

October 25, 2016

Business Meeting

President, Mary Anne Kurtz, welcomed thirty-one members and nine visitors on a cool autumn evening. 

·        Our gardens are blooming with mums, dahlias, zinnia, cosmos, and marigolds. 

·        Update your directory listing now with Linda Brown for the 2017 Handbook.

·        2017 Officer Change: Colleen Fingal will be vice president.

·        Date change: June 6 will be annual picnic at Lynn Betts’s home.

·        Mary Anne profusely thanked current officers and committee chairs for their service.

·        Hartwood Acres Mansion Tour ~ November 19^th @ 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch (optional) at The Hartwood Restaurant. Contact Claudia if you have not paid.

·        Sign up with Anita or Heidi for 2017 Monthly Hostess Duties.

·        Treasurer Denny gave his report; current balance is $3300. Members voted to pay $115.00 for four new plant sale signs and for the rehab of our oldest signs.

·        Jenna highlighted 2017 programs and noted that the speaker’s fee for Penn State Master Gardeners has increased to $100.   She and committee members intend to stay on budget and finish their work by Dec. 1.

·        Jenna brought her artfully displayed fall Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens photographs for members to enjoy. See photo below.

·        Phipps Conservatory Fall Show is now on.

·        Mary Anne thanked Claudia Hickly and Ellen Dvorsky for dessert and arrangement respectively. She also wished all “Happy Holidays” as next meeting is January 24.

Program: “Why Don’t My Hydrangeas Bloom” by Sandy Csikari

Colleen Fingal introduced speaker Sandy Csikari, Penn State Master Gardener, member of Men’s Garden Society of Pittsburgh, Hosta Judge, and avid gardener whose garden was on the 2016 Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Tour. Sandy gave an informative talk and was obviously fond of Hydrangeas with showy flowers for outside or cutting.

Take home points:

·        Hydrangeas need sufficient light and adequate water 1-2” per week.

·        H. Macrophylla is really zone 6 unless protected them from drying and winds. East side of shelter with morning sun is best.

·        H. paniculata is predictable bloomer.

·        When pruning, know if blooms are on new or old wood. If pruning, begin after viable buds start to open and cut right above leaf. Most benefit from apical removal to encourage lower buds to bloom.

·        Fertilize with 10-10-10 and fertilize over a few days in early spring and after blooming.

·        Transplant in fall, use mulch, and water if ground not frozen.

·        Few pests bother hydrangeas. If you choose to spray for mildew and leaf spot, it needs to be preventive.

Calendar

·        November 19 – Tour Hartwood Acres Mansion & Luncheon.  See above.

·        January 24–First meeting of the New Year