July 2017 Meeting Notes

July 25, 2017

Attendance: 23 members, No guests

Claudia Hickly, LAGC President, welcomed members and then thanked all for their love and support during her husband’s sudden health events and subsequent passing.

·        New member Debbie Stayduhar welcomed.

·        Unusual Plants Blooming—Dianne Machesney saw a very rare spotted coralroot orchid, 6” tall, and contrasted this with a fleece flower, 6’ tall. Bill Goff told of his enjoyment at a lavender and honey farm in Traverse City, Michigan.

·        Evergreen Park Update – Anita Wagner reported that Eloise Peet’s crew from Ross Township planted a hillside with the hostas, lilies, and grasses which our club donated after our annual perennial plant sale. Special needs children used the donated herbs to start an herb garden.  The “In Ross” spring publication will have an article and pictures about LAGC donating the plants and how they were used in Evergreen Park.  Eloise Peet asked for a photo of club members.  Claudia will provide the photo from the 65^th anniversary.

·        Treasurer’s report—Denny Brown reported being on track for budget, $3,226 actual, $3,179 budget.  Brief discussion about dues which will hold at $15 per member per year for 2018.

·        Passavant Garden—Peggy Elizeus said a new white hibiscus was added.  The garden is in good shape and members continue to deadhead and pull the occasional weed. Mary Anne Kurtz will donate a white columbine for the garden.

·        Program—Jenna Noker said our July speaker cancelled but Kurt Malecki from Best Feeds Garden Center on Babcock agreed to fill in on very short notice. She is working on speakers and tours using our surveys from last month’s meeting. Please e-mail Jenna with any ideas you have for programs and tours.  If a speaker should cancel in the future, Marlow Madeoy mentioned he had slides of garden tours. Also, the library has some suitable DVDs on garden topics.

·        August Tour — Jenna said that the tour of Glade Run Adventures Therapy Gardens will begin at 6:30pm.  If you want to carpool, please at Northmont Church by 5:30pm.  Directions to Glade Run will be sent to club members via the e-mail communicator.  There will be information about where to park and where club members should meet to start the tour.

·        Bird Banding — Marilyn Gurtner enthusiastically reported on the bird banding at her home in July. She encouraged us to bring children to next year’s event in order to pique their interest in birds and plants. 

 Bird banding female goldfinch

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 Dessert and arrangement — Thank you to Jane MacCredie and Marilyn Gurtner for dessert and arrangement respectively.

Jane MacCredier recipe for Cherry Fruit Squares is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_8dSBLwzYS4t7259jzFUl0-ZBP5WytIrMJzIXwe769w/edit#

Program:  “Insects and Their Control & How it Affects Bees” by Kurt Malecki

Jenna thanked Kurt and he gave a quick summary of his gardening history and of his work at Best Feeds and at his wife’s perennial growing business. We have heard of colony collapse disorder, mites, and fungi and neonicotinoids all affecting bees. He told the story of Cleveland using a systemic insecticide on linden trees to kill aphids that killed over 50,000 hives within 100 miles. The moral: use any product according to manufacturer’s directions and check its effect on bees.

·        Don’t spray when plant is in flower (some exceptions).

·        Lure insects away with a companion plant.

·        Some insecticides are poisonous when bees step on the plant.

·        Less toxic compounds--Safer soaps, rubbing alcohol with water 50/50 or same with hydrogen peroxide.

·        Snails and slugs can be killed with wood ashes, hand- picked from under a board. Set out a dish of beer and slugs will drown in it.

·        Chewing insects--use Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew, Thuricide, hydrated lime dust.

·        Animals—use Deer Scram, Liquid Fence (can make own using 1 egg, 1 c water, 1 c skim milk, ½ teaspoon dish detergent), plant garlic or peppermint.

·        Fungus and bacteria problems—Serenade Garden, also copper sprays, sulfur sprays.

·        In future—look for the bee box warning on products.

           

Calendar:

·        August 22nd, 6:30 p.m. –Tour of Glade Run Adventures Therapy Gardens Directions in LAGC Directory. Meet 5:30 p.m. at Northmont Church to carpool.

·        September 26^th – “What To Do With That Orchid You Just Bought” by Nancy Kline.

$15 Dues are due. Please submit changes to personal information in the directory.

·        October 24^th – “Herbs” by Andrea Jackson.

·        November – NO MEETING

·        December tour & lunch – TBD