February 2018 Meeting

Longvue Acres Garden Club Meeting                                                       February 27, 2018

Attendance: 19 members, 1 guest

Claudia Hickly, LAGC President, welcomed members and guest. With our days of warmer weather, members reported crocus, English daisy, Lenten rose, snow drops, and aconite blooming in our gardens. She read Rose Mary Highman’s note of thanks for the bouquet and cards sent upon Clif’s passing.

·      Handbook – Marlow Madeoy was complimented on doing a terrific job on the new handbook. Members should especially note the calendar addition, the phone tree, hostess duties (pg 2), blog address, and club responsibilities. Claudia thanked him for his work.

·      Please make a note on your calendar that the Annual Picnic is on July 10^th this year. 

This is the 2^nd Tuesday of the month whereas; we usually meet on the 4^th Tuesday.

·      Plant Sale – Claudia showed the new plant sale signs.  The payment of $100 will be made to Colleen Geyer. Members were reminded to check what plants can be divided in the gardens and aim for 4-6” pots which sell the best. If larger, please divide into smaller pots. Only one money maker during the year, as Mary Ann Kurtz said, “If we don’t have the plants, we can’t sell them.”

·      Hostess – We miss Sharon Walston who spoiled the club by setting up the table for our refreshments.  If you are a host/hostess or arrangement person, please arrive by 6:45 to set up (see pg. 2). Bring a small carton of half & half.  The Moo Moo’s were spoiling before we could use them all.

·      Treasurer’s report – Denny Brown said the budget is on track with estimates falling in line with the actuals.  

·      Proposed amendment Article III - Officers (pg. 32) was approved by members.  The Officers of the club shall be --- President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer to take effect January 2019.  Corresponding secretary will be renamed to Cards and Flowers unless members can think of another name for the position.

·      Blog – Rose Mary met with Esther Nagy who will assist in posting the February minutes and pictures. Rose Mary has agreed to handle the blog this year, as well as, be the recording secretary.  Thank you to all for additional submittals.

·      Facebook – Anita Wagner completed the new LAGC Facebook page. Members were encouraged to “Like” the Facebook page in order to follow updates.  The Facebook page is a work in progress.

·      Publicity – The past couple of months there has been an issue of our meeting notices not being publicized.  Claudia will check with Patty about resolving this issue.

·      Dessert and arrangement – Thank you to Dianne Machesney for dessert and Debbie Stayduhar for the arrangement.

Program:  “Wetlands” by Dianne Machesney

Dianne is a LAGC member, a Penn State Master Gardener, and area speaker and naturalist leading various field trips. “Water is the driving force of all nature” per Leonardo di Vinci. Very true as she showed slides of wetlands called bogs, swamps, marshes, and fens depending on their water. Her pictures included various plants--many rare, animals (butterflies, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals) that might be found there. Even though she and her husband travel to many areas, she highlighted those wetlands closer to Allegheny and nearby counties.

·      Wetland importance – adds cleaner water to aquifers, provides home for many plants and animals, prevents erosion, stabilizes water flow over a longer time.

·      Wetland threats  – pollution from all sources, draining of them for development.

·      Wetland hiking  – wear appropriate footwear (some wetlands are very wet, others dry), use Deet or similar to ward off mosquitos. Bring binoculars, hand lens, and a sense of awe for what you will see, smell, touch, and hear. All wetlands have seasons and go back at different times of the year and day.

·      Wear bells to prevent surprising bears near plants bearing fruit foraged by bears.

·      One-third of all plants grow in wetlands and many are food plants such as rice.

Calendar:

·      March 27 – LAGC meeting, “Perennials in the Garden: Three Seasons of Color” by Bill Goff.  Club photo to be taken weather permitting.

·      April 24 – LAGC meeting, “Composting” by Kurt Malecki.

·      May 19 – LAGC Plant Sale.

·      May 22 – LAGC meeting, “The Basics of Rain Gardens” by Attila Csokai.

Other nearby events:

·      March 14-18  -- Phipps Orchid Show and Sale, Phipps Garden Center.

·      Various spring dates: See prc.org for conservation information. Includes classes for Compost, Rain Gardens, Vermicomposts at Ross Community Center or nearby.