April 23, 2019 Meeting Summary

Colleen Fingal, president opened the meeting up by welcoming all members and guests.

Iris, Hyacinths, Tulips, Daffodils, Forget-Me-Not, Dog Tooth Violet, Columbine, Primrose, Pulmonaria, Helleborus, Lilacs, Korean Spice Viburnum, Serviceberry currently blooming in member gardens.

Old Business:  

Plant Sale May 18, Saturday– A member to assist with pricing is still needed.  Claudia volunteered to assist with staging in the 10:30 – noon time slot and Colleen will pick up balloons.  At this point, all members should have plants potted. If not, please pot in the next week so plants will look good for sale.  Plants should be delivered between 7:30 and 7:45 to parking lot, with all dead material removed so they look their best. For those volunteering, remember to wear your apple green shirt.

Community Service Projectfor Ross Township at Denny Park – 4/27 at 10 am.  There was interest in some club members to volunteer. Involves teaching participants how to plant in a rain garden.

2019 Garden and Landscape Symposium & Marketplace– 4/27 – donation was mailed

New Business:

·     Dianne Machesney presented the treasurer’s report.  After expenses of donations and speaker fees ending balance is $2,316.23.  Dianne did some research and found that the club is not required to collect PA sales tax at our plant sale.  She is considering applying for a refund of sales tax paid in prior years, as far back as will be allowed.

·     Public Relations Report – Claudia and Jane developed a spreadsheet outlining contact information for various publications (on-line and print) to get various notifications into the publication. Easy to track who/when contact was made.

·     Anita reported on Facebook page. So far, 27 have ‘liked’ the page. After 100 likes, she can get tracking statistics.  If you use Facebook please go to our club site and “like” so we can get over the 100 level. So far, the most popular posts were the link to the Asian Jumping Worm information and bird nests.

·     Signup sheet for Passavant Chapel Garden was passed around, for members to weed/deadhead at the garden for 2 week time periods.

·     Lynn Betts brought Spirea “Little Princess” if interested.  Contact her if you missed the meeting and are interested in the Spirea or any other plants, she may have in abundance.

·     Marlow Madeoy brought to our attention that a wonderful nursery in Beltsville, MD is closing – Bengies Nursery of Greater Washington

·     There is a gardening event with a Silent Auction at the Phipps Mellon Center in Shadyside on 5/3.  Begins at 6, non-members $35, members $30.  You can register on-line.
Plant Sale May 18, Saturday– See above under old business for details. Many hands make the work light.  Tell your friends, neighbors, fellow gardeners. If you have questions, contact Mary Ann Kurtz. 

Thanks to Colleen Fingal for the delicious desserts (cherry bar recipe added to blog) and Nancy Madeoy for the beautiful arrangement.

Linda's wildflower sweater made using overlay stitching

Kurt Malecki from Best Feeds Garden Center on Babcock Boulevard presented “Ponds and Pond Gardens in Containers”

Key takeaways:

·     Can be as small as a birdbath to a large pond with waterfall features.

·     Create as a “balanced” eco-system pond 

·     Important to have all the components in your pond that you would normally have in nature.

·   When planting, use sand or pea gravel or stone as your potting medium, to stabilize the plants.  Dirt makes the water murky.

·     Need adequate plant material under water (create oxygen), as well as above water.

·     If you don’t have fish, will end up with a mosquito problem, can use ‘Dunks’ to control, and will also need to fertilize.

·     Barley straw naturally removes algae from water

·     Plants like low water movement.

*   Don’t use roofing material as a liner, it has a built in algaecide in it.