March 26, 2024 Meeting Notes

Notes by Colleen, Pictures by Rose Mary

President Nancy Madeoy opened the meeting with a thank you to Mary Anne and Claudia for helping to run the February meeting and thank you to club members for the cards.

Community Coordinator, Lynn Betts spoke about the need for volunteers to help maintain our Chapel Garden at Passavant Hospital. A sign-up sheet was circulated. The sign-up sheet will be available again at the April meeting if you didn't get an opportunity to choose a week to volunteer. Thanks to those who have already volunteered!

 

Due to voter registration taking place at Northmont Church on April 23rd we won't have access to Fellowship Hall. Our meeting will be held in the sanctuary, and we'll have snacks in the library. 

 

The Penn State Garden and Landscape Symposium and Marketplace will be held on Saturday, April 27th at the Hampton Community Center.  LAGC received communication about the opportunity to be a friend sponsor of the event. Club members unanimously voted to donate $50 to be a friend sponsor.

 

Plant Sale Coordinator, Mary Anne Kurtz addressed the club about our annual perennial plant sale on May 18th.  Paper reminders that can be handed to friends and family were distributed.  Plant tags were available for pickup and will also be available at the April meeting.  

 

●      Please have your plants at the church by 7:30am.

●      Please bring 10 to 20 plants that are worth at least $2 each. The pot size should be 4 inch unless it's a type of plant which typically grows large.

●      The pot should have a plant tag with information about the plant such as growth habit, color and light requirement.  

●      When potting up your plants be alert to the possibility of Asian jumping worms. 

●      Please pot up your plants by mid to late April so that the plants have time to become accustomed to their pots before the plant sale.

●      Again this year we're going to have a free table so be sure to bring your gently used garden items for the table.  

●      Any leftover plants will be given to Memorial Park Church and the Bradford Woods Conservancy.

●      Linda Brown will bring copies of the schedule of our programs to give to customers.

 

Plans for LAGC’s 75th anniversary celebration are underway. Some of the Celebration Committee members visited the Heritage Center in North Park where we store our club records.  It was decided that we will rent the Heritage Center in September of 2025 for a celebration event.  Stay tuned for further details to be announced at our upcoming meetings.

 

Nancy and Mary Anne did a test run with the new microphone headset and it was a positive experience. The club will purchase the $50 headset.

 

Thank you to Linda Brown for the beautiful spring arrangement of daffodils and pussywillow branches. Kate Powell served a delicious lemon poppy seed pound cake, chocolate chip cookies and ginger cookies.

Linda Brown & arrangements

Kate Powell and table with desserts & arrangement

John Powell helps out.

Program Notes

“Cool Tools – Other Stuff” by Stephen Piskor

 

This evening's speaker remembered that he spoke to LAGC 10 years ago about garden tools and was happy to be back. Steve gave a very informative show and tell talk about his favorite tools. He gave us a very detailed handout which lists all the tools that he recommends to make gardening chores easier.

 

Stainless steel doesn't rust but, it's a soft metal and can get damaged easily. Carbon steel is hard but, it rusts so it needs to be kept clean, dry and lubricated.

 

Pointed tools are critical for digging.

 

When faced with a root bound plant, cut the root ball into a box shape to encourage new root growth.

 

Disinfect tools with hand wipes, rubbing alcohol or Lysol spray. Bleach is not recommended because it's caustic to metal tools and to plants.

 

For lubricating tools, he recommends WD-40 silicone spray; the silicone spray is less harmful than regular WD-40. 

 

For cleaning tools, he recommends Lava brand soap because it has pumice in it. Dry tools thoroughly using a microfiber towel.

When sharpening tools be sure to sharpen the beveled blade and then turn the blade over to even out the other side and remove loose metal shavings.