Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1968

(105th year) H/4/1968-1April 2nd- 1968 MONTRESOR with Rust and Elizabeth Canby

It was a lovely, cool April afternoon when we gathered in this gracious, beautiful home for the first meeting of the year. Spring flowers were coming into bloom outside- and inside the arrangements were so lavish and beautiful. Spiraea, forsythia, daffadils- and camelias- the like of which we have not often seen in this locality. Friends from Takoma Park had brought them- and the profusion and color was indeed outstanding.

The members seemed also to out do themselves with the variety and deliciousness of the so called pot-luck dinner- and after enjoying it- and the pleasure of seeing each other againwe settled down for the meeting.

Our president, Ellis Manning called us to order around eight o'clock- and welcomed us for the new year, and the guests, Louise Canby and Nancy Canby to the meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting, in October, was read and approved.

Under unfinished business the secretary read the ByLaws as is usual at the April meeting.

Ulric Hutton had the selected article- one written by the mother of Anthony Trollop and published in Krutch's book: "The Gardeners World". She was rather disappointed on the whole with her vivit here in 1830. She did like the strawberries and peaches- but they were not so good as in England. She admired the wild flowers- especially the dogwood, locust bloom, poison Elder or sumac and the red-bud and others- but unfavorable comparison crept in very often. The lightening bugs and birds she admiredalso a profusion of fall woods flowers- with most of which she was not familiar- but declared no one she met knew them either!

For her forethought Sylvia Woodward told us to get the evergreens planted. Watch out for yellow streaked leaves on the jonquils and remove leaves- the plant if necessary. Spray Iris- and plant the first glads. Prune early blooming shrubs as soon as the flowers fade. Fertilize shrubs- sew batchelors buttons and larkspur also sweetpeas. If you want to g row your own tomato plants sow the seed now. Push mothballs into the ground around your crocus to keep the mice away- and she ended with an April Fool joke on us.

Our weather man, A.D.Farquhar gave us a rather detailed report covering somewhat the months we were not meeting. The high for October was78- a nd he recorded a low, in Jan. of -7. Several others reported a lower reading, William Heckendorn having seen-12. We had no record of the water level, but it is most certainly up.

Mary Moore, serving as Assistant Secretary reported exhibits, mostly flowers from:- The Huttons, Mt. Pleasant, Great Ease, The Cottage, The Highlands, Rocky Ridge, Springdale, Pine Hill Oakwood The Cedars, who also had Parsnips and Salsify-dug from the garden this afternoon- and from Spring Villa beautiful lush water cress. The arbutus from Pine Hill sho ld also be especially mentioned- so lovely and becom ng increasingly rare.

Large flocks of geese have been seen. Some reported fewer birds this winter- others thought the normal numbers were with us. Of course it was a rather open winter. Various kinds of woodpeckers have been around- waxwings- a covey of partridges reported by Clair Hutton- and the usual old friends.

Roadside trash was again discussed. We will try to investigate to see if anything is being done- any collections being

H/4/1968-2. made etc. Education seems the only way- as the collecting just is temporary- as the litter is constantly being thrown out. It will cost a lot of money to have it done by the County or State. Ohio uses a machine which vacuums the road- but it is very expensive. Men on utility trucks are seen to throw their lunch papers and refuse out on the road- t ey have been spoken to- but maybe should be reported to their companies. We decided to do nothing at this time except try to find out something, bringing it up again next month.

Eli abeth Ligon asked Sylvia about the arbutus. Some was in the woods when they moved there- she planted more at that time- 2 years ago- and it has spread. She also asked William Heckenddorn if waterdress will grow from plants. Yes it will- they started it from seeds and it has grown and multiplied very fast.

The Savings Institution will celebrate its one hundredth anniversary on Saturday, April 13th- from two to fiveand will be glad to have us come at that time. They are the first bank chartered in the Co.

The Heckendorns would like to entertain us in August with a "corn boiling". It is usual for new members to wait over a year before entertaining the club- but as they want to have us- we will arrange to change the program in order to fit them in. It will be announced at the next meeting.

We adjourned to meet with Ulric and Rose Hutton- with Flora Goff the reader in May.

Mary Reading Miller, Secty.

H/5/1968-1Ulric and Rose Hutton's- May 7th- 1968

On a beautiful, rather cool May afterday, we gathered at the lovely home of Ulric and Rose Hutton in time to walk over the well kept, beautifully planted grounds.

The usual bountiful, delicious dinner was enjoyedand we were called to order by our president, Ellis Manning at about eight o'clock. After welcoming our guests- and former members- Jack and Brenda Janney the minutes were read and adopted.

The treasurer read the a nnual report-- rather briefBalance from last year $26.30- and the purchase of typwriter paper and cards amounting to $1.00 gave us a balance to start the year of $25.30. We were reminded that we decided some time ago to save our wealth until such time when we can give some planting material to the new hospital grounds. Dues were collected- amounting to $5.50- all members present having paid.

Under unfinished business we accepted with thanks, the invitation of William and Zela Heckendorn to meet with them in August- postponing the meeting at Rocky Ridge until next summerand asking members to make the adjustment on their schedules.

Some further discussion on the roadside trashbut nothing definate- and William Heckendorn will continue to look into it.

Flora Goff read, for her selected article, from The American Garden Book- an article by James and Louise Bush about Tuberous Begonias. Flora being ourauthority on these beautiful flowers, we were glad that these writers agreed with her. There is a wide color range- there are ruffled- double- trailing and small multiflower types. They do well in some shade- the ideal type being under trees where light filters thru. In pots or boxes they need strong light, but no sun. It seems most satisfatory for the amateur to purchase started plants each year- or at least new tubers, although some people have kept them over for a number of years, but the care and storage is guite a particular process. A very interesting and instructive article.

Douglas Farquhar, our weather man told us that April had a high of 80degrees and a low of 32. Total ra infall was 1.4 inches on 8 days. A light frost was reported at several homes this morning.

The Assistant Secretary reported exhibits from: The Cedars, Bea and Clair Hutton's Rocky Ridge. Great Ease, and Spring Villa.

We were sorry that two of our members, Rust Canby and Walter Wilson are sick- and the secretary was directed to write each of them a note, telling them we missed them- and hope to have them with us by next meeting.

QUESTIONS:- How long does one wait for a tree peony to bloom? Four or five years- there are different kinds.

Pete Ligon wanted to know how Ulric Hutton got such good soil- theirs is clay.Ulric uses saw dust in his Nursery Beds as a mulch- then puts it our on the garden. Sod turned over and allowed to rot makes the best improvement.

William Heckendorn has been thinking of a drive to have The Boy's Scouts organized to clean up the roadsides- and work out a way to salvage the cans and bottles collected. He will continue his research.

H/5/1968-2.

TheAzeleas at Brighton Dam are at their peake right now.

Alan and Dale have fruit on their Apricot and plum trees, thanks to Horticultural advise on spraying which Dale did last fall.

Adjourned to meet at The Highlands on June 4th- with Elizabeth Ligon as reader.

Mary Reading Miller, Secretary.

A note from A. D ARGUHAR Horticuluural

Weather Report for April 1968

High 80 degrees Apr. 13 Av. High 65 degrees

Low 32 degrees Apr. 2 & 6 Av .Low 44 degrees

Mean Temp for Month 55 degrees

Total Rainfall for month 1.4 inches on 8 days

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