Williamstown Garden Club Minutes – November 3, 2014
The meeting was called to order by the President, Sue Metzner, at 1:00 p.m. at The Harper Center.
The minutes from the October meeting were approved.
Diane Glick reported that the containers and bridges are done for the season and thanked everyone who participated. Special note to Sue Hyde for her efforts at the Post Office.
Elaine Neely reported that the final clean-up at Field Park will be this coming
Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 1:00. Please bring rakey things.
Elaine also reported that some plants had been lost at the Osborne Garden. We will need to reassess in the spring, to plan replacements.
Anne Tiffany reported that the club by-laws are out of date, and will need attention. Anyone interested should get in touch with her.
Annual dues will be collected at the annual meeting at The Orchards on Dec.8. Sue Pike said that all members should be alert to requests for updates to email and addresses – the sooner the better – so everything in the new bulletin will be accurate. Please also respond promptly to the email questionnaire which will be coming around.
Sue Metzner thanked the current committee chairs and said that she hoped they would stay with her for her second year. Anyone who feels she/he cannot continue in her/his current position should get in touch with her.
As stated in the program, the greens workshop will be at the Harper Center on Dec. 1 at 1:00. The annual meeting will be Dec. 8 at The Orchards starting at 12:00. Lunch will be served at 12:30. Rita asked everyone to watch for the menu choices in an email and respond promptly.
Bette Craig then introduced our speaker, Betsy Williams, whose topic was decorating for the holidays. Betsy has been a florist for 30 years and has appeared on local t.v. , as well as being a popular speaker in this area and around Andover, Ma., where she lives. Her specialty is how to decorate with local products. She gave a delightful presentation. Some of the highlights were:
1. Use balled up chicken wire as a base for your arrangements.
2. If you use Oasis (either regular or instant) use the hottest water possible to soak the Oasis. 3 or more hours is desirable so that no light green streak remains in the center of the oasis.
3. Once an arrangement is finished, mist it.
4. You can re-use oasis until it falls apart. Flip it over, dry it out and use it again.
5. For dry arrangements she suggested oak leaves (pick them and put them under a rug to dry out and keep them from curling. Other options were bayberry and copper beech leaves preserved in glycerin 2/3 glycerin and 1/3 hot water. Slice the stems of woody plants don’t crush them.
6. Use picks to secure apples, onions, potatoes, walnuts, chestnuts in arrangements – most will last about a week.
7. Don’t put rocks or crockery in the bottom of pots – bacteria will grow there.
8. Look into small, multicolored carnations – long lasting and beautiful.
9. Boxwood is the most durable green as long as it’s watered, but cedar, juniper, blue spruce and white pine are also good in holiday arrangements. Keep in the cool place, keep watered and mist, and should last.
The presentation was followed by a raffle of the material and arrangements Betsy had brought.
Sue Metzner thanked the speaker and, as there was no new business, the meeting was adjourned.
Thanks to
Anne Tantalo and her helpers for the wonderful refreshments.
Respectfully submitted, Joan Wright, Recording Secretary