Minutes of the Williamstown Garden Club, September 8, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. at Sweetwood by the President, Sue Metzner. Visitors were welcomed.
The minutes from the August meeting were approved with one correction: Bette Craig, not Barbara Craig, introduced the speaker.
The following were updates from club committee chairs:
Civic beautification – Sue Metzner reporting for Dianne Glick and Judy Edwards said that preparations for fall and frost would be announced. If anyone is interested in the begonias at the entrance to Mt. Hope, they should keep an eye on the weather report and collect hem before the first frost.
Field Park – Elaine Neely said a date for cutting back and leaf blow would be announced.
Osborne Library Garden – Sarah Foehl said that there would be some more plantings made this fall.
Fall Plant Sale recap – Sue thanked Kathy McKnight for volunteering at the last moment to take over the sale. Kathy announced that the sale grossed $1427. The second highest total for the sale. Eja Heekin and Kathy Kalker assisted Kathy so they can take over responsibility for the sale next year. Most popular were the cacti and succulents, and next year we could increase the numbers of each. The bamboo in cups and the Peace Lilies were also popular and we could sell more of those. The suggestion was made to have a June propagation party in addition to the August potting party. Members could start collecting attractive pots because these were popular.
Leadership vacancies – The club still needs a supply coordinator and an historian. Sue acknowledged our retiring but tireless historian, Bunny Smith, who has moved to Wake Robin in Vermont to be nearer family.
New business – we need to get out publicity for the upcoming public meeting on Saturday,
October 4th at 11:00 a.m. at the Milne Library. The topic is “Gardening is Murder” with Neil Sanders.
Rita Watson introduced our speaker Barbara Tacy whose topic was “How Many Daffodils”. Barbara is a judge for the American Daffodil Society, and she lived in Williamstown for a number of years before moving to Mystic, Connecticut. She gave us tips for enjoying these bulbs. There are over 27,000 varieties which have been propagated for hundreds of years. She showed us pictures of the different types of plants. The U.K. has done much of the breeding. It takes 6 years to move from daffodil seed to bloom so much of the propagation is done by chipping bulbs into smaller pieces and growing those. She made the following recommendations:
– don’t plant bulbs until the soil is 55 degrees and the pests are dead
– leave until leaves wilt, don’t bend or tie
– daffodils like to be dry so plant with iris which also likes dry conditions, too much water will rot
bulbs
– daffodils like ashes from stoves or fireplaces
– if you pick blossoms, keep stems long and put in warm water for a day before arranging
– daffodils are poisonous so if you put with other flowers in an arrangement, be sure to put
plastic holders on stems
– put bulbs in a hot water bath before planting to destroy pests – the instructions for the bath
are on the American Daffodil Society website.
Rita thanked Barbara for a very interesting talk. As there was no further business, Sue Metzner adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully submitted, Joan Wright, Recording Secretary