Minutes – Williamstown Garden Meeting – 06/01/15
The meeting was called to order by the President, Sue Metzner. She reported on the club’s receiving the Williamstown Community Chest Volunteer of the Year Award, and the very successful Berkshire District Meeting on May 27, held at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, which was attended by about 10 club members. Thanks to Susan Hyde and Pam Turton for the refreshments.
These reports from club committees followed:
1. Civic Beautification – Sue suggested that next year volunteers should bring water for the bridge plantings to counteract the settling that occurs around the roots of the new plants.
2. Field Park – Susan Hyde reported that the garden was looking good.
3. STO library garden – Sarah Foehl reported that the hose and sprinklers have been installed, but there is a water pressure problem. New Plants will be coming soon, and volunteers can come alternate Tuesdays to help.
4. Spring Plant and Bake Sale – Pat Siskind reported that the sale was a “miracle” and netted the club $1,019. Marie Siskind reported that the double composter was still available.
5. Propagation workshop at Licia Conforti’s is scheduled for Monday afternoon, June 15. A email will be sent out about the time.
6. Garden Road Trip – Rita reported that the Julyt 20 trip to John Hyland’s garden in Millerton, N.Y. will leave about 10:30 a.m. and take 11/2 hours. Members should let Rita know if they plan to attend. Sue will look into the feasibility of a tour bus.
Speaker Cheryl Monroe was introduced by Claudia Elet. Her subject “Grow It, Cut It, Arrange It”. From her one acre garden she makes arrangements year round, even cutting foliage under the snow! Her philosophy is not to ravage the garden, but to cut one flower stem and then use other foliage in arrangements. She grows lots of flowers in the same color so they go well together.
She had the following suggestions. On conditioning she suggested Linda Buetler’s book Garden to Vase. She also suggested taking water when cutting flowers and putting them in water immediately. She recommended a Felco pruner with an extra lip.
Forcing: branches of shrubs – azaleas, redbuds, quince, lilacs can all be forced as they get closer to their bloom time. Bulbs can be forced as well. Tulips, for example, take 14 weeks in the house. She gives a timetable on her website Gardenintheburrow.com.
Woody plant stems should be cut on an angle and the cut again at right angles to the first cut rather than smashed.
Conditioning lilacs, dahlias, hydrangeas, clematis involves putting stems in boiling water and counting to 20 before using in arrangements.
She made lots of other suggestions for using vines, herbs, weeds, berries and seedheads in arrangements appropriate for different seasons. Members interested in learning more can consult her website.
Respectfully submitted, Joan Wright, Recording Secretary