January 2009

Kingston Garden Club

Fay Linger

KINGSTON GARDEN CLUB

MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 21, 2009

Noel L. called our meeting to order at Redeemer United Methodist Church at 10:40am.   

Members Present:       29 members

Pledge of Allegiance:                       

Hospitality:   

Bobbi B. (stayed for speaker only)
Debbie
Holly G. (became a member)
Mary G. (became a member)
Sandra S.

Hostesses:       Thanks to Karen A., Carol M., our coordinator (standing in for Teri M.) and Debbie W.
A HUGE Thank you again to Nancy M. for hosting the Christmas party – everyone had a wonderful time.

Minutes:         Minutes for November were distributed on the web site.  The November minutes were approved as distributed. 

Treasurer’s Report:    Diann K. reported our bank balance as $5,341.88.

Committee Reports:  

Membership – There are a few books that have not been picked up yet.  Kay P. will e-mail any corrections and/or additions.
Publicity – Nancy M. reported that Nancy M. had wonderful articles in the Herald and Community News.
Sunshine Committee – Carol D. recently lost a close member of her family.  Jan S. recently lost a close member of her family.
E-mail and telephone – seems to be working but let Noel L. know if you are not being contacted.   Members are encouraged to contact Noel L. if there is anything that could be done better.
Ways and Means – Annika M. bought an old garden plow that was donated by Wendy T.
Philanthropy – no report.  A letter from Stillwaters was received thanking the Garden Club for our donation of a free one year membership and a tree at their Yuletide auction.  Stillwaters raised approximately $12,500.

Special Assignments:

Web Site – Bobbi W. has added links to the NW Garden Show and Miller Botanical Gardens.  Miller Botanical Gardens conducts tours March through November (except August).  KGC will put our name down for one or two tours (tour groups can number up to 15).  Let Bobbi W. know if there are any other links (or information) that we should have on our web site.

Hostess Coordinator – Mary Ann E., Diann K. and Gwen W. volunteered to act as hostess “floaters” in the event a scheduled member was unavailable.

Historian – Annika M. requested any photographs that were taken at the potting parties.
 

Unfinished Business:           

2009 Plant Sale – Everyone working at the plant sale will wear sun visors so they can be easily identified.  Any member still needing help with potting and/or digging should contact Michael B., Mitzi G. or Laurie Y. before March 10.  Quilt Raffle – Nancy M. showed the beautiful quilt that will be raffled.  Eleanor D., Ann I., Diann K., Noel L., Nancy M., Gwen W., Mary S. and Bobbi W. were the club members that sewed and ironed the quilt. The quilt will be on display at the Bremerton quilt fair.  Raffle tickets will also be sold.  Raffle items – a request was made for volunteers but no one responded.

High School Spring Festival – Changed from Home and Garden Show – April 25. 

New Business:           

Farm to School project – Stillwaters is looking into the feasibility of this plan.  This is a project where local schools create gardens to plant produce that could be a part of the school luncheons.  Any member interested in helping with the technical aspect of what and how to plant and overseeing should contact Noel L.  Ann I. volunteered to go to the planning meeting.

Show and Tell:          

Carol M. brought in pink bougainvillea flowers which were part of the table decorations.  These flowers dry very well.     

Noel L. showed a bouquet of heather, euonymous and huckleberry.

Ann I. and her husband are the proud parents of a worm farm (gift from Ann’s husband).  Tip – don’t put citrus peel in the compost but do put banana peel.  Also freezing scraps first helps with the decomposing process.        

Michael B. brought in witchhazel (in red, orange and yellow) and a pink viburnum called “Dawn”, all blooming in his garden right now.
Elaine J. read a poem called “First Snow”.

Announcements:           See “Special Assignments” above under web site.

Garden Tip:      Don’t cut off your seed pods until Spring – leave seed heads for the birds.  If you suspect frost damage on your plants, do not do any pruning until new growth shows in the Spring.

Next Meeting:            February 18 – Heidi from Dragonfly Nursery will be talking about cool new plants for the northwest garden.

 The meeting adjourned at:         11.25 a.m.

 Respectfully submitted,

Dawn V., Secretary

December and January Birthday Ladies

Donated by Wendy and will live in Annika's wonderful garden....

Bougainvillea that Carol M. grows inside her home!

Maxine H, Ann I, Nancy M and Carol M

Roddy sampling the wonderful food!  Carrot Cake recipe at bottom of page....

Michael and Annika

Astrid and her friend,

Helen, Kay, Diann, and Sharon

Sue with new members and guests

BIRDS IN YOUR NORTHWEST GARDEN

Hummingbird Nectar

             ½ cup white sugar

            2 cups boiling water

            Boil water to sterilize, mix in white sugar until dissolved. Cool. Fill feeder ¼ full. Store the remainder in the refrigerator. Hang the feeder out of the direct sun and change the nectar every few days.

 Clean the feeder with hot water and a small amount of white vinegar and rinse well.

 Honey should never be used in place of the sugar as it promotes the growth of a fungus that is harmful to the birds.

 Homemade Bird “Pudding”

            1 pound of lard or vegetable shortening or suet

            1 cup or more of quick cooking oats

            1 cup of chunky peanut butter (non-sugar)

            ½ cup of cornmeal or millet (optional)

Mix all of the above ingredients. If using suet, melt the suet first and then add the other ingredients. Fill the empty plastic trays or the holes in the log suet feeder. Suet mix should be kept in the refrigerator. Lard and shortening mixes may be kept at room temperature in a tightly closed container.

 No Mess Birdseed Mix

             1 part sunflower seed chips

            2 parts cracked corn (fine chick feed)

            1 part peanut bits

Nancy explaining how the quilters were able to agree on fabric placements....

The quilters:  Gwen, Noel, Nancy, Eleanor, Bobbi, Ann, Diann and missing Mary S.

Aunt Evelyn’s Carrot Cake   (From Karen A.)

c2009 Kingston Garden Club