Kingston Garden Club

February 20

Bob and Iris Smaus

KINGSTON GARDEN CLUB

MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Annika M. called our meeting to order at the Redeemer United Methodist Church at 10:37 a.m. 

 Members Present:                     34 members and 6 guests.

 Pledge of Allegiance:

 Hospitality:                              

 KGC welcomed new member Dorothy H.

Elaine J. introduced her husband Bob.
Annika M. introduced her niece Maia.

Carol D. introduced Glenn M.
Sonja S. saw announcement in local paper

Sally C. introduced Mary G.

Linda W. introduced Michael B.

Hostesses:                                Thanks to Carol M. (also our Coordinator), Ann W. and Noel L.

 Minutes:                                   The January minutes were distributed by e-mail and approved by the members.

 Treasurer’s Report:                   Alice M. reported our bank balance as $5,425.84.

 Ways and Means:                     Pam W. notified members that we have $58.34 (not including today) toward our goal of $250.00. 

 Unfinished Business:                 

 May Plant Sale – Raffle/silent auction – Decision was made not to have the silent auction this year.  For the raffle, 2 big baskets and a number of smaller garden related items have been proposed.  The idea being that having a number of prizes will generate more interest and more people will win a prize.  Valley Nursery has already donated many garden items plants that were shown at the meeting.  Members were asked to bring in containers and small baskets for houseplants.  Carol D. asked if anyone needs help digging plants and repotting to let her know.  Pots and soil are available at Linda M’s home.  If you are interested, contact Laurie Y.  There are also pots available at the Hansville Transfer Station.

Aloha Wright – Annika M. read a very appreciative letter from the NKSD thanking KGC for awarding the Wolfle Elementary School grant money for their project.   

Ecofest  – April 19^th Nancy M. said that the KGC normally just sells raffle tickets but we need to do more, so Nancy suggested that the garden club could put on a demonstration on potting containers.  Nancy has offered to train anyone who is interested.  Only one person has volunteered so far – need more volunteers.

New Business:                         

Job Descriptions – Bobbi W. has almost completed this project.  Also nearly completed is information about what projects the KGC is involved in.

                                                         Kingston Town Meeting –March 20- KGC has a display board at the meeting but we need to do more to interest people in becoming garden club members.  The meeting is held at Kingston Middle School.

 Annual Kingston Cleanup Day is set for March 29^th.  KGC will be cleaning the cemetery.  An e-mail with more details will be sent.

 March Meeting – We are holding our meeting at the Foxglove Nursery starting at 9:00 a.m. for social time.  Members are asked to bring in thermos of coffee or tea to share.  Hostesses will bring in the food – no table decorations are needed.  Nancy M. will put something together for publication in the local paper.  An e-mail will be sent to everyone as a reminder.

April Meeting – Dan Hinkley will be the guest speaker so we will have his presentation first and then have the meeting after.  Since we are allowing non-members to participate, we will need to have extra coffee and goodies available.  A discussion ensued about asking for a donation from non-members a fee.  Bobbi W. will look into this and e-mail members with more details.

June Meeting – Will be tours of member’s gardens.  We need hostesses for this month.

Design of the Day:                    Elaine J. passed around a pretty pink rhododendron called Heatherside Beauty.  This rhoddy goes from pink to pink with a stripe to a very light shade as it ages.  Heatherside Beauty is in bloom now and will grow 5 ½’ tall by 4’ wide.

 Show and Tell:                          Noel L. showed a number of simple displays which she calls Design for Dummies!  Bowl with floating hellebore blossoms, miniature plant with white flowers, primrose in ceramic pot, pampas grass in a glass vase with brown packing material on the outside, several colors of heathers in a cup and a separate figurine and 5 tulips in a skinny clear vase.  Noel went on to demonstrate flowers in a different sized clear vase and also showed other vases as ideas. 

 Door Prizes:                             Carol M., Alice M., Cathy M., Michael B., Maia

Tip(s) of the Day:                      Open a DVD package using a seam ripper.

If your plant pots/containers have no holes in the bottom, place a small pvc pipe vertically in the pot, add soil, plant and water.  Wait a minute then tip the entire pot upside down (making sure soil and plant don’t fall out) and drain.

Wrapping the entire stem of tulips with wet newspaper to just under the flower head secured with rubber bands will make the stems stiff.

 Announcements:                      

Nancy M. – a flyer was placed on every table from Stillwaters regarding two upcoming classes:

“Living With Your On-Site Sewage Treatment System” on March 26^th and “Sustainable Kitchen Gardens” with Ann Lovejoy on March 29^th.

 Annika’s book recommendation – “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver – non-fiction, autobiographical about living off the food you grow.

March 27^th – rhododendron – trip to Japan slide show.

March 29^th – Kiwanis 11^oo-2^oo Kite flying and 5^oo murder and mayhem.

April 24^th – rhododendron/wine tasting at BI Winery.

 Next Meeting:                           March 19, 2008.  We will meet at Foxglove Nursery on Little Boston Road at 9:00 a.m.

 The meeting adjourned at:         12:00 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,             Dawn V., Secretary

Annika leading the meeting

Guide puppy in training and bored with our business meeting....

Bob Smaus and his presentation of taking his yard from grass to perennials in 25 years or so.

Door prizes (plants) and Design of the Day (arrangements)

Treats for the group.

c2008 Kingston Garden Club