Thames River Garden Club Minutes – JANUARY 19, 2017
Attendance
Active: 31 Privileged: 2 Excused: 9
President Everett Munro called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. Everett thanked hostesses Suzy Young, Ivy Plis, Val Haagensen, Brenda Kramer and Phyllis Teeson for the wonderful luncheon.
Minutes: A motion was made to waive the reading of the October 2016 minutes; the motion passed unanimously.
Important upcoming dates:
February 23-26 2017 – 2017 Connecticut Flower and Garden Show “Woodland Enchantment” at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford
March 21-22 2017 – Landscape Design Study School, Course III
May 13, 2017 – TRGC Plant Sale
September 16, 2017 – TRGC Flower Show at Beebe Phillips Barn, Waterford
Officers Reports:
President’s Report: President Everett Munro announced that the TRGC Flower Show is scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the Beebe Phillips Barn in Waterford. Chairpersons are still needed for the following:Properties Chair, Staging Chair, Dismantling Team, Horticulture Entries Chair, Horticulture Classification Chair, Horticulture Placement Chair, Design Entries Chair, Design Consultant, Special Exhibits Chair, Awards Chair, Photography Chair, and Flower Show Treasurer. Please contact Pam Atkins or Everett Munro to sign up for a committee or a chairmanship. Pam Atkins has descriptions of each position, and Mary Ellen Hagen will work at making this information available on our website.
Treasurer’s report:
Vonice thanked members for their participation in Guest Day which was a big success, with a special thanks to Ruth Hammell for chairing the auction. Vonice has paid the dues to FGCCT for 70 Thames River Garden Club members. Vonice encouraged members to become familiar with the excellent Connecticut College Arboretum programs, many of which are free.
Committee Reports:
Garden Therapy- Phyllis Teeson reported that the ladies and men at the convalescent home love to participate in garden therapy. Fisher’s Florist donated daisies and carnations for the arrangements. Phyllis encourages members to support Fisher’s Florist; they have excellent deals and wonderful flowers.
Handbook Committee – 3 additional people are needed to join this committee. Interested members should please contact Linda Chapman. Any changes or updates to the handbook (email, phone, address, etc.) should be emailed directly to Linda.
Environmental – Juanita Toledo encourages everyone to Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Decorative plastic sleeves from plants and cut flowers can be saved to be reused at our Plant Sale in the spring. Jerry Theiler demonstrated that plastic bottles can be reused as bird feeders and if you cut small slits in the bottom you can also attach yarn for birds to take for nesting material. Jerry also informed us that we should learn to distinguish Ash Borers and that these insects will also attack Oak trees.
Juanita gave us some history on the Gypsy Moth. Gypsy moths first came to the U.S. ain 1869, followed by an outbreak in Medford, MA in 1881. They were first detected in Stonington in 1905. Gypsy Moth management includes 1) Physical control – remove egg sacks to soapy water and dispose; place burlap around trees and coat with Vaseline or tar 2) Biological control – spray controlling fungus or bacillus 3) Chemical insecticide –Pyrethrin, etc. Chemicals should be a last resort and should be applied by a licensed arborist.
Workshop Committee:
February 9, 2017 – Valentine Workshop at Waterford Historical Society Barn Presenter: Jerry Theiler
March 9, 2017 – Terrarium Workshop at Perennial Harmony, 144 Boston Post Rd., East Lyme. Presenter: Petie Reed
April 13, 2017 – Flower Show Workshop at Christ Lutheran Church, East Lyme; Presenter needed – suggestions?
May 11, 2017 – – Flower Show Workshop at Christ Lutheran Church, East Lyme; Presenter needed
Hospitality – Elaine Ackley thanked Pam Atkins for donating all the beautiful centerpieces for the holiday party. Suzy Young suggested that in the future the club could have a pre holiday party workshop to assemble the centerpieces because it is such a large task.
Meeting adjourned at 12:45 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ellen Hagen
Recording Secretary
Thames River Garden Club 