Mill Bay Garden Club general meeting

Tuesday October 24 2017

7PM call to order

President’s report: Ajay Oppelaar

• Acceptance of minutes from Septembers meeting, moved Al Mikalishen, seconded Megan O’Hara
• Thank you to set up crew and kitchen staff. We will be unlocking the doors at 6:30 pm in future.
• Member’s forum requests
• Questions about president’s report
• Millennium garden sub-committee, sign-up sheets are circulating. Need 2 more people for the committee
• Sign up sheet is circulating for kitchen volunteers and Christmas party.
• Coffee issue - the coffee we serve does not seem to be popular, ½ drink decaf, everyone thinks we need better quality coffee.
• Folks with hearing problems, please sit closer to the front of the room, we will ask people to speak louder when questions are being asked, and repeat questions if needed.
• Sam Fisher has passed on. The meeting sends condolences, Mary Gale to send card. November 18^th will be the commemoration ceremony.

VP report: Cliff Stainsby

• Speakers update
• Garden tour update There will be a tour of Gord Baird’s property for club members. There is a sign up sheet and there is a fee for Gord’s tour.

Treasurer’s report: Marie Cooke

• We have $358. In the bank account.

Secretary’s report: Fran Benton

• Fran described Pregnant onion (Albuca), an unusual houseplant, we have some in the plant sale tonight.
• Fran mentioned that she has written the garden articles on behalf of the MBGC for the Cowichan Press for two years now, and thinks it’s time someone else had a chance to share their garden notes and thoughts with the community. Let her know if you are interested.

Committee reports

Membership: JoAnn Mulhern

      We welcomed Larry and Stephanie to the garden club tonight!

Sunshine: Mary Gale

      Mary has been given lots of cards thanks to Louise, Cecile, Deb, Dot!

Raffle: Tracy Morris

      Lots of lovely things!

Plant Sale table: Monika Morgan

      Lots of cool plants for sale, Norm brought in scarlet runner beans, we have dried flowers, and alpaca manure

Newsletter: Mary Vandenberg on behalf of Angie Stanta 

      Let her know if you did not get your newsletter.

Library: Mary Vandenberg in for Mary Heath for Janice Rose. OMG!

      Please remember to return your books!

Flower and garden show: Gillian Keir

      Sign up sheet for positions were circulated.

Website: Gord Hamilton

      He will be keeping copies of the past newsletters.

Members forum:

      Norm spoke about dahlias and has a book full of pictures of the varieties he grows . He has a technique of cutting and wrapping tubers that works very well. Talk to Norm if you are interested.

Brag Table: Barb Kohlman with “Put it in a pumpkin”

      One arrangement was in a pumpkin!

Q and A: Bill Herring

• Bill talked about new club root resistant Brassica seeds. He and Cliff and Heather tested these this summer. He reports that he still had club root but the cabbage “Stanton” was still edible, the Cauliflower “Clapton” was good and the Brussel Sprouts ”Crispus” were fantastic.
• Ajay responded to a question about pruning hydrangeas. He said that you could prune the PGs to one foot if you like. The Macrophyllums should be pruned on a two year rotation method cutting ½ this year and then ½ next year. That way you will still get bloom on half of the plant. After pruning add compost and a good drink of water.
• Bill mentioned that a handful of cooking salt is good for asparagus plants in spring.
• There was a question about transplanting Romneya. The response was no, transplant a sucker in late January.

Social coffee break

Raffle

Speaker The Essence of Organic Gardening with Ann Hoelzer

Adjournment and cleanup 9:15 pm