February 2016 Newsletter

Note from the President-   The EMHS 2016 year has already begun.  I have already filed our 2016 tax forms with the IRS, the speaker for our February 11^th meeting has been confirmed, the EMHS Annual Plant Sale list is being worked on, and now I am writing the first Newsletter of 2016.  Those that ordered the Hosta Finder at the December meeting can tentatively expect the book to be here by the February meeting.  EMHS is off to a good start, but it is obvious that our growing season is still a few months away. 

This is a perfect time of year to look at the plant catalogs and decide what new additions to purchase for the gardens this year.  For Hosta catalogs you can go to the Hosta Library and click on the “links” section for a list of Hosta growers as well as some growers listed at the top of the Hosta Library page.  The URL for the AHS Hosta Library page is; http://www.hostalibrary.org/   This site is also a good place to go to find out information on Hosta you may already have growing or some you may be looking for as long as they are not new introductions as those will most likely not be entered into the data base. 

Another way to find new Hosta to purchase is to attend Hosta College in Piqua, OH on March 18 & 19, 2016.  There is always a room full of vendors offering the latest and greatest in the Hosta world and in other areas of gardening.  The Hosta College website has been updated with this year’s class offerings, the gift plant for registered participants, and the Schedule.  Please check out the possibilities at the 2016 Hosta College by going to; http://www.ihostohio.com/portal/glhc/

The EMHS meeting is a great way to help make it through one of the cold February evenings.  Our next meeting is on February 11^th, 2016.  Our speaker that night is Don LaFond from Pinckney, MI.  Don is a member of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) and will be speaking to us about his style of gardening,  what makes it different from what most of us do in our gardens, and why he has chosen this style as his specialty. 

Remember that our meetings also include a potluck so start thinking about what favorite dish you can bring to this meeting.  As always the club will furnish the plates, cups, flatware, and coffee.   To be different and expose you to something different I will be making Kugel from my adopted Aunt’s recipe.  You are in for a treat if you have never had Kugel. 

I look forward to kicking off another year of fun with EMHS and hope all of you are as excited.  The purpose of EMHS is, “to promote the interest of hostas and shade gardening; to extend horticultural education and activities to its members and the community.”  Let’s all look forward to a year of enjoying our common interest, Hosta and shade gardening.

See you at the February 11^th meeting,
Glen Pace
EMHS President

Next Meeting- February 11, 2016 at the Mayfield Twp. Hall, 1900 N. Saginaw, Lapeer, MI 48446.  This is our regular meeting place located just south of the point of M-24 and N. Saginaw, (the driveway just north of the Cemetery). 

The speaker will be Don LaFond of the North American Rock Garden Society from Pinckney, MI.  The topic for Don’s presentation will be Rock Gardening in Full Sun.   This presentation will feature plants that many members may have never seen before.  This is a presentation you will not want to miss if you have interest in plants that will grow in full sun, require minimal to no fertilization, and are unusual when compared to the Hosta that most of us grow. 

The doors will open at 5:00 PM for Networking, Potluck Dinner at 6:00 PM, Presentation at 7:00 PM, Break at 8:00 PM, and Business Meeting at 8:15 PM.

Review the December 10, 2015 Meeting Minutes on the blog.  We will vote to accept the minutes at the January 11, 2016 meeting.

2016  Calendar of Events     ?denotes need for topic, speaker, and/or place

Jan – no meeting

Feb 11- Mayfield Twp. Hall-  Don LaFond

Mar – Hosta College – no meeting

April 14- Mayfield Twp. Hall- Julia Hoffley

May 12- Mayfield Twp. Hall, Bonsai (Becky inquiring)____

June 9- ?______________________, ?_________________

July 14- Garden Tour at the Arms Garden

Aug 11- Garden Tour at the Balabon Garden

Sept 8 – ?_____________________, EMHS Plant Exchange

Oct 13- ?_____________________, ?__________________

Nov 10- Annual Board Meeting

Dec 8- Christmas Party, Mayfield Twp. Hall

Consider Hosting an EMHS Meeting- above you see the EMHS 2016 calendar of events with a number of openings for meeting places.  We ask that you consider hosting a summer garden meeting at your garden.  Sharing our gardens is a way for all of us to learn; we get ideas for new plantings, insect control, garden art, and learn how other gardeners express themselves through their gardens.  We all have something to share, please share your knowledge with the rest of us.

2016 Hosta Finder- The members that ordered (and paid for) the 2016 Hosta Finder book at the December meeting can expect to pick up their book at the February 11^th meeting.  The books have been ordered, paid for, and per Steven Greene we should have them in our possession for the February meeting. 

For others that may be interested, you can order the Hosta Finder for $22.00 each, 2-9 copies at $17.50 each, and 10 copies at 14.50 each.  We will bring this topic up at the February meeting again and the club will do another group order if we can get at least 10 orders. 

Hosta College- Each year during March, the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of the American Hosta Society hosts a gathering of approximately 360 enthusiastic gardeners from the Midwest and other parts of the US, Canada, and even Europe. This gathering is called Hosta College, and it takes place at Upper Valley Career Center in Piqua, Ohio.

Hosta College begins on Friday night with several different activities from which participants can choose. The vending area offers a large selection of plants (even though it may be snowing outside!), garden accessories, tools, and other garden-related merchandise for shoppers. The Bookstore features gardening books at fantastic discounts, stationery, society clothing items, and other Hosta College souvenirs. The auditorium and other areas provide slide presentations, talks by gardening experts, and opportunities to socialize with new and old friends from Hosta College. An auction of rare and unusual plants will be held on Friday evening. On Saturday, following a brief period for shopping in the Vending or Bookstore, classes begin at 8:30 a.m. Students attend 5 classes they have chosen from a program of over 70 classes taught by a faculty of approximately 50 volunteers. Mid-day each student has lunch from a delicious buffet included in the registration fee.

This year the dates are March 18 and 19.  The Hosta College website has been updated with the 2016 class listings and class descriptions which can be viewed at; http://www.ihostohio.com/portal/glhc/

From EMHS, Mark Hanner will be teaching a class on Japanese Gardens- Elements of Design and Glen Pace will be teaching a class on Trillium- More Than Just the White One.  Please consider joining us at Hosta College for a weekend of learning, vending, and fun. 

Name Badges- If you need one of the new EMHS name badges, please put your printed name on the sign-up sheet at any meeting or you can email Glen with your request.  Glen will try to have your name badge at the next meeting. 

The EMHS T-shirts featuring Joseph Tychonievich's Hosta Addiction self-test are $18.00 each.  The only three left are XXL.        Contact Glen at PaceGardens@charter.net

The proceeds from the sale of this shirt go to promote our “Purpose” which is, to promote the interest of hostas and shade gardening; to extend horticultural education and activities to its members and the community.

Comments to the EMHS blog:  I am mentioning blog posting to let you know that your comments to the blog can be published too.  All you have to do is go to the EMHS blog at http://easternmichiganhostasociety.blogspot.com  and comment to a blog posting which will alert me that you have made a comment.  Once I deem the comment valid for publishing I will okay and it will automatically be posted.  Please note that I cannot edit or spell check your comments, all I can do is to publish, ignore, or delete your comments.  All comments will be screened by me to deter any vulgarity or inappropriate comments being published to the EMHS blog.    Glen

Club Members selling Hosta or related products;

Please call or email to set an appointment before visiting

Daniels, Marlene- Bottle wind chimes.
     810-664-8317, gardenfairy50@aol.com

Hanner, Mark/Becky- Pottery.
     810-631-4292, mhanner@aol.com

Hunter, Barb- Hosta, Daylilies, Pond supplies.
     810-664-7531, baha@chartermi.net

Lisik, Phil/Ginger-Hosta, Daylilies, other plants.
     989-642-5772, lisik46@yahoo.com

Pickard, Carolyn- Daylilies, Hosta.

     989-871-2873, robfamily5 @yahoo.com

Websites of Interest:

American Hosta Society-

http://www.americanhostasociety.org

American Hosta Society Convention-       http://www.americanhostasociety.org/Activities/Conventions.htm  

AHS Hosta Library Website-
http://www.hostalibrary.org
Michigan Hosta Society Website-

http://www.hostahappenings.com
Eastern Michigan Hosta Society blog-   http://easternmichiganhostasociety.blogspot.com

Hosta College Website-

http://ihostohio.com/portal/glhc

Hosta Society Membership info-
American Hosta Society,  $30 individual, $57/2 years, $34 family, $62/2 years
Send dues to: Sandie Markland, AHS Membership Secretary, Post Office Box 7539, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

Michigan Hosta Society, Dues are $15 per household for up to two people, good for 2 years. Make checks payable to: The Michigan Hosta Society and send to; Michigan Hosta Society, 2509 Wembly Lane, Troy, MI 48084-1280

Eastern Michigan Hosta Society, Dues $5 per year per household, Make check payable to EMHS and mail to: Barb Hunter, EMHS Treasurer, 316 Davis Lake Rd. Lapeer, MI 48746

Saginaw Valley Hosta Society, Dues $20 per year per household, Make check payable to SVHS and mail to: Marge Greskowiak, SVHS Treasurer, 10025 Lakewood Dr., Saginaw, MI 48609

EMHS Board of Officers:

President                     Glen Pace
     PaceGardens@charter.net      989-244-4029

Vice-President             Becky Hanner
     BGHanner@aol.com             810-631-4292

Treasurer                     Barb Hunter
     baha@chartermi.net               810-664-7531

Secretary                     Marlene Daniels
     gardenfairy50@aol.com         810-664-8317

Past President             Mark Hanner
     mhanner@aol.com                  810-631-4292

Fund-Raising              Mick & Cathy Hodgson     

     cehodgso@hotmail.com         810-664-8985