Note from the President- The 2012 growing season is beginning. Many of our early spring flowers have already bloomed and are gone for the year and many others are weeks ahead of schedule. This year’s weather pattern is different than anything we have experienced in our lifetimes. Of all the people I have talked to nobody can recall a winter as mild as this past winter and nobody can remember a March with temps in the high 80’s. I have already had to mow my lawn and it is still March!
Now we are getting another cold snap. We are forecasted to have frost and/or freezing temps nearly every night this week and many plants are going to be at risk of damage or death. All of my Hosta have growth spikes already above ground and a lot of them have leaves unfurling. All of the Japanese Maples and Dogwoods have broken dormancy and are at their most vulnerable state. If a freeze kills all the leaves of a Japanese Maple just as it is leafing out in the spring it will often kill the entire tree. Some of the smaller plants and trees can be protected with frost blanket, an inverted flower pot, bed sheets, or even a few layers of newspapers laid over the plant. Just be sure that the leaves are not touching plastic as 32 degree plastic touching a leaf will burn the leaf.
Our speaker for the April meeting is Doug Beilstein, President of the American Hosta Society. Doug is an accomplished Hosta Hybridizer with 40 registered varieties including Bailey’s Cream, Cup of Grace, and King of Spades which are plants that we have made available to our membership. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet and talk with the President of the American Hosta Society.
Hosta College was great fun again this year. I will not mention the EMHS Members that attended because inevitably I will forget to mention somebody, but let’s just say that we had a fair number of people to represent EMHS. All of us brought home a plant or two (some of us brought home many more) and a good amount of new knowledge. For those of you that have never gone to Hosta College, you have no idea of the fun you are missing out on or the amount of knowledge you are passing up. This event is also where EMHS unveils the new EMHS Hosta Stone every year. This is one of EMHS’s primary fund raisers and all offers for help at the Sales Table are appreciated. This year we sold 55 Hosta Stones.
I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and concerns for my health over the past few months. I am not 100% and may never be, but I am back doing most of what I want to do. I am thanking my lucky stars as my surgeon told me I was a simple fall away from becoming a quadriplegic. What I have learned from my ordeal is that not all aches and balance issues can be blamed on old age; if something seems wrong, go to a doctor and have testing done to find out a true cause. Again, thank you all for your cards, calls, and inquiries.
Sincerely,
Glen
Glen
Next Meeting- Our next meeting will be on April 12th, 2012 at 6:00 PM at the Mayfield Twp. Hall in Lapeer. This is our regular meeting place located at 1900 N. Saginaw Lapeer, MI next to Stiles Cemetery (just south of the point of M-24 and Saginaw Rd.). Networking will begin at 6:00 PM, refreshments will be served at 6:30PM, and the meeting will start promptly at 7:00PM. The speaker for this month will be Doug Beilstein, President of the American Hosta Society. The speaker will begin promptly at 7:00 PM, please be in your seat and ready for the presentation before he begins speaking.
Refreshments- Over the years our refreshment time has turned into a potluck, so as to not break the precedence already established we ask that you bring your favorite dish to pass to add to the table of plenty. The club will provide the flatware, plates, cups, napkins, and coffee.
Hosta Stones- The 2012 Hosta Stones featuring Ron Livingston’s 2008 introduction H. “Alakazaam” are for sale with more in production. The regular member cost for this year’s stone is $30.00 for Natural and $5.00 more for colored. Non-member price is $35.00 for Natural and colors $5.00 more. Call Cathy Hodgson at 810-664-8985 to place your order. At the April meeting there will be one each of Green, Iron, Brown and Black for sale.
Membership Dues- If you have not yet paid your 2012 EMHS Membership dues please do so by sending your $5.00 check made out to EMHS, to EMHS Treasurer Mary Smith. Dues are to be paid by the April meeting. Mary will have the most up to date printout of the membership list at every meeting if you need to check on your membership status.
2012 Calendar of Events:
April 12th at Mayfield Twp. Hall, speaker- Doug Beilstein, President AHS
May 10th at the Hanner’s, Hands on paper-crete class. Nominal fee and registration required.
June 14th at The Vrable’s in Chesaning. Member Garden Tour
June 13th-16th- Nat’l Hosta Convention in Nashville, TN
July 12th at the Major’s in Goodrich. Member Garden Tour
August 9th- at Barb Hunter’s in Lapeer. Member Garden Tour
September 13th at the Hodgson’s in Lapeer. Annual Plant Exchange
October- No meeting scheduled
November- No meeting scheduled
December 6th or 13th (date to be set) at Mayfield Twp. Hall, Annual Christmas Party
Websites of Interest:
American Hosta Society- http://www.americanhostasociety.org/
American Hosta Society Convention Website- http://www.hosta2012.com/
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/
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 is $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: Mary Smith, EMHS Treasurer, 3431 Swaffer Rd, Millington, MI 48746
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 is $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: Mary Smith, EMHS Treasurer, 3431 Swaffer Rd, Millington, MI 48746
EMHS Board of Officers:
President Glen Pace
pacegardens@charter.net 989-244-4029
Vice-President Carolyn Pickard
robfamily5@yahoo.com 989-871-2873
Treasurer Mary Smith
brooktrout@tds.net 989-871-9833
Secretary Marlene Daniels
gardenfairy50@aol.com 810-664-8317
Past President Mark Hanner
mhanner@aol.com 810-631-4292
Fund- Mick and
Raising Cathy Hodgson
cehodgso@hotmail.com 810-664-8985
