December 2013 Newsletter

Note from the President-   I want to take this time to thank Phil and Ginger Lisik, Helen Wischmeyer, Rhonda Laur, and Mark and Becky Hanner for hosting meetings this year.  Every one of you was the perfect host and our thanks go out to you for your graciousness as a host as well as our acknowledgement of the time and dedication it takes to create the beautiful gardens you all have. 

Also, I want to thank our 2013 speakers; Jan Everson gave a wonderful presentation of the 2012 Nat’l Convention at our February meeting and Joseph Tychonievich gave a great presentation on companions for Hosta at our October meeting.  At the April and May meetings I gave presentations on Cypripedium Orchids and Woodland Wildflowers.  I mention the speakers and the topics for those Master Gardeners that need education hours as these presentations fall under those education needs. 

Thirdly, I want to thank all of the people who donated plants, crafts, and other items to the raffle and door prize drawings.  The monthly raffle drawings are one of the biggest fund raisers for EMHS and the door prize drawings are an added bonus for members and visitors attending the meetings.

Also, the many volunteers that haul Hosta Stones to Hosta College need to be recognized.  The Hosta Stone project managed by Cathy and Mick Hodgson is EMHS’s most organized fund raiser of the year.  This project would not be able to continue if the many volunteers weren’t there to haul the stones to Piqua as there is no way for one or two vehicles to transport the 70 or so stones taken to the sale every year.  Cathy and Mick have organized this project for a number of years and many thanks go out to them for their dedication to the project. 

Next, I want to thank all of the people that brought food for the potlucks throughout the year.  One of the things EMHS is known for is the fantastic potlucks at the monthly meetings and this year was no exception. 

Thanks also go out to Carolyn Pickard and Mary Smith for their work on coordinating the bus trip to Interlochen this past June.  This trip was greatly enjoyed by those on the bus.

Another thank you goes out to the EMHS Board.  This dedicated group of members continues to direct the entire group in an onward and upward fashion.  At our annual Board Meeting we discuss the plans for the next year which takes a number of hours, but again we brainstormed some exciting ideas for 2014. 

Lastly, I want to thank you, our members, for being the kind, helpful, sharing people you are toward each other and especially to our visitors.  Because of this, our club continues to grow and with that growth comes the ability to contract more well-known speakers which in turn assists us in 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.
See you at the December 12^th meeting,

Glen

Please review the Minutes of the October Meeting prior to the December 12th meeting.  We will vote on the Minutes at the meeting. The minutes are posted on the blog for your convenience.

Next Meeting- THE EMHS 2013 Christmas Party will be held on December 12^th, 2013 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 doors will open at 5:00 PM for decorating, Networking at 6:00 PM, Dinner at 6:30 PM, Gift Exchange at 7:30 PM, and Business Meeting at 8:15 PM.  For those wishing to help decorate you can arrive as early as 5:00PM.  This annual event is always a lot of fun and a great way to end the year for the club.  The Club will provide the meat (ham) and table set-ups.  We do ask that everybody bring a dish to pass as this is our biggest potluck of the year.  We will be doing the gift exchange as we have done in the past.  If you are interested in exchanging gifts, all you have to do is bring a wrapped non-gender-specific gift with a value of $10.  All the gifts will be laid at the front of the room and during the party we will call names from the sign-up sheet of the people who brought gifts.  If your name is called you go pick out a gift.  Nobody is required to bring a gift for the exchange, but if you do not bring one please understand that you will not be able to place your name on the list to pick one out.  This is the only way to assure that all people who bring a gift will receive one.

2014 Meeting Dates- Places- Speakers        *denotes need for topic, speaker, or place

Jan- no meeting

Feb 13- Mayfield Twp. Hall, Jan Everson-2013 Michigan Hosta Tour/Tailgate Party

March 14&15- Hosta College, Piqua, OH

*April 10- Mayfield Twp. Hall, Speaker___________________, Topic______________

May 1- Mayfield Twp. Hall, Speaker- Joseph Tychonievich, Topic- To be decided

*June 12- Member Garden Tour, Place______________________________

June 11-14- AHS Convention, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

June 20-22- Hosta Tailgate, Dayton, OH

*July 10- Member Garden Tour, Place_______________________________

August 14- Member Garden Tour at Diane O’Riordon’s

September 11- Annual Plant Exchange at Pam Walmsley’s

*Oct 9- Possible Meeting at Mayfield Twp. Hall, Speaker___________Topic__________

Nov 13- Annual Board Meeting

December 11- Christmas Party at Mayfield Twp. Hall

Gardens needed for 2014 Meeting sites- We are in need of meeting sites for the months of June and July.  If you are interested in hosting an EMHS meeting please let Glen know so your name can be added to the Calendar of Events.

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

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
Moore, Dyane- Fairy houses https://www.facebook.com/GardenArtAndMoore

Pickard, Carolyn- Daylilies, Hosta.   989-871-2873, robfamily5@yahoo.com

Salk, Pat/Bill Kapustka, Daylilies.  810-678-3519, daylilyabode@msn.com

Smith, Stan/Mary Lou, Concrete leaves, toad houses.  989-845-3455 smlsmith@chartermi.net

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/

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

EMHS Board of Officers:

President                     Glen Pace                   

pacegardens@charter.net      989-244-4029

Vice-President          Pam Walmsley

---no email---                          810-964-2311

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 and  Cathy Hodgson    
cehodgso@hotmail.com         810-664-8985