Wednesday, March 25, 2015

April 2015 Newsletter

Note from the President-   I just returned from Hosta College a few days ago.  Hosta College is like an annual introduction to the gardening season.  When I walked into the vending area I was instantly transported into a sense of spring.  The vendor’s tables were filled with green leaves and which were a definite welcome sight after enduring this year’s winter and getting to see blooms on Hellebores, Cyclamen, and many other hosta companion plants makes one feel transported to a time of warmer weather.   One of my favorite aspects of Hosta College is getting to meet up with friends that I get to see once per year.  This year after the banquet, a few EMHS members stayed in the hospitality area of the Comfort Inn in Piqua until 1 AM talking with friends from Indiana and Massachusetts.  If you have never been to Hosta College please consider attending next year on March 18 & 19, 2016 as you will thoroughly appreciate experiencing spring before it arrives to Eastern-Michigan. 
This week in the gardens I have taken pictures of Adonis, Cyclamen, Galanthus, and Helleborus thibetanus.  It is refreshing to see signs of spring even though there is still 4 to 6 inches of snow in the shaded areas of the yard.
Our speaker for the April 9th meeting is Michael Greanya from Jackson, MI.   Mike is a member of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) as well as the local chapter of NARGS.  Mike has taught at Hosta College and his program on Alpine Gardening is engaging. 
As always we will have a potluck at 6:00 PM.  Please bring your favorite dish and be prepared to share your recipe.
See you at the April 9th meeting,
Glen Pace
EMHS President

2015 Calendar of Events (Bold denotes EMHS function)
            April 09- Mayfield Twp. Hall, Speaker-Mike Grenya
            May 14- Mayfield Twp. Hall,
                 Speaker-Dr. Stuart Swan, Gardening without Pain
            June 11- no meeting, members will work
                 Garden Walk on June 13th.
            June 13- MHS Garden Walk hosted by EMHS
            June 18/20- AHS Convention
                 at the Solberg’s in North Carolina
            June 27- MHS Leaf Show/Sale at MSU
            July 09- Member Garden Tour,
                 at Melva Bond’s in Bridgeport, MI
            August 13- Member Garden Tour
                 at Dyane Moore’s in Vassar
            September 10- Annual Plant Exchange,
                 at the Martilla’s in Lapeer
            Oct 08- Mayfield Twp. Hall, Speaker-
                 Gene Bush, Collecting the Rare and Unusual
            Nov 12- Annual Board Meeting
            December 10- Christmas Party
                 at Mayfield Twp. Hall

Next Meeting- will be held on April 9th, 2015 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 Networking, Dinner at 6:00 PM, Presentation at 7:00 PM, short break at 8:00, and the Business Meeting at 8:15 PM. 

Meeting Minutes- please review the February 12 Meeting Minutes on the blog.  We will vote to accept the minutes at the April 9, 2015 meeting.

By Laws changes- At the February 12th, 2015 Board Member meeting a decision was made to recommend two by-laws clarifications (clarifications as these topics are not covered in the current by-laws) as follows;
Subject - Amount the President is authorized to spend (in the interest of the club) without board approval.
Board approved - $500 with an amendment to by laws be made.

Subject – Amount EMHS will pay (as a general amount) to a regular speaker.
Board approved - $100 (unless speaker is traveling a distance over 30 miles, then fee will be $125).

This subject will be discussed at the meeting with a vote ensuing to make the by-law changes.

EMHS Annual Plant Sale- The plant sale is closed, but if you have an order that you forgot to send in or email to Glen, you can email or call Glen to turn in your order. 

Your orders will be delivered at the May 14, 2015 meeting.  If you ordered plants, please plan on attending the meeting or make arrangements with Glen to have somebody else pick up your order. 

MHS Garden Walk- EMHS will be hosting the 2015 MHS Garden Walk on June 13th.  We will be responsible for coordinating the garden tour for the Michigan Hosta Society.  The sites have been chosen, the demonstrations for each site decided, and most details worked out. 
Information of the tour has been given to Michigan Gardening Magazine and the EMHS sponsored tour will be opened to the general public. 
We are in need of EMHS volunteers to help at each of the sites and to make refreshments for each of the tour sites.
Tour maps will be made available as an email attachment to facilitate the flow of attendees at each of the tour sites and to help participants plan for the demonstrations at their garden.

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 for an EMHS Member and $20.00 each for a non-member.  Sizes available are XXL and XXXL.  
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

A message in Stone- Cathy Hodgson’s sister does stone engraving and has a way to put your desired message in stone.  Gene Arms had his newly made stone at the Christmas Party as an example of Cheryl Baldwin’s work.
To view examples of the possibilities just go to Cheryl’s web address, www.amessageinstone.com

EMHS Business Cards- are still available for members to take for promoting the club.  Ask any Board Member for details. 

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
Mitchell, Dyanna- Internet Rep.
     Garden Inspired Products. gardenuity.com/dyanna 
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.
      989-845-3455 smlsmith@chartermi.net

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