EMHS February 2020 Newsletter

Note from the President- Eastern Michigan Hosta Society is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this year.  The very first meeting of EMHS was on May 11, 1995.   To commemorate our 25^th year the EMHS Board voted to purchase a gift for each member so they can celebrate with us.   We will unveil the gift at the February 13^th, 2020 meeting.  To receive your gift, you must be a member in good standing and you must attend the meeting so you can sign the register acknowledging that you received you gift.

  

Looking out the window today makes me think that maybe winter has arrived to Mid-Michigan.   We have been very fortunate this season as far as snow accumulation and temperature goes, but this weekend and the beginning of the week is proving that one can never guess what is going to happen when it comes to Michigan’s weather.   The single digit temperatures are hard on the vegetation that is not covered with snow because the dormant stems essentially freeze dry from the cold and winds.   Thank goodness we got several inches of snow before this cold snap arrived.  

The worry with our Hosta this time of year and even more-so before the ground was totally frozen is the voles that eat the crowns of the plants.   I had a clump of Hosta Komodo Dragon that had a base of over two feet in diameter that was totally killed by a family of voles working on it throughout the winter.   The next spring, I could find the clump, but there were no growth tips and the plant never did sprout and eventually the old roots just withered away.   If you have plants that were fine one fall and never sprouted the next spring you can rest assured that you have voles.   There are many control methods that can be searched on the internet to try to eradicate these pests from your gardens.

Don’t forget that you can pre-order your plants from the EMHS Annual Plant Sale at the February meeting.  The Fund-Raising Committee will have order blanks at the meeting and will have a display poster that describes each of this year‘s offerings.

To kick-off the 2020 season, Mark Hanner will be our speaker for the February meeting.   Mark has a cool greenhouse, lighted racks indoors, and numerous gardens all containing his collection of succulents so he has prepared a presentation on “Tender and Hardy Succulents for the Northern Gardener”.   This presentation will give a glimpse into the world of succulents that are available to us.    Even if you have never grown succulents in your garden you may find that there are some that will pique your interest in this unique family of plants. 

See you at the February 13^th, 2020 meeting.

Sincerely,
Glen Pace
EMHS President

Next Meeting- “Tender and Hardy Succulents for the Northern Gardener” presented by Mark Hanner on February 13, 2020 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 time schedule for the evening is;
1700-   Open doors to Hall for Networking
1800-   Welcome and Introduce Visitors 
              Dinner Served

1900-   Presentation

2000-   Break
2015-   Business Meeting
 

Review the December 12th, 2019 Meeting Minutes on the blog.  We will vote to accept the minutes at the February 13, 2020 meeting.

2020 EMHS Calendar of Events    “?” denotes need for topic, speaker, and/or place
Meeting Dates- Places- Speakers/topic      

Jan – no meeting

Feb 13- Mark Hanner- “Tender/Hardy
              Succulents”, at Mayfield Twp. Hall

Mar 20 & 21– Hosta College – no meeting

April 09- Aaron Strouse, “Unique Michigan”
                at Mayfield Twp. Hall

May 14- Mayfield Twp. Hall, ?_________________

June 11- Member Garden Tour, ?______________

July 09- Member Garden Tour, ?______________

Aug 13- Member Garden Tour, ?______________

Sept 10- Plant Exchange, Suncrest of Lapeer

Oct 08-  at Mayfield Twp. Hall

Nov 12- Annual Board Meeting, Whitey’s in Davison

Dec 10- Christmas Party, Mayfield Twp. Hall

Note about the October Meeting- Chris and Connie Green have had to cancel their program scheduled for October.  I received the following note from Connie. 
“Due to unforeseen travel and health issues that have arisen we have decided to cancel our scheduled Amaryllis talk with your club for October.  Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you.  We wish you a blessed year ahead!”
Connie Green

Hosting a Summer Meeting- We need volunteers to host our summer meetings.  I will have a sign-up sheet at the next meeting if you are willing to open your gardens to our group and host one of the summer member garden meetings. 

Hosta College 2020- is being held on March 20^th & 21^st in Piqua, OH.  I sent out the flier for Hosta College on January 20, 2020 so all members would have the most current information about this gathering of Hosta enthusiasts.   I have also posted the information on the EMHS blog.   At this event you will learn, buy plants, and have a great time with friends new and old. 

 At the Oct 2019 Board Meeting it was decided that EMHS would give away paid registrations (you will be responsible for your own transportation, lodging, and any additional class fees) for Hosta College 2020 on March 20 & 21, 2020. 

We also decided we would pay for email membership to MHS for EMHS members interested in joining MHS.   Please let Glen know if you are interested in becoming an email Member of MHS.   (This means you get an email newsletter, no snail mail)

   

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.  

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
Brown, Deb- Aeroponic Tower Garden.
     505-379-9100, www.debbrown.towergarden.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- Hosta.
     989-871-2873, robfamily5 @yahoo.com

Websites of Interest:
American Hosta Society- http://www.americanhostasociety.org/
American Hosta Society Convention Website-      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

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