Men's Garden Club of Pittsburgh

November 2011 Newsletter

 

NATIVE POLLINATORS"

Philip Bauerle, Speaker

Monday, November 7, 2011

West Penn Hospital Liberty Room

 

Please join MGC in welcoming Philip Bauerle as our November speaker. Philip is currently in the Penn State Master Gardener Class of 2011-2012. He especially enjoys talking about native pollinators and native plant species. He will keep the group buzzing as he speaks on native bees of our area. While honeybees get a lot of the press, as they are the only domesticated pollinator; there are many native bees, which are important pollinators. A summary of the more common native bees, with examples, will be shown. The importance of their presence will be discussed as well as the plants and procedures that can be used to help and protect them. There will definitely be much to buzz about something!

The meeting will take place at 7:00 PM in the Liberty Room of West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield. For those reading or attending for the first time, the Liberty Room is located on the first floor of the hospital behind the cafeteria. Light Refreshments will be served and hopefully more members will contribute to the culinary cause with their home baked or store bought goodies! Even bringing your leftover Halloween candy or treats would be great. Or feel free to stir the prize pot by bringing additional plant/gardening goods for the Club raffle. We welcome guests and most especially prospective members. Be there!

What can I do in the Burg in November if I can’t watch my garden grow?

**Phipps Conservatory Fall Flower Show - now thru Nov. 6

Where you can see more than 5,000 chrysanthemums – a few more than you and your neighbors may have on display!

**"Botany & History Entwined: Rachel Hunt’s Legacy" now thru Dec. 15

The Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Hunt Library, 5th floor, CMU

Info on hours, etc: call 412-268-2434 or email huntinst@andrew.cmu.edu

**"Beginning Beekeeping Class" Nov. 5th and Nov. 12 (8 am to 12:30 pm)

Penn State Extension Office, 400 N. Lexington St, Pgh. PA 15208

Two day class, space limited, please register early, $95 course fee

**The Italian Garden Project Program at the Pittsburgh Public Market

"Chestnuts and Lupini" – Italian Christmas Traditions (a sharing of food, recipes, memories and more!) 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Produce Terminal Building Smallman St. entrance opposite 17th Street-Strip District

Check http://pittsburgh publicmarket.org or www.theitaliangardenproject.com

**Project Feeder Watch and Audubon Christmas Bird Count Training

Operated by Cornell Lab of Ornithology in partnership with National Audubon Society – Project Feeder Watch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, etc in N. America. This program will prepare you to be a successful FeederWatcher & explain how you can participate in the 2011 Audubon Christmas Bird Count – the longest running citizen project. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve (Fox Chapel) class on Nov. 5 from 10am-12pm or Todd Nature Reserve on Nov. 12 from 10am to 12pm.

Call Audubon Society of Western PA for info on registration. 412-963-6100

**Cooking with the Three Sisters: Squash, Beans, and Corn at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve on Nov. 13 ($40) – Native food crops have a long & storied history. In this workshop, you’ll create Three Sisters Soup and a seasonal pie to take and bake at home. You’ll also learn other traditional recipes for native food plants. (1:30 – 3:30pm) Call 412-963-6100 to register.

Mosses and Moss Gardening – MGC October Talk

Cyndi Fink, Speaker

Did you know…

*There are 15,000 species of mosses in the world; 1,200 in North America.

*Mosses are primitive plants and have been around longer than flowering plants, conifers & ferns.

*They are very durable and can withstand climate and habitat extremes, making them well suited for garden applications.

*They can be used in landscape gardens & moss carpets; recreation of gardens in miniature; rock & container gardens.

*Moss is not just "green"; there are many shades of green including golden and red greens; there are many interesting textures as well.

*Moss makes good companion plants, especially with alpines, bulbs & tubers, dwarf perennials & ferns.

*They make good edging plants along paths and water features.

*Mosses remain green throughout the winter, providing some interest in the winter season.

*Advantages of mosses include: non-invasive, not eaten by animals, suppress weeds, grow in difficult places, diverse number of species.

*They require little maintenance to thrive.

*Some recommended species for the garden include: Polytrichum sp., Atricum sp., Brachythecium sp., Bryum argenteum, Dirancum, Hyploconium splendens, Mnium sp., Shagnum sp.

*Need more info? Try www.mossacres.com or call 866-GET-MOSS as they are a moss "farm" in Eastern PA that sell sustainably grown moss for transplanting into your garden as well as the creator of the "moss milkshake" or why not read a book on the topic? Like:

"Native Ferns, Moss & Grasses: From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave, Serene and Sensuous Plants for the Garden" by William Cullina (2008)

"Moss Gardening" by George Schenk (1997)

 

 

Mens Garden Club 2011 Dues Are Now Due

Please fill out this page, cut it out, and mail it to

Treasurer Allan Larsen, along with your check for

$30.00.

Allan’s address label is printed below, just cut it out and

scotch tape it to an envelope. Include this page, and your check

Please print, and fill out each line below.

First Name ______________Last Name _______________Nick Name, if applicable ________

Address ___________________________City ______________ State ________ Zip ________

e-mail address ______________________________Phone (_____)______________________

Besides gardening what other interests do you have?

Use another sheet of paper to list more of your interests _______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Mail to:

 

MGC Treasurer

Dr. C. Allan Larsen

One Wexford Lane

Pittsburgh, PA 15235

Elections of Officers

Elections of officers is due for 2012. The process should have been started in August, but who pays attention to the bylaws!!! The Bylaws are posted on the MGC web site for anyone who is interested in reading them. The officers up for election or re election are ---Club President Ed Sisenwain, 4 year term, Vice President Howard Aikens, 2 year term, Secretary Harriet Kruman, 2 year term, Treasurer Dr. Allan Larsen, 2 year term, Directors Tom Kieler, Judy Griffiths, and Judy Boyer, 2 year term.

Here is some information from the MGC Bylaws.

3.08 The annual meeting of this club shall be the October regular meeting in each year. The membership of the Club shall be given at least two weeks written or printed notice of the date and place of the annual meeting.

Said directors shall be nominated from the floor at the regular stated September meeting of the Club.

(2) The election of directors shall be by secret ballot at the annual meeting held in the October and according to routine parliamentary procedure.

(3) The Secretary shall cause a ballot to be prepared containing the names of all nominees for the use of the members during election. The Secretary shall at least two weeks prior to the date of annual meeting mail a specimen facsimile of the same to each member of the Club.

(4) The 12 nominees for the office of directors receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.

Terms of Office

Apparently when the new bylaws were written little thought was given on terms of office for its officers.

I herby submit a bylaw change as follows article 5.03 president, add, term of office will be four years article 5.04 vice president 5.05 secretary, 5.06 treasurer. term of office two years.

Albert C. Oswald

bylaw chairman

The Hospitality Committee is asking members whose names begin with letters A thru M to bring light snacks for the meeting.

 

Judy G

Men’s Garden Club Web Site

When was the last time you visited the MGC web site? Well maybe you should do it now! A new feature has been added. A coupon page! There are several different coupons available, Just print out the coupon page and cut out the appropriate coupon, bring it to a meeting and be rewarded. Simple. Go to  www.mensgardenclubofpgh.org, click on coupon page and start clipping. See you at the November meeting.

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