Minutes, Charlottesville Horticulture Club
February, 2006

The Charlottesville Horticulture Club met February 21, 2006, at the 
Senior Center in Charlottesville.  President Mary Anna Rushia called 
the meeting to order and recognized the following guests:
Joyce Grunewald, Master Gardener and Jarrett Millard

Maude Henne provided refreshments for the meeting. Treasurer, Dot 
Clark, reported that as of February, 2006, our account balance was 
$434.04, however the $40.00 room rental fee for February, 2006 is due 
to the Senior Center. Stella Erickson, our representative to the 
Council of Garden Clubs reported that twelve garden clubs in the city 
and our Horticultural Club are working on renovation of the gardens at 
the Rock House which is located opposite Washington Park in 
Charlottesville.  The house will provide law offices for The Legal Aid 
Justice Center whose lawyers provide assistance to those financially 
unable to afford legal counsel.  Dedication of the Center will be April 
18, at 5:30 p.m.  Julian Bond, University of Virginia Professor will be 
the guest speaker. Our Executive Committee approved a $50.00 donation 
to this project.  A marker will be placed on the property to recognize 
the contributions of the Council of Garden Clubs.  

Ms. Erickson also informed the club of a special luncheon and lecture 
to be held at the old renovated firehouse in Barboursville.  The topic 
of the lecture will be on "Herbs in the Garden".  See our website for 
the date and time. The Meander Inn is cooking for the luncheon and the 
cost is $35.00.

The Virginia Home Grown television program on local PBS stations, WHTJ 
and WCVE will be visiting several local gardeners and gardens in the 
area. The dates are March 28, April 25 and May 23 at 8 p.m. Please 
check our website for topics. Amy Barton of the Albemarle County 
Service Authority is a co-host of this program and will provide 
additional insights to gardening in central Virginia.  Mary Anna will 
have the information put on our website. 

There was a question on where to purchase wrought iron trellises. A 
member stated that both Wal-mart and Lowes had trellises made of 
wrought iron and vinyl with vinyl being their preference.

Al Minutolo, Vice President, stated copies of the January Gardening 
Tips, Timely Tips, Applications for New Members and a list of upcoming 
events were available at the back of the room. He briefly discussed 
upcoming events:
A handout on the Piedmont Master Gardeners Spring Lecture Series was 
available at the back of the room.  The Shenandoah Rose Society is 
hosting the Pre-Spring District Conference March 10 and 11 at the 
Staunton Holiday Inn. You can attend four lectures and a panel 
discussion with lunch for $25.00. Historic Garden Week in Virginia will 
be held May 22-29.  Thirty-six tours will be available this year. 

The Piedmont Master Gardener Plant Sale will be held May 6, from 9-12 
a.m. in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center at the corners of Emmet and 
Preseton Avenue in Charlottesville. The Augusta County Day Lily 
Festival will be held at Andre Viette Farm and Nursery in Fishersville, 
July 15 and 16, 2006. Jim Weirich of Peony Meadows Gardens will be our 
speaker in March. Jim has two acres of field planted peonies on display 
and for sale.

Al Minutolo, Vice President, introduced our speaker for the evening, 
Ms. Amy Barton of the Albemarle County Service Authority. Amy has an MS 
in landscape design from the University of Maryland and has worked at 
the County Service Authority for 3 years. She is a knowledgable speaker 
on a variety of subjects and is the water conservation expert for the 
county. She is a regular writer of water conservation articles for our 
local newspaper and is a host with Richard Nunnley on the PBS 
television show, Virginia Home Grown. She also does private 
consultation work. 

Ms. Barton discussed the following topics: types of landscapes;  
Xeriscaping, or western landscape (Denver) and our local landscapes 
which have evolved from English garden types;  Beautiful gardens are 
not by accident: blooms, shapes, colors and how to plan off of each of 
these. She discussed planning for the garden takes time, money, labor, 
water, chemicals, etc. To help conserve water we should plan for a 
reduced water application.  By using fewer chemicals there will be less 
pollution and a more friendly environment for honey bees and 
beneficials. She also stated that we should consider both inputs (what 
we put in the garden to achieve the results desired and outputs (excess 
and chemically polluted water, plant trimmings and debris, chemicals). 
By considering inputs and outputs you can better balance your project.  
Your starting point is to analyze your site: look at it, shade, sun, 
windy, views to block and made notes of unique aspects of the property.

Ms. Barton discussed how to use the landscape: needs change, 
understanding what your needs are, maybe to grow food. You need to 
consider erosion control and wildlife habitat.  You should make a list 
of materials to use: reuse broken concrete, look around for things to 
use. You should also consider the climate: understand the living 
conditions on your property - blocking sun, etc.

She also talked about solutions to problems such as: hard clay soil or 
drainage problems should be addressed in the planning stage.  You can 
spray paint spots in your yard to plan beds or lay a garden hose out to 
see different shapes of beds.  After you have made your plans you need 
to start working on the soil.  Healthy soil is the best foundation for 
a garden.  It helps with irrigation.  You can make your own compost or 
purchase compost:  clippings, weeds, kitchen scraps, (no meat) coffee 
grounds.   She stated that mulching helps retain water and 2-4 inches 
of mulch was best.  (Do no make mulch volcanoes around your trees).  
She next discussed plants and that the secret to plants is to know the 
material you are choosing.  If you know what you need and can find it 
at Lowes or Walmart that's great.  If you are unsure of the plant 
material, go to a good garden center to receive expert help.  She 
stated that it is important to put the right plant with other like 
plants: plants that need the same amount of sun, shade, water 
requirements, etc. 

She discussed choosing plant material: Lawns are the biggest project 
with the most expense and work.  A smaller lawn reduces the maintenance 
and waste.  You need to pick plants that grow to the right size for the 
appropriate space.  She next talked about watering a garden.  We have 
to water plants and trees that have been in the ground for a long 
time.  More people are using irrigation systems but we still need to 
use water more effectively.  She said that sprinkling methods are 
effective when used in the mornings as the evaporation is lower then.  
She stated you should never water to the run-off stage.  She talked 
about drip irrigation systems: most effective way to water as there 
would be no water on leaves.  She stated that soaker hoses are the 
best.  She said that homeowners must install a rain sensor in their 
irrigation system if they live in the county.  This sensor costs about 
$35.00.  The contains a sponge device to turn off sprinkler system 
automatically. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectively submitted,

Sherry Minutolo