Charlottesville Horticulture Club November 2005

Have a bountiful thanksgiving

The Charlottesville Horticulture Club met November 15, 2005, at the Senior Center.President Mary Anna Rushia opened the meeting. There were no new members or visitors to recognize. Mary Anna announced that a limited number of assistive hearing aids were available for members during the meeting. Our Secretary, Sherry Minutolo was absent and is recovering well at home from recent surgery. Al Minutolo recorded the minutes of the meeting. Minutes of our meetings are available on our website and a limited number of hard copies are available on the table at the rear of the meeting room should any members wish to review them.

The Treasurer reported that our Club account has a current balance of $504.04. There was a discussion about a $20.00 fee charged on our recent statement and our Treasurer will contact the bank to determine the reason for this charge. The President stated that anyone wanting to pay their dues could do so at the table at the rear of the meeting room. There was a follow-on discussion about the use of sludge on lawns and crops.

Tom Clark stated that the sludge is checked a various stages of its processing for bacteria and heavy metals. It is pH neutral and has no heavy metals so it should work well on lawns. Tom suggested that I contact the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority and ask if a staff member could visit a meeting and address some of the questions and concerns of our members. This could be considered for a program next year.

Ms. Stella Erickson did not have any information to report from Council of Garden Clubs. She did have a handout to distribute about the Rock House Project discussed at the October meeting. She also had a handout prepared by Marlene Condon, a local gardener, environmentalist and naturalist. It is a very good publication with a lot of basic and practical information on developing a nature area in your yard and is endorsed by the US Park Service.. Ed Rushia discussed the current status of several buckeye trees in his yard. He has grown the trees from seeds over a 5-6 year period. He is somewhat dismayed that the squirrels also like them and he is open for suggestions on how to protect the trees and collect the fruit.

We would like to thank Abe for all the great photographs he is taking and putting on our website. The photos really add to our site and are enjoyed by our members. Mary Anna mentioned a good book she is reading "Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollen which discusses the history and origins of apples. Several members are familiar with the book and enjoyed reading it. Al Minutolo challenged all members present to bring a visitor/guest to the meetings in the upcoming months.

We have some excellent speakers scheduled such as Ian Robertson, an internationally and nationally recognized landscape designer with acclaimed gardens in Washington D.C. and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens; Amy Barton, coordinator of the Waterwise Conservation Program for Albemarle County and a PBS television personality (Virginia Grown) specializing in horticulture; and Jim Werich, a local owner/operator of Peony Meadows, who specializes in growing and selling peonies from his 3 acre garden. Due to a mix-up of our meeting date, our speaker Bob Hammond did not make the meeting and give his presentation on the Ivy Creek Natural Area. Al Minutolo, who is familiar with the topic through his work with the Piedmont Master Gardeners gave a 25 minute presentation on the history of the area, development of the various natural areas and local groups that used the area as an outdoor classroom for lectures and garden walks. We are very fortunate to have such natural area of such variety open to the public and centrally located for residents of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to enjoy. The meeting was adjourned and members and guests enjoyed refreshments.

Respectively submitted,

Al Minutolo