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Nuts for Natives with Shari Wilson- Meeting on February 21, 2023

Meeting of Tuesday, February21, 2023

 

Members present: Connie Anderson, Jean Barquin, Winkie Crigler, Jane Dana, Jane DeCell, Fossy Fenwick, Mary Jane Glass, Sally Marshall, Dolly McKenna, Donna Roberts, Laurene Sherlock, Susie Taylor, Ellen Thrasher, Rosa Wallace, Xenia Wilkinson.

 

The meeting program was a presentation by local blogger Shari Wilson, of Nuts For Natives, a blog about native plants of our region. She truly is nuts for natives! She cited the books of Douglas Tallamy, especially Nature’s Best Hope and Bringing Nature Home. Dr. Tallamy explains the difference between natives and introduced ornamentals. For example, our beloved cherry trees support fewer than five species, while cornus florida supports 111. Shari also explained how cultivars are different from the straight species, and what you should consider when looking at cultivars. (Briefly, leaf color and flower shape and color should be similar to the straight species.)

 

In addition to the books of Doug Tallamy, Shari commended the work of Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware. This botanical garden researches native plants extensively. She also suggested shopping at native plant nurseries instead of garden centers, and buying small two-inch plugs instead of larger plants. (In three years they will be better established and as large. And they are cheaper.) She has links to many native nurseries on her website.

 

Shari assured as that native plantings don’t need to look messy. She made suggestions for substitutions when we are deciding to make changes in our gardens.

 

Instead of this                        Try this

Nandina                                   winterberry

Ivy and vinca                           Christmas fern, green and gold, seersucker sage, blue wood sedge

European ginger                      wild ginger

Liriope                                     blue wood sedge, silver sedge, pink turtlehead

Asian azaleas                            native azaleas, summersweet (for wet situations)

Forsythia                                 spicebush, serviceberry

Burning bush                           red chokeberry

Pieris                                       Virginia sweetspire

Asian viburnum                       viburnum possumhaw

Pachysandra                             Allegheny spurge (our native pachysandra)

Astilbe                                     heuchera ‘Autumn Bride’ (evergreen)

Russian sage and catmint         blue hyssop

Japanese anemone                   turtlehead, both pink and white varieties

Mophead hydrangeas               hydrangea arborescens, oakleaf hydrangeas

Boxwood                                 inkberry (though it gets gangly with age)

Skip laurels, yews                     bayberry, inkberry

 

After Shari’s presentation, President Jane Dana welcomed club members and thanked Donna for hosting and Susie and Laurene for their refreshments. Dolly volunteered to host the March meeting, and Xenia will provide refreshments. Thank you to both!

Winkie gave the treasurer’s report: We currently have $12,352.11 in the bank. The last of the dues were deposited in January. We will have at least $5,000 to give away in grants and maybe up to $5,500 or $6,000.

 

Further committee reports:

·      The grants committee (Ellen, Susie, and Mary Jane) welcome suggestions for grantees. They will present proposed recipients at the March meeting.

·      The nominating committee is at work creating a slate of officers for the next year.

·      The membership committee has brought the membership roster up to date. There are two vacancies, and one former member has asked to rejoin. Nominations are due by March 1 to Xenia.

·      There was a Zoom meeting to plan for the anniversary luncheon. This is shaping up nicely. Organizers still need help with the club history, especially from those with institutional knowledge. The archives are organized by decade and are stored in binders. Super easy to access! Susan will help with putting together a PowerPoint presentation for the luncheon.

 

Jane reminded us that there is a proposed overnight trip to see a very special private garden on the Eastern Shore. This requires planning and would likely be scheduled in spring 2024. Another idea, local this time, is a tour of the refreshed member gardens we enjoyed by Zoom in January. This would happen around the time of the May anniversary luncheon.

 

Jane thanked Donna, Susie, and Laurene again for their hospitality. And with no further business, she adjourned the meeting.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jane Glass

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