SIR’S BRANCH #1 GARDENING GROUP

AGENDA 5/24/07

May 24, 2007 at Lembright’s

Work you need to consider for late spring and summer, 2006

  1. Next meeting- 4th Thursday of the month, June 28 at Lembright’s Los Robles residence.

  2. Don Brozzo We brought the refreshments today. Next meeting the Nelson’s

  3. Possible field trips: Goldsmith Seeds, Gilroy, July Meeting

  4. Garden clinic & other miscellany. Gardening comments, good and bad experiences, etc. from all present.

5. Ray Lang and Tom Keefer wanted to get some publicity for our branch of SIR’s, and decided that that an article featuring our garden group might be one way of doing this. Tom contacted Judy Richter, a garden writer for the SF Chronicle, who in turn contacted me. Judy wanted something that she might photograph with 3 of our group participating. Out in front here, by the driveway, I had lost 3 roses to a gopher, and planned to replace them. This seemed like a good ‘hands on’ project, and Judy agreed. The article appeared in the Garden Section of the SF Chronicle, March 31, 2007. You can down load this article that George Henderson put into our Branch #1 web site, or I can E-mail it to you. Having previous experience with reporters covering something in which I had participated, I thought it best to supply her printed information. I selected about 20 pages I had on my computer of pertinent things relating to our Garden Group, and let her select what she considered news-worthy. I will circulate the article(s).

6. Did anyone bring samples of problems in their garden? HWL.A.There are some large areas of compacted soil in front where the Iceland Poppies and Greek poppies are growing. This area wasn’t’ adequately spaded last fall nor organic matter incorporated into the surface soil. Also, the winter rains increased the soil compaction. The compaction has reduced the soil pore space, root and water penetration as well as reduced oxygen infiltration to the root system-all essential components for good plant growth. B. Last year the winter rains were associated with an abnormal amount of lightning. This extreme electrical discharge in the presence of nitrogen and moisture in the clouds produced NH3 (ammonia) which when dissolved into the rain which in turn fertilized the soil and produced a lush growth of green lawns and other plants. Because the ammonia solution is alkaline it raised the pH of the soil from around 7 (neutral) to about a pH of 8 (alkaline), an acceptable pH. When the soil warmed up in the late spring, the soil nitrifying bacteria converted the NH4+ to NO3- (acidic) and the pH returned to about 7 again.

7. For your assistance in looking up information, I have the following reference books available each month for your use; A. California Master Gardener Handbook, University of California, B. Sunset Western Garden Book-note January 2007 revision, and C. Ortho’s Home Gardener’s Problem Solver.

8. Is there any specific subject that you would like information on? If so, after the meeting you might look it up in the above one or more of the 3 publications.

9. On the back side of this agenda, you will find an article that should be of great interest to Californian’s about the Mediterranean climate that we experience and take for granted.

10. Pass out “June in Your Garden”- I would suggest that you highlight things you would like to do as we review it, and make a note of it in the Table of Contents for easy reference. Then when you are home, review the Table of Contents once more before you put it away. Otherwise you will probably forget some key things you wanted to do. Also, I would suggest you file these in a 3-ring binder for reference. You might also include a sheet where you can write your own notes each month, of things quite pertinent as ongoing references of your gardening needs. If you haven’ already done it, you might follow the suggestion of starting a garden diary. to include in your notebook. After you have included for the year in your notebook, you should have a rather complete garden book of your own.

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