Oakland Garden Club News

Twelve members of the Oakland Garden Club met in the Rosen room at the Oakland auditorium at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday May 14, 2015.

Leila Heineman was hostess. The front table held a mixed bouquet of cut leaf peony, viburnum, columbine, red-leafed penstemon leaves, and spring rocket. Members gave pledge to the American flag and read the Garden Club Creed from their handbooks. Each member answered roll call by answering “What’s stressed at your place?” Although many first answered that they were, they followed with name of plants, bushes, or trees. Again, many gave a similar answer by naming what had been lost over the winter.

Cathi McMurtry read the minutes of the April meeting. Audrey Unwin gave the treasury balance. She reported receiving a Memorial check of $5.00 for Doris Anderson.

Julie Easton announced a card and a rose had been sent to May Taylor after the death or her husband Bill.

Stan Pearson attended and joined the Garden Club.

In old business, Lela Heineman said we need to plant more roses in the Memorial rose bed. Members discussed that we had agreed to move the knock-out rose from there to other places and plant tea roses in the bed. Vernelle Nelson gave a check of $25.00 to help pay for flower plants.

Marie Daubert wondered if the burning bushes at the old Piper place might be rescued and planted elsewhere in Oakland before the property was razed. While members liked the idea, they agreed we need to find out first who owns the property and their decision. Audrey Unwin said she would check.

Audrey reported that the city had budgeted $450.00 for the Garden Club; however, Katie Onken said, with a new auditing system, she was not sure yet if she could write a check to the Garden Club or if the Garden Club would need to turn bills into the City to pay.

Lela Heineman reported that Evelyn Swenson gave a $125.00 check for the Jim Swenson Memorial flower bed. Lela also reported that Amanda Huntington is making the sign designating it as Jim Swenson Memorial bed.

Marie Daubert reported that California pesticide rules farmers must abide by are the nation’s strictest to protect workers and consumers. While grapes & almonds have 20-year cycles, strawberries are treated every year, causing great danger to people. A new way to grow potatoes is in the new potato bag which sets on top the ground, is filled ½ with dirt, then spuds on top, and grass clippings on that. These plants evidently don’t die down as fast as those growing directly from ground.

The blackpole warbler, ½ oz. in weight, summers in forests of N. America and Canada and then flies 1700 miles for 49 to 73 hours nonstop over the Caribbean to S. America for the winter.

If you’re planting a crab apple tree, you have over 900 varieties to choose from, but be sure to get one that is disease resistant. When pruning trees or shrubs, cut dead stems back to a hardy upright, and trim off cross branches.

A late reminder: According to 2013 figures, mothers are worth $38,126.00 and $8,879.00 for overtime.

Members read the Garden Club Benediction.

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2014 OAKLAND GARDEN CLUB                                                                                                                      2

Lela Heineman gave the lesson on “Care of Stressed Plants” which she limited to outdoor plants to limit the time and amount of material. Winter damage to trees and shrubs often comes from rabbits and deer. Rabbits will gnaw limbs and bark. If the trunk is completely girdled, the plant will die. Suckers may come up, but if it is a fruit or ornamental item grafted to root stock, the suckers will not be the same. If the evergreen buds are chewed off, that season’s growth is gone.

Plants may seem to be under insect damage that is often due to moisture damage. Dig for moisture at 6” depth. If is dry, water and plant should recover in 24 hours. If it is too wet, stop watering. If plant doesn’t recover, that wasn’t the problem or was severe enough to destroy plant. Heat may cause a plant to wilt during the day to shut down moisture loss, but it may recover in cooler evening temperatures. Newly planted seedlings or ones moved from outdoors may need shade or fabric protection till they are acclimated. You might turn the fan on seedlings before moving them outside to toughen them up. Bleached spot on these plants may indicate more need for early protection from sun.   Black areas on leaves may indicate frost damage. The foliage will not recover, but the plant may survive. Wait till plant begins to show new growth before trimming off blighted areas. Ragged foliage can be caused by heavy winds, rain or hail, and this foliage can make plant more susceptible to diseases, so trim it.

Off color foliage can mean nutrient deficiency—if pale, most likely nitrogen. If veins green, but rest pale, then iron, a reddish or purplish cast, phosphorous. Stunted growth—overall lack of nutrients. Check soil level for pH and fertilize accordingly. Be sure to follow application directions. Dried leaf margins can mean wind or fertilizer burn, while burned area in one location may indicate damage by herbicide overspray or animal urine. Spray area with clear water & trim off damaged area. Also, maybe plant is not happy in that location, so move it to one with more or less shade or wind, moisture or dryness, etc.

Another problem may be insect damage. Certain ones attack certain plants and leave tell-tale marks. Earwigs leave irregular holes, aphids leave a sticky residue, lace bugs eat tree & bush leaves, while scale on trees & shrubs suck sap from twigs and branches and cause die back. Most can be controlled with chemicals. Check cans or bags for symptoms, plants affected, and application.

Diseases affect plants in varying degrees. Powdery mildew affects some plants and various shrubs, Although it doesn’t cause serious damage, it can slow growth and reproductive rate. Aster yellows affects many plants, is transmitted by leafhoppers, and results in stunting, dwarfing, yellowing of foliage, spindly stalks, failure to develop flower color or seeds. No cure. Remove and destroy all affected foliage. Root rot usually affects roses and azaleas. Symptoms are drooping and yellowing leaves that roll downward. Don’t plant in poorly drained soil, on exposed south side of building or in windy areas. Leaf spot affects many plants and first appears as small brown spots. High humidity and moisture make plants susceptible to fungal infection. Improve air circulation by removing some of surrounding plants, and in fall remove and destroy dead or spotted plant material so as to reduce spoors available for infection the following spring.

Finally, if there is a sad-looking plant in a store that you really want, take it home, remove it from pot and soak it in a bucket of water till bubbles quit. Since in many stores they are watered from above, they often lack sufficient water. Also, many are root bound. Once bubbles quit, trim the roots, repot, and water. If it doesn’t thrive, quit and try a new plant.

Cathi McMurtry, Secretary