NSAGC 2016 District Meeting: Sat. May 7, 9am

NSAGC Email Message

Hi everyone,

Below is an email message that we received from the NSAGC.
Looking forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday evening at the Hammonds Plains Garden Club meeting!
Kind regards,
Val :)

First of all, we have plants for sale.

1. Astilbe:   We have a few Astilbe Peach Blossom left over from the Salt Scapes Expo and I have them in my garage.  Anyone wishing to purchase some or one can email me or call me at 902-832-7006.  They are bare root plants selling for $3.00 each. This plant is deer resistant and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Part or full shade, will also tolerate full sun if it has enough moisture. I will be bringing these to Bedford Horts meeting on Monday evening.

2. Ligularia:  We are taking orders for bare root Ligularia Othello.  These are selling for $2 each and I will have them available on June 5th.  Payment is required ahead of time.

To order these, please send me an email.  (pamela.maclean@gmail.com) We will work out payment.  For those who have already ordered through their clubs, there is no need to order again.

3.  District Meeting: Just a reminder for District Meeting on May 7th,  Registration at 9am.

4.  Fourth Annual Gaggle of Gardeners Bus Trip-Thursday July 7th.  Please see the following from Debbie Symonds.

Hi everyone!  It's almost time to Gaggle!

I'm pleased to announce that the Dartmouth Garden Club will be hosting its 4th Annual Gaggle of Gardeners bus trip on Thursday, July 7th, 2016.  I will require confirmation of your registration and your payment no later than June 18th.  This invitation will also be open to other garden clubs and community organizations, and will be advertised extensively this year.  Seats should sell very quickly!  Please note that our bus is a wee bit smaller than last year so we won't be able to sell as many seats (but they assure me the loo will be working!).

We have booked a 48-seat air-conditioned tour bus and I want to fill it to capacity.  Please encourage your family, friends, work colleagues, and neighbours to come along with us--it's going to be a fabulous, fun-filled day of shopping and eating!

Cost to register for the bus trip is $40.00 for Dartmouth Horticultural Society members, $45.00 for all others, and is payable upon registration.  If you are paying by cheque, please make the cheque payable to Dartmouth Horticultural Society, NOT ME.  We take cash and cheques only--no credit cards.  You can give me your payment directly at one of our monthly meetings, you can mail it to me, or you can drop it off at my house (6 Aberdeen Court, Dartmouth, NS, B2X 1K4).

As in the past, I'll provide you with a tentative agenda for the day (subject to change), and important things for you to remember.  

8:45am	Meet at Mic Mac Mall parking lot.  If you are facing the now-abandoned Target store, look to the LEFT of the front doors and you will see the tour bus parked there.
9:00am	Bus leaves Dartmouth and drives straight to Baldwin's Nurseries in Falmouth.
10:00am	Bus arrives at Baldwin's and we shop.
10:45am	Bus leaves Baldwin's and drives to Horlings Plants, Grand Pre.
11:15am	Bus arrives at Horlings and we shop.
12:00pm	Bus leaves Horlings and drives to Evangeline Inn and Motel, Grand Pre.
12:15pm	Bus arrives at Evangeline's Cafe and we eat.
1:00pm	Bus leaves Evangeline's Cafe and drives to Glad Gardens, Waterville.
1:30pm	Bus arrives at Glad Gardens and we shop.
2:15pm	Bus leaves Glad Gardens and drives to Briar Patch Farm and Nursery, Berwick.
2:30pm	Bus arrives at Briar Patch and we shop.
3:15pm	Bus leaves Briar Patch and heads back to Dartmouth.
6:00pm	Bus arrives at Mic Mac Mall where pandemonium ensues.  Please make sure your ride is waiting for you.  Do not leave your plants behind in your excitement to get home.  Anyone abandoned at Mic Mac Mall will NOT have a sleep-over at my house.

We strongly encourage you to take a vacation day and join us.  Weekdays at these nurseries are much less chaotic than weekends, and you don't have to wait in long line-ups to pay for your purchases.

 1.  The cost of the tour does not include purchases made at any of the venues nor does it include lunch.

 2.      Please bring the following items with you (just in case):  bottled water (there's a washroom on the bus), bug spray (if it's humid we'll probably encounter mosquitos, especially at Baldwin's), suntan lotion, wet wipes, light hooded jacket or hooded sweater (in the event of rain) or clear plastic rain poncho from the Dollar Store.  These items can be left on board the bus if you don't need them.

3.  I am going to provide you with approximately 12 stickers that will have your name clearly printed which can be attached to your purchases when they are stowed underneath the bus.  Many of the centers use the same grey plastic bags and it tends to be confusing when we return to Dartmouth and try to figure out which bags belong to which people.  It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

 4.      We are going to try to stick to the agenda as closely as we can, so please try to be back at the bus at the required departure times.  We've never had to leave someone behind yet, but you don't want to be the first!

 5.      It might be a good idea to have some cash in your wallet.  Not all vendors take debit cards.  And I'm not lending you any money.

 6.      The bus has a storage compartment underneath the body where we can store our plants and vegetables and baked goods and containers and trees and shrubs and any travellers who misbehave.  Everything will be safe there.

 7.   There will be a minimal amount of walking at the nurseries; however, we will be doing a lot of scurrying from place to place, so be sure to wear comfortable, non-skid walking shoes or sandals.  Try to choose pretty ones.  Ugly shoes can sometimes offend me.

 8.   Keep in mind that this is a long, busy day, so pace yourself and don't overdo it.  I have no intention of giving you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

 9.   Gaggles are fun.  Invite someone you normally shop with to join us.  Remember, it's not a garden tour ... it's a shopping trip.

 10.   Please bring your camera so that you can take lots of photos of our Gaggle having fun.   We'll share the photos later!

 11.   If you could stuff a couple of Sobeys bags in your purse, it would be appreciated.  We might need them for plants or pukers.

12.   There will be no refunds once you have paid your registration fee, so it might be a good idea to have a friend on standby to join the Gaggle in your place (just in case you get sick the day of the tour).

 13.   The actual agenda might change slightly by the time we actually leave.  Sometimes garden centers close early, or they don't have enough staff mid-week, or they've heard about us and don't want us to come visit them.

 14.   Fingers crossed—if you are well-behaved, I might consider planning the Gaggle trip next year!

 Debbie

Deborah A. Symonds
6 Aberdeen Court, Dartmouth, NS   B2X 1K4
dsymonds@hotmail.com
902.435.9010​

NSAGC Updates

We are very pleased to announce that the NSAGC has taken a booth at the upcoming SaltScapes Expo at the Exhibition Center, formerly Exhibition Park, happening from April 22 -24. This is not an encouragement to attend, unless you are planning on being there anyway, however, we will be selling bare root Astilbe "Peach Blossom for $3 each, and there will be a draw for a planter. The main emphases of the booth will be to promote Garden Clubs to the public and encourage gardeners to join a local club.

As you know, District Meeting is fast approaching. (May 7th, at St Lukes United Church, St Margaret's Bay Rd.) The plant this year (incase you missed it) is the Rose Milkweed. Asclepias incarnata, Rose Milkweed, is also commonly called Red Milkweed, Marsh Milkweed, or Swamp Milkweed. It has a lovely vanilla fragrance, and large rosy pink or light purple flowers loved by both Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies. This deer-resistant plant grows in moist to average soils, and blooms in July and August. Later, large pods form which will break open to reveal seeds that will float away in the wind. It may reseed in the garden but the seeds do need to go through a winter and it will usually not bloom in the first year. I am assured they will not take over your garden.

In an effort for everyone in the area to hear celebrity speaker, Sean James, FernRidge Landscaping, we, as a district, booked a large hall at the BEAVERBANK KINSAC COMMUNITY CENTER 1583 BeaverBank Rd, BeaverBank. It is about 8 minutes from the intersection between Sackville Drive (by Kent) and Beaverbank Rd. I realize it is not central, but the price was excellent and they were able to accommodate our needs. It is a new building with everything we want and will hold over 200 people. The date we booked is May 18th at 7 pm. Two topics will be selected by the Fall River Club and will be announced at a later date. They will be 2 one hour presentations back to back with tea in between. Fall River Club is contributing a large amount to the speaker and will provide the tea and coffee for the break. I was required to put a title for the booking so on the spot I called it Gardening With Sean James. http://fernridgelandscaping.com/. We would like a few volunteers to bring cookies or sweets to go with our tea/coffee. Please email me at pamela.maclean@gmail.com if you can contribute.

Convention: Convention dates are June 3rd and 4th in New Glasgow at the Pictou Wellness Center. Information is available at the NSAGC website, under the tab Convention 2016. Numbers for the Hotels are Holiday Inn: (902)755-1020; Travelodge: (902)928-1333. You need to book with the hotel directly to get the NSAGC special rate. Please book your Room as soon as possible. Registration ends on May 1st.

NSAGC Upcoming Events!

Hi Folks,

As our weather starts to warm up, it is time to start thinking spring again.

Just a few reminders of upcoming events:

Our District Meeting is scheduled for May 2, at the Waverly Legion and being hosted by the Fall River Garden Club.  The speakers are all in place and arrangements are done.

Convention is being  held in Yarmouth, June 5th and 6th at the Rodd and hosted by Western District. The theme is Gardening Then and Now. Registration forms and information are on our NSAGC Website under NSAGC Convention.

Pamela MacLean
NSAGC

District Meeting Info:

Hosted by Fall River Gardening Club

HELLO SPRING!!!
NSAGC, HALIFAX DISTRICT MEETING
Hosted by
Fall River Garden Club

Waverley Legion, 2234 Rocky Lake Drive, Waverley
Saturday, May 2, 2015

Registration 9:00 – 9:30
Meeting Called to Order 9:30
Adjournment 3:00
$10 at the door

Tentative program:
9-930 registration
930-1015 mtg called to order, NSAGC Business, District Club Reports
1015-1100 Niki Jabbour. Amazing Edibles with some emphasis on fun new edibles being released in 2015
1100-1130. Coffee Break, Vendors, book sales
1130-1215. Dr. G. Chris Cutler Pest Management, biological controls and pollinators
1215-130pm Lunch, Vendors, Door Prizes
130-200 pm Sherry Chaisson Ferns
200-230pm Jenny Costello Living with Wildlife Certification
230-300pm Door Prizes, outstanding Members Awards
300pm Adjournment

HRM District NSAGC Meeting - Save the date!

Hello Garden Club-ers!

Please note that the Bedford Horticultural Society will be hosting the HRM District NSAGC Meeting on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The meeting will be in the LeBrun Centre in Bedford, and will have a registration fee of $10 for club members and $12 for nonmembers. There will be three speakers and lots of vendors. The registration fee will include goodies during the morning break and a delicious sandwich luncheon. Also, all registrants will receive a free plant! All in all, it will be a lovely beginning to a happy summer of gardening.

We'll send out more information as the day's events are finalized. But please save the date! We look forward to welcoming everyone.

Susan Boyd, President
Bedford Horticultural Society

Regional Meeting

DISTRICT  FOUR  REGIONAL  MEETING

Hosted by Eastern Shore Garden Club

SATURDAY APRIL 14^Th 2012

9:30am

EAST CHEZZETCOOK LIONS CLUB

89 East Chezzetcook Road

Take exit 21 (Gaetz Brook) off Hwy 107 east of Dartmouth

Turn left at the top of the ramp. The Lions Club Hall is approximately 1km on the right.

PROGRAM

          9:30 - 10am   Registration

         10:00 - 10:10  Welcome and Introductions

         10:10 - 10:30  Club Reports

         10:30 - 11:15  Alan Banks, Harbour Breeze Daylilies

                        Japanese Iris 

         11:15 - 11:30  Stretch Break

         11:30 - 12:15  Garnet Wright, The Stone Gallery

                        Hardscaping

           12:15 - 1:30  Lunch

           1:30 - 2:30  Crystal Godfrey, The Secret Garden

                        Getting Ready for Spring & Garden Design

           2:30 - 2:45 Door prizes and Closing Remarks

VENDORS TO DATE

Joe Mrkonjic - SeaBoost 

Doug Stoddart - Iron works 

Keith Kerr - Bat Houses 

Alan Banks - Daylilies 

Sue Carpenter - Garden Themed Decor

Admission $10

We would like you to try to remember to be environmentally aware 

and bring your own coffee mug

Please would each club provide three door prizes approximately $20 each

Wed. Apr. 27thSoil pH, Liming andPlant Nutrition

The April meeting will be your last chance to place your perennial orders; please bring your forms and your cheques.

Phil Warman is going to talk to us about testing and amending our soil to achieve the best growth results for our plants. As part of his talk, Phil will bring his pH meter so that any club member can have a free soil pH test and lime requirement analysis.  See the details below on how to collect a soil sample from your yard for testing during his presentation.

Phil has a BSc degree in Agronomy and MSc and PhD degrees in Soil Biochemistry from the University of Guelph. His interests include soil biochemistry, soil-plant relations, heavy metal bioavailability, composting of agricultural and industrial wastes (with emphasis on compost quality parameters) and the analysis and application of alternative fertilizers to soils and crops.

Photo by elvisripley on Flickr

If you have soil questions, Phil can also offer insight in the following areas:

• Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Human Health
• Composts and Composting
• Organic Amendments for Soils and Plants

How to collect your soil sample for testing:

• Take a trowel or shovel and dig down at least 6 inches (15 cm) in a few places in your garden and add the samples to a clean pail.
• Mix the entire sample, remove stones and plant debris
• Take a representative sample of about half a cup. 
• Bring the sample inside and spread it out to air dry for at least 2 days on a piece of paper. 
• Make note of what you would like to grow in the area where the sample was taken.
• Bring your dry sample to the Garden Club in a small plastic bag.

As always, we will have a box for donations to our local community food bank at St. Timothy's.

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, April 9, 2011District Meeting Information

Hello All,

Thank you for your enthusiasm and participation in making tonight's winter sowing workshop a big success!  Look for links to the handouts our blog's sidebar menus.

Thank you to Tara Moore for sharing the information about the upcoming District Meeting this spring!  Sounds interesting!

Nova Scotia Association of Garden Clubs
District Meeting

Host: Halifax Westmoor Garden Club

Date:  April 9, 2011

Location: 
Bethany United Church Hall
2669 Joseph Howe Drive
Halifax

Times:

8:30 - 9:00am Registration
                     
9:00  Reports from the club presidents

9:30- 10:15- First presenter: Carol Matthews - Creating a Bird Habitat in Your Garden
         
10:15 - 10:45 - Coffee break
         
10:45 - 11:30 - Roslyn Duffus - Rock Gardens

11:30 - 12:00 - Jennifer Modigliani - Garden Tour of England Agenda

12:00 - 1:00 - LUNCH

1:00 - 1:45 - Wayne & Wayne - Daylilies  (also: if the daylily roots are developed enough a presentation on how to trim roots so your daylily produces more blooms, how to divide plant into fans to create more plants)

2:00  Draws for door prizes

2:15 Last chance to shop at vendors & closing                       

Entrance Fees:  Members - $8, Guests - $10

Presidents are asked to keep their presentations to less than 5 minutes.
Each club is asked to bring two door prizes for the draw.

Contact Person:  Joy McCallum, 443-8646
E-mail: joymccallum1@hotmailcom

"Lug A Mug" for coffee or tea to protect the environment

Carolyn Downie will chair the March meeting for Halifax-Westmoor Club March 15/11.  She will be asking the members to volunteer to help support hosting the District Meeting.  Most things are already in place.  A group will make sandwiches but we will need members to provide muffins, cookies or squares.  We will need volunteers for registration, kitchen help and other activities. To make this event a success, we all need to participate.  Think about how you would like to help and please be ready to volunteer at the next meeting.