“Fostering the love of Gardening and the Beautification of our City.”

February 2008

President’s Message

Welcome to another exciting year at the North Bay Horticultural Society!

Our program, this year, will continue to offer educational and interesting topics as well as hands on workshops. And, as all of us are aware, we must be more sensitive and responsible to the environmental issues that surround us and how we can also help to educate our community and our youth. As we make “LIVING GREEN” an area of focus for our society, please encourage your friends and people in the community to become members and really become involved with us in this important cause.

Well, the ground hog may have announced another 6 weeks of winter, but he obviously hasn’t been receiving his spring seed and flower catalogues.

However, many of us have. In fact, we know that spring is just around the corner and the excitement of uncovering those gardens and planting is in the air!! For me, this year, I want to start all over. Bring the bulldozer in and dig up all of the gardens so that I can start again and plan it out right!!! And…I am serious!!! Of course, I haven’t exactly explained the whole idea to my husband, but I really do want to dig up every plant. After our trip to Italy last year, he is actually thinking of doing a little gardening himself…so I may be able to talk him into this crazy plan…or not!!!

Let this be the year that you plan something new for your garden. Think outside the box and plant, not just a new plant, but something BIG, BOLD & BEAUTIFUL!!

If you have not renewed your membership for 2008, this will be your last Green Thumb.

Our tentative event schedule for 2008

Tues. Feb 26 Potluck, Seed Exchange
Please bring your own plate, cutlery, and cup.

Speaker : Adrian van der Bijl - Starting your garden indoors
MEETING STARTS AT 6 p.m.

March 25 – Jim & Judy Merrick - Hostas and the hosta virus
April 22 - Bryan Herdman – Climate change and your North Bay garden
May 20 – Bonnie Cappadocia – Growing organic vegetables in pots
Sat. May 24 – Plant sale
Sat. June 21 - Flower and vegetable show at Northgate Shopping Centre
June 24 – Strawberry social; Bees
Tues. July 22 – Ella’s waterfront picnic at noon
August 22-24 - OHA convention in Brampton
September 23th – potluck; speaker TBA
October 28th meeting – speaker TBA
November 25 – Annual general meeting & Elections

Workshops to be announced.
If you have any ideas for a workshop or speaker, please let Geri know at the next meeting or by email (gabarry at hotmail.com). I am always looking for new ideas! Thanks.

If you have not
renewed your membership for 2008,
this will be your last Green Thumb.

Membership Renewal Form 2008
Please fill out and bring to general meeting with your payment. Or mail to:
North Bay Horticultural Society, PO Box 1482, North Bay, ON P1B 8K6

Single Membership………… $ 10.00 (please circle desired membership)

Family Membership…………$ 15.00

Child membership…………...$ 3.00

Name………………………………..............................................................

Address………………………………..........................................................

Postal code……………………… Phone number…………………………

Email………………………………………………………………………………
If you would like your Green Thumb emailed, please tick in box. ?

Seed exchange

Please bring any seeds you can spare in envelopes or packages labeled with the name or description of the plant. To make sure it is fair for all our members who attend the meeting, the exchange will be held after the speaker. Those who are unable to bring seeds but wish to participate are asked to donate a loonie or toonie to the pot. Please leave your seeds at the membership table when you come in.
Our Master Gardener and speaker will be available to answer your questions about seeding.

Garden guide for mid February to Mid March

Beat the February blues by propagate indoor plants (geraniums, etc,) by stem cuttings.
Place mail order for seeds and summer bulbs.
Start impatiens and dusty miller from seed.
Repot house plants if necessary. Begin fertilizing at half strength.
Sort through last year’s seed packets. Check for viability by putting a few seeds in a moist paper towel in a plastic bag and place in a warm spot (above fridge) for about a week.
Prepare seeds for society’s annual seed exchange.
Inspect houseplants for spider mites and aphids. Spray with insecticidal soap.
Check dates of the annual garden show and plan a trip to one – they are great inspiration.

HELP US SAVE A FEW $$$$ GREEN THUMB DELIVERY

90% of our members receive our beloved Green Thumb newsletter by mail. It is an important communication tool, keeping all our members informed about all our activities as well as current gardening news. Each monthly newsletter mailed costs almost $1.00. With every increasing costs to postage and stationary supplies, we are hoping one way we could cut our spending is to ask that you consider receiving your Green Thumb via email.
If you are interested in receiving your newsletter by mail in the future, please email me at [email protected] or notify Maureen at the membership table at the next meeting. I will email you to confirm I have received your message.

Geri

Wear your Name tags
We would love to try to get out members to wear their name tags to each meeting so we can all figure out who is who. When you grab your mug for the meeting, please remember you tag too!

NORTH BAY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY T-SHIRTS

I will have a copy of the catalogue with pictures of all of the colours of our beautiful Horticultural Society T-shirts with our new logo embroidered on them. We know there are quite a few people interested in ordering them, so please bring $30 (cash or cheque) to the February meeting, so we will all be ready for the season.
It will only be 2 weeks until I receive the shirts so everyone can get them at the March meeting for sure.

-submitted by Kathy Thomas

CANADA BLOOMS BUS TRIP
The Sundridge Hort. Society has a one-day, coach-bus going to Canada Blooms on Wednesday, March 12th, leaving from the Sundridge arena at 7:30 am, returning around 9:00 pm. Cost is $55.00, including admission & program. Call Barb Bryson, daytime at 705-384-7025 or evenings at 384-7285 to book a seat.

Check it out - http://www.canadablooms.com/site/visit/scheduleMar14.htm

Help Sweetman’s Garden – volunteer gardeners needed
Please help spread the word that Sweetman’s Garden is in need of volunteers gardeners who might be able to help out with the garden. Please contact Adelaide Saeger & James Forsyth at 476-3696
email: 4syth at onlink.net for more information.

More budding writers needed : The North Bay Nugget was so pleased with our local gardening articles which weekly last summer that they are have asked us for more articles this year. Each writer summits a rough draft to our editor, Rosalyn Charland, who thankfully goes over it for us, then will pass it on to the Nugget.
If you are interested in writing a couple of articles for us (about 250-350 words), or want a bit more information, please contact Maureen or Rosalyn at our next meeting or email us at northbay at gardenontario.org.

We are pleased to announce our nomination
as second vice-president of the
Ontario Horticultural Association
Vickie Wiemer
Past president of our society
and past director of District 18

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream."
- Barbara Winkler

PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO LUG YOUR MUG!!
Help us protect the environment!!

A Bouquet of Flowers

On the evening of Friday, December 14, I received a wonderful surprise at my front door. When I opened the door, there stood in front of me eight wild and crazy carolers, candles and all, from the North Bay Horticultural Society. Well, I’ve never been sung carols to before and was ecstatic as they continued to sing to me, and I joined in as much as I could. As some of you are aware, I was nursing a cold in October which turned into the flu, then bronchitis and eventually pneumonia. I ended up on life support from November 11 to November 30. After emergency surgery on Nov 27, I was released from the Sudbury Hospital on Thursday, December 6 and returned to work on January 8.

Thank you to Geri Openshaw, Maureen Ranger, Ruth Wright, Darlene Lecour, Judy and Jane Watling, June Charette and Janet Vos. You crazy carolers, I love you all, you have made my Christmas complete, considering that I didn’t even know if I was going to have one.

Thank you also to all the well wishes I received from many members of the North Bay Horticultural Society.

Happy New Year !!
Betty Foy

The Nipissing Naturalists Club new book release

Species at Risk in the Lake Nipissing Watershed

The Nipissing Naturalist Club acquired funding from the Ontario Species at Risk Stewardship Fund to produce a book on plants, reptile, amphibians, fish, animals and birds, whose populations within our area have declined. The information in the book is designed to educate and engage the public. Our aim is to increase awareness and create a positive attitude towards species at risk, ensuring their survival for future generations.

Contact: Angela Martin, President, Nipissing Naturalists Club
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 705-594-1153
Website: www.nipissing-naturalist.com

Full Moon Names and Their Meanings
Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. Here is the Farmers Almanac's list of the full Moon names.
• Full Wolf Moon - January Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January's full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.
• Full Snow Moon - February Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February's full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.
• Full Worm - March Moon As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.
• Full Pink Moon - April This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month's celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.
• Full Flower Moon - May In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon.
• Full Strawberry Moon - June This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!
• The Full Buck Moon - July July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon.
• Full Sturgeon Moon - August The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.
• Full Harvest Moon - September This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering.
• Full Hunter's Moon - October With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, it is time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can easily see fox and the animals which have come out to glean.
• Full Beaver Moon - November This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.
• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

Website of the month
www.bhg.com
The Better Homes and Gardens website has a gardening section with some helpful information for all gardeners. You can plan your garden, design your dream deck, or just use their garden encyclopedia! There are all sorts of garden projects and ideas! Check it out!

Need to contact us with comments, questions or suggestions?
North Bay Horticultural Society
P.O. Box 1482, North Bay, ON P1B 8K6
Website : Go to www.gardenontario.org and follow the links!
Email : [email protected]

Treasurer’s report to Jan 31 /08

Investment savings $3630.78
Bank statement as of Oct. 31/07 $1333.05
Last month’s outstanding cheques - $ 59.11
Deposit + $ 90.00
Expenditures - $1161.13
This month’s outstanding cheques + $ 636.90
Total current account $ 839.71

Expenditures
Horticultural meetings $ 50.00
Green Thumb $ 117.82
Bank charges $ 40.00
OHA & products $ 611.90
Social & gifts $ 155.96
General office $ 25.13
Workshops $ 160.32
Total expenditures $1161.13

Receipts
Membership $ 90.00
Total receipts $ 90.00

General Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Held at Christ Church, 890 Vimy St.

President Darlene Lecour called the meeting to order at 7:00 and thanked everyone for their yummie contribution to our potluck. 42 members were in attendance, on the sign in sheet.

Business – Minutes of the November general meeting, as printed in the Green Thumb, were moved to be adopted by Debbie Caldwell. CARRIED.

Correspondence – Veseys and Richters Herbs and Seed Catalogues, Trillium Newsletter

Canada Blooms – March 12 - 15, 2008. Check out their website. http://www.canadablooms.com:80/site/visit/scheduleMar14.htm

Gathering Place – Thank you for the non-perishable food donated by our members Nov 30, 2007. The Gathering Place has fed 90,000 people since opening its doors in Sept 2003.

Treasurer’s Report – Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented in the Green Thumb by Geri Openshaw.

Induction of Officers – Since the weather was so bad in November the induction took place tonight by Adrian van der Bijl. The ceremony was very brief as Adrian asked everyone if they accepted their responsibilities in their perspective positions and everyone replied, in unison, “I do”.

Members of the Executive for 2008 are:
President ………………………….. Darlene Lecour
Vice President ……………..……… Louise Cicci
Secretary ………………………….. Betty Foy
Treasurer .……………………….… Ruth Wright
Youth ……………….…………….. Janet Vos
Phone/Contact ……………………. Audrey Morton
Programs ………………………….. Geri Openshaw
Membership …………………….… Maureen Ranger
Civic Beautification ………….…… Ruby McLeod
Green Thumb ……………………... Geri Openshaw
Publicity-Advertisement, T-Shirts .. Maureen Ranger
Social …………………………….. Judy Watling
Assistant Directors ……………..… Lorne Cutts, Vicki Wiemer, Sue Finnis, Daphne Andrews
Plant Sale …………………………. Pat Madill
Flower Show ……………………… June Charette

T-Shirts – Can be ordered from Kathy Thomas @$30.00 each, fill out form, men’s and women’s sizes, cash or cheque in advance, with a 2 week waiting period and a minimum order of 12 t-shirts.

Sweetman’s Gardens – Adelaide Saeger, his neighbor, co-ordinates the volunteers who help 84 year old Mr. Sweetman look after this treasure. A request to the general membership was made for volunteers to help with the garden. Those interested in volunteering should contact Adelaide at 476-3696 for more information.

Name tags – Please wear them so people will know who you are. Linda Graham has large letters on her name tag so it’s very easy to see.

The North Bay Nugget “Living Green” Gardening Articles – We have 20 articles to write and are looking for volunteers. Geri spoke about how easy it is to start writing your article and before you know it, you have a wonderful story to share with interested readers. Rosalyn Charland is our Editor. A sign up sheet was passed around. The articles will run every Tuesday from May 20, 2008 to Sept 30, 2008. Articles should be about 250-300 words and submitted prior to Apr 1. This is great exposure for our Society and also a great way to share your gardening experiences and contribute to your Society. Darlene will provide a list of topics so as not to duplicate subjects. Betty Foy, Archivist, brought the History Book to show last year’s write-ups.

“Beautiful Yards - An Advertising Feature of the North Bay Nugget” - We would like to submit our gardens for the Nugget again this year, since it was such a success last year. If you would like to have your garden featured, please contact Maureen Ranger at [email protected] or phone her at 472-6086. A photographer from the Nugget will come to your home when your garden is ready and take pictures of your gardens for their feature presentation. Last year it was published on Thursday, August 23, 2007. Fifteen gardens were featured.

Memberships – can be purchased as a gift idea for Mother’s Day, present, memorial gift or for a youth.
Committee Reports -

2008 Program Line up – Geri Openshaw
- Feb 26 - Potluck, Adrian van der Bijl - Starting Your Garden Indoors CONFIRMED
- Mar 25 - Jim Merrick, Hostas and Hosta Virus CONFIRMED
- Apr 22 - Bryan Herdman - Climate Change & Gardening, “Earth Week” CONFIRMED
- May 24 - Plant Sale – Christ Church CONFIRMED
- May 27 - Growing Herbs & Vegetables in Containers - Bonnie Cappadocia CONFIRMED
- Jun 21 - Annual Flower & Vegetable Show - Northgate Shopping Centre CONFIRMED
- Jun 24 - Strawberry Social and Honey Bees and Cross-Pollination Today UNCONFIRMED
- Jul 22 - Ella’s Picnic - 12:00 (4th Tuesday in July) Kinsmen Shelter at the waterfront CONFIRMED
- Aug - No Meeting
- Sept 23 - Potluck, maybe Chef Daniel Esposito UNCONFIRMED
- Oct 28 - Bouquet D’Amour – Mark UNCONFIRMED
- Nov Workshop - Christmas Wreath UNCONFIRMED
- Nov 25 - Dr Rod Johnston - Waterfront Update CONFIRMED , Annual Executive Elections and Workshop
- Dec & Jan - No Meetings

Flower Show - June Charette - June 21 – The first day of spring. The Northgate Shopping Centre is confirmed and commercials are lined up. We need volunteers to help bring in entries, setup and take down. You’d be surprised with what you can do and what you have in your gardens. She will call those that want to help.

Youth – Janet Vos will be starting another youth program for 6 weeks at the Library from 10-30 - 11:45, the 2nd Saturday in March break. The kids are having a wonderful time and they will have something in the flower show. The next session will be after school, nothing in July and August. The cost is 5.00 for a membership and 15.00 for craft sessions for ages 4 – 10. Janet thanked Geri for helping out with the Library as a meeting place.

Membership – Maureen Ranger reported that renewals and name tags can be picked up from her at the membership table. Membership totals for 2006 was 121, 2007 was 164 and 2008 is 68 so far.

Green Thumb – Geri Openshaw – She would like to e-mail as many newsletters as possible in order to keep the cost down. $1.00 a month from every membership goes to printing, stamps, envelopes and labels.

Social – Judy Watling will need 3 volunteers for sweets for next month. Sharon Johnson, Janet Vos and Catherine Minkowskyi volunteered. Thank you.

Miscellaneous –

Construction of the Waterfront overpass will start in early spring of 2008.

Next month there will be a sign-up sheet for the various upcoming workshops.

Seed exchange is on the back table at this meeting.

Guest Speaker, Ed Lawrence will be at the Callander Community Centre on Thursday, June 12, 2008. Tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased in advance from Lorne Cutts. There are only 375 tickets.

Adjournment -
There being no other business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50.
The guest speaker was Adrian van der Bijl on “Starting your Garden Indoors”.
The next general meeting will be on Tuesday, March 25, 2008.

If you have not renewed your membership for 2008, this will be your last Green Thumb.