PILCHUCK

CHAPTER

Volume XI No. 6

March 2003

American Rhododendron Society

Meeting Date: Thursday March 6^th, 2003

Marysville Jr. High Library 1605 – 7^th Street, Marysville

Refreshments at 7 PM

Meeting starts at 7:30 PM

March Meeting:

Conifers

Presented by:

Terry Maczuga of

Terry is a specialist in dwarf conifers. Cloud Mountain Farm is a nursery in Everson (NE of Bellingham) specializing in Fruit Trees and Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. Terry was going to be one of our speakers last year but the meeting was snowed out.

Terry will bring several dwarf conifers from the nursery as examples of good companion plans for Rhododendrons. They will be available for sale at the end of the meeting.

Refreshments for the Evening

If your last name begins with N, O, P, Q or R please bring treats to the meeting.

Meeting Minutes

February 6^th 2003

Old Business
Bus Trip
President Barbara Blankenship called a short meeting of the Board members to discuss the possibility of changing destination plans for our bus tour to Mintner Gardens in British Columbia, May 10, 2003. Unfortunately, since we may be involved in a war with Iraq at that time, traveling outside the USA might be difficult. The Board agreed that we should poll the membership on the subject at this meeting.

Accordingly, Barbara informed the members regarding the possibility of changing our bus tour plans, and after a lively discussion, it was agreed to postpone a decision until the March meeting, since the "war deadline" was to take place in late February.

Chapter Picnic
A combined annual Chapter picnic with the Komo Kulshan Chapter will be held May 15, 2003 at the Floral Park in Burlington, WA. More specific information will be made available later.

Meerkerk Garden Benches
Greg Winters will research the sizes of plaques that the chapter will order for the Chuck Moon and Amby Schultz memorial benches at Meerkerk.

RSBG Associate Membership
Barbara distributed the RSBG garden passes to the membership.

Questionnaire
A few copies of the membership questionnaire were returned but many more are needed before a meaningful analysis can be made of membership program and activity preferences.

New Business

Hammond’s Annual Picnic
Dave and Joanie Hammond¹s annual picnic at Humptulips will be held July 19, 2003. Mark your calendar.

Newsletter Editor
Wayne McPherson has resigned as newsletter editor, effective this month. Greg Winters volunteered to assume the job of editing and publishing the newsletter beginning March 2003.

May Meeting
There will be a regular meeting May 1st, even though it falls on the second day of the ARS Convention to be held in Olympia April 30 May 4, 2003.

Potluck Dinner
A delicious potluck of a variety of goodies was enjoyed by all.

Auction
Our annual fund-raising plant auction was a remarkable success, bringing in nearly $400.00. Plants donated included rhododendrons, trees, heather, aralia, primula, cyclamen, viburnum, geranium citronella, iris, clivia, helleborus and also bundles of bamboo plant stakes.

Questionnaire Note

Only 7 questionnaires have been completed and returned so far. Does this mean no one cares? If you don't think anything needs changing, then say so on your questionnaire. Come on now! Please take a few minutes to fill out the form and either send it to me or give it to me at the March meeting. We need a variety of opinions and all of your great, new ideas about how we can change chapter programs or special activities to make meetings more interesting and educational.

- Eddie Newcomb

If you have lost your questionnaire more will be available at the next meeting.

Calendar

March 6	Chapter meeting.
April 3	Chapter meeting. Program: Bonsai by Ann Tanner.
April 11-13	Seattle Chapter Early Rhododendron Show at Wells-Medina Nursery in Medina.
April 25 – 27	Pilchuck Chapter Rhododendron Show at Everett Mall.
April 26	Meerkerk Magic. Noon – 4 PM
April 30 – May 4	ARS Annual Rhododendron Convention in Olympia.
May 1	Chapter meeting. Program TBA
May 9 – 11	Seattle Chapter May Show at the Donald Graham Visitors Center, U. of W. Arboretum.
May 10	Pilchuck Chapter Annual Bus Tour.
May 11	Meerkerk: Mother’s Day Concert on the Lawn. Noon – 4 PM
May 15	Combined Annual Picnic with Komo Kulshan Chapter at Floral Park, Burlington, WA.
June 5	Chapter meeting. Program TBA
July 19	Hammond's annual picnic at Humptulips.