Pilchuck Chapter ARS

Our January meeting will be held at the First Baptist Church, Annex building across the street from where we met last year.  The topic is Nurseryman’s Nirvana by Dennis Bottemiller, RSF. Discussion on hard to find and grow rhodies and companion plants.

 

January Horticulture

By Jerry Rock

 

Our poor rhodies have really taken a beating with all the snow this December.  I’m in the process of taping broken branches where possible and removing where I can’t.  I use electrical tape to repair broken branches because it is pliable.  Be sure the snow has melted off branches before attempting this to avoid more brakeage.  Make sure that your pruning tools are sharp and clean. 

I’ll be glad to answer any questions at the January 8th meeting.

 

Getting to Know You

 

Cora Zoberst, an associate member to Pilchuck , is also the editor, secretary, and past president of the Komo Kulshan Chapter, ARS.  She has been a member of that chapter since 1978!  This dynamic lady has lived in Anacortes all her life.  She started a nursery in 1985 and continues today on a reduced scale.  She is very knowledgeable about plants and fertilizers.  She is an avid gardener and is a very active member in the Green Thumb and the Dirty Dozen gardening clubs.

 

Gardening Pests

By Shirley Rock

 

In November I planted several hundred bulbs adding bone and blood meal in each hole.  Strolling through our new gardens the next day, I discovered that almost all the bulbs had been dug up and were laying on the top of the ground.  Our digging dog was the primary suspect!  I replanted the bulbs and put blood meal on the top of the soil (advice from a gardening article).  The next day...same thing.  In another article hot peppers were suggested.  So I bought the hottest peppers I could find, ground them up in the good processor, and applied them on top of each planting.  Next day...dug up bulbs! I bought a product that says it will keep dogs, cats, raccoons, squirrels, and deer away.  That stuff didn’t even slow the culprit down.  We finally tried mouse traps.  Every trap was sprung and the bulbs were still dug up.   Cont’d on page 2