McMinnville Garden Club, PO Box 386,
McMinnville, OR June 2011
503-434-4344
June 20, 2011 – POTLUCK/MEETING
Yamhill County Historical Museum
Highway 18
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Setup Time
10a.m. -
10:30a.m. - Social time
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Flower Arranging Activity
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 am. – Business Meeting/Quilt Drawing/Installation
11:30 a.m.
-12:30? Potluck Luncheon
12:30-1:30? Tour of Museum
1:30-? Garden Visitation
After our yummy potluck,
members are invited to tour Patty Sorensen’s four year old yard at 1666 NW
Medinah, off Cottonwood. Merle’s yard
will be on tour at a later date.
President’s Message
Hard
to believe that we have moved into June.
Our train journey for the 2010-11 year is almost at its last
station. Remarkable! That means it is also almost time for our
annual tour/faire. I can’t wait! I enjoy seeing what the homeowners have done
in their yards. On June 26 all of your hard work will be greatly appreciated by
those who attend.
At
the same time, June means the end of the line for your current board. What a fun group this has been to serve you
with! Cindy Flake has been the perfect
secretary. Her questions and suggestions
have encouraged us to remember that all members do not have a historical perspective. Stephanie Janik as
treasurer knows how to efficiently use a computer program to keep us abreast of
our expenditures, but also has picked up various tasks needed to be accomplished. And then there is Beryl Anderson as Vice President. Didn’t she do a fabulous job of bringing us
incredible speakers? She also used her energies to help us get ready for each
meeting and filled in wherever needed. What
can I do to help? was often heard at our board
meetings. It has been a pleasure to work
with these great ladies. I know that
each of us will work closely with your new board to bring you a fun filled new
year on their leadership journeys.
Patty
Be
sure to check out the new landscaping at the Post Office. A big thanks goes to
Judy Wilkerson, her husband and crew for digging out the overgrown plants,
hauling in gravel, boulders, plants and planting the new more water-wise
plants. We are proud of your work.
Way
to go, members!
Wildlife Habitat by June Benson
WESTERN SCRUB-JAY
I recently saw two Jays perform
what looked like a courtship display. They followed one another between the
shrubs and trees and would stop from time to time to touch their bills. They
could have been passing worms back and forth although it looked like kissing to
me! These Jays were blue, but they were not Blue Jays who have a blue crest and
only live east of the Rocky Mountains. Instead, they were Western Scrub-Jays who are year-round residents in Western
Oregon. Steller’s Jays, with an all black heads
and pointed black crests, live here too, but I have never seen Steller’s Jays
at my home in McMinnville. They used to come to my bird feeders in Portland
(although the Scrub-Jays did not always allow them to stay long). They live in well forested areas. Scrub-Jays
may have been so named because they live in “scrub,” open woodlands, as well as
our suburban yards.
You know when a Scrub-Jay is at your
bird feeder because your songbirds will fly away in fright. Scrub-Jays are very
territorial and extremely vocal. One naturalist said that they have a call that
“curdles the blood, as it is meant to do.” This jay has 20 different calls. Both
the male and female build nests in a fairly low tree or shrub that is well
hidden amid foliage. They produce one brood a year, laying about 3-6 eggs, and
both sexes feed the young. Mated pairs stay together for the long term. You
might even think of Scrub-Jays as living as families since the young remain
close by for up to a couple of years, helping the parents raise subsequent
brothers and sisters.
They
are not picky about food and eat almost anything edible. Scrub-Jays love
peanuts although I often wonder if they bury more peanuts than they eat. They
are probably a major distributor of oak and pine seeds simply because they
forget where their stashes are located. Scrub-Jays have been caught stealing
acorns from woodpeckers and robbing pine cones from nutcrackers. Some are so
devious they have been seen stealing acorns they have watched other Jays hide.
However, deer must appreciate their help. There are reports that Scrub-Jays
will stand on the back of a deer and pick off and eat ticks and other parasites.
Deer will sometimes stand still and hold up their ears to give the birds
access. Now that is something I would like to see!
There
are so many gorgeous kinds of irises nowadays.
I remember when I was very young; my grandparents had a little patch of
bearded irises in their front yard. They
weren’t very tall and were all the same color of purple. I thought they were ugly and remember I
didn’t like their odor. They still don’t
have the best smell, but there are so many fantastic colors that it makes it
hard to pick and choose!
The
bearded irises seem to be the most popular and come in tall, medium and
miniature varieties. They should be
planted in July, August or September.
The roots of newly planted iris should be well established before the
growing season ends. They need at least
a half day of sun and in most climates do best in full sun. Very good drainage is important which can be
obtained by planting on a slope or in raised beds. Gypsum is an excellent soil conditioner that
can improve most clay soils. Plant them
so the tops of the rhizomes are exposed and the roots are spread out facing
downward in the soil. Water until well
established and then very little water is needed. Overwatering is a common error.
Siberian
irises have graceful beardless flowers that seem to float atop mounds of narrow
grass-like foliage that stays attractive all summer. They are easily grown in full sun or light
shade. Deep root systems make them
tolerant of both dry and boggy conditions.
Japanese
irises have a flower shape that is essentially flat and come in colors of
purple, violet, pink, rose, red and white.
They can be veined or edged in contrasting shades. The leaves are narrow and upright with
distinct raised midribs. Much moisture
is needed during the growing and flowering periods.
There
are irises that grow from bulbs such as Dutch irises. They will flower for years and are best
planted in groups. The Dutch irises do
well in containers and are superb cut flowers.
There
are many more species that vary in flower color and form. I enjoy all irises as they bring such
gorgeous colors into the garden. I’m
guilty of buying the different irises and if I had a bigger yard, I would
probably buy more!
Meet Myrna Cuscaden by our Roving Reporter, Jacci Reed
Ringing the
doorbell at Myrna’s home told me in no uncertain terms that the “security
system” was engaged and functioning!
Gathering “Finnigan”, the Welsh Corgi, into
his arms, Myrna’s
husband Art opened the door and offered a calmer welcome. I learned that Finnigan is a sweetheart, and once he is convinced by his
people that the visitor loves to pet pets, he’s more than willing to put up
with her.
We’re
fortunate that Myrna found us here in Oregon, as it wasn’t a sure thing that
she would end up where she started (nearly), since there were many stops along
the way! She and Art lived in San Mateo
and Camarillo, California before being transferred to Minnesota, where they
lived from 1974 - 1990. During this time Myrna worked in banking as a loan
processor. Next was Huntsville, Alabama,
for three years, then back to Minnesota, where Myrna worked at an assisted
living facility, then as manager of an independent living facility, including
the Human Relation Department. When she talks about her work there, one can
tell that she was in exactly the place her heart needed her to be, and where
I’m sure the residents knew how very lucky they were to have her.
When Art retired in 2002, the next move was
way out West to McMinnville, where they moved into their brand new house in
2003. Attempting to landscape the yard,
they found slick, hard, unyielding clay! Jokingly, Art suggested a jackhammer
might help, and that’s what they eventually used--a jackhammer with a spade at
the “business end”! Who knew?? It worked, but with much yanking, twisting,
and wrestling by both! The two of them
constructed their own waterfall with fishpond, heavy rocks and all. It’s beautiful and full of goldfish, and it’s
only been raided once---by a blue heron.
Around this time,
on the encouragement of their neighbor, Rosie Green, Myrna joined
us. Her yard is now flourishing, with a
variety of plants and trees.
Myrna
enjoys her “Gentle Yoga” class twice a week, and says it definitely helps keep
one in shape for gardening. [ Note: The Senior Center will have a Gardening Yoga class
this Summer at the Community Center.]
Also, she enjoys being a Peer Counselor for NW Seniors and Disability
Services. She meets with people who are
in crisis and having difficulty coping with what to do next. Some are recently widowed, some just leaving
the hospital, some struggling as caretakers to a spouse with multiple
illnesses. Counselors listen to the
clients to find out what their goals and needs may be, and give them
information about services that may be available and appropriate. A Peer Counselor is there to empower the person
and let them know that there is hope and help for them.
Myrna
loves her friendly neighborhood, where she and Art join others for Friday
evening meet-and-greets. Sounds great,
doesn’t it? A nice
friendly glass of wine with the “Porch People”. Is that what makes Myrna such a warm and easy
person to know?
A special thank you to
her for sharing her energy this year as Raffle Prizes Chair, Yard of the Month
Committee, and Chair for the Al’s Garden Club Day.
THANK YOU!
A huge thank you to Beryl Anderson for donating her beautiful
quilt for our raffle this year.
We are looking forward to seeing whose name is drawn as the winner of
the king sized quilt at the June potluck!
GARDEN PARTY - Summer Garden Tour/Faire
June 26, 2011
It is great to begin to see posters, banners, rack cards, and
street signs appearing for our annual Garden Tour/Faire. AND it is great to begin to see the sun even
though it isn’t as often as we’d all like.
Be sure to let Beverly Mulkey know if you need
more tickets. Our goal is 700 sold and
we’ll only get there with a lot of work on everyone’s part. We are hoping to be able to continue all of
our community projects/scholarships next year.
I’m sure we are all looking forward to our sneak preview on
Saturday, June 25. Hope to see you then
at the Bethel Baptist Church parking lot at 9:30. This pretour is for
those members, homeowners, etc. that are busy during the tour/faire working. We’ll
try to carpool. AND everyone has their fingers crossed that we won’t have rain
nor repeat our 105 degree tour weather. Think positive. Clear, sunny with a slight breeze and LOTS of
attendees. We know our garden homeowners
have worked hard to share their yards and the vendors are hoping for a great
day of sales. What a fabulous event we
are able to offer to the public. Pat
yourselves on the back. Our co-chairs
for both events have done a fabulous job with your support and smiles.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Beverly M. announced the winners of our
four $1,000 scholarships this year. A
hearty thanks to the selection committee for their dedication. Sounds like we had several great candidates
and I’m sure we are all proud that we are able to support their horticultural
goals. Three of the recipients are
available to help us at the Garden Tour/Faire this year. Be sure to congratulate them when you see
them working as parking attendants!
Final Excursions (Field Trips)
July 25 Dancing Oaks Nursery Visit, Their nursery is known for its unusual
collection of plants from throughout the world. Leave Bethel
Baptist Church at 9:30 am for the location between Monmouth and Corvallis. Bring a friend! Pack a lunch and we’ll enjoy it in their
incredible demonstration garden.
August 21, Oregon Garden
Trip, Leave Bethel
Baptist Church at 9:30 am for Silverton.
You can pack a lunch or purchase one at their small café. Bring a friend!
Mark your calendars for September 19th for our FIRST meeting of the new season. Same place, same time!
Internet Links:
Pioneer District Newsletter
http://oregongardenclubs.org/pioneer/
State
website
http://oregongardenclubs.org/default.htm
Club
Calendar of Events
http://mcminnvillegardenclub.org/yearbooks/2009-10/2010-11calendar.htm
Yard
of the month
http://mcminnvillegardenclub.org/Yardofthemonth_files/yards11/june2011.htm
Gardens Online
http://www.gardencenters.com/gardens/default.htm
Garden Sales/Events Throughout Oregon
http://oregongardenclubs.org/events.htm