North Georgia Camellia Society Meeting Minutes_Sept_30_2023
The meeting at the Bellmere Garden House in Duluth, GA was called to order @ 10:30 am by John Scarpucci, President.
Bottles of "gib" were offered to everyone at the meeting. Store in the refrigerator for best shelf life. Gib 4-6 weeks prior to the desired bloom time. So gib 4 to 6 weeks prior to our flower show.
Everyone was reminded of the ongoing plant sale & the order sheet was passed during the meeting.
Dean Day Smith will be our Honorary Chair of our Feb 2024 flower show and she was thrilled to have been asked.
During the Sept. Zoom meeting there was discussion regarding creation of a logo. The cost to pursue will be $450. This expense was tabled until after the Feb. show due to recent expenses of $1,500 plants and ATL Botanical Gardens exhibit hall rental of $800.
The Atlantic Coast Camellia Conference will be held this coming weekend. John and Penny will look for flower show judges.
American Camellia Society, (ACS), decided to change the flower show cards. They have more different colored cards now. The two types of exhibitors will remain unchanged: Experienced and Novice/Local growers. Monetary awards will be the same for each type.
Our flower show: Saturday, Feb 10 -Sunday, Feb 11, 2024.
Bloom Entry: Saturday, Feb 10th @ 8:00 am-10:30 am
Flower Show Preparation Training for our club members: Saturday, Jan 6,2024 from 10 am-12 pm @ Bellmere Garden House in Duluth, GA
Unfortunately, John Newsome, our former president, has fallen and fractured his shoulder. He has agreed to be our Emeritus show chair.
Presentation: Tom Johnson, former horticulturalist of ACS and Magnolia Plantation also a friend of, Jim Pruckler, is an azalea & camellia expert.
Topic: Pollinator Gardening Using Camellia Friendly Plants
Tom is on the board for the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail. They hope the monarch butterflies will be removed from the endangered list within 2 years. Tom urges gardeners to grow the following pollinator plants:
Blue Salvia, Bee balm monarda, Johnny jump ups, Trillium, Astilbe, foxgloves, hydrangeas, Azaleas.
Creating a pollinator garden on your property:
-research native pollinators in your area
-provide as much light exposure as possible
-choose plants that grow well in your area
-provide water
Pollinator plants for wet areas:
Milkweed, Swamp milkweed, tropical milkweed
Not all Monarch butterflies migrate during winter; some remain in north America if they can find food. Avoid using insecticides on pollinator plants. Mosquito sprays on turf grasses kill the bees. Let's protect the pollinators.
Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA begins October 5, 2023. on the final two days, Sat-Sun October 14-15th there will be a camellia show. It's a good way to learn how to complete the show tasks.
New Member today: Nancy R. Wallace, a master gardener from Alpharetta, GA., has decided to join our club and purchase 3 plants.
Written & submitted by Susan Benson