SG & AC CHAT Newsletter

SG & AC CHAT Newsletter The Shepard Garden & Art Center Volume Number 73 Issue Number 5 Date Sept/Oct 2012 3330 Mc Kinley Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95818 On site contact: Mabel Lotz 916-808-8800 E-mail: mlotz@cityofsacramento.org CHAT Newsletter Editor: Mary Lou Brennan 916-368-7326 E-mail: marylou2008@att.net Website: www.sgaac.org ;Website Coordinator: Anne Fenkner annefenkner@yahoo.co Heading Text here CALDENDAR SEPT 8-98 9 AMERICAN BEGONIAB SOCIETY SEPT 15-16 16 DELTA GESNERIAD AND AFRICAN VIOLET SHOW SEPT 17 SACRAMENTO GERANIUM CLUB, SPEAKER BONNIE HANSON, N, THE GOVERNORS MANSION GARDEN SEPT 22-23 23 CALIFORNIA IA NATIVE PLANT SALE OCT 6-76 7 SGAAC FALL SALE OCT 13-14 14 SACTO ORCHID FORUM OCT 20-21 21 CAMELLIA CITY PORCELAIN ARTISTS Looking for Club information? Check our Website: www.sgaac.org SHEPARD GARDEN CENTER RENTAL HALF PRICE TO MEMBERS Contact Mabel Lotz : 916-808-8800 E-mail: mlotz@cityofsacramento.org Attention all Clubs: Please send me names and e-mail addresses of new members so I may add them to the CHAT mail list: marylou2008@att.net Sacramento Geranium Club We would like to invite everyone to our meetings from 10:00 to 1:00 PM. They are free and open to the public. September 17, 2012, our speaker will be Bonnie Hanson the Governors Mansion, Gardner Volunteer Program Coordinator and club member. She will have a slide show on the "Garden though the years". It will be an over view of the history of the Mansion Gardens. October 15th, Dave Davis from Green Acres. He will be talking about "Bad Bugs - Good Bugs" and how to control them naturally. We will have our plant drawing and a light lunch after each meeting. CONTENTS Page 1 - Geranium Club Page 2 - Board Meeting Summary Page 3 - Deslta Gesneriad & African Violet Society Page 4 - Sierra Camera Club Page 5 - CNPS Page 6 - Old Historic Cemetery & SGAAC Fall Sale Page 7 - Cactus & Succulent Society & Clean up day Page 8 - Julie Serences on Bees

FROM THE BOARD SUMMARY OF ANNUAL BOARD MEETING JULY 14 2012 Meeting was called to order at 1046am by Ken Rothaus, President. Roll Call of Member Clubs was called by Therese Ruth, Recording Secretary. A quorum for the meeting was established with seventeen of the 32 clubs present. Recording Secretary s Report: Minutes of the July 9, 2011 Annual Meeting were read by Therese Ruth and were approved as read. Financial Report was not given as Treasurer Ed Schroeder is out of state. His report will be given at the August Board Meeting. Acievements during 2011/2012: Ken Rothaus recounted the past year s accomplishments which included improvements to the website; rebuilding of the stage by John Foster, Board Member; cleaning and repairing of the window blinds; installation of the bike rack; successful Spring and Fall Sales chaired by MJ Kelly, Vice President and Kathy Norton, Board Member; production of the CHAT newsletter by Mary Lou Brennan,; onsite supervision of the center by Mabel Lotz and Don. Goals for 2012/2013: How to reward volunteers; how to increase Fall and Spring participation and sales; upgrade to the audio-visual system will be done this year; patio and courtyard improvements to increase use of the area. Nomination and Election of Officers: The Nominating Committee presented a slate of candidates for open positions on the Board for two-year terms: V.P. MJ Kelly; Treasurer Ed Schroeder; Corresponding Secretary Mary Lou Brennan; Director Kathy Norton; Director Shelly Berlant; Director Richard Heisler; Director Wayne Martinson; Kathryn Gerwig requesting election to the Board Director position. It was moved and seconded that the slate as a whole be accepted and the officers were officially inducted to the Board by unanimous vote. Fall Sale update: MJ Kelly reported on the progress of the Fall Sale in October. Anne Fenkner, Joann Sprogis will coordinate hanging the poster signs; Kathy Norton will contact vendors and clubs to verify participation. The following areas still need a chair: yard signs; set up and breakdown of area; onsite chair for door monitors. The next meeting will be August 4 th at 6pm prior to the Board Meeting. Mabel Lotz reported a group called ISSES might be available to act as door monitors and help with the set up and breakdown of the area. She also suggested contacting the Boy Scouts as they gave a great deal of assistance to the vendors. Meeting adjourned at 1120am. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of minutes of SGAAC Board Meeting July 14, 2012 Scheduling/City Report: Mabel Lotz reported the Taste of Sacramento was attended by 212 people and was very successful. Mabel has not received any update on ceiling/roof repair in the small conference room. Electrical outlets on the patio are not up to code and should be repaired. Mabel will check into what city will pay for. Friends of SGAC Report: MJ Kelly reported the organization still need members. Old Business: Curtains update: the trial period for the window treatments will be up at the end of July. The Board would also like input from the Sierra Camera Club. Patio sprinklers are working. Table repair and cleaning day will be on August 11 th at 9am. New Business: It was suggested we focus on improvements to the patio and courtyard area to increase usage. Consider heaters, covers, electrical work to bring up to code. Meeting adjourned at 1156am. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of Board Meeting 8/6/12 Call to order at 7:08 pm by Vice President MJ Kelly in the absence of Ken Rothaus, President. MENA has resigned from the Shepard Garden and Art Center eff 8/6/12. Ed Schroeder, Treasurer reported the audit has been completed. Mabel Lotz, site coordinator, reported three additional events have been scheduled. Mabel has called the City to ask about repair to the roof and ceiling in the small conference room, but has not received a call back. MJ Kelly, Chair for the Fall Sale, reported sub-chairs are still needed. The small card notices have been printed and are available for distribution. Kitty Gerwig has taken responsibility for door monitors. Friends of SGAC is looking for new members. The Friends will donate funds for a new flag for the Center. Contact Ed Schroeder 966-2831 or MJ Kelly 929-3541. New sound system - Wayne Martinson reported he will be meeting with a new company to look at needs of the Center. Pat Gaston (Floral Arrangers Guild) stated her club would like to contribute to the new system. Laurie Lee (Sogetsu) will ask City department heads to the Sept meeting to ask about improvements to patio and repair of ceiling in small conf room. New Business: the possibility of charging vendors and individuals for business card advertising was brought up by Mary Lou Brennan. Fees would be based on the 6-issue of CHAT e-mail distribution and 1 or 2 extra announcements. Discussion continued to next meeting. The Board voted to donate $250 to the rebuilding of McKinley Playground which was recently destroyed. Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm. Next follow up meeting for Fall Sale at 6:20pm, 9/10/12 before Board Meet.

Delta Gesneriad and African Violet Society We would like to invite everyone to our 25th Show & Plant Sale on September 15-16th, 2012 at the Center. The show and plant sale will be open to the public from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012 and from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. on Sunday, September 16, 2012. The theme for our show this year is "25th Anniversary of Violets and Gesneriads". Our highly skilled members will be there at the show to do your repotting needs, give advice, and we will have over one thousand plants for sale that you can't find anywhere else! We will even have a selection of Species and Streptocarpus on sale-- these are hard to find items. We will also be featuring our Ceramic Pot Artist--with her hand made ceramic self-watering pots that are perfect for growing African violets. So--Please join us and see the beauty of our flowering world!! 3

SIERRA CAMERA CLUB JULY GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHY HONORS Andrea & Baby Ashlyn by Linda Candilas Image of the Night Castle Reflection by Melba Martin Captain Cook Hotel Reflection by Werner Krueger Welding in Garage by Jeannie O Brien 4

California Native Plant Society at Effie Yeaw Center Transitioning to a Beautiful, Water-Wise Native Garden Saturday, September 8, 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Effie Yeaw Nature Center, located inside Ancil Hoffman Park along the American River Parkway, 2850 San Lorenzo Way, off Tarshes Drive in Carmichael CA 95608. Cost: $35, CNPS members $25 Contact: Chris Lewis Tel: (916) 812-2876 Email: LewisC916@yahoo.com Web: http://sacvalley.cnps.org Reservations: Betsy Weiland,(916) 488-3894, flweiland@yahoo.com Want a native garden, but not sure where to start? Taught by local experts, this workshop will take you from beginning your garden s transition, to designing your garden, caring for your native plants, and inviting nature into your yard. You ll be inspired by a show of native plants of the Sacramento region and guided walks with a naturalist. Brought to you by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of California Native Plant Society. Chair: Chris Lewis Committee: Betsy Weiland, Kelly Cohen, Jennifer Hogan, Alison Shilling and Joan Kodani. Workshop Agenda -Beginning your transition How to Tear Out a Lawn, Area Preparation Dave Roberts, landscape designer and founder of Ecolandscape - Design Principles, Simplify Your Life with Good Planning Paul Weller, PLA, ISA, LEED AP, senior landscape architect, arborist - Show of Native Plants of the Sacramento Region Chris Lewis, Founder and Director of Elderberry Farms Native Plant Nursery; - LUNCH (organic, catered, casual) Participants are invited on a 30 minute Walk with a Naturalist. Kelly Cohen biologist, and Jennifer Hogan, biologist, CNPS Kids & Community Garden chair - Care & Maintenance of Native Plants and Pruning demonstration Alison Shilling, professor (ret.), chapter and state CNPS board member - Bringing Nature Home Julie Serences, Xerces Society Partner in Pollinator Conservation, native plant coordinator for Sacramento Audubon Society 5

Pollination Sensation at Sacramento Old Historic Cemetery It was a successful day at the Old Historic Cemetery for another California Native Plant event. The Native Plant Garden continues to be an attraction to newcomers and is well-maintained by Cassandra Musto and several volunteers to weed, thin out and propagate. The club finances increased with $69 dollars from bee house sales, $91 from the rummage sale and $20 in seed sales. Everyone also enjoyed a presentation by Julie Serences, Xerces Society Partner in Pollinator Conservation, native plant coordinator for Sacramento Audubon Society. If you haven t been out to tour Sacramento Old Historic Cemetery, when the weather cools, please make this a priority on your to-do list. There are several Clubs that maintain gardens at the cemetery. Love the bees SGAAC FALL SALE The Annual Fall Sale does not move forward without volunteers to pull it all together. Please call MJ Kelly at 929-3541 to sign up to help with various tasks at the sale. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Kitty Gerwig is assigning door monitor duties, she can be reached at 877-0912. Scenes from the Fall Sale 2011 - Let s do it again

Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society GOLDEN TORCH (LARRY ROEDENBECK) I bought my home in Auburn about 15 years ago. On the property were two established Cereus plants. As the years went by, the roots grew under the lawn and were often over watered and stalks would fall off. I was worried about losing the old plants. I became familiar with the propagation process for the plants (thanks to Norm Klein for his advice) and things went very well. Since then, I have planted 8 plants in a community garden, given a lot away to friends and acquaintances that recognize their beauty. Cereus (Echinopsis spachiana) produces a flower which creates a fragrant flower that lasts just two days each year, usually around the Summer Solstice. This year s bloom was crazy there had to be over 75 blossoms! (Auburn Journal) SGAAC CLEAN UP MORNING Saturday August 11, 2012 In case you forgot, cleaning day at the Center was last Saturday, August 11th. Thanks to the effort of nine volunteers, five Board Members and four members from various clubs, all tables were scrubbed and repaired over a 3 1/2 hour period. I hope the turnout for cleaning day will improve next year. I understand we are all busy with out respective club activities and there are a few individuals who feel, by paying their club dues, their responsibility and commitment ends there. How unfortunate is that kind of thinking? If each club would send one volunteer for one hour, everything could have been accomplished in less than 2 hours. Teamwork doesn t end when club dues are paid. 7

Gardening with Nature in Mind Naturalizing the Urban Fabric Habitat in Our Backyards by Julie Serences, CNPS. When you look out at your garden, what do you see? Perhaps you see all those carefully chosen, healthy plants that have finally reached the just the right height for the colors/textures to really sing with each other. As a gardener, with generations of gardening in my blood, I love that moment of harmony knowing full well the moment is fleeting and relishing the work to be done next. A garden lives and breathes as a whole and I am grateful to be a part of that process, but I would like you to consider the next level of gardening experience. If you look closer at your garden - you just might see a fuzzy blur of activity or hear the sounds of what E.O. Wilson calls the little things who run the world. Other folks call them insects. Most gardeners when they hear the word insect they run for the spray bottle - death to all that mar or threaten my plants. About 5 years ago after reading Doug Tallamay s Bring Nature Home, I looked at my garden and saw these critters with new eyes. It was winter and not much happening in the garden. I had just learned from Tallamy that the insects I share my yard with were in various stages of their life cycles right beneath my feet and in the dead branch I had forgotten to trim or a pile of leaf and stem litter that had not been picked up in the fall clean up. The yard was literally teeming with life even if the plants were not at their best. I also learned that the birds I so dearly love to watch in spring raising their broods depend on insects for the high quality protein to get their young up and out of the nest. It was a thrilling moment and I felt a shift from gardener to Conservation Manager of the Wildlife in my yard. It became my job to make sure that all life was welcome, cared for and protected in my domain. Observing what s at work in the garden, I discovered solitary native bees - no not European Honey Bees, which are under great stresses these days, but the solitary bees from the large valley carpenter bees to the smallest sweat bees that you can barely see. I learned about their life cycles and nesting habitat (70% nest in the ground, 30% in tunnels). Once you start looking for them they are everywhere. I estimate that with bee attractive plants an urban garden in our area may have at least 8-10 different species of these unsung pollinators. The Urban Bee Garden at UC Berkeley is a great place to start looking for information about native bees and plants that attract them. Elderberry Farm Native Plant Nursery is another good resource. With little work on your part, your garden can be a place of rich biodiversity. The bonus in looking and gardening for the little things is that it makes weeding much more interesting! Julie Serences is an educator with over 25 years of experience teaching about the natural world to folks - pre-school to adults. She is gives presentations for the Xerces Society, California Native Plant Society Sacramento Valley Chapter, and Sacramento Audubon Society. For information about presentations on Native Bees in Our Gardens, Building Backyard Habitat, Smart Plant Choices Why biodiversity is so important. Please contact: Julie Serences jpserences@gmail.com Bees are not optional 8

REMINDERS The CHAT Newsletter is sent out every two months: January, March, May, July, Sept, Nov via e-mail. The deadline for submitting articles is the 20th of the month prior to the next issue. Please be assured, names and e addresses are never given out to any other requesting party. Due to the Labor Day Holiday, the next SGAAC Board Meeting will be on Monday, September 10th at 7pm. A follow up meeting for the Fall Festival will be at 6:30pm. Have a safe holiday.