As most dogs will tell you, you simply are divine when you have rolled in something stinky.  It is a good camouflage for when you need to stalk in the grasses or woods, and it is just fun to smell different.  Sometimes I even go so far as to put leaves in my long hair and pollen on my cheeks.  This is smart thinking when you're a dog.

But, it may not be good long term thinking when you are a dog who lives inside a house with people.  I've heard their sense of smell is not as refined as mine so they must not be able to discern the beauty of my odorous choices.  That's the only reasoning I can come up with for why they hoisted me into the bathtub so quickly the other day.  I had just rolled in something stinky.

Of course, to get the really good stinky stuff, and I use their word stinky, not mine, I had to traipse around the fields through tall grasses.  That's the best way to nab an unwitting groundhog.  Never did catch one, but I dug and dug enough to get about half my seventy pound body into the hole.  When I finally returned, not only had I camouflaged with dirt and smelly things, but I also was carrying several pounds of orchard grass seed in my fur.

Not that it bothered me, mind you.  This is also perfectly fine and the natural way to distribute seeds around the country side, a lot like fabled Johnny Appleseed did.  My people, however, discovered this delivery service I was providing to the seeds and then had a dilemma.  They were in the process of bathing me while simultaneously giving these seeds with just what they needed to sprout, water.  With my long hair, now dripping wet, I was their very own living chia pet.  Luchia, they called me.

I don't need to belabor the next steps that happened, but suffice it to say that I don't think having little bitty grass seeds flicked from your head and body is a lot of fun.  I do, however, plan to go back to the scene of the crime and have another go at that groundhog.  It's worth the bath, even if it isn't part of my list of the best things to do on a farm.

The Official Melrose Chia Pet

"Winnie"
July 28, 1998

RAPPAHANOCK GARDEN CLUB
NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 1999

Meeting The December meeting will be held on Thursday, December 9, 1999.   Note the change of location:   the meeting will be at Lovey Fridenstine’s home at 374 Marigold Lane, Weems.  Hostesses will be Barbara Robertson, Barbara Simmons, Betty Wachter, Joan Robinson, Kay Somers, and Beth Williams.  Judges are:  Loya Wheatley, instructor and Claudia Holmes, Pat Murray, and Jean Nielsen as novices.  This will be our last meeting for the year.  The next meeting will be in March, 2000.

November Meeting Synopsis
President Bennett Introduced a program known as the “Blue Star Memorials” in which state graden clubs erect signs in tribute to service men and women along dedicated areas of highways and byways, with appropriate landscaping.  She suggested this as a future project for our club.

Maxine Wilson asked those entering horticulture exhibits to be careful about trimming dead leaves etc. as those items are part of the exhibit and will be judged.  She congratulated Mary Loftus and Jacquie Colligan for their design entries and recommended holding workshops  to learn how to make designs for entry.

Ann Messick reported that plans are in the works for a birding trail across Virginia, including wildflower areas, butterfly gardens and B&B’s for tourists to stay in along the way.

It was announced that the club will send its own new camper this year to Nature Camp.  See Janet Cioppa to propose candidates.  She will work with the schools in the selection.

Ann Messick followed the business meeting with a beautiful and informative slide presentation and talk on her birding trip to Australia, New Zealand and environs.

Many thanks to Carol Kirby for the above notes on the November meeting.

 
Membership

Guests at the November meeting were Ann Warner (Claudia Holmes), Liz Hargett (Ann Messick), Carol Shear and Mary Hoerneman (Carolyn Fugere).  Carol Rogers was proposed for membership by Sallie Rankin.

Barbara Touchette has been down and out for awhile with a back problem.  We hope she recovers soon.
 

November Chores

Cleaning and raking – needed to avoid slippery pavement and clogging of drains and gutters.  Matted leaves promote fungal disease and other problems in plant beds.  If leaves are small or finely chopped they can be used as mulch or added to the compost pile.

Trees and shrubs can continue to be planted.  Do not prune trees and shrubs in the fall as this will delay winter dormancy and make the plant more prone to frost damage.   Do pruning in late winter.

Evergreens are best pruned in early summer after the spring growth occurs.

Perennials can be planted in December.  Make sure they are mulched to prevent frost heaving.  After frost clean out dead stems of herbaceous perennials.  Trim old foliage of evergreen perennials (lamb’s ear, yarrow, lavender, hellebores, ferns, santolina etc.) in late winter.

Pansies – plant in enriched beds.  The will survive the winter and spring back in early March to put on a nice show for months.

Roses should be trimmed of broken or diseased stems.  Pick up all dropped leaves.  Do major pruning in late winter.

Holiday decorations – use evergreen, berries, vines, ground covers, pinecones, seed pods.  Magnolia leaves and aucuba make lovely decorations. Spray with antidesiccant to retard moisture.  Add dried herbs, spices, forced bulbs, flowering houseplants.

Prune Wisteria to promote flowering for the coming season.

Remember to water plants that are under roof overhangs or porch roofs whenever the winter weather is above 40 degrees.

Indoor plants – Reduce watering of Christmas cactus to prolong the blooming period.  Keep in sun at a temperature of 70 degrees.  Keep soil uniformly moist.  Poinsettias should be placed near a sunny window, away from cold drafts and in a temperature of 70 – 75 degrees.  Keep soil uniformly moist.

Significance of Christmas Plants*

The word “mistletoe” means “all heal”.  It has been used to protect against evil fits, witches, apoplexy, tremors, and consumption.  Modern scientists find it may be valuable in treating high blood pressure, diseases of the circulatory system and even cancer.

The fir tree has been worshipped in some cultures as the “Tree of Life”.  In the Harz Mountains of Germany, young girls danced and sang songs around a fir they had decorated with lighted candles, flowers and eggs.  The girls’ dance imprisoned an imp in the fir.  If he could not escape, he was forced to give presents to the girls.  This imp may have been the ancestor of our Santa Claus.

Juniper has been called the “tree of sanctuary” as a result of the legend that it once sheltered the Holy Family as they fled from Herod.  In old Europe, juniper greens were hung above doors to keep witches out, who were bound by the devil’s law to count all juniper needles before entering a home.

Holly was used by Druids to celebrate the winter solstice.  Maidens placed holly sprigs at their bedsides to protect against witches, goblins, and devils.

*From  The Virginia Gardener Newsletter, Vol. 11, No. 12, Dec. 1992.

The Herbal

Bay –  The essential oils in bay combine the scents of camphor, citrus and vanilla in a complex bouquet that is delicate and pungent.  It is particularly good with tomatoes and lemons.  It is used for soups, stews, roasts, stuffings, preserves and many other dishes.  Fresh leaves are added toward the end of cooking.  Fresh leaves can be bruised and crushed to release the oils.  When bay leaves are dry, the oils are more readily available.  Add dry leaves at the beginning of cooking.  Bay is a Mediterranean evergreen and is not happy in our winters.  But you can grow it in a pot outdoors in the summer, indoors in the winter.  It can be grown into a topiary which makes a lovely interior decoration in winter and can centeran herb garden in summer.  Bay needs a lot of sun.  Do not let the soil dry out, but do not overwater either.

Calendar

December 4, 1999 – Northumberland County Christmas house tour, 10am to 4pm in the Lottsburg area.  Included are the Claughton-Wright house, Cowart’s Mt. Zion, Halcyon and Loon’s Cove.  Tickets are $20.  A luncheon will be available for $6 at the Melrose United Methodist Church.  For tickets, maps or information, call 580-2660 or 529-6124.

December 4, 1999, 10am to 7pm – 40th Annual Christmas Homes Tour in Williamsburg. Visit 6 homes in restored area.  Contact Marcia Partch (757-564-8564).

December 11, 1999, 10am to 4pm and December 19, 1 to 5pm – House tours at “Christmas on Cockrell’s Creek”, Reedville.
 
February 22-24, 2000 – Landscape Design School (Course IV, Series 18) will be held in Charlottesville. The course may be taken for credit and can count toward Master Gardener’s education hours.  One scholarship will be awarded to each district.  To apply write a letter of request to:  Ms. Ruth Moss, 1925 Stonehenge Dr., Richmond, VA 23225-2130.

March 9-12, 2000 – Philadelphia Flower Show.
 

Editor – Mary Ann Young
Please send items for the newsletter by the 20th of the month.  Send by mail to:  1760 Sandy Point Road, Heathsville, VA 22473; telephone 580-3503; or ema