Newsletter of the Monterey Bay Iris Society

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1 Newsletter of the Monterey Bay Iris Society January, 2019 Next meeting Friday 18, 2019Doors open 7:00 p.m. Meeting 7:30 p.m. Place Simpkins Swim Center th Avenue, Santa Cruz Singing for Joy at this year s Chritmas Party From The Prez T he New Year is now upon us and I hope that everyone is gearing up for a very busy year. The American Iris Society National Convention is almost here. This is going to require a little bit of extra effort in that we are going to need volunteers to work at the two gardens that will be included in the event. We are fortunate to have many of the new and future iris on display. This is a rare opportunity to attend a convention and not have it halfway across the country. Shirley Trio is moving this huge event forward. Thank You Shirley. Our Christmas party was well attended and Kathy Hartman was once again the major force behind the venue. Food was good, the company better, and Karin and I had a great time. I will note that Karin ended up with a birdhouse and I with a bird feeder from the gift exchange. Bird related gifts seemed the theme of the night and I can only shudder thinking about next years exchange. It seemed that every birdhouse was stolen twice and the handmade ones the pick of the litter. Hope to see you all at the meeting where birdhouses are part of the program topic! % Craig DUES ARE DUE Single dues are $10 Two or more at the same address, $15. Add $10 if you want the newsletter by mail. Please pay at the meeting or send to our treasurer, Larissa Daniel, 520 San Miguel Rd., Watsonville CA. Phone: Calendar Monthly meetings are held in Simpkins Swim Center unless otherwise stated. Regular Meeting Friday, January :30 p.m. Program Birdhouses & gardening with birds Jane Mio Refreshments Shirley & Riley Chili Feed Regular Meeting Friday, February :30 p.m. Program TBA Refreshments Potluck, meat and cake provided, members bring sides Regular Meeting Friday, March :30 p.m. Program TBA Refreshments Brenda & Larissa, St. Patrick s Feast January Birthdays Rosa Radicchi Jan 1 Barbara Hanson Jan 3 Larissa Daniel Jan 8 Irene Cummins Jan 10 Jack Scanlon Jan 13 Mikey Lango Jan 17 Wayne Craft Jan 18 Kathy Hartman Jan 20 Jeff Helms Jan 30

2 CULTURE TIPS B etween mid-december to early February we are in the foreplay period of iris, and many other plants, when they are in a dormant stage (or at least as dormant as they ever get around here). At this time you should get rid of weeds and dried/diseased foliage cleaned out before the new growth begins in early February. As the new growth gets underway the MOST important chore is to FERTILIZE! This time is when the plants are beginning their rapid growth, developing bloom points and need all the energy they can get for maximum performance when they begin blooming. For untold number of years we use a balanced fertilizer such as , triple 12, whichever and whatever brand is the cheapest. The balanced fertilizer will give the irises the boost they need. If possible apply prior to rain coming. The rain will get it into the soil. We use a big handful per clump. Then scratch it into the soil. Even if it doesn t rain, at this time of the year, the soil is wet enough to begin breaking down. But if you soil is dry or very sandy you should water it in. We have been having a series of wind/wet storms lately. It makes it difficult to get into beds without sinking in and compacting the soil. It is best to wait until the soil dries out enough so these problems are kept to a minimum. Heavy deluges of rainfall often erode the beds. It is wise to at least re-cover the exposed rhizomes. We end up having to repeat this chore many times in these storms that having been hitting us lately. Our rainy season didn t start until late this year. Thus, the weed germination started later as well. They are not as big as they normally are at this time of the year. Advantage to us it means they will be a bit later in getting to their seeding stage. This means you will have a bit more time to tidy up the garden. Noticed my biggest weed problem are showing up in abundance. They are pearlwart and mossy pygmy weed. They are mossy looking plants but surprisingly the former is a member of the carnation family and the latter the same family as the jade plant. As an aside the biggest summer weed problem is spotted spurge. It starts germinating in March so get it out as soon as you see it because it can produce viable seed in as little as four weeks. A word of warning: Don t get attracted to a new plant that shows up in your garden because you find it cute or even pretty. It is a WEED and will spread like one...rapidly! A few year s ago for the first a cute little plant showed up at the ranch. Seemed innocent enough. It is small and even spinach like with pretty little bright violet flowers. I still don t know its name, but it showing up just about everywhere in the ranch plantings. A supposed tame plant, sweet alyssum, also can rapidly overwhelm your garden. The yellow oxalis, a native of South Africa, was imported to San Diego area, as a potential garden plant. And look bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzza Board of Directors 2016 President Craig Tarr cht2325@yahoo.com Past President/Vice President Barbara Hanson barbara@barbaraltc.com Treasurer Larrissa Daniel Larissadaniel@sbcglobal.net Secretary Brenda Wood woodbrenda@aol.com Jim Cummins jcummins@pacbell.net Show Chair Charley Kearns kcf@verizon.net Newsletter Joe Ghio ghiobayview@att.net Ann Pike avpike@cruzio.com Year Board 2 Year Board Jo Chisholm Sherry Austin Karin Tarr Wayne Crabbs Kathy Wood Linda Lomperis Contacts Hospitality & Refreshments Shirley Trio shirleyjtrio@gmail.com Birthday List Wayne Crabbs wayne@lomaprieta.us bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzza what happened to it. It is now a major winter weed. Sherry Austin warned me about a new plant she spotted at the ranch. She said get it out now! It grows about 10 inches or so tall. It is apparently called Stinkweed, but not being much of smeller, I couldn t smell anything. A more appropriate would be Stickyweed it leaves your hands very sticky when you pull it out. %Joe Reminder January with its cold fog and wind is just the right time for of a bowl of chili. There will be turkey chili and regular chili not too hot with chili powder. Bring side dishes to add spice and variety to round everything out. We can then settle down and enjoy a presention on living and gardening with birds. Jane Mio will give a presentation about birds and birdhouses, a topic related to all that went home from the December party with a bird related item. Internet Postings Most growers have a website and/or web postings of their listings and introductions. Google their names or business names to be directed to their sites. 2 Bay News, January, 2019

Re-Bloomers Bring your blooms to share! First drawing goes to those who have brought blooms. Rebloomer drawing starts in August and goes until February. Events for 2019.

3 Re-Bloomers Bring your blooms to share! First drawing goes to those who have brought blooms. Rebloomer drawing starts in August and goes until February. Events for Regular meetings are on the third Friday of the month. Date....Event Activity....Location....Time January Meeting Birds & Birdhouses, Jane Mio....Simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. February 15...Meeting Panel of Iris Experts....Simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. March Meeting to be announced....simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. April 19...Meeting Mini-show...Simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. April AIS National Convention....SanRamonMarriott.... May 3....Iris Show Set-up...Louden Nelson....7:00 p.m. May 4....Iris Show Iris Promotion....Louden Nelson :00 p.m. May 5....Iris Show Iris Promotion...Louden Nelson.... noon 6:00 p.m. May 17...Meeting Show Wrap/Pizza...Simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. June 21...Meeting to be announced....simpkins Swim Center....7:30p.m. July 20...Summer Picnic More Irises....Harvey West...11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. August 1....Iris Dig for Sale Prepare for Sale....Joe s Ranch...9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. August 3....Iris Sale Fund-raiser...Deer Park... 9:00 a.m. noon. August 10...Iris Sale Fund-raiser...Cabrillo Mkt....8:00 a.m.noon August 16...Iris Sale Fund-raiser...MPC Farmers Mkt.. 9:30 a.m.noon August 16...Meeting to be announced....simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. September Meeting Beardless Iris....Simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. October 18...Meeting Pacific Coast Iris....Simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. November Meeting to be announced....simpkins Swim Center....7:30 p.m. December Holiday Party Celebration....California Grill?... 6:00 p.m. Bay News, January,

4 Gift Exchange There was the give and take of birdhouse and a variety of other iris and not iris odd and interesting things. Elena probably got the prize for opening the most birdhouses without keeping one. 4 Bay News, January, 2019

5 Bay News, January,

6 thanks to Frank and Rosa Joy! And thanks to Brenda to Sherry to Tom to Ann to Wayne 6 Bay News, January, 2019

And a big thumbs up to Craig! DOOR PRIZES IRISES 1. BUTTERLICIOUS, Schreiners, Apricot; with starburst on F. 2. CLEAR CONSCIENCE, Ghio, Lush white-pink; deeper S. 3. ELITE, T. Johnson, S.

7 And a big thumbs up to Craig! DOOR PRIZES IRISES 1. BUTTERLICIOUS, Schreiners, Apricot; with starburst on F. 2. CLEAR CONSCIENCE, Ghio, Lush white-pink; deeper S. 3. ELITE, T. Johnson, S. buffed pink; F. rosy orchid, deeper shoulders 4. FRUIT BURST, Sutton, S. light yellow; F. violet purple, lighter edge 5. HOT OFF THE PRESS, Black, Bright yellow gold self 6. ICE CREAM SUNDAE, Tasco, S. muted pink; F. blue white, pink edge; blue beards 7. JUST THE TICKET, Schreiners, S. white; F. lush violet, lighter edge 8. KISS ME SOFTLY, L. Painter, S. pink; F. white, violet band 9. LEMON COVE, Mego, Yellow; white blaze; ruffled 10. LET EVENING COME, Schreiners, S. oyster; muted lemon F. 11. NEW IMAGE, Nicodemus, S. coral; F. white coral band 12. OLIVE WINDOWS, Blyth, 15, S. off blue; F. olive-yellow 13. ONE FOR LATER, Blyth, 15, S. light pink; F. white 14. PRAIRIE SPLENDOR, J. Painter, S. Rich mahogany; F. same, tan edge, violet sun blaze 15. SCHOOLBOY HEART, Schreiners, Light coral pink 16. SECRET DELIGHT, Tasco, S. pink; F. aster mauve 17. SEÑOR JINX, Schreiners, Black, near white beards 18. SHADOWED LIGHT, Keppel, S. Light yellow; F. greenish yellow, veined darker 19. SIZZLIN HOT, T. Johnson, S. yellow; F. burgundy; small yellow band 20. SKY RULER, Sutton, 17, White, violet rim around F. 21. SPRING CELEBRATION, Sutton, 17, S. yellow; F. ruby red; yellow starburst 22. SPRING ELEGANCE, Tasco, Dark violet; brownish beard 23. TAGLINE, Ghio, BB, S. yellow; F. white, mulberry rim 24. TROPICAL MOOD, Sutton, 17, S. orange; F. red-purple; orange starburst Bay News, January,

TALL BEARDED IRIS. Cultural notes are supplied with all plants purchased. ALL PLANTS SUPPLIED BARE-ROOTED

TALL BEARDED IRIS. Cultural notes are supplied with all plants purchased. ALL PLANTS SUPPLIED BARE-ROOTED KINSpirit IRIS & Daylily Farm PHOTO CATALOGUE Website: kinspirit.com.au KINSPIRIT Email: lyz@kinspirit.com.au 4402 THE BUCKETT'S WAY Phone: (02) 6559 1275 KRAMBACH NSW 2429 Open ONLY by appointment TALL