GCA Lily Sale and Speaker
On Saturday, October 16, 2010 the GCA is bringing its members the opportunity to plant the freshest bulbs possible with a lily bulb sale.The GCA has scheduled a program, “True Lilies — Queen of the Gardens,” by Wanda Lunn, an accredited lily judge with the North American Lily Society and secretary/treasurer of the Iowa Regional Lily Society. Wanda plans to be available for questions during the sale. The program is scheduled for 10 a.m. The sale is scheduled to go until 1 p.m.
The sale will be held at the Kansas City Community Gardens’ office at 6917 Kensington Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64132 located on the southwest side of Swope Park just north of Gregory.
Many gardeners prefer to plant lilies in the fall. Edward Austin MacRae, author of the 1998 Timber Press book “Lilies” and lily hybridizer Jan de Graaff’s famous Oregon Bulb Farms, agrees.
“The lily bulb naturally forms basal or contractile roots following fall planting; these anchor the bulb. Warm soil temperatures are critical for the development of these first roots, so late planting (in spring) in cold soil does not produce the desired root growth,” MacRae wrote.
The cost will be $3.25 per premium-sized Asiatic and Oriental bulb (or three of the same cultivar for $9) and $3.75 for orienpets and species lilies (or three for $10 of the same cultivar). Compare the prices online and you will see these are bargain prices. Each will be carefully packed in bags with peat moss and labeled. Visit the GCA Lily Sale Page to see photos and descriptions on the lily bulbs available and to preorder to make sure you get the best selection. Quantities will be limited to stock on hand the day of the sale.
Open Gardens This Summer
Summer is the time to enjoy the spoils of the garden and what better way to do that than by visiting one of the GCA Open Gardens this year. This is your chance to see what fellow GCA gardeners are doing in their own gardens and maybe find out the secret to their successes and what varieties are doing well for them.
On July 24th you can visit the garden of Laurie Chipman, who was
featured in the May-June issue of the GCA newsletter. Her garden is a
mix of the beautiful and the edible and often times they are one and
the same. You will never look at your garden the same after seeing
vegetables mixed with roses and other ornamentals in pleasing
combinations that could easily grace the cover of your favorite
gardening magazine. See more photos of her garden in the members only section.On August 22nd make sure you make a stop by the garden of Teede Stipich. Her garden is filled with whimsical art pieces including a collection of 12 metal pieces from Haiti. The garden has many refound and recycled pieces that help create a fun respite.
To find out all the details of these GCA Open Gardens head to the members only section of the website to get addresses and direction to the gardens. Remember Open Gardens is only open to GCA members and each GCA member can take one guest with them to the garden.
Enjoy the gardens and remember to thank these wonderful gardeners for opening their gardens to us. If you would like to have your garden featured as an Open Garden you can register online.
August is the Time to Buy Iris
Members of the Greater Kansas City Iris Society will offer
iris divisions of some of their favorite bearded iris varieties, both
new and historic, for sale to the public.Come early for best selection.
The iris sale is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Rd. in Kansas City, Mo.
Mention that you saw this notice on the GCA website and get a free median iris.
For more information, call (913) 406-2709. Visit kciris.org or irises.org for more information about the Greater Kansas City Iris Society and the American Iris Society.
Catch Some Shade and a Program from the Hosta Society
Heartland Hosta and Shade Plant Society has planned its fall meeting for Saturday, September 11, 2010.
The society has invited Bob Solberg, hosta hybridizer from Green Hill
Farm, Chapel Hill, N.C., to be guest speaker. Bob is an active member
of the American Hosta Society, having served as newsletter editor for
the Hosta Journal and vice president for the genus Hosta. He helped
found and is executive secretary of the American Hosta Growers
Association, a trade organization for nurseries specializing in growing
and selling hostas.The program is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. with hospitality at 9:30 a.m. It is scheduled to take place at Faith Lutheran Church, 4805 W. 67th St. (67th Street and Roe), Prairie Village, Kansas
The speaker plans to bring plants to sell.
For info call Penny Balfour (913) 722-4925.
Contribute to the GCA Newsletter
Submit your idea's, articles tips and recipies to Judy Aull, GCA board member via email at daull@kc.rr.com.
