BAY NEWS

Newsletter of the American Gesneriad Society of San Francisco

Volume 27, No. 6, June 2005

 

 
Next Meeting: Sunday, June 19, 2005

Program: Slide Show

 

 

 

The Prez Sez...

by Katherine Henwood

 

It seems impossible that it is June already!  The June exhibit and sale are over, we had nice display, a good number of visitors, and cleared $477.39. There was not the number of plants as in previous years, but some of our members are growing for the AGGS Convention in Portland next month. I hope as many of you as can will attend.  The National convention is an exciting affair.  You get to meet people who are experts and are willing to share their knowledge, not to mention the plant sale and the show.  Lots of interesting plants to see!

 

I have been transplanting cuttings and seedlings for our August sale....I hope you are, too.  Even if you only have a dozen plants for the sale it helps.  I also hope that you have made cuttings of your prospective show plants.  People see the show plants, then come looking for them in the sales room

 

Our next meeting is June 19, I hope to see you all there!

 

 

Field Trip to UC Botanical Garden

by David Waugh

 

The University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley, California is located about 1 mile above the Football Stadium and Greek Theater on the UC Berkeley campus, in Strawberry Canyon.  Five of us arrived at about the same time, 1pm, at the parking lot where we negotiated with the automated parking fee machine (it was very slow) so as not to be fined for parking without a ticket.  

 

The main entrance is being remodeled and will be beautiful when completed.   In our case, after paying the entrance fee, we weaved through side paths and reached the main entrance and the shop where many interesting plants were for sale.   Here we joined others with a docent who led us to the various sections of the garden, African, California native, Australasian, garden of old roses, the Arid House devoted to cacti and succulents, herb garden, to name a few.   There were lots of hills and valleys to explore and we were blessed with coolish weather in an area quite warm when the sun shines.

 

You might enjoy going to http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu  where you will find visitor information and some very nice pictures of the various collections.  

 

 

San Mateo County Fair August 12-21, 2005

by Gene Sussli

 

The San Mateo County Fair entry registration deadline is Monday, July 11, 2005. Division 308 is for entries of the Gesneriads family. As promised, there are now 8 classes for Gesneriads. The first 3 classes are reserved for AV's and the remaining 5 classes are for the other gessies. Each exhibitor is allowed TWO (2) entries in each class, but they must be of different species or varieties.

 

There will be an additional class in Division 309 for a Gesneriad Collection.  A collection is defined as ANY 3 species or varieties, properly labeled, in separate containers not over 8" in size. There is a nominal entry fee of $1.00 per entry, but limited to a maximum of $20.00 per exhibitor in all Floral Arts divisions. 

 

Last year I personally entered about 45 plants and paid the maximum entry fee of $20 for my Floral Arts entries.  At the conclusion of the Fair I had won 14 First placings, the Best in Division for Gesneriads and also earned the most points in the Floral Arts Sweepstakes.  I walked home with a total cash award of over $300.

 

In the past (and I have not heard anything to the contrary for this year), the Fair also handed out 2 complimentary entry tickets to attend the Fair (good any day, any time), as well as a parking pass to each exhibitor at the time the entries were brought in.  This package is worth $26.  Good fun and entertainment is to be had at the Fair, not to mention the fact that you can personally check out the placings and winners of your own entries. 

 

I am prepared to water, maintain and groom any entry of any and all of our members for the duration of the Fair.  Please don't forget to make 2 COPIES of your completed entry form(s) before you mail them in.  Keep one copy yourself so you know what classes you entered and give the second copy to me so I know what I have to maintain. I can also advise anyone on how to make generic entries on the entry form, to allow you to substitute another plant for the one you intended to bring, if another plant has more flowers or is just a "showier" specimen. Any other questions?  Check out http://www.sanmateocountyfair.com or call me at 650/349-1388 or send an email to: sussli@netscape.com.

 

Note: This is a shortened version of Gene’s article. To see the full text, click here.

 

June Display and Sale 2005

by David Waugh

 

Three of us arrived at the San Francisco Fair Building before the gate was opened at 8am.  We found the tables all arranged appropriately, and some of the items from our locker, along with our advertising sandwich boards, had been placed to the room. Soon after, others arrived and we covered the tables and the area where our display plants later were arranged.   We then arranged the sale plants in alphabetical (almost) order, making sure all plants had a label and a price tag.   We were ready to open by 10am.

 

As usual, we had a flood of people at the beginning.   We surely had overflow from the Strybing Nursery sale, the African Violet Sale, and the Sunset Artists show and sale in the gallery.

 

Dale Loughins surprised all of us by bringing in a beautiful new 24 inch domed heavy acrylic terrarium for a raffle. He also brought three globe shaped glass planters as the second prize raffle.   We sold tickets at $1 each, 6 for $5, and 10  for $9.  At 3:30 PM we shook the tickets and the winners were:

 

·        Franklin Gong for the terrarium (he had bought 5 tickets)

·        member Anna Chou. For the glass planters

 

We tried to call Franklin but got his answering service.  He later called David Waugh on Monday and the terrarium was delivered to him.   He coincidentally lives close to David.  Anna was just leaving the African Violet show and returned to retrieve the planters.

 

2005 Officers

President:  Katherine Henwood

Vice President:  Terri Lynn Campbell

Secretary:  David Waugh

Treasurer:  Irene Fey (please request Irene’s address from Lorah Gross)

Newsletter Editor: Lorah Gross lorah@lorah.net

 

Meetings: Usually third Sunday of each month, 1-4 p.m. at Library of County Fair Bldg., Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  (Enter from parking lot North side of 10th Avenue and Lincoln Blvd., turn right through gate next to building, go to third door) 

 

2005 meetings: April 17, June 19, July 17 (Board meeting before regular meeting), August 21, September 18, November 20, December 18 Holiday Luncheon.

 

Shows, Sales, and Field Trips:

May TBA Field Trip, June 4 Exhibit and Plant Sale, July 5-10 AGGS Convention (Portland, OR), October TBA Field Trip

 

Dues: $10 single, $11 family. Make checks payable to AGS SF, mail to Treasurer.

 

Website: http://www.agssf.org