BAY NEWS
Newsletter of the San Francisco Gesneriad Society
Volume 30, No. 2, February 2008
Next Meeting: Sunday, February 17, 2008
Program: Lesser Known Gesneriads and How to Grow Them
The Prez Sez...
by Jon Dixon
Its February already, wow. Time sure flies when you're having fun....... or not. Winter is already starting to give way to our version of Spring, and not a minute too soon! I see trees starting to flower, if not yet leafing out. Today was the first warm day in about six weeks or two months.
Somehow it just seemed normal. My cuttings and leaves under lights are taking their time, as they usually do during winter. I think it is the cool temperatures I keep the house at, that slows them down. Otherwise, being under lights, how would they know its winter? Outside, the hardy gesneriads are still laying low. Some of the nematanthus are flowering, as they like to do whenever the humidity is high. They are mountain plants so are perfectly happy as long as it doesn't drop below 32 degrees.
As Spring approaches, so does our annual plant sale, and then later on, our show and sale. It is not too early to start propagating for our sale. I urge everyone to start something, whether it be cuttings seeds or leaves. Petrocosmea leaves will not be ready for sale by May but should be saleable by show time later on. I always say, start your petrocosmea leaves now, for next year. Or if you are like me, for the year after that. They sure are productive, if not fast. My chirita leaf cuttings from last summer are now showing good markings on the young plants. I hope to have many more soon. My seedlings are starting to crowd their pots. Unfortunately I've been really busy job hunting and getting my life in order. But, I have space on my light stands; so, first chance I get I'll be moving those seedlings alone.
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REMINDER! 2008 dues are due. If you haven't remitted please send your dues to: Gene Sussli, 1734 Wolfe Drive, San Mateo, CA 94402-2621 |
February Program
by Terri Campbell
Our program will be "Lesser Known Gesneriads and How to Grow Them." We will look at live plants and photos and hear how to grow some of the lesser known, yet obtainable and desirable, jewels in the family. Consider adding one of these gems to your collection for novelty and variety, and to expand your growing skills! (Also, if you enter one in a show, you probably won't be competing against twenty others.)
2008 Yearbook
By David Waugh
The 2008 Yearbook with the programs for 2008 and the by-laws will be distributed at
the February meeting. Those who are unable to attend will receive theirs by mail.
Lunar New Year Flower Market, Saturday, February 2
By Terri Campbell
Inclement weather did not keep an enthusiastic crowd of plant lovers away from the Lunar New Year Flower Market put on by Strybing Arboretum. Chapter members Jon Dixon, David Waugh, Gene Sussli, Kevin Daly, and Terri Campbell were on site all day working the event. Anna Chou was assigned to the African Violet Society table next to us, but she visited us frequently to talk plants. Anna’s husband Bing and son Chris were working at separate booths elsewhere in the room. We all admired Chris’ paintings at the table on the other side of us.
The SFGS members were pleased at the number of interested spectators who bought plants or wanted to discuss plant care. We collected quite a few names for our mailing list, and we invited people to attend a chapter meeting. We collected $128 gross in plant sales. Jon, who sold his own plants at the sale, is donating $50 to the club, bringing our total to $178.
This event could be even better for us next year, if we plan in advance to attend. We could grow some larger sale plants such as nematanthus, streps, and kohlerias, which could have flowers on them at this time of year, and make more money in plant sales. This year, we did manage to sell a number of non-blooming plants, since Gene and Jon had brought some display plants in flower which we could use as examples. We also used Harriette’s educational display board on the table, and we found it very helpful when talking to interested growers. The event seemed to be patronized by people who were actually interested in plants and willing to take some home (unlike some events we have tried in the past). All in all, a very encouraging response for our Saturday in the park.
The Flower Market also featured entertainment (two teams of lion dancers with their drummers), some impressive bonsai trees, an origami booth (fold your own lucky rat), camellias, miniature citrus trees in pots, epiphyllums, cymbidiums, artwork, refreshments including delicious pork buns, and a raffle. It was a pleasant family/general audience event.
Show and Tell and Raffle Table
Transcribed by Terri Campbell
We had a varied selection of show and tell plants. Teh-Shan Lee showed episcia 'Ronny.' David Waugh brought sinningia insularis. Gene Sussli had a collection of show and tell plants including streptocarpella 'Boysenberry Delight,' streptocarpella 'Good Hope,' kohleria 'Jester,' kohleria 'Ming,' corytoplectus congestus, and streptocarpus 'Maasen's White." Anna Chou showed saintpaulia 'Madeline's Love,' saintpaulia trailer "Boolaroo,' and saintpaulia 'Arctic Fox.' Harriette Poss showed an unnamed streptocarpus hybrid. Terri Campbell showed neomortonia nummularia, henckelia malayana, and tricantha dodsonii. Jon Dixon showed a collection of plants, but unfortunately we do not have his list.
The raffle table was full of contributions, including episcia 'Ruby Red Dress,' codonanthe 'Frances Batchelor,' and aeschynanthus 'Holiday Bells' from Harriette; Katherine Henwood's sansevierias, including trifasciata cultivar 'Hannii'; Terri's nematanthus 'Green Magic,' nematanthus 'Black Magic,' and columnea 'Red Skelton'; several aeonium cuttings from David; and Gene's streptocarpella 'Good Hope,' streptocarpella cuttings, and corytoplectus congestus. Jon Dixon also contributed plants to the raffle.
Minutes of San Francisco Gesneriad Society
January 20, 2008 Meeting
by David Waugh
The January meeting was called to order by President Katherine Henwood at 1:02pm. The following were also present: David Waugh, Jon Dixon, Anna Chou, Gene Sussli, Terri Campbell, Harriette Poss, Kevin Daly, Teh-Shan Lee, Tommy Liu, Larry Williams.
Outgoing President Katherine Henwood handed the gavel over to incoming President Jon Dixon. He then confirmed the officers for 2008, being Vice President, Terri Campbell; Treasurer, Gene Sussli; Secretary, David Waugh along with Board members Harriette Poss (1 year term), Anna Chou (1 year term), The-Shan Lee (2 year term), Tomm Liu (2 year term).
Minutes: There were no corrections to the minutes for the November meeting which were in the December newsletter. No minutes were taken at the Holiday Party in December.
Treasurer’s report: Our financial condition is good. If you need a copy of the November/December Treasurer’s report please contact Gene Sussli.
New Business: The club has been invited to participate in Lunar New Year festivities on Saturday February 2 in the Gallery at the County Fair Building. There will be plants and flowers for sale, dancers, acrobats, activities. This is an opportunity for us to take advantage of the public exposure and generate interest in our club and our plants. After discussion it was decided the club would participate in Lunar New Year by handing out our brochures on Gesneriads and about our club, show our educational board and display and sell some of member’s plants.
Members were reminded we will be having our one day plant sale on Saturday, May 31 in the Garden Club Room. The San Francisco African Violet Society will be having a sale in the Recreation Room. There may be other plant clubs having shows/sales on the same day. Now is the time for all of us to start cuttings of plants for this sale.
Our annual Show and Sale will be on September 27-28. Terri Campbell is the show chair and is looking or judges. We will have 2 teams of 2 judges for the show. The Show Schedule must be approved by the Gesneriad Society Shows and Judging Committee two months before our show (July 27). If anyone has ideas for changes/additions to the Show Schedule please contact Terri.
Rental rates at Fair Building. On December 3, 2007 at 7pm in the Fair Building Auditorium there was a meeting to discuss raising the rental rates for the use of the various facilities managed by the Director of the Arboretum and Conservatory. We are concerned most about the rooms we rent for meetings and for our Show and Sale every year. The rates, which have not been changed since 1992, are now expected to be raised in September 2008.
The rent for our meetings will be raised from $20 to $30.
For our one day sale in May the rate will stay at $85 but will increase next year to $105.
For our Show and Sale the Recreation room for our Show will increase from $105 to approximately $240. The Garden Club Room will increase from $190 to approximately $240. Summarizing, our Show and Sale used to cost $295 and will now cost approximately $480
All of this means that, to survive the rent increases, we will have to bring lots of plants and cuttings to our sales to increase our annual revenue.
We then did Show and Tell.
The program was the revised bingo game called Gingo, using gesneriad plant names for the squares. Everyone got a prize.
We then did the raffle. The meeting was adjourned about 3:55pm.
2008 Officers
President: Jon Dixon
Vice President: Terri Lynn Campbell
Secretary: David Waugh
Treasurer: Gene Sussli
Newsletter Editor/Webmaster: Lorah Gross lorah@lorah.net
Brazilplants Support Club San Francisco contact: Terri Campbell
2008 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)
January 20, February 17, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, December 21 Holiday Luncheon at Lakeside Cafe
2008 Shows and Sales:
One day plant sale May 31, Judged Show and Sale September 27, 28
Dues: $10 single, $11 family. Make checks payable to AGS SF, mail to Treasurer.
Website: http://www.sfgesneriads.org