Newsletter of the San Francisco Gesneriad Society
Program: AGGS Convention 2003 Slide Show
The Prez Sez...
by Jon Dixon
March is here and going fast. Spring is showing every sign of staying with us. But, winter keeps reminding us we are in the rainy season. My sinningias are all sprouting their new stems, while the last remaining old stems are falling off on their own. I was surprised to see that my outdoor sinningias under cover of a plastic roof are also resprouting. I guess my winter was mild and under the cover the low temperatures were not quite as low as the rest of the yard. It seems that sinningias sprout sooner if the winter lows are milder, and later if they are colder. There is no sign of new sprouts on my big Sinningia leucotricha on my front porch, where the cold air settles. An interesting item for show and tell are sprouting sinningias, with their perfect young hairy foliage and perhaps a cluster of flower buds. By meeting time, though, I hope to have some sinningias in flower. It is good to see that Bob rejoined, and that MJ Tyler continues to renew. Hopefully we will see her down here for a visit sometime. Welcome new member, Nirmela Arsem.
March Program
by Terri Campbell
There are two changes from our program schedule as printed in the yearbook. Instead of a Gesneriad Society slide program on Achimenes, this month we will have a Gesneriad Society slide program on "Gesneriads: A Capital Affair," the AGGS Convention in 2003 in Sacramento. We will all enjoy seeing highlights from this convention, which was an outstanding one. In June, we will see the program on Achimenes.
Pacific Horticulture Magazine Ad
by David Waugh
Pacific Horticulture is the quarterly magazine of Pacific Horticultural Foundation, supported by California Horticultural Society and other west coast of North America horticulture societies. If you do not belong to any of the supporting organizations you can usually find the latest edition of the magazine at for sale at many nurseries.
In addition to the many fine, in depth articles on plants, gardening, private and public gardens, it has a section devoted to classified advertisements. Our club has had an ad under Societies for a few years now. The updated ad has been underwritten for one additional year by Larry Williams. Thank you Larry!
The ad reads:
SAN FRANCISCO GESNERIAD SOCIETY welcomes visitors at meetings usually 3rd Sunday of the month, 1pm, Garden Club Room, San Francisco Fair Building. 9th Ave/Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Enjoy plant/cutting exchanges, monthly programs, newsletters. Learn about streptocarpus, episcia, sinningia, kohleria, columnea, gloxinia, many others. Visit our parent society web site www.gesneriadsociety.org and our local web site www.sfgesneriads.org Questions? Contact Katherine Henwood 650-359-1719 or fax 650-359-9209.
Show Judges
by Terri Campbell
I will be sending out another couple of global invitations for Gesneriad Society judges. If I don't receive responses, I will proceed to invite judges individually. We need at least four judges for our September show. If any SFGS member wants to suggest the name of a judge who might be interested, now is the time. Please let me have any names you would like to suggest by the day of our meeting on March 16. You are welcome to give them to me personally or e-mail them to harpsvoice@earthlink.net. Thank you!
Capital City African Violet Society Show and Sale April 5-6
By Terri Campbell
Capital City African Violet Society will hold its annual AVSA judged show and sale in Sacramento, California. Theme: "African Violets ~ The People's Choice"
Dates: April 5-6
Hours: Saturday, 2-5; Sunday, 10-4
Sacramento Garden & Arts Center, 3300 McKinley Blvd. Free parking and admission
Lots of gorgeous show plants, hundreds of plants for sale, plus supplies and expert advice!
Contact: Lynn Lombard (530-637-9000) or lynn_lombard@att.net
Show and Tell and Raffle Table
Transcribed by Lorah Gross
Gene Sussli brought Kohleria ‘Jester’ and ‘Ruby’ for show and tell. He donated the following to the raffle table: Kohleria ‘Ming’ cuttings, plantlets, and rhizomes, Kohleria ‘Strawberry Fields’ plantlets and rhizomes, Kohleria ‘Jester’ rhizomes, Nematanthus ‘Mardi Gras’ cuttings, and Achimenes ‘Jennifer Goode’ rhizomes. Jon Dixon brought the following plants for show and tell: Kohleria ‘Peridots Kitlope’, Nautilocalyx antioquiensis, Saintpaulia ‘Rob’s Lilly Pilly’, Pearcea hypocyrtiflora, Sinningia glazloviana x Leopoldii, Phinea ecuadoreana. He donated Kohleria amabilis to the raffle table. Katherine Henwood brought Chirita Moondancer and Nematanthus ‘Othello’ for show and tell. She donated a pink and white Christmas Cactus to the raffle table. The-Shan Lee brought Nematanthus ‘Orange Elf’ for show and tell and donated Aeschynanthus speciosus to the raffle table. Harriette Poss brought an unnamed strep for show and tell.
Minutes of San Francisco Gesneriad Society
February 17, 2008 Meeting
by David Waugh
The February meeting was called to order by President Jon Dixon at 1:26pm. The following were also present: David Waugh, Bob Hudak, Katherine Henwood, Anna Chou, Gene Sussli, Harriette Poss, Kevin Daly, Teh-Shan Lee, Tommy Liu, Paula De Bella. We also had a guest, Nirmela Arsem.
Minutes: There were no corrections to the minutes for the January meeting which were in the February newsletter.
Treasurer’s report: Our financial condition is good. If you need a copy of the January Treasurer’s report please contact Gene Sussli.
There were comments on the Club participation in the Lunar New Year festivities at the Fair Building on February 2. Five members participated, selling plants and handing out brochures during the day while there were Chinese dragons and dancers performing. We netted approximately $150 from sales. This was good since we had not too many plants for sale and the tables allotted were a bit small. We should definitely plan to participate in this event in future years.
Everyone was encouraged to come to the Gesneriad Society Convention in Denver July 1-6. Early registration before April 1 entitles you to a free special CD of all the Lectures during the Convention to be available later in the summer.
An announcement was made about the Cal Hort (California Horticulture Society) meeting Monday evening, February 18 at the Fair Building. Our member Ron Parsons will be giving a slide show on wild flowers. Non members are welcome and the fee is $5.00.
The program was “Lesser Known Gesneriads not seen very frequently at Shows” was prepared by Terri Campbell. In her absence Jon Dixon gave the program. It consisted of large color photographs of the following: Cobananthus calochlomus; Codonanthe ‘Paula, devosiana and Luteola; Diastema comiferum and vexans; Episcia lilacina sphalera and xanthe; Paradryonia celiosa and binata; Pearcea hypocyrtiflora; Niphaea oblonga and multiflora ‘tracery’; Nautilocalyx cordatus, forgeti, x penaphidius, porphyrotricus, glandulifer, melittifolius ‘cape vincent’; Titanotrichum oldhamii; Sarmienta scandens; Metraria coccinea.
We then did Show and Tell. As is custom our guest, Nirmela Arsem got first chance from the selection on our raffle table.
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