To view previous newsletters from July 2002 to December 2003 click here.
Our last meeting on July 21 was a WORKSHOP ON PROPAGATION OF GARDEN VARIETY HIBISCUS. The presentation was given by Eddie Griffith. Many members attended and some brought unique cultivars to share. Once you see new leaves emerging from your new plants you should spray them once a week with a half strength, balanced foliar fertilizer such as “Peters” or “Miracle Grow.” This will help the plants take in nutrients while the root system is still trying to establish itself. We thank Maureen Buono and Debbie Furtak for providing the delicious refreshments.
NEXT MEETING:Wednesday, August 18, 7:30pm
The August 18 meeting will feature a WORKSHOP FOR STARTING NEW CULTIVARS BY SEED PLANTING. A presentation and demonstration will be given by the award winning hybridizer Elaine Scobey. She is responsible for producing such cultivars as "High Voltage" and "Dark Charm" just to name a few. Our chapter has acquired over 100 seeds from the A.H.S. seed bank, which includes parentage from such notable varieties as "Key West," "Amber Suzanne," "The Path," "Rosalind," and "Wally's Yellow." This a good opportunity to learn the techniques for planting and maintaining a new hybrid from an nationally recognized professional. Don't miss this "hands on" workshop!
Our September 15 meeting will feature our annual fund raising auction. Always a successful event, the auction provides the necessary money for chapter sponsored events such as shows, workshops and our annual coach tour to the Miami chapter’s show in October. (See article below.) It is also a great way to acquire and share rare and unusual plants, as well as household items. So please bring your check book and any plant or garden/household items that you are willing to donate to support your chapter.
A presentation on the TECHNIQUES FOR PHOTOGRPHING HIBISCUS will be the feature of our October 20 meeting. This presentation will be followed by a photography contest at our November meeting. We tried this contest for the first time last year and it proved to be very successful with many of our members entering and sharing some great images of our favorite flower - the “queen of the tropics.”
GARDEN TIP by JO CONRAD:
Rainfall has been pretty irregular. Members on one end of the county receiving sufficient rainfall to water their plants and other members not getting much at all and having to water. Always check soil in your potted plants to make sure that they have adequate moisture. If they are root bound or are very bushy, the rainfall may not be enough.
We have just finished a light granular fertilization. This will keep our plants happy through the rest of the summer (we hope!!). We are still applying 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer and minor elements every week; Epsom salts every 2-3 weeks. Hybrid hibiscus are heavy feeders!
Anyone who is experiencing severe bud drop and suspects gall midge being the culprit, may purchase the insecticide "Merit" at Uncle Bims garden shop on Belvedere Rd, WPB. Jim Pyle the owner, usually has it in stock in small quantities. One eighth teaspoon per gallon is sufficient. Mention that you are a member of our chapter.
3rd ANNUAL TRIP TO MIAMI SHOW: Back by popular demand, our chapter is again sponsoring a coach tour to the Dr Jack Hoffman Miami Chapter's "Discover Hibiscus Show" at the world renowned "Fairchild Tropical Garden" in Coral Gables on Sunday, October 3. For the past two years, everyone who participated had a great time. Many of our members also volunteered to judge and clerk at the show. Details are still being worked out and more will be announced in our next newsletter. So mark your calendars for this exciting and festive event.
FALL FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL: On October 17 our chapter will be sponsoring a booth at the "Fall Family Fun Festival" at Mounts Botanical Garden. Our mission is to provide an ongoing workshop to share the joys of propagating and growing hibiscus at this youth-oriented event. Any one wishing to volunteer and witness the excitement of the children (and future chapter members) at this event should contact Eddie Griffith at 561/762-3425.
UPCOMING A.H.S. SHOWS:
Saturday, September 18: Bradenton
Sunday, October 3: Miami
CONGRATULATIONS to Jo & Pete Conrad of Conrad Nursery for winning HIBISCUS OF THE YEAR with "Royal Treasure!" And winning second place for HIBISCUS OF THE YEAR were Carlos & Nola Reynolds with "Ana Lyn." For more of our chapter members' awards and citations presented at the AHS Annual Convention in June, see related article below.
ANNUAL COVERED DISH SUMMER SOCIAL: Our annual summer social at our June 16 meeting was an enormous success, due in part to the coordinating efforts of Eileen & Glenn Bailey. With an Italian theme, many delicious dishes were provided by our many enthusiastic members. Thanks to all who helped make this a memorable event.
The July 21 meeting will be a workshop on ,PROPAGATING GARDEN VARIETY HIBISCUS , hibiscus that grows on its own root system. We will have stem cuttings' from hard-to-find garden" variety hibiscus not readily available at local garden centers. Last year, this workshop was among the most well attended; and everyone left with several potential hibiscus plants. Presentation by Eddie Griffith.
Don't miss our August 18 meeting / workshop on SEED PLANTING OF HYBRID HIBISCUS. In addition to members bringing seeds, the national AHS Seed Bank has generously provided more than 120. They include crosses of such beautiful blooms as "Key West," "Remembrance," "Amber Suzanne," "The Path," "Rosalind, and "Wally's Yellow." Presented by Elaine Scobey.
PLANTS & POSIES X-TRAVAGANZA: Our chapter will be participating once again with an educational booth. This annual event will be held Saturday, August 14, 2004 from 10 am to 5 pm at Sanborn Square on Federal Highway in Boca Raton. Some vendors offer plants for sale, plus the Master Gardeners will offer a Plant Clinic. Don't miss out on the free drawings, giveaways, displays, and demonstrations. Music will be provided by "Island Heat" and the "Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra" No, admission and it's fun. To volunteer, contact John Webster at 561/622-8681.
GARDEN TIP by JO CONRAD:
Our plants are getting acclimated to the hot summer and producing less yellow leaves. We are ready to apply granular fertilizer to our plants. This should carry them through the heavy watering of summer. We will also reapply our granular diazinon or any product that will kill grubworms. These products are great to disrupt the life cycle of the gall midge fly. Any buds that drop off your plants prematurely may have the larvae in them, even some blooms that have bloomed crippled. Spraying all buds weekly with orthene slows--the critters down quite a bit. As usual, spray when the plant is the coolest and is well watered.
Your new grafts should be in great shape by now, the rootstock cut off and newly grafted hybrids' growing on their own. If you need help cutting the rootstock off, bring it to the meeting.
CONVENTION RECAP: The American Hibiscus Society annual convention was held June 17-20 in the city of Punt Gorda. The city and its Chamber of Commerce rolled out the red carpet for conventioneers and hibiscus enthusiast's alike with many activities planned around the A.H.S. meetings. It was great fun for all who
attended:
Our chapter was well represented and we did very well at the awards banquet. A total of 8 awards were won by chapter members.
As Jo Conrad left her years as a National Director, our former chapter president, Bernard Pages, was elected to a four year term.
Among those receiving additional awards (see previous news article) were Nola & Carlos Reynolds
Receiving 4th place in HIBISCU OF- THE YEAR with "Saxon 1'," Nola & Carlos Reynolds for SWEEP-STAKES (Florida) as Open Collectors, Eddie Griffith for SWEEPSTAKES (Florida) for Amateur, and Nola & Carlos Reynolds in a tie vote to receive the prestigious "A. B. Morrison Memorial Award" (in a tie vote) for having the most Seedling winnings as Best of Show during the show season. Also cited was Roland Gaudet by national Treasurer Penny Benninger for his outstanding service on the Publications Committee.
Thank you for all from our chapter who attended the convention. And congratulations are in order for all those who made our chapter shine even brighter.
At our last meeting on May 19, Eddie Griffith conducted an impressive workshop on grafting. After his presentation on techniques and reasons why we graft, chapter members were given scion wood. Thanks to John Webster, Russ Scobey and Pete Conrad for
assisting with the 1-on-1 segment of the workshop. See Jo Conrad's Garden Tips for a follow up on your grafts.
We had many guests; and we especially enjoyed the visit by Indian River Chapter members John & Margo Celia and Carl & Gloria Cathy.
Thanks to Conrad Nursery for providing rootstock; Paul Fleabag for conducting the mini show; Bernard Pages for selling rootstock; Bill & Bonnie Caitlin for overseeing the registration table; and John Webster for "doing just about everything else." And we thank Dianne & Dan Greschuk and Debbie & Walt Furtak for providing refreshments.
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, June 16, 7:00 PM
Note the special early time for our ANNUAL COVERED DISH SUMMER SOCIAL Eileen Bailey is doing an outstanding job of coordinating volunteers to bring covered dishes for this ltalian-themed supper. We ask that volunteers come as early as 6: 15 to help set up. For more information and for menu category suggestions, call Eileen at 561/649-4508.
The July 21 meeting will be a workshop on PROPAGATING GARDEN VARIETY HIBISCUS -Hibiscus that grows on its own root system. We will have hard-to-find garden variety hibiscus which is not readily available at local garden centers. Last year, this workshop drew the most attendance out all of our annual meetings, and everyone left with several potential hibiscus plants.
CONVENTION: The annual convention of the American Hibiscus Society will be June 17 - 20 in Punta Gorda. It's not too late to register and to participate!
Many of our chapter members are up for awards and recognition for contributions to the AH.S. For the prestigious Hibiscus of the Year Award, our chapter has three of the four candidates! We are so proud of Nola & Carlos Reynolds and Jo & Pete Conrad; and we wish them well on winning Hibiscus of the Year!
For more information about registering for the convention, contact Tyler Franz at 561/762-4303.
GARDEN TIP by JO CONRAD: It's dry-dry-dry. High temperatures are here to stay. In the heat (which will only get hotter from now on) plants will be under a lot of stress. Yellow leaves are still coming as our plants are still adjusting to the summer heat. New leaves are emerging quickly though. If you need to spray your plants with pesticides etc., it must be done when plants are the coolest - very early a.m. or very late in the day.
I know_everyone is anxiously checking their newly grafted plants that were grafted at our grafting session at the May meeting. Small leaves should be popping out at the nodes if the graft took. If the graft hasn't popped leaves yet, scrape the graft with your fingernail or knife blade; If it shows green under the bark the graft is still alive and is just taking longer to sprout leaves. If you haven't done so, apply a 1/2 tsp. granular fertilizer to the plant and water in. Spray weekly with 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer.
2nd ANNUAL MOUNTS GET TOGETHER: Last month The Mounts Botanical Garden held its 2nd annual "Get Together:' Our chapter was there in full force with eductional material to share with the patrons, as well as, a continuous demonstration on propagation where children could take home a potential new Hibiscus plant. As part of the lecture series at the Exhibition Hall, Eddie Griffith gave his "Landscaping with Hibiscus" program.
Our booth was set up in our garden and Mother Nature could not have been more cooperative. All of the plants were loaded with spectacular blooms. And the staff at The Mounts had just applied a top coat of pine bark mulch which highlighted our plants with its dark backdrop. Russ & Elaine Scobey were there selling grafted hybrids; and we had many unusual, hard-to-find garden varieties for sale as well. The success of this event was due in part to the help from Dan Greschuk, John Webster, Bernard Pages, David & Sheila Shapiro, Bill & Bonnie Cialini, Murry Ribolow, Maureen Buono, Eddie Griffith, Tyler Franz, and of course all of our chapter members involved with our garden maintenance program.
NEW CHAPTER SIGN: We have a stunning new chapter sign that we have recently been displaying at chapter events. We thank chapter member Bob Hall, professional photographer and president of Zebra Publishing" for his much appreciated contribution. Thank you, Bob!
The Conrad - Sunrise Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society is a non-profit organization. Meetings are held on the 3rd
Wednesday of every month at 7:30 P.M. in the Mounts Building at 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL. Our programs are informative and fun. A highlight of every meeting is a mini-show of spectacular blooms. Visitors are always welcome!
At our last meeting on April 21, Gene Joyner, Palm Beach County Extension Agent, gave an informative presentation on plant nutrition. His lecture, accompanied with his slide show, helped us to identify different nutrition deficiencies that might occur in some of our plants. Gene gave an exceptionally good performance and was well received by all who attended. And we thank Debbie & Walt Furtak for providing refreshments.
Long time chapter member Sam Chaney (left) and Gene Joyner.
Photo by Evelyn Somerville
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 PM
Our next meeting will be a workshop on grafting. Many of our chapter’s talented grafters will be on hand to provide hands-on assistance. Bring a sharp knife. And if you attended the February workshop on preparing rootstock, bring that rootstock on which to graft. Potted rootstock will be available for $1.00 each. Scion wood and grafting essentials will be available at no cost. If you have hybrid wood available to share, please bring it. An assortment of wood will be available.
The June 16 meeting will be our annual covered dish summer social. Due to last year’s success, we will again have an Italian theme. A sign up sheet will be available at the next meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Franz at 561/762-4303.
WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS: Wayne & Naida Boynton, Stanford & Rita Blomquist, Veronica Atkins, Janet & Donald Spear, Shirley Horn, David Rosenberg, Noelle Pruitt, Mary Pruitt, and Donna & Rodney Longman. We welcome you all!
GARDEN TIP by JO CONRAD: We have been getting some incredible blooms the last few weeks!! Due to the warmer weather we are getting yellow leaves. It had been very dry for the last few weeks and we received 6" of rain within 3 days time at our house. A big shock to our plants I would say!! They're popping new leaves and will be fine. We are keeping up our weekly spray schedule of water soluble fertilizer (1 T. per gal.), minor or trace elements (1 t. or more per gal.) and adding pesticides if necessary. After our big rain we were inundated with aphids on our buds and box elders (1/4"-1/2" long black and red bugs usually seen in pairs). Box elders will suck around the buds and you will experience severe bud drop. They are usually found around buds and under leaves below them. Orthene or will work for both pests. Spray again a week later with same. Keep an eye out for bright red box elder young that have hatched and spray again if necessary.
2nd ANNUAL MOUNTS GET TOGETHER: On Saturday, May 22nd, 9am to 4pm we will be hosting a sales and information booth at “The Mounts Garden Get Together.” The event promotes the various plant societies and nature clubs associated with the garden. We will have plants and other related items for sale, as well as a “propagation workshop for children.” Volunteers are needed for this event and it is a great opportunity for newer members to learn more about the use, care and propagation of hibiscus. For more information, contact Eddie Griffith at 561/762-3425.
PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Our 40th annual show and sale at The Mounts Botanical Gardens on April 24 - 25 was an enormous success. We had a total of 710 blooms entered, more than twice as many as our last show. And of the 21 awards given, 11 of them were won by our chapter members. I would like to thank all who entered their blooms. We give special thanks to Toni White and to all the staff and volunteers at The Mounts.
I would also like to thank and give high praise to the following members of our chapter for their outstanding efforts preparing for and running our show and sale: Paul Felsberg did an outstanding job at his first time as show chairman. He is also to be credited for creating and producing our show booklet. John Webster worked countless hours behind the scenes before, during, and after our show. He is also the one responsible for producing and coordinating all of Saturdays’ workshops and demonstrations and signage.
Bernard Pages co-chaired the show for the first time and did not take a moments rest. He also helped set up and break down, which is no small task. Tyler Franz not only co-coordinated the luncheon, he performed countless tasks such as creating text and producing promotional material, inviting judges and clerks and coordinating their respective table assemblies. Jo Conrad was drafted as the shows’ assistant director. She is also the one who designed and ordered the head table ribbons. Maureen Buono provided an excellent breakfast and refreshment table at the show.
Linda King worked tirelessly tallying sweepstakes as well as assisting exhibitors. Roland Guadet was the hardest working "Immediate Past Show Chairman,” making sure that every thing got done right and on time. Sheila Shapiro and Debbie Furtak were there to greet our exhibitors as they worked the registration table, while their husbands David Shapiro and Walter Furtak worked along with Steve Brown as bloom runners. D'Ann Brown gave an excellant perfomance at her bloom display arrangement workshop, she also made and provided arrangements for the entrances into the garden. Glenn and Eilene Baily worked at the garden entrances handing out flyers that promoted our show to The Mounts sale patrons, as well as helping Diane Greschuk who co-coordinated the luncheon. Gloria Swager and Sandy Ribolow offered much assistance with the luncheon. Many chapter members provided dishes for the luncheon as well as helping with the show, such as Olive Donavan and Evelyn Somerville who worked as clerks at the judges tables.
Dan Greschuk was an icon at our sales booth. He made many sales and recruited new members all day Saturday and Sunday. Dan also helped break down and move our show material. Sam Chaney and Nola Reynolds helped to set up our sales booth on Friday, Nola also provided a cooler full of cold drinks for the people who worked at the booth. New member Gene Roe worked at the sales booth along with Tom Swagger and Pete Conrad.
I am sure that I did not mention all the contributions that everyone provided, but I would like to say that it is because of everyone’s effort that I feel privileged to be the president of the Conrad-Sunrise Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society.
- Eddie Griffith
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, April 21, 7:30 PM
Our next meeting will feature our good friend and Extension Agent, Gene Joyner, who will discuss fertilization and plant nutrition requirements. Plan to attend this informative presentation.
Our May 19 meeting will be a workshop on grafting hibiscus.
GARDEN TIP by Jo Conrad: Our nights are still remaining cool and the strong winds lately have sucked the moisture out of our plants. Don't let your plants dry out. In a lot of instances, damage will occur before the blooms have even opened because of the winds.
Our spray schedule has been interrupted because it was hard to spray chemicals with a lot of wind. It is best to spray when it is cool and before the wind gets blowing or after it lays. If you insist on spraying with a lot of wind, you will have to adjust your spray nozzle to have a heavier spray, using more mix, more chemicals and making it costlier. You also will have the spray possibly where you do not want it to go.
Growth on newly started rootstock might be a little slower than usual with our cool breezy weather. Spray weekly with water soluble fertilizer and minor elements (per label directions). Your plants will absorb the fertilizer almost instantaneously through their leaves. The roots of the newly started rootstock will come later. A fertilizer spray mix may be applied on windy days because it's not as costly as applying chemicals such as miticides, orthene etc. Plus, as long as the spray wets the leaves it will be absorbed.
NATIONAL CONVENTION: The annual convention of the American Hibiscus Society will be June 17 - 20 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Registration can be made at:
< http://americanhibiscus.org/convinfo.htm >
For more information, contact Tyler Franz at 561/762-4303.
ANNUAL SHOW AND SALE: Our annual show and plant sale, in conjunction with the annual Mounts Spring Plant Sale, is April 24 & 25 at The Mounts Botanical Garden. We expect our 40th anniversary show to be our best ever!
The plant sales and information booth will be open both days at its regular location (#55 and #56) from 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and from 9 AM to 4 PM on Sunday.
Saturday's events will also feature a series of workshops and demonstrations in the Clayton E. Hutcheson Exhibit Hall:
10:00 AM Demonstration on grafting
11:00 AM Demonstration on propagation
12:00 noon Workshop on "Creating Bloom Display Arrangements"
2:00 PM "Landscaping with Hibiscus" presentation
3:30 PM Demonstration on grafting
Sunday will feature our nationally sanctioned, juried bloom competition. The show is open to the public between Noon and 4:00 PM in the Exhibit Hall. Everyone is invited to enter blooms. Remember, it only takes one bloom to win - and it could be yours. Amateurs are especially encouraged to exhibit. Blooms can be entered between 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
A luncheon will be served for judges, exhibitors, and volunteers in The Mounts Auditorium.
A highlight of our show this year is several graduates from our last September’s Judges Training Class will be judging!
To volunteer contact John Webster or D’Ann Brown for Saturday’s demonstrations and workshop, Paul Felsberg or Bernard Pages for Sunday’s show, Tyler Franz or Dianne Greschuk for Sunday’s luncheon, and Dan Greschuck or Eddie Griffith for the sales and information booth. Telephone numbers are on page 2.
MOUNTS GARDEN GET TOGETHER: We will again have a sales and information booth at this second annual event, which highlights the many plant societies associated with The Mounts Botanical Garden. Many volunteer opportunities are available and will be discussed at our next meeting and in the May newsletter.
Last month Randy Cox gave an outstanding and informative presentation on creating rootstock for grafting hibiscus, while giving us some great tips for transplanting and grafting the newly created plants. Randy also took a few moments to stress how important it is that we participate in our upcoming national elections by learning about the candidates and casting our ballots when we receive them in the mail this spring. Thank you, Randy, and good luck on your campaign for 1st vice President.
Longtime chapter member, Don Bernard, gave a demonstration on cutting back a potted hibiscus plant to shape it up and prepare it for the spring growth. Don's presentation was informative and candid, as he was able to roast our president (who provided the poorly shaped plant) while giving his hands-on demonstration. Thanks again, Don.
We always welcome members from other chapters and it was great to have Indian River Chapter president, John Celli, and his wife, Margo Celli, and fellow members, Gloria & Carl Cathey, attend our meeting. And if there was a prize for most distance traveled to attend our February meeting, it would go to Micki Presley and Margaret Ross -- two of our newest members -- who traveled from Daytona Beach!
Our guests, Randy & Annelle Cox and Carl & Gloria Cathey also won the monthly "Mini Show of Blooms" in their respective categories. See photos on next page.
Special thanks to Evelyn Somerville, Olive Donavan, and Walter & Debbie Furtak for providing refreshments; and to Carlos & Nola Reynolds for providing wood for roostock; and, of course, Pete & Jo Conrad for providing soil and pots for the very well attended February workshop.
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, March 17, 7:30 PM
Our next meeting will be a workshop on CREATING BLOOM DISPLAY ARRANGEMENTS and a demonstration on PREPARING BLOOMS FOR SHOW. Professional florist, D'Ann Brown, will conduct a "hands-on" workshop for arranging greenery for use with displaying hibiscus blooms. This workshop is always popular; and participants will take their arrangement home. The cost is $3.00 to cover the cost of non-plant materials. All members are encouraged to bring clippings for use in the workshop.
Also, Elaine Scobey will share her professional expertise by demonstrating how to prepare blooms for shows.
The April 21 meeting features our good friend and Extension Agent, Gene Joyner, who will discuss fertilization.
WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS: Micki Presley, Margaret Ross, and Veronica Atkins. Welcome!
GARDEN TIP by JO CONRAD: Ah, spring at last. By now everyone has pruned their older bushes and pinched or snipped small plants if needed. Our plants look a little odd because we have a few branches that have seed pods still on and we will prune these branches later. Most of our hybridizing has not been successful this winter. Pods start to form then turn yellow and fall off prematurely. We will keep trying to hybridize because the nights are still cool and the days are mild.
We are 6-8 weeks from our show and we need to gear up for it. Spray weekly with water soluble fertilizer (1T. per gal.) and a low dose of minor elements (1/2 tsp. per gal.).Hybrid hibiscus love minors which are copper, zinc, boron, iron etc. Always look at the label of the fertilizer you intend to buy - pay a little extra for fertilizer with minors. Keep a sharp eye out for pests. Dry, breezy weather may bring spider mites. Look at plant leaves for yellow spots, mites are sucking insects that suck plant juices from undersides of leaves. A magnifying glass is usually needed to see them. Spray with miticide on underside of leaves. The damage will remain for the life of the leaf. A strong blast of water from a hose under the leaves will disrupt their life cycle also.
Remember to apply any brand of granules for grub worms around your plants. This will be good to break the cycle of gall midge larvae.
Palm Beach Tropical Flower & Garden Show: Our educational and sales booth at the annual flower show on February 19 - 22 was a very successful. We extend much gratitude to our immediate past president, Bernard Pages, for running our booth so successfully. Sales were up and we were able to educate hundreds of hibiscus enthusiasts on the use, care and propagation of tropical hibiscus. Thanks to all who volunteered to make this event so successful!
ANNUAL SHOW AND SALE: Our annual show and spring plant sale is April 24 - 25 at The Mounts Botanical Garden. This year we have a "two day show". The plant sales booth will be both days. Saturday's events will feature a series of workshops and demonstrations, culminating on Sunday with our nationally sanctioned, juried bloom competition. A luncheon will be served for judges, exhibitors, and volunteers. The workshop schedule for Saturday is:
10:00 AM Demonstration on grafting
11:00 AM Demonstration on propagation
12:00 noon Workshop on "Creating Bloom Display Arrangements"
2:00 PM "Landscaping with Hibiscus" presentation
3:30 PM Demonstration on grafting
We also have advertising opportunities for our show booklet. For more information, contact Paul Felsberg at 561/740-0250.
With years of experience and many hybrids on record, Dawn Conrad-Shew offered much insight on how to hybridize hibiscus at our January meeting. The presentation was well received by long time hybridizers and new members alike. Thank you, Dawn. Our Q & A session gave members an opportunity to ask questions about growing hibiscus. And thanks to John Webster and Jo Conrad for providing refreshments!
As a follow up for those interested in learning more about parentage of hybrids, characteristics for plants and hybridizers of particular varieties, go to the newly launched website:
The site is hosted by the Texas’ Lone Star Chapter of the AHS and is the compilation from our past national executive secretary, Geri Grantham. It’s a great resource for hybrid hibiscus enthusiasts.
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, February 18, 7:30 PM
Our next meeting will be a workshop on STARTING YOUR OWN ROOTSTOCK FOR GRAFTING HYBRID HIBISCUS. It will be conducted by Randy Cox. Randy is an active hibiscus grower in Port Charlotte who competes at national shows in the "open collector" class. He and his wife, Annelle, also produce many plants for the AHS Seedling Evaluation Committee and serve on that committee as well. For the workshop, bring a sharp knife and cutters. Cuttings, potting soil and pots for the first two rootstock cuttings are complimentary. If you would like more, the cost is $1.00 per cutting/soil/pot.
The March 17 meeting includes a workshop on CREATING BLOOM DISPLAY ARRANGEMENTS and a demonstration on PREPARING BLOOMS FOR SHOWS.
Palm Beach Tropical Flower & Garden Show: We will be hosting a booth at this spectacular event produced by The Horticulture Society of South Florida on the waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach on February 19-22. This is an outstanding event for all garden enthusiasts. We still have a few time slots available for volunteer positions at our booth, and our chapter will provide admission tickets for those who are interested in helping to promote our society. Please contact Eddie Griffith.
GARDEN TIP by JO CONRAD: We're still expecting a few more cold snaps before spring arrives. After the 1st week of March we should be safe from any freezes.
Hybridizing and pruning are on everyone's minds. Conrads have pruned a portion of our collection and are busy hybridizing. We will prune our more prolific bloomers after the Tropical Flower Show (a little late for us). Dawn Shew, our guest speaker last month gave us a great demonstration and plenty of tips on getting hibiscus to set seed. (Seeds may be donated to the AHS Seed Bank - pg. 8 Jan Seed Pod, if you wish.) Our plants have thrown off most of their old leaves and look sort of ragged. That's okay, new leaves are coming, we just need a little warmer weather and a little fertilizer to get the growing season going again.
ANNUAL SHOW AND SALE: Our annual show and spring plant sale is April 24 - 25 at the Mounts Botanical Garden. This year we have a two day "show". The plant sales booth will be both days. Saturday's events will feature a series of workshops, demonstrations and lectures, culminating on Sunday with our nationally sanctioned, juried flower competition. A luncheon will be served for judges, exhibitors, and volunteers. We anticipate this to be one of our best events to date and welcome all chapter members to participate and to help make this an exciting and successful weekend. For volunteer opportunities contact John Webster or D'Ann Brown for Saturday's events, Paul Felsberg or Bernard Pages for the Sunday show, Tyler Franz or Diane Greschuk for Sundays luncheon, and Eddie Griffith or Dan Greschuk for our sales booth. Details of the scheduled events to follow in the next newsletter.
MOUNTS DISPLAY GARDEN UPDATE: Many thanks to all who have participated in making our display garden at Mounts a huge success. As time has passed the young plants have been taking shape and producing many blooms that have been real eye catchers to all who have visited. We recently cut our plants back to help them take the shape and design of the overall site plan, and to promote fuller growth. Some blooms were sacrificed, but the resulting new growth will make up for it in the spring and it should be producing many more blooms just in time for our show and spring plant sale.
WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS: Kathy & David Allan and Mari Ann Hannon Welcome!
Our Holiday party was festive! Thanks to Maureen Buono for organizing the menu; Paul Felsberg for carving the turkey; Don Bernard for emceeing the gift exchange; and Eddie Griffith for providing the Norfolk Island Pine for decorating with hibiscus blooms. The tree was the ultimate in "bloom display arrangements!" And a very special thanks to Nola Reynolds and her sister, Molly, for the beautiful centerpieces. New board members and officers were installed. Congratulations to Beverly Bernard, who has been appointed Director-at-large for the coming year.
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, January 21, 7:30 PM
Learn how to hybridize hibiscus from an internationally-recognized and award-winning hybridizer, Dawn Conrad-Shew. Among her many award-winning blooms are "Amber Suzanne," "Erica Nicole," "Ivory Coast," and "Santana." (See page 2 for photo of a "Santana" bloom as won by Jim Rivera at our last month's mini show.) Don't miss Dawn's presentation on TECHNIQUES FOR HYBRIDIZING HIBISCUS.
"PASSION": Our chapter will again have an education and sales booth at THE PALM BEACH TROPICAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW, a spectacular event produced by The Horticulture Society of South Florida on February 19-22. Some time slots for volunteering are still available. Sign up at our next meeting or contact Eddie Griffith at 561/762-3425.
GARDEN TIP by JO CONRAD: We are getting some great blooms now! Not sure if it was the spraying or the gall midge are just gone for the winter. We will keep up our spray schedule of chemicals when needed. Pete, the resident sprayer, also adds water soluble fertilizer such as Peters etc. (1Tb. per gal.), minor elements (1/2 tsp. per gal) to the tank mix.
Pruning may be started at the end of January or as late as the 1st of March. Our show will be in April this year and the Tropical Flower Show is in February, so you make your own decisions. If plants are very small just pinch the end of all branches or snip with pruning shears rather than a heavier pruning. This will promote new growth. Inspect plants, weed, apply fresh soil if necessary, apply granular or nutracoat slow release fertilizer (chapter sells it at a bargain!) as you prune or wait till later. We Conrads do it all at once. We are still at risk of a freeze. Keep a sharp eye on the weather.
WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS: Frank & Karen Sullivan. Welcome!
UPCOMING HIBISCUS FLOWER SHOW:
STATE FAIR in Tampa - Saturday, February 14, 2004 - last South Florida show of the American Hibiscus Society season!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2004:
January 21 - Meeting: Hybridization techniquesfor creating new varieties of hibiscus
February 18 - Meeting: Workshop on starting your own rootstock for grafting hybrid hibiscus
February 19 - 22 - Booth display & sales at "The Palm Beach Tropical Flower & Garden Show" (on waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach)
March 17 - Meeting: Workshop on creating bloom display arrangements & a demonstration on preparing blooms for shows
April 21 - Meeting: Presentation on fertilization by Gene Joyner
April 24 & 25 - Booth display & sales; workshops; and ANNUAL HIBISCUS SHOW at the "Mounts Spring Plant Sale." This weekend of events is a must for hibiscus enthusiasts!
May 19 - Meeting: Workshop on grafting hybrid hibiscus
May 22 - Booth display & sales at the annual "Mounts Garden Get Together"
June 16 - Meeting: Covered Dish Social
July 21 - Meeting: Workshop on propagation of garden variety hibiscus using stem cuttings
August 18 - Meeting: Workshop on seed planting of hybrid hibiscus
September 15 - Meeting: Annual auction
October 3 - Our 3rd annual bus trip to the Dr. Jack Hoffman Miami Chapter's "Discover Hibiscus" show at Fairchild Tropical Garden
October 17 - Display booth at the "Fall Family Fun Festival" at the Mounts
October 20 - Meeting: Techniques for photographing hibiscus
November 17 - Meeting: Slide show presentation on the creation of new varieties of hibiscus
November 6 & 7 - Booth display & sales at the annual "Mounts Fall Plant Sale."
December 15 - Meeting: Holiday dinner party