October 2019

The October meeting will be held at the home of Swede and Betty Ann Gustafson, 3128 Eldora Lane, on Saturday, October 5, at 6:30 PM. Bring a dish to share for our potluck dinner meeting. SEE YOU THERE!

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Summer has flown by and we are now into fall. Hope all of you had a great growing season and time with family and friends!

The Missoula Iris Society had another wonderful ice cream social at the Fort Missoula Historical iris garden on June 26. Once again Judy Blunt brought her delicious homemade ice cream and angel food cake with all the trimmings. The social is a welcome time to view the garden and relax with our iris friends.

On July 27, we held our annual rhizome sale. It was a great success! See the treasurer's report for the profits and expenses of our successful sale.

A big thank you goes to Gary Clark for willingly being the chairman of the rhizome sale. The collection site was at the Clark and Hesla home.

Thank you to everyone who spent the prior week preparing the iris for the sale and also for all of you who helped at the sale. Also, thanks to Gary and Billie Gray for selling the left over iris (grab bags) at the farmers market.

Billie Gray hosted our after sale party once again. Such a nice place to relax and have our usual pizza and chicken after the sale. Thanks Billie!

Thank you all. Betty Ann Gustafson, President, Missoula Iris Society

TREASURER'S REPORT as of September 18, 2019

To begin I need to make a correction to my report for July 2019 regarding the Checking Account

as follows:

Checking Account Balance as printed $ 477.83

Deposits as printed 1158.00

corrected sub balance as printed $ 1635.83

Expenses paid as corrected 1209.66

June 28 corrected Balance $ 426.17

September 18 Reported balances:

SAVINGS: June 28 Balance $ 6005.48

Deposits: 4562.73

Sub total $ 10068.21

Withdrawn for sale cash box set up 500.00

Sept 18 Balance $ 10068.21

CHECKING: June 28 corrected Balance $ 426.17

Deposits 849.00

Sub-total 1275.17

Expenses Paid 462.02

Sept 18 Balance $ 813.15

Savings Deposits: Sale Receipts – Cash and Credit Card - $4509.09; Grab bag sales - $53.00;

Bank interest for the summer months $0.64.

Checking Deposits: Gift check from Leslie Lowney to purchase the Paw Paw plant markers - $270.00

Expenses paid: Gary Clark - $30.00 for pre-sale workers beverages; Betty Ann Gustafson -

$116.35 for sale and after sale expenses and $19.99 for doughnuts for

the sale day snacks at the sale site; Judy Blunt - $25.00 for ink used to

print card file iris pictures; Valley Press – 2 sale ads - $46.20; Missoulian -

for sale ads set up fee -$44.00; Erling Gustafson for Miracle-Gro soil to

plant Presidential irises in pots prior to delivery to monthly winners -

$20.00 ( 2 bags on sale) ; Purchase of checks from our bank to pay society

expenses - $28.28; Marchie's Nursery- $43.20 for 2 scoops of soil mix to

improve the soil during renovation of the median bed- $43.20; Erling

Gustafson -$89.00 for adding the third level of garden wall blocks to the

median bed perimeter.

RHIZOME SALE REPORT:

TOTAL INCOME RECEIVED $ 5118.00

EXPENDITURES PAID (incl. cash box) $ 823.46

NET INCOME $ 4294.54

The Society had a very nice sale this year and with good results financially. Amy Zanzig set up the 5 Valley Dahlia Society Credit Card device which was used extensively in our sale for the first time. It made our sales bigger and sales check out was faster to accomplish. The fee was small and we should continue to use the credit card in the future. Thank you Amy.

Respectfully submitted, Swede Gustafson, Treasurer

FORT GARDEN INFORMATION: IT WAS HOT !!! AND DRY.

For some reason the sprinkler system got shut off by someone in May or early June. I discovered in late June so the irises suffered some and the weeds enjoyed it. I was able to get a key from Paul Ronaldo our sprinkler maintenance guy and so now the system controller is locked at all times.

However, the controller is on its last legs as sometime it runs on its own time I discovered and had Paul check it out who said it needs to be replaced. I am hoping it will last through the watering season then I can replace it in October.

I have renovated the lower half of the Median Bed by digging all the irises and and added two scoops of Marchie's Soil Mix to improve the soil structure. Then I purchased 50 concrete wall blocks to raise the level of the garden wall to three levels to match the surrounding gardens.

Received several bad comments regarding the east Dykes Bed appearance so I spent a week and a day removing the plastic edging, then digging out the irises and weeds. Some of the award winners have disappeared by death, rot or other means so I determined there was no need to keep the garden intact. Therefore, I have discarded some of the iris varieties which are very prevalent about the Missoula Community and replanted 5 around the perennial geranium near the garden centered tree.

I have also replanted 15 varieties in rows in a fenced in area near the same perennial to replant next spring when we can build a new raised garden in place of this bed. I have thoughts of one which is 18 feet in length, about 6 to 7 feet wide and 3 concrete blocks high to match our current bed system. I would round the ends of the new bed and incorporate the two peony plants within this new bed. The remainder of the bed would be planted in lawn as will the nearby six radial beds which are basically weed patches now.

Work still needs to be done within the other two Dykes beds and the Big Bed removing the weeds and improving the texture of the soil. The dirt is getting so hard, one can hardly get a fork to enter the soil, much less an Iris try to grow. So , if you got some ambition or need some exercise, spend a little time and energy at the garden. It’s your garden too, not just the Fort Museum’s. SWEDE

MINUTES OF THE MIS MEETING OF JULY 13, 2019

Before the meeting Swede gave a demonstration on digging, trimming and cleaning iris for the sale.

The meeting was called to order at 7:55 pm by Betty Ann Gustafson at the home of Steve Hesla and Gary Clark.

Minutes stand as printed in the bulletin.

Treasurer’s report: Spent a lot last month, see Treasurer’s report in last month’s news letter for details.

Fort Garden Report: Swede stated that a crew of 8 people gathered on June 4 and weeded the Siberian bed, big bed and portions of the north wing and east-west wing of the Dykes bed. Grounds were dry as the sprinklers had been turned off so the Dykes beds did not get watered. Swede had tested the system before Mother’s Day and the system was working. So sometime after that the system was turned off, Swede talked with the Museum people and he has bought a lock for the system and they agreed to the locking of the controller. Swede has the keys for it now.

Swede also noted there is still a need for people to visit the garden and pull a few weeds or other strange plants which do not look like an iris especially since the elms have seeded and are quick to sprout. Further the plan for the little guy bed is on hold until next year.

Old Business:

The iris show was a great success, special thanks to Donna, Jim and Judy. Queen of show was Pursuit of Happiness, for complete show information see Website.

Special thanks again this year for a very successful Ice Cream social to Judy Blunt for the great homemade Ice Cream and toppings.

Gary Clark talked about the plans for the sale. Ron and Swede’s trucks will be used to transport iris to the fort. Bring salads, desserts and items to add to the soup, for the Stone Soup supper for after loading the iris and cleanup at the home of Gary Clark and Steve Hesla on Friday, July 26^th.

New Business:

Amy will be able to run credit and debit cards and a sign will be set up for customers to go to the table she will be at. Marie, Lottie and Cindy will be additional cashiers. Donna, Ron, and Roger will be floaters. Swede will be with the Siberians and give planting instruction. Gary is donating Iris Setosa from Alaska that he has grown and has seeded.

Fred has the advertising in place and Betty Ann has put information in the kiosk at the fort. Billie would like info for the market, and will sell grab bags after the sale for $5.00. Betty Ann noted that the calendar for the Fort and at Five Valley had the wrong date of August 1, and she has had many calls.

Swede stated that Delane from Billings is bring Iris for our sale, he wanted to know what and how many to bring. He also sent a few smaller iris to give to the members. Swede passed them out. Thank you.

Betty Ann also informed the group that Hubert E. “Honk” Meyer, 91, passed away on June 5, 2019; there is an article in the June news letter.

Jeanette sent a reminder that activity reports are due, and judges please vote your ballots.

Donna Dowell won the Presidential Iris.

Respectfully submitted, Cindy Davis

MIS MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE 2018-2019

Saturday, October 5 – Meeting at 6:30 p.m. with pot luck supper at the home of Swede and Betty Ann Gustafson, 3128 Eldora Lane – Phone is 406-251-3526.

Saturday, November 2 – Board meeting at 5:00 at the home of Carol Addeo and Allen Ledford, 5805 Helena Dr, Phone is 406-251-5833. All members welcome to the board meeting. Officers mandatory attendance. Agenda: Budget for 2020.

6:30 p.m. Regular meeting with pot luck supper. Agenda: Overview of budget, planning events and meetings for 2020.

Sunday, December 1, 2019 – Christmas Party 4:30 (Date and time tentative) at the home of Billie Gray, 1558 S. 6^th St West, Phone is 406-543-3480. Turkey dinner with pot luck, followed by gift exchange.

Presidential Rhizome winners: August Fred Frey; September Gary Clark; October Al Ledford; November Linda Sadler; December Marie Nyquist; January Morris Nyquist; February Ron Dowell; March Lottie Bowen; April Billie Gray; May Jim Sadler; June Fran McDermott; July Donna Dowell