May 2020
HELLO EVERYONE! HOPE YOU ARE ALL WELL! IT IS TIME FOR COVID-19 'BLOOM' SEASON TO BE OVER!
Due to COVID-19 we have cancelled many of our events. Currently cancelled are:
May 2-General Meeting
May 16-Median Show at the home of Judy Blunt
June 3-Ice Cream Social
June 6-General Meeting
June 13-Annual Iris Show at the Holiday Inn Downtown Missoula
Who knows, maybe it will be possible for some of these events to still happen in some form.
As you know we had a Siberian expert, Patrick Spence, coming for our show June 13 to give us garden judging and a workshop. We are in contact and depending on Covid-19 status, there may be a chance we could make something happen. We will see. Once we can get together, maybe there is a possibility of a 'progressive meeting'. It would be a way of touring our gardens when it is safe to gather.
In regards to the iris sale at the end of July, we will see how things progress. Hopefully, this is all behind us by then.
EVERYONE TAKE CARE!
Betty Ann Gustafson, President, Missoula Iris Society
TREASURER'S REPORT: as of April 22, 2020
There has been limited activity during the past 28 days due to only one income in the checking account. The Saving Account remains at $9174.91. The checking account of $532.75 was increased by receipt of a check from Steve Hesla for the purchase of 250 each of PawPaw Heavy Duty metal plant markers for $148.00. Thus theApril checking account balance is now at $680.75.
FORT GARDEN:
There has been absolutely no work been done at the Fort Garden due to the shut down of non-essential work by the Montana Govenor due to the corona virus. None the less I have checked the garden periodically to keep abreastof the condition of the garden beds. The many daffodils planted in the gardens last fall are just now popping up their greenery. Within the new raised garden visiting dogs are teasing us by digging these bulbs up and stunting the growth. Gary has been diligent about replanting the bulbs but continually the dogs keep at their exposing process. Betty Ann and I were there this morning and noted several daffodils were dug up again. I replanted most of these but five had been damaged so these will be thrown away. This process will continue throughout the Spring until we catch the culprit and its owner when we are able to work at the garden.
The Fort Museum is getting a new road surface into their museum facility so this has shut down easy access to the storage shed. I hope to gain access to the museum this coming week so I can turn on the watering system. Maybe this will help keep the digging process to a minimum.
It is my desire to place sod over the remaining plots of the radials beds so it will be easier for Ron Dowell to mow and trim the lawn. The remaining Dykes Bed irises I replanted last fall do not look like they survived the winter without snow cover. Building a new bed has been put on hold until the corona virus situation is calm. However, I still want to renovate the turn area at the west arbor area to get irises out from under the rose bush. Hopefully this can be done after the irises bloom.
MEMBERSHIP LISTS:
I have constructed a 2020 membership list. These will be distributed soon. Betty Ann will be in charge of distributing the document. Thanks for all who renewed their membership in our Society for 2020.
Respectfully submitted, Erling Gustafson, Treasurer
There are no MINUTES since the April meeting was cancelled.
Presidential Rhizomes: August: Gary Clark, September: Cindy Davis, October: Marie Nyquist, November: Jim Sadler, December: Swede Gustafson, January: Fred Frey, February: Ron Dowell, March: Judy Blunt.
MIS MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE
At this point all events through June are cancelled, at least in their planned forms. If there should be alternative possibilities we’ll let you know. Hopefully things can go back to normal in July:
Saturday, June 6, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at home of Fred Frey.
Saturday, June 13, 2020 - MIS Iris Show at Holiday Inn Downtown
Show Banquet - Time and location to be announced
Saturday, July 11, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at home of Jim and Linda Sadler.
Monday, July 20, 2020 - Sale preparation begins. Additional details to come later.
Saturday, July 25, 2020 - Annual Rhizome Sale near Fort Missoula Display Gardens - Sale begins 9 am to 1 pm
1:30 pm. - After sale patio party at home of Billie Gray
August, 2020 - No meeting
September 2020 - No meeting
Saturday, October 3, 2020 - Meeting and pot luck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m. at home of Swede and Betty Ann Gustafson
Saturday, November 7, 2020 - Board and Budget Meeting at 5:00 p.m. at home of Carol Addeo and Al Ledford. Regular meeting and potluck supper beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2020 - Christmas party and pot luck supper at home of Billie Gray beginning at 4:30 p.m.