October 2020
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020
'OPEN GARDEN'
4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
LOCATION: FORT MISSOULA IRIS GARDEN
HOMEMADE APPLE PIE BY JUDY BLUNT and snacks!
Come enjoy the renovated iris garden, the fall air, and each other! You may come any time between 4:00 and 6:00! Social distancing will be practiced and masks are recommended. Bring a guest!
We will not have a formal meeting at this time. Please refer to this newsletter for items about upcoming meetings, officers for 2021, and the 2021 budget.
NOW: THE SUMMER OF 2020 AT THE MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY GARDEN
The summer of 2020 saw much needed upgrades to the Fort Missoula iris gardens, with Swede Gustafson and Judy Blunt contributing hundreds of hours to various projects. In renovating the beds, they collectively removed more than half a ton of weeds, dug and separated many dozens of iris varieties, supplemented existing soil in four beds with 90 cubic feet of compost and half a yard of Marchie’s Mix, and constructed a new 15-foot iris bed over a section of the old Dykes Bed. They also cleared and refreshed the golden spirea plantings and began the finger bed restoration by laying 16 rolls of sod. Overall, the Fort gardens were updated by planting fifty new iris varieties, the vast majority introduced in the past three years. To hear more about this amazing summer of improvements and to see how the MIS budget was spent, read the longer report in the newsletter. And meet us at the Fort on October 3 for Pie and Pride day!
SUMMARY OF THE IRIS SOCIETY GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN 2020. (A DETAILED REPORT)
The lack of proper care and attention to the garden in recent years made a number of overall improvements necessary this summer. Weeding is always a priority, but the most telling improvements revolved about the conditions of the soil in which the irises are growing. It had become very difficult to even get a fork into the soil when weeding or digging out irises. This spring Swede undertook the project of digging the entire Dykes Bed to remove weeds and cut back the invasion of other plants—and to do this, every variety of iris had to be lifted and separated from the weeds and roots. He then tilled the soil with a fork and replanted the iris. In hindsight, he wishes he’d added compost to the Dykes Bed to add tilth and nutrients for the irises to use, and to make maintenance easier for the weeders. When completed, he had hauled 750 pounds of weeds to the Missoula landfill. The varieties have responded to the digging but again so have the weeds, so it is a constant battle to keep up the clean appearance of the Dykes Bed.
At the same time that Swede was working on the Dykes Bed, Judy started weeding the Big Bed, hauling around 15 big bags of weeds out and preparing the bed for the next project. On August 1, Swede and Judy started the renovation of the Big Bed, which was in serious need of soil improvement. Every iris in the Big Bed was lifted, then compost added and mixed into the soil before replanting the best rhizomes. The placement for each variety may not be in exactly the same place, but you’ll generally see it nearby. Several varieties changed plats to allow for others to grow. They completed the Big Bed renovation in five days of hard work, with this accomplished:
• Dug every variety and broke them down into individual rhizomes or group of rhizomes;
• Renovated the soils by mixing in about 40 2-cu.ft. bags of Glacier Gold Compost;
• Trimmed and labeled the remainder of the rhizomes and placed them at the center patio area for the general public to take—hundreds of rhizomes went home with very grateful people;
• Replanted all the daffodils, but placed them at the back and ends of the plats so the iris and daffodils each have a good display spot during the growing season;
• Repaired a broken section of vinyl edging along the north-side walkway, eliminating a serious tripping hazard.
Swede and Betty Ann ordered twelve 2018 or 2019 iris from Suttons Iris Garden in Idaho for the members’ Presidential Iris Awards, and another six for the Fort garden. With the twelve Presidential irises, MIS received another dozen as gifts. Most of the bonus varieties were 2020 introductions, so we had a total addition of 18 new Sutton iris for the beds. Swede presented Judy with one rhizome for her dedication to the Garden and he kept another for himself; they planted the sixteen remaining rhizomes in the Big Bed [10] and the 2018 Bed [6].
Swede and Judy continued renovations through the month of August, heading next into the Median Bed, where irises were suffering from lack of moisture and poor soil. Swede dug all varieties on the upper level, amended the soil with five 2-cu.ft. bags of Glacier Gold Compost, and replanted. Some site changes were made to shift taller varieties [IB & BB] to the back and shorter varieties [MDB & SDB] nearer the walkway. At the south and north plats of the Median Bed, they completed a major renovation by adding one more level of blocks to the wall and continuing this around to the east, which helps define the walkway entrance. This made room for another six inches of Marchie's Mix soil and flattened the hill so water doesn’t run off the upper level plants. They also installed decorative log masonry blocks along the east side of the central walkway which defines the pathway as well as assists in keeping soil out of the walkway when weeding and cultivating.
Next came the decision to build a new bed at the previous south wing of the Dykes Bed. Bev Marchie of Marchie's Nursery had donated four dozen masonry blocks last summer to be used when a new raised garden structure was built. Using these blocks would become a challenge as they were slightly wider and longer than newer style blocks. Swede designed the new bed to use these as the bottom level, topped by two layers of newer style blocks, and he incorporated the existing peony plant in his plans. To get started, Judy spaded up the south Dykes Bed to remove the grass and weeds, and Swede laid in supplies: 25 flat blocks for the base, 70 new concrete wall blocks, edging, weed barrier mat and fencing to protect the site. They installed new lawn edging with a 1-inch round top to give increased stability to the blocks, then seated a base of the flat blocks topped by a layer of older bricks. Weed mat came next, anchored by the first row of new cement blocks. Swede designed and cut the rounded north end at home and transported the blocks to the garden site, which allowed them a starting point to anchor and level the tiers. Masonry adhesive glues the two top levels in place to make the structure safe and stable. A couple of days later, Swede and Judy filled the interior of the bed with Marchies's Mix soil, toting it from delivery pile to bed using 5-gallon buckets arranged in wheelbarrows. It took most of a day to finish and clean up the area and they ended almost a month to the day after the first Big Bed renovation project began. Judy watered this garden to settle the soil, and on Sunday morning September 6, she planted 24 new iris varieties in the new bed. These irises came from Cascadia Gardens in Washington, owned by Patrick Spence who was to be our judge's training instructor at the June Iris Show. He and his wife gave MIS special deals on some really great iris. Swede and Judy are justly proud of this new structure and the irises growing there. Judy said the cement walls have a special swan-like curve, so we are now calling it the “Swan Bed”. We hope the members will like the name also.
While working on the completion of the Swan Bed walls, Swede made a trip to Marchie's Nursery to purchase 16 rolls of sod. Judy laid these rolls of sod in the areas she had dug, cleaned of weeds and debris, and leveled in preparation. Two areas were the north end of radial beds 5 and 6 plus the south and north ends of the Swan Bed. Judy completed this sod laying in one afternoon. Ron Dowell, our lawn mower man, is really appreciating the smoother surfaces. We still have three radial beds left to cover with sod—a good project for next year.
We had ordered two yards of Marchie’s Mix for the Swan Bed but had a half yard left over, as Marchie’s gave us a “special” load. Judy used some in the North Dykes Bed for improving that garden's soil. By using a 5-gallon bucket, Swede was able to shake two inches of good soil around all the Siberian Bed plants and turned the bed with a fork. This method increased the water availability to the Siberians as the bed has been continually on the dry side due to the lack of soil tilth.
Before Labor Day, Swede and Betty Ann made a trip to Laurel, MT, to see their daughter and also visited Delane Langton, a MIS member who lives east of Billings. He had sent out an email advertising a special sale of median irises. During their visit, Swede and Betty Ann toured his one-acre garden, and Delane dug and donated ten late introduction medians and six newer tall bearded rhizomes. On September 6, Swede updated our Median Bed by removing some older varieties and replacing with the ten newer ones. The tall bearded rhizomes were spread about the Big Bed and 2018 Bed, and one 2019 introduction went to the Swan Bed. Including all the sources of irises received this year MIS now has 50 new irises in the gardens.
Recently, the Dynamic Duo took on the golden spirea growing on the east side of the Median Bed. Although the spirea looked somewhat better this summer after Judy deadheaded and shaped the bushes in May, they were full of dead branches. First, the garbage, old edging and such had to be cleared, then the five spirea bushes were clipped back using Swede’s hedge trimmers. Swede hauled a pickup load of clippings to Missoula Eco Compost, and Judy spent a day cleaning another five bags of dead branches and debris out of the plants. She dug out one diseased spirea and replaced it with another that had grown too close to the stone wall. This left four nicely spaced golden spirea, waiting for spring regrowth. In the space left by the moved spirea, Judy found just enough room for a new peony. Swede hauled the old lawn edging and two wooden posts away and offered it to Home Resource, but they refused to take garden things at the end of the season. He will inquire with Habitat for Humanity to see if they would like to have edging, and until then, it’s stored in the Fort MIS shed. This area now looks like part of the garden, an accent rather than a debris collection point, and it makes weeding the upper level of the Median Bed much easier. The rock wall will need some future improvements.
This summer has seen hundreds of hours of hard work, but both took pleasure in the work itself, and pride in the accomplishments. Swede and Judy did a great deal in a rather short span of time. President Betty Ann commented that “The Garden now looks very professional.” Dozens of visitors over the summer said the same thing—that they’ve never seen the Fort gardens look so good. We hope you agree. The MIS Gardens will always need attention as well as routine improvements to make the irises a focal point. We need to have irises to sell in order to keep the garden viable. This summer’s improvements will surely assist in this endeavor.
The garden improvement budget set aside this season proved more than sufficient to do this work. Below is a listing of Swede’s purchases as they occurred:
20 each 2 cubic foot bags of Glacier Gold Compost..........$ 89.80
25 each 2 cubic foot bags of Glacier Gold Compost........... 112.25
1 each scoop of Marchie's Mix soil.................................................21.60
1 lot Masonry wall blocks, & edging log blocks.................102.71
1 lot Masonry wall blocks............................................................193.23
3 pcs Vinyl lawn edging w/ 1-inch round top.........................77.92
2 yds Marchie's Mix soil w/ delivery charge incl. .............241.40
1 lot 2 tubes masonry adhesive & applicator gun...............26. 04
1 lot Cascadia Garden Irises, 24 plants & postage...........330.00
1 lot Masonry cutting wheels, 16 total....................................17.00
1 lot Decorative log wall blocks for edging............................12.46
1 lot Irrigation System improvements for Big Bed......... 241.00
Total...............................$ 1465.41
Report by Judy Blunt and Erling “Swede” Gustafson Sept 16, 2020
CONTINUE ON FOR INFORMATION ON MEETINGS, OFFICERS, AND THE BUDGET.
MEETINGS: The meeting for November and the Christmas Party in December will be decided by Covid-19. These meetings are normally held inside. We will have to make a decision on these events at a later date. If you have input, please contact me, Betty Ann Gustafson, 406-370-1696.
OFFICERS FOR 2021: I have consulted the board: President, Betty Ann Gustafson; Vice President, Gary Clark; Secretary, Carol Addeo; and Treasurer, Swede Gustafson; about continuing on in their current capacity for 2021. Due to Covid-19 we were not able to have a normal active year. All have said they would be happy to continue on for 2021. If you have any concerns, please contact me.
BUDGET: The treasurer, Swede Gustafson, will be preparing the budget for 2021. Please let him know if you have any budget items you want included by October 30. The budget will probably be based on the 2020 budget.
SEPTEMBER TREASURER'S REPORT: as of September 25, 2020
Memberships paid since last reported information: Eloie Jeter, Mitch Hall, Bob Symes, Fran Burmeister, Angela Sandberg
FINANCIAL REPORT: as last reported on June 25, 2020 for the July newsletter:
SAVINGS ACCOUNT:
Beginning Balance:..................................... $ 9175.36
Transfer to Checking:.............................2200.00
Balance .........................................................$ 6975.36
Interest income ...........................0.42
9/25/20 Balance ....$ 6975.78
The $2200.00 transfer to checking included funds from the Special Fund for the purchase of Rhizomes which was $392.00. This money was applied to the purchase of iris rhizomes for the Presidential Rhizomes and for the MIS Garden at Fort Missoula. I sent in a $600.00 order to Suttons Iris Gardens in Idaho for 19 irises introduced in either 2018 or 2019 based on the catalog exhibited on the internet. Doing so I had envisioned 12 nice newer iris to distribute to the monthly Presidential recipients plus 7 for the Fort Garden. When the shipment arrived we received 26 irises which contained 16 irises in the 2018/2019 years plus 10 new 2020 introductions. The 12 Presidential irises were distributed as per the monthly drawing winners, 1 new 2020 was given to Judy Blunt for her diligent work at the Fort Garden, I kept one for myself for the same reason, and the remaining 12 irises were planted in various locations in the Fort Gardens. All irises are tall bearded varieties.
With the tranfer of the funds from the Special Rhizome Fund, this special account is now closed.
Two other sources of iris rhizomes were used to procure irises for the gardens and information is given in the renovations report. Hope you all had a wonderful summer. Here is my financial report.
CHECKING ACCOUNT:
Beginning Balance:.................................................$ 354.19
correction error on ck #1743. (-)0.20
Corrected Balance.................................................$ 353.99
Transferred from Savings.......................................1808.00
Special Rhizome Fund transfer...............................392.00
Balance...................................................................$ 2553.99
Income Deposited............................................................90.00
Balance..................................................................$ 2643.99
Suttons Iris Garden iris order..................................600.00
Balance ...............................................................$ 2043.99
Barb Sowers Weeding..............208.75
Balance ............................................................... $ 1835.24
Garden Renovations.................................................1405.41
9/25/20 Balance................................................$ 429.83
During the months of August and September the Fort Gardens were heavily renovated as per the reported information included in this newsletter. There is a list of the expenses included with that report so will not duplicate the information.
Respectfully submitted, Erling Gustafson, MIS Treasurer September 25, 2020
Once again there are NO MINUTES since there have been no meetings.
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, June: Roger Muir
MIS MEETING/EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 3, 2020 - 'OPEN GARDEN', 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. at FORT MISSOULA IRIS GARDEN
Saturday, November 7, 2020 - Board and Budget Meeting? to be decided
Sunday, December 13, 2020 - Christmas party and pot luck? also to be decided