Greetings to all members of the Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Old-Time Gardening Wisdom, Lore, and Superstition (SPPOTGWLS or “the Society”, or the newly designated Garden Club for Everyone),
I assume that all remember that the Society likes to meet whenever the 13th falls on a Friday, as it does today. I, your self-appointed president, came up with a full agenda for this meeting.
There were announcements of various sorts, a program to inspire every gardener, and a funny hoe story.
First up were the announcements.
Mary Ann, the Idaho Gardener, announced that she is hosting a contest on her blog called “Why I Garden”. To enter, just write a short essay to explain why you garden and let her know about it by the Winter Solstice, December 21st.
Flowergardengirl gave a report on Garden Bloggers Operation Christmas Child which she recently organized. She started it off with a big bang by getting the generous folks at Proven Winners to kick in the first $300. Garden bloggers have added another $435 to bring the total to $735, so far. She has already started purchasing the toys and goodies for all the kids who, thanks to the generosity of garden bloggers, will have something to enjoy on Christmas Day. She is accepting donations until November 20th.
I, your self-appointed president of the Society announced, again, that I am hosting a book giveaway, thanks to the generous people at Timber Press and will be giving away three copies of What’s Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do Fix It?) by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth. To enter, all are encouraged to go to the original contest post, enter your name and a url in the Mr. Linky Widget and leave a comment there telling us about a problem one of your plants has. Deadline to enter is November 16, 2009, 5:00 PM EST.
Over at Gardening Gone Wild, the monthly photography contest is in full swing with a theme of “End of the Line”. Entries are being accepted until November 22, 11:59 PM EST.
And the final announcement? Oh yes, Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is this Sunday, November 15th. By now all know how it works, right? Whether it is your first time or your 33rd time, all are invited to participate!
Next up was the program.
At most Society meetings, I, your self-appointed president, generally provide the program, but due to lack of time, I amended the by-laws to specify that others could provide programs, as time permitted.
For this meeting, all were enthralled with a photography demonstration by photographer extraordinaire, Mr. David Perry, who showed us all how to take a macro picture in a mason jar.
He then gave us great insight into life as a garden photographer as shown in his segment on Garden World Report.
I, your self-appointed president, took the picture above of Zygocactus flowers in a mason jar. Oops, make that Schlumbergera sp. flowers – those crazy botanists changed the genus name awhile back.
Then I took this picture of some of my compost in a mason jar.
Isn’t it pretty compost? My photography technique clearly needs some work, but this is a fun way to take close ups.
Compost was one of the alternate topics for the meeting. I was going to report on my compost, then Dee from Red Dirt Ramblings was going to report on hers, then we were going to ask everyone to bring in samples of their compost. But we nixed that idea as a bit too messy for one of our refined garden society meetings.
The other alternate topic was on gardening superstitions, a favorite of the Society, but I wrote about that for this week’s newspaper column instead.
At this point, the meeting concluded without me having an opportunity to tell my funny hoe story. We just ran out of time! I guess I’ll save that story for the next Friday the 13th meeting of the Society, which will be in August 2010. Can you all wait that long to hear my funny hoe story?
These minutes, without the funny hoe story, humbly submitted by:
Carol
Current President, SPPOTGWLS,
May Dreams Gardens
You are one of the most kind and successful garden bloggers on the net. Thank you for all the support and links over the years. I am amazed that you keep up with the current need-to-know and up-to-date cool things while writing two well attended sites. Bravo. We much appreciate it.
I like your compost in a jar–now didn't that turn out pretty cool. I haven't been over to see his series yet but will. Who can resist a photo in a jar. He's pretty terrific too.
I object to the sudden closing of the meeting without the telling of the hoe story. I want to read it NOW!
Chickened out, huh?
Aah! No funny hoe story? How will we wait for it? When is the next Friday the 13th anyway? I have it somewhere in my planner. Seriously, you are generous Madam President with the link love and a very interesting post too. Thank you.~~Dee
You are such a tease. ;^)
That is a great photo of compost, and beautiful compost it is too.
The meeting left me with so many things to do. It's a good thing I have some nice clean Mason jars that are slowly being emptied of their tomato sauce. My camera is at the ready. I do wish you were my neighbor – and could hear funny hoe stories any time I wanted.
Carol, you've got me on pins and needles–when is the next Friday the 13th?? So glad I made it here in time for the meeting; lots of interesting info today. I'm going to head off to the basement now to find a Mason jar for a little photography experiment:)
Carol, Carol, Carol … first you get our hoepes up and then you leave us on the edge of our hoe blades without the hoele story? Hoe could you???
Thank goodness we have The Society to keep us organized! It's always such a pleasure to attend a meeting. With or without the hoe story.
I move that with Madam's consent, the Society reconvenes for the hoe story.
and to think, I have been waiting DAYS, for the hoe story. Haruumpf.
Perhaps you're saving your story for December? (Hoe, hoe, hoe!) Otherwise, that's delicious-looking compost, clearly made with love.
I second the objection and vote for censure of the President for leading us all down the garden path without coming across with the funny story.
Now I have to run out and get some pictures for GGBD and also I am hot to try the mason jar macro tripod.
What a fun post! Thanks, Carol
It was so much fun, I had to run right out and try my hand at the mason jar macro. That was truly a blast.
http://healingmagichands.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/macro-mania/
You've been busy spreading pixie dust, I see. Strong work.