Land O’Sky Garden Club Minutes, May 8, 2025
Land O’ Sky Garden Club
Proposed minutes from the May 8, 2025, meeting Draft 2 of 2
1. Call to Order – Vice President Ginger Michel opened the meeting at 10 a.m.
2. Ginger M thanked hostesses: Jana Humleker, Ginny Mitchell and Amy Smith.
3. Attendance – Advisor Sallie Carr took attendance and welcomed visitor, Sue Kampsen, who attended with Jana H. New members are as follows: Mary Lee Cantey, Anne Waring, Amy Lynn Holt and Sally Gudger.
4. Introduction of Speaker – Vice President Ginger M introduced Mickey Lively of Garden Gate Nursery. Lively told stories of working with Mr. Bob Bullington, whose once private nursery is now home to the public botanical gardens of Bullington Gardens in Henderson County. For 5 years, Lively learned from Bullington, who taught him, among many other things, how to graph plants. Members asked Lively questions about his history with working with area gardeners and about their specific propagation needs. Lively graphs and propagates many species, including apple trees, most recently a Royal Limbertwig apple tree. He advised members to have patience with propagation. He referred to his experiences with horticulturist and renown researcher, Dr. Richard E. “Dick” Bir, author of “Growing and Propagating Showy Native Woody Plants,” (UNC Press, 1992.) Lively said he prefers to prune many plants in mid-March. Lively does consulting and has landscaped many area developments. He suggested cutting leaves in half on cuttings to propagate. For propagation, he suggested using Dip’n Grow for summer growth, Root Tone for early spring soft wood and Hormodin No. 3 for hard woods.
5. Old Business – The membership approved the April 2025 meeting minutes.
6. New Business
a. Treasury Report – Treasurer Maggie Mugan presented the current accounting of garden club monies at $14,874.24, which included expenses paid out and an influx of dues. Veterans Healing Farm in Mills River asked for a donation of $1,000 for an upcoming event. Members suggested the club visit the farm before giving the organization money. Ginger suggested the club revisit the request in June.
b. Ways and Means Update – Vice President Ginger M updated members on the results of the meeting at the Hendersonville Country Club on April 24, 2025, which focused on how to fund the club’s operating and discretionary expenses. Sallie C presented her reflections and extensive research on the benefits of being an affiliate of state and national garden clubs, which require annual dues from this club. There was a lot of support among the membership for continued affiliation with the Garden Club of North Carolina, national, regional and federated garden clubs. Sallie C referenced the times when affiliated garden clubs sent money and other support to us after Hurricane Helene in September 2024 as well as their support for our Christmas Bazaar 2024. She asked that members give serious consideration to the benefits of continued affiliations. Jana H suggested that a Survey Monkey of members be conducted. After the meeting was formally adjourned, members continued to discuss ways to fund the club’s annual operating expenses and voluntary donations. After substantial discussion, the club took a nonbinding vote on whether to stay engaged with state and national garden clubs and continue to fund those connections through annual dues. The informal show of hands to continue as an affiliate was nearly unanimous.
7. Gardening – A sign-up sheet for maintenance of the Bi-Centennial garden were sent around for members to sign up for specific work dates. The Pardee atrium work day is scheduled for May 13, 2025.
8. Fun Thymes – Sunday June 22, 2025, at Souther Williams Winery
9. June meeting – Fred Thompson Bluebirds, Flat Rock Park, boxed picnic lunch afterwards. Send $25 to Maggie via Venmo if you want lunch. The New Members
Tea will be held at the Veteran’s Healing Farm on June 24, 2025, at 10 a.m. All garden club members are welcomed to attend.
10. Celebrations and Concerns: Prayers for Susan Frost for healing and condolences to Sally Gregg with the passing of her father.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:59 a.m.
Minutes were submitted by Recording Secretary Denise Layfield on May 9, 2025