June Meeting Minutes

The June 22nd meeting started with 10 members present. We started out the evening by talking about the Titan arum at the CBS greenhouses and the one at Gustavus. We hope to go visit Perry (they named the Gustavus Titan) for a field trip at some point in the coming year when it blooms. A side field trip to visit a very plant-based and related manufacturing plant in New Ulm was also discussed.

The show and tell portion of the meeting featured S. J.'s Sinningia with large yellow blooms. Some discussion as to just which Sinningia it was is still being considered. It was not reitzii but could be conspicua or another. C. H. had a S. reitzii in bloom (which has been in bloom for over three years), a S. Leucotricha with the auxiliary set of leaves growing, a S. iarae seedling cup with the babies growing nicely and orchids featuring the yellow Promenaea xanthina.

Ax Man had head mounted magnifiers for only $8.00. Those were cool. Out business meeting then started about 7:08 p.m.

Two hard copies of the minutes, which were also posted on the blog, were ok'ed. The treasurer stated the amount in the treasury (which is available to members and not posted on the internet.) There was some discussion about awards to be given out at shows for prize winning gesneriad entries. Although we haven't given a State Fair Show award in the past, we motioned and seconded an award of $25.00 this year because there will be no judged show at Northtown in October. The prize will be for a "Best Foliage" gesneriad.

There was an amendment to that award discussion. We will talk to J. N. and the executive committee will have the authority to amend or adjust the award as appropriate for that show. The amendment was approved, and then the original motion was approved.

As an affiliate we will have a "club table" at the Fair. It will be staffed by volunteers similar to past years. K. L. will have a light stand and directions for it's construction there also. Members are asked to bring along some plant material when they volunteer so that they have "hands-on" material to show the public. Volunteers can talk about whatever gesneriad related topic they like.

We had a thorough discussion about the need to have printed promotional material at the State Fair and other shows. We could use updated brochures and possibly business cards along with new signage and acrylic stands to display things at the shows. There was a motion and second to allocate up to $75.00 for new promotional materials such as printed material, the stands to display such material and other related expenses. The vote passed. Members volunteered to look into updating materials and preparing various needed signs etc.

We are the Twin Cities Chapter of the Gesneriad Society. The meeting was done at 7:52 p.m.

Mauro's seeds were ordererd and we have some Sinningia coming, as well as N. gregarius, Streptocarpus lilliputiana, and a Gesneria of some sort. We thanked D. for the delicious dessert!!!

Our program featured Niphea oblonga. We had supurb examples brought by J. O. and C. H. from the greenhouse. J. O. grows them in very high light, close to the fluorescent bulbs with lights on at least 12 hours a day. The plants can be a little brittle and should be staked, if the grower wants an upright growth habit, when the plants are young. They bloom with a nice white blossom that is very reminiscent of an African violet.

Episcias were discussed. To get the most bloom remove the stolons and grow as a single crown plant. These can be staked also. 'Pink Panther' was shown and to get the pink colored flowers a blue E. lilacina type and a red cupreata are crossed.

Episcias need fresh soil to thrive. They like moisture but with a LIGHT mix or sphagnum and nothing that packs down tightly. They have delicate and long roots. They need to be grown warm, over 55 deg. F. and some types prefer very high humidity.