Allen Meadow House

HOSTESSES: Sally Allen, Tricia Allen, Marcy McTier, Louise Moore & Parker Tekin

CALL TO ORDER: Mary Huntz

Mary called the meeting to order at 10:49 and thanked the hostesses. Mary asked for an update on the health of member Rae Knox. It was reported that she recently underwent open-heart surgery to replace a valve and is recovering well.

DUES: Sarah McElroy

Membership dues ($50) are due and can be paid to Sarah McElroy by check or online.  Checks may also be mailed to Sarah at 3512 Paces Valley Road, 30327.

EMAILS: Mary Huntz

Mary thanked Mary Mac Southerland for her work on the email/communications processes. She reminded the members that the login for the new web site is: username (first initial and last name) and password (home phone number with dashes).

QUARRY GARDEN: Parker Tekin

Parker reported the following updates on the Quarry Garden/History Center:

The renovated Louise Richardson Allen Atrium is now open to the public. Mimosa Garden Club is included on the new donor wall that recognizes contributors who have given in excess of $100,000 over the life of the organization.

The Atlanta History Center’s new bookshop and café featuring Souper Jenny, as well as the new permanent exhibition on Atlanta, will open in April 2016. Groundbreaking for the Cyclorama building is scheduled to begin in a couple weeks.

We had one sad loss in the Quarry Garden which was an American Chestnut planted in 2008 which seems to have succumbed to phytophthora root rot, a common problem for the species. It has been left standing in case it flushes back out in spring. All of our native perennial additions this year are tucked in for winter. They’re going to try shredding leaves and leaving them on the beds for mulch this year instead of raking them out of the beds or leaving them on whole. The trails will probably be mulched with wood chips again this winter.

The current exhibit in McElreath Hall is called The Curious Mister Catesby and the Elegant Mister Abbot: Early Naturalists in Georgia, 1722-1840. It will be on display through some part of April 2016. The History Center is working with the Atlanta Audubon Society to incorporate the Goizueta Gardens as an ideal bird habitat. They’ve hosted four bird walks so far, and always display one of the birds sighted recently in the shadow box in the Quarry Garden.  The History Center will work with them to have some kind of event or bird walk for members and feature this exhibit in April.

The History Center sends its thanks for the two checks they received from Mimosa. They have been put in the Quarry Garden’s restricted fund account to support the work of the curator as well as for the operating needs for the Quarry Garden for the next year. Some will go towards eradication of privet and English ivy that climbs the stone walls and requires a professional climber to remove. The rest is yet to be determined and they are looking forward to making some beautiful additions and improvements.

HOSTESS CHART: Marianne Craft

Marianne reported that the hostess charts are available and reminded members to sign up for 2016-2017 dates.

GARDEN PARTY: Emily Ferguson

Emily reported that she and Jennifer Euart are busy planning the Garden Party that is set for Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the home of Rae Knox. The party will have a May Day theme. No additional updates at this time.

AMARYLLIS PROJECT: Leslie Morgan

Leslie thanked the participants of this year’s project and announced that the kits were available at the meeting. Each person’s name and amount owed was attached to her kit. She reminded the participants to take a photo of their success or failure and that prizes will be awarded in April.

GUEST SPEAKER: Aimee Nix introduced her friend and guest speaker, Annette Joseph, party planner and author of Picture Perfect Parties.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharena Hall

Jackie Cushman’s Home

HOSTESSES: Lois Yates, Julie Yates, Esther Garges, Nell Mitchell, and Maggie Fischer

CALL TO ORDER: Mary Huntz

Mary Huntz opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.  How wonderful it was to be at Jackie’s on a beautiful but rainy day!  As a small thank you, we gave Jackie the dozen free range eggs from Mary’s farm for offering up her home for our rained out workday.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Jinny Keough reported on our November 10th meeting – the speaker will be Annette Joseph, author of Picture Perfect Parties.  Information about Annette and her book was distributed.  A sign up sheet was passed around to purchase a book at a discounted 40% off retail price of $26.  An email will be sent to the Mimosa membership so everyone can get the information about buying a copy of Annette Joseph’s book.  Jinny also told us about the Southeastern Horticultural Society Holiday House to be November 20-December 13th.  More details will be on our Mimosa website.

Marianne Craft presented the Hostess Chart for this year and next year.  Please sign up if you are scheduled to Hostess for the year 2016-2017.  On the website is a Master Hostess Chart six years out.

DUES: Sarah McElroy

If you haven’t paid your dues, please send them to Sarah McElroy asap.  Sarah’s address is in the directory on our website or you may pay via the website.

SPEECH SCHOOL UPDATE : Terri Alston

There will be no Speech School workday this fall.  We will see the new garden at our January meeting.

AMARYLLIS PROJECT: Lindsey Sones and Leslie Morgan

You may participate by planting your own bulb, by buying a bulb from Mimosa, or a by buying a bulb kit from Mimosa.  You make pick up your bulb or bulb kit at the November 10th meeting.  When your Amaryllis blooms, take a photo, and email it to Leslie Morgan.  Recognitions and awards will be given at a spring meeting.

MIMOSA GARDEN CLUB WEBSITE:  www.mimosagardenclub.com

We are so pleased to announce that the new site is working very well.  Your user name is your first name initial and your last name (Example: mhuntz).  Your password is your home telephone number including the dashes (Example: 123-456-7890). You may go into your own profile and make changes and updates.

If you do not see your photograph on the website directory, please contact our photographer, Guerry Redmond ASAP to have one taken:   404-874-1713

Margaret Glenn has been keeping our website updated. If you have questions about a meeting or an event, please go to the website.  Thank you Margaret Glenn.

Thank you again, Margaret Warren, for spearheading this project over the summer.

Mary thanked Mary Mac Southerland for working through several new issues for getting emails out to you promptly.  We hope you like the new format via MailChimp.

PROGRAM GUEST:

Mary welcomed and introduced Bryan Tate and his wife, Johanna.  Bryan, a Vietnam Veteran, is truly a remarkable person and continues to work with all Veterans.  Bryan was instrumental in the design and development of the Veteran’s Park at the History Center.  We were all inspired by Bryan’s continued commitment to working with our Veterans.

Thanks to our Hostesses for providing lunch today and being so flexible with the weather. Our next meeting will be on November 10th at the Allen Meadow.

Respectfully Submitted,

Louise Moore

Atlanta Botanical Garden

HOSTESSES: Shelby Drinkard, Jo Phelps, Harden Powell and Nancy Powell

CALL TO ORDER: Mary Huntz

Mary called the meeting to order and offered condolences to Mariea Sibley and Karin Brown following the passing of James Sibley. She also offered condolences and sympathy to the family of Harden Powell, Jo Phelps, Nancy Powell and Shelby Drinkard who lost a father, grandfather and family member last August. Mary announced that Mimosa members are welcome to make contributions to the club in someone’s honor. Please contact treasurer Julie Harlan to do so.

GUEST SPEAKER:

Jinny Keough introduced Caroline Leake, Executive Director of the Southeastern Horticultural Society and her assistant Jenny Fleischman. Caroline presented on the many programs the SHS is currently offering including several community gardens in low-income areas. She also announced their upcoming October fundraising event, the 2015 Visionaries of Design Awards. Mimosa presented SHS with a contribution to support the community gardening programs.

NEW MEMBERS: Mary Huntz

Mary welcomed our new members, Jessica Brown, Mary Ayers Griggs and Molly West, and thanked Mandy Culpepper and Marianne Craft for hosting the recent luncheon in their honor.

DUES: Sarah McElroy

Membership dues ($50) are due and can be payed to Sarah McElroy by check or online.  Checks may also be mailed to Sarah at 3512 Paces Valley Road, 30327.

SPEECH SCHOOL GARDEN: Terri Alston

Terri reported that the Speech School Garden has received a tremendous facelift and that many of the school’s faculty and staff have expressed their thanks for the updates. The total cost of the project was $11,853.10, which included needed repairs to the irrigation system. We have hired Solterra to provide monthly maintenance to the garden for $240 per month. All of these expenses were covered by the Speech School account which is funded by donations from Mimosa each year.

We will still have scheduled workdays in the garden and will coordinate with Solterra to determine what needs to be done.

QUARRY GARDEN: Parker Tekin

Parker shared the following updates on the Quarry Garden from Sarah Roberts:

Trails have been mulched with wood chips to help with low wet spots. The stone staircase has been pressure-washed to eliminate slip hazards. Sarah Roberts has received the propagations of the Franklinia tree and she has many small plants growing for us to help plant on an upcoming workday. They have been working hard to stake floppy tall plants, pull weeds and keep everything watered following the July drought. There is an upcoming Georgia Perennial Plants Association workday to assist with English Ivy and hog peanut removal.

AMARYLLIS PROJECT: Leslie Morgan

In the absence of the flower show, we will be moving forward with the Amaryllis Project. There will be two options this year: receive the entire kit or just the bulbs. The sign-up sheet was passed around and will be available again at the October meeting. Bulbs and kits will be delivered at the November meeting and there will be prizes for the most outstanding Amaryllises.

GARDEN PARTY: Emily Ferguson

Emily announced that the Garden Party will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the home of Rae Knox. The party will have a May Day theme.

NEW WEBSITE: Margaret Warren

Margaret announced that the new and improved Mimosa website is now up and running. Each member may sign in using a user name (first letter of first name and full last name, no spaces) and password (home phone number with dashes). The many improvements to the site include online voting, a printable member directory with photos and email links, access to news and announcements and meeting minutes and link to pay dues.

A reminder was given that the online pay option automatically adds a late fee to dues paid after December 1^st.

If you have not had your photo taken for the online directory, please have it taken at the October meeting or upload a photo to your profile on the site.

OTHER BUSINESS: Mary Huntz

• The Fuqua Lecture at the Atlanta Botanical Garden will be held October 6^th from 7pm – 9pm.
• A handout providing tips on growing garlic was provided to each member in attendance.

HOSTESS SIGN UP: Mandy Culpepper and Marianne Craft

Mandy created a new hostess chart for 2016-2017. Please sign up for hostessing duties or a date will be assigned to you.

Mary thanked the guest speaker and hostesses and awarded the door prize, a dozen free range eggs from her farm to Sarah Clarke, and the meeting concluded for lunch.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharena Hall

Allen Pool House

HOSTESSES: Louise Moore, Sharena Hall, Frannie Hilsman, Mary Ella Hill

CALL TO ORDER: Jackie Cushman

Jackie called our meeting to order at 11:47 a.m. Thirty- nine members were in attendance. Jackie thanked everyone for attending and she also thanked our hostesses.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Jackie Cushman

As there were no corrections to the meeting minutes from March’s meeting, they were approved as submitted. Jackie announced a change in May’s meeting location. It will be at her house on May 12th.

QUARRY GARDEN REPORT: Parker Tekin

Parker reported that there are lots of plants blooming in the garden and lots of new arrivals. The maintenance has improved over the last 12 months and Rosemary is there every day for upkeep and weed reduction. The garden has a newly crowned state champion fringe tree, Chionanthus virginicus.

SPEECH SCHOOL REPORT: Terri Alston

Terri has received one proposal for the garden landscaping and is still waiting for two more. The spring workday has not been scheduled yet.

HISTORY REPORT: Sallie Smith

Sallie recently met with Nadine Jones Lawton and learned about Mimosa Garden club activities in the early days. Nadine moved to Atlanta from San Francisco in 1945 and joined Mimosa in 1946. She had very fond memories of getting dressed to the nines and enjoying tea during the meetings.

OTHER BUSINESS: Jackie Cushman

Website: Jackie apologized for any frustrations that occurred during voting for new members on the Mimosa website. The website is being updated.

New Members: Jackie announced that Mimosa voted for three new members. They are Jessica Sayer Brown (sponsored by Jennifer Euart), Mary Ayres Griggs (sponsored by Emily Ferguson), and Molly Hill West (sponsored by Lois Yates). She will reach out to the new members but also asked that the sponsors let them know.

Slate of Officers for 2015-2016: The nominating committee met and would like to announce the slate of officers for 2015-2016. There was a motion to approve the new slate and it was unanimously approved.

Ex-Officio – Jackie Cushman

President – Mary Huntz

Vice President – Margaret Warren

Speech School – Caroline Davis, Terri Alston

Quarry Garden – Parker Tekin

Recording Secretaries – Sharena Hall, Rae Knox, Louise Moore

Corresponding Secretary – Mary Mac Southerland

Treasurer – Julie Harlan

Dues Treasurer – Sarah McElroy

Website- Margaret Glenn

Programs – Jinny Keough, Aimee Nix

Membership – Marianne Craft, Mandy Culpepper

Publicity/Scrapbook – Sophie Mason

Historian – Sallie Smith

New Member Mentor- Mariea Sibley, Maggie Fischer

Parliamentarian- Libby Lanier, Betty Glenn

Flower Show- Lindsey Sones, Leslie Morgan

Party Chairs – Emily Ferguson, Jennifer Euart

GUEST SPEAKER: John Oetgen

Jennifer Euart introduced John Oetgen, a native Atlantan and founder of John Oetgen Design. He presented photographs of past interior design projects and recounted stories of the design process for these homes. Several of the rooms he discussed were from Mimosa members’homes.

Jackie Cushman thanked John Oetgen, thanked everyone for attending, and ended the meeting with the doorprize drawing. The meeting concluded at 11:35 for lunch.

Respectfully submitted,

Aimee Nix

The Home of Rae Knox

HOSTESSES: Rae Knox, Wawa Hines, Mary Mac Southerland & Sarah Clarke

CALL TO ORDER: Jackie Cushman

Thank you to hosts and thank you to Guerry Redmond for Mimosa head shots. FYI – if you had your photo taken at Speech School (January meeting) you will need a retake due to a computer glitch.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Jackie Cushman

UPDATES, EVENTS & NEWS:

Speech School Garden – Teri Alston

Improvements – working with landscaping companies for bids (Planters and Sol Terra landscapers). The plan is to take out overgrown bushes, replant greenery that requires less maintenance. Ongoing irrigation system fixes are taking place. Funds will be taken from Mimosa budget to pay for improvements. Let Terri know if you have suggestions for plantings. Spring work day TBD based on when replanting will take place

Gibbs Garden field trip on April 1- Organized by Mary Huntz

Tour gardens, eat lunch, return in the afternoon / Transportation to be provided

New member applications are due at April Meeting. Email or give to Jackie.

AMARYLLIS PROJECT: Ester Garges and Wawa Hines

It was a great success! Thanks go to Julie, Nell and Elizabeth for delivering bulbs and pots, and picking up winner prizes.

Shelby Neely–Grand Prize Winner

Rae Knox – White Bloom

Parker Tekin and Margaret Warren – Bi-color

Mary Huntz – Most blossoms

Mary Ann Craft – Personal collection

Aimee Nix – Honorable mention

Susan Virgin – White to pink

Lindsey Sones – Greenery award

Lois Yates- Dedication award

GUEST SPEAKERS: Holly Brooks and Eric King from King Landscaping

They offered suggestions on natural ways to improve landscaping and ways to avoid a midlife crisis for your yard. Three member homes were photographed and analyzed for suggested improvements and simplification.

Door prize drawing winner: Bettye Maddox

Meeting Adjourned / Lunch Served