Members:

Here is the newsletter for June.  The weather is finally becoming cooperative so we can get outside and work in the garden!!  There are lots of buds and blooms in our gardens. The first bloom of tulips is over already and the next generation of flowers are starting to bud. The lilacs are already doubled in size from last month and full of beautiful, sweet smelling blooms in 3 bright colors. Anyway, read on for lots of news and happenings. Remember, June’s meeting is at Elizabeth Friesz house ON SUNDAY this time in Alberton. Directions below. We also have carpools forming for those who don’t want to drive. See ya all there.

Pete Addeo, Webmaster
Missoula Iris Society
http://www.missoulairis.com

DATE & TIME: SUNDAY, JUNE 8th, 6:30 pm.  Meeting and Potluck dinner begins at 6:30 pm.

PLACE:   Home of Elizabeth Friesz,  Phone 722-4918 for directions.

PROGRAM:  Cross pollinating iris presented by Elizabeth Friesz.

"FYI" NEWS

CARPOOL – 5:45pm - MEETING AT PARKING LOT ON NORTH RESERVE NEAR THE SIGN FOR GRANT CREEK SHOPPING CENTER WHERE GRANNY’S BUFFET USED TO BE ACROSS FROM LOWE’S AND COSTCO.

June Meeting Driving directions: Take Highway 90 West to Fish Creek exit (38 miles) Exit #66. Exit to the right & go to the right around the stop sign. Curve down toward the Clark Fork River, crossing the railroad tracks & coming to a T in the road. Turn left at the T.  Cross the River bridge. You will drop off the oiled surface after crossing the bridge & there are a couple of very tall pine trees on your left as you drop off the oiled surface. Turn left here, making a right turn on the dirt road. Follow the dirt road past the first house on your left until you get to the end of the road. Her house is a large Ivory colored sided house at the end of the road.  THERE ARE LOTS OF IRIS IN SIGHT AROUND THE HOUSE. PLENTY OF PARKING.

HELP WANTED: MIS TOUR JUNE 7^TH

Volunteers needed as a greeter for two yards on that day from 10am – 4pm: Alayne Hilditch wrote: We still need a helper for Fred Frye and Joslyn Syers’s homes. Alayne has asked Jim Sadler and Missoula Garden Club to issue a “help wanted” alert. You can volunteer for ½ the day if you want. Call Alayne at 829-8868 if you can help.

FREE SEEDLING PLANTS:
Too many to put in garden.  Free early tomato plants, spaghetti squash plants, Cosmos flowers.  Call Carol - 251-5833.

RON DUNN IS DOING BETTER - We've heard from Eleanor that Ron Dunn has been transferred to Village Health Care Center. He is doing much better and in good spirits. His new address is: Ron Dunn, Village Health Care Center, 2615 South Ave W #607, Missoula, MT 59804. Great news.

SCHEDULE FOR JUNE  - Lots of things going on in May and June.  Here is a tentative schedule:

Sunday June 1 - 1:00 to ?  Fort Garden Work Party -   Everyone should come out for a "spruce up" before the tour.  There will be a job for everyone, including labeling, weeding, spreading pea gravel, general clean up.

Friday, June 6 - Private pre-tour of gardens for all volunteers, meet at the Fort Gardens at 6:30 p.m. to carpool.
Saturday, June 7 - Self guided tour of 7 gardens 10 - 4:00 p.m.  Greeter volunteers needed.

Sunday, June 8th - 6:30 p.m.  Meeting and pot luck at the home of Elizabeth Friesz in Alberton.
Friday, June  13 - Setup for the show at Penney's Court at 7:45 - 9:00  Southgate Mall  Tables need to be wrapped, and  all supplies brought in.

Saturday, June14 - Iris Show at JC Penney Court in  Southgate Mall - Theme is "Ringing in the News".  Show starts at 10:00 a.m. to 7:00p.m.Cindy Davis is show chairman.  Alverta Symes is the head judge.

Saturday evening, June 14 - After show banquet at  Jakers at 5:30 p.m. with menu choices of  8 or 12 oz sirloin, almond crusted halibut, chicken parmesan, seafood linquini or a 8 oz prime rib.  Do not have to reserve your dinner ahead.

Sunday, June 15th - Judges Training - Jeanette Graham (Judge from Twin Falls) will hold a Judges Training class at 9 a.m. on the Sunday immediately following the Iris Show at Gary Clarke's home.

It's Their Birthday!!....Let's Give 'Em a Cheer!!!

Happy day to Jean Macaraeg, June 9th; Lois Asch, June 29th; Betty Ann Gustafson, June 21^st; and Linda Sadler – June 22nd.  Have a happy birthday all

Treasurer's Report from Pete Addeo:

The numbers are for the month of May 2008,

Minutes:  May 3, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Cindy Davis.  The treasurer’s report was accepted as reported in the Falls and Standards.  The following corrections were made in April’s minutes:  Garden judges are required to attend five hours of class and two hours in the garden and master judges are required to attend three hours of class and one hour in the garden every three years to maintain their respective ratings.  It was moved by Ed Verplancke and seconded by Billie Gray to accept the minutes with the above corrections.

Old Business

Shed:  The shed is coming along.  Ron and Donna Dowell and Pete Addeo raised the walls last week.  The rafters were put up today by Ed Verplancke, Swede Gustafson and Pete Addeo.  A minimum of three people is needed to help this Sunday (May 4).  More would be welcome!

The cost of the shed is coming in under budget mainly because of unexpected donations from some of the suppliers.  Ann at Boyce Lumber got the lumber cost down to $1183.00.  Then Boyce donated $350.00 of the $1183.00.  High Mountain Trusses in Darby, Montana, donated the rafters, a sum of $475.00. Knife River donated approximately $1200.00 in cement for the slab.  Steve Adler, the architect who drew up the plans for the building, donated his time.  MIS will give him several iris as a thank you for his work.  All of these donations have helped to stretch the $3,000.00 provided by The Friends of The Fort.

A motion was made, seconded, and passed that Pete Addeo make a plaque for the front of the shed that would recognize those people and businesses who had made significant donations to the building of the shed.  It was suggested that the Missoulian be contacted to see if they would do a follow-up story on the shed.

Fort Garden:  The sixth through eighth grade classes from Sussex School helped with the garden cleanup.  The Sunday work parties will continue up to the tour.  Work is not restricted to Sundays.  Weeding and cleanup can be done on any day.  Members were reminded to write their hours worked on the sheet on the clipboard in the box located in the Siberian bed.

Card File:  Another card file party has been scheduled at Claudia Brown’s.  Snacks will be provided.

Tour:  House sitters are still needed.  A sign-up sheet was passed around.  Fred Frey reported that Tour, Show, and Iris Sale posters have already been posted at the nurseries in town.  People were asked to take some to distribute in other places around Missoula.  Fred also explained that Tour tickets can be bought at each garden so extra guests can be accommodated.  It was again stressed that as many tickets as possible be sold before the tour.  Water will be sold at each garden for $1.00.  Western Title has donated eight cases.

There will be a pre-tour Friday evening, June 6^th for the “yard sitters.”  Members going on the tour should meet at the Fort Gardens about 6:15 p.m. to carpool.  The tour will leave at 6:30 p.m.

The following were suggested as possible places to advertise the tour:

                        KECI and KPAX

                        Send write-ups to The Springs, Senior Citizens Center, and the Convention Center

                        Fairgrounds reader board

                        Publish article in the Fort Rally

Show:  The show is June 14^th.  Tables will be set up Friday, June 13^th, 6:30 p.m.  Jean Macaraeg, Alayne Hilditch, Scott, Betty Ann Gustafson, Donna Dowell, and possibly Tom Thompson will serve as clerks.  Alverta Symes is the head judge. Others judging are Gary Clark, Cindy Davis, Lyn Weger, Swede Gustafson, Roger Muir, and guest judge, Jeannette Graham.

There was some discussion about who could judge the arrangements. It was suggested that maybe we could use federated judges.

The banquet after the show will be at Jakers.  The following entrees are offered: 8 or 12 ounce sirloin steak, almond crusted halibut, chicken parmesan, seafood linguini, or an 8 ounce prime rib.  No advanced notice is needed.  Selections will be made at the banquet.

Sunshine:  Ronn Dunn is still in the hospital.  It was determined that he had blood poisoning and a hernia.  He is in Room 529 at St. Patrick’s Hospital.  Billie Gray’s stepmother died.  We extend to her our deepest sympathy.  Cleo Swanson is doing fine.

June Meeting:  Sunday, June 8, 2008, at the home of Elizabeth Friesz in Alberton.  It will be a potluck.  Members who want to carpool will meet at 5:45 p.m. in Northgate in the parking lot where Granny’s used to be.  The evening’s program will be about hybridizing.  Note the change of day.  Elizabeth will give directions to any members who need them.  Her number is 722-4918.

Presidential Rhizome:  Carol Addeo

Ed Verplancke moved the meeting be adjourned and so it was.

Respectfully submitted,

Zona Lindemann, Secretary

A Little Background History on Jeannette Graham

 Jeannette grew up on a Holstein dairy farm near Rochester, Minnesota.  Her dad loved flowers and had a small flower garden.  She was about 12 years old when she started her own wild flower garden with flowers that she brought from the woods.She graduated from Brainerd Vocational College as a floral designer and got a job at Bachman’s in Rochester, Minnesota.  She married her husband of 34 years and established a home.The first named iris she bought was Pink and Mint from Bachman’s.  Every so often her dad would go to a hybridizer in Chatfield, Minnesota and get a few irises.

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