9:15 – 10 am Social Time – Meet, Greet & Eat.
Hosting Today – Julie Lund, Patti Taylor, Gayle Ely, and Mary Horton.
ATTENDEES: Rita Baker, Diane Bryant, Karen Burmester, Mike Burmester, Jennifer Buss, Gayle Ely, Donna Endicott, Mary Lou Epperson, Connie Evans, Jan Ferguson-Bresee, Patti Gage, Sue Gilbert, Sheila Greer, Mary Horton, Katherene Kerner, Yvonne Kochanowski, John Kochanowski, Julie Lund, Leona McDonald, Bob Mell, Janet Rasher, Priscilla Robinson, Donna Simonson, Claudia Taylor, Patti Taylor, Marlee Underhill, Wendy Young
Guests: Dan O’Dell, Charlene Coplen, Trish Weaver, Marla Douglas, Lisa Bassett, Ann Blair, Kathie Thompson and Laurie Coleman attended today’s meeting, as guests of members, or after learning about the club from our website. (Welcome to Ann, Lisa, Trish, Charlene, and Dan, who have become members!)
Inspiration from Mike Burmester:
“I never fully trust that they’ll come back — not the lilac blossoms on the tulip magnolia beside my driveway, not the pink and red flowers on the camellias near them, not the puffs of white on my weeping cherry, not the confetti of deep purple high on a redbud in the back yard. Maybe a change in weather patterns will queer their usual cycle. Perhaps one or more of them has spent its glory: Plants, like people, eventually fade away.
But a few weeks ago, slightly ahead of schedule, those colors returned. And they meant more to me than they usually do. I needed spring. Needed its beauty. Needed the reassurance that for all that goes wrong in this ravaged world of ours, nature stands ready to nurture us and to dazzle us — if we let it.”
- Frank Bruni, New York Times
Speaker: Larry Thompson, the owner of Thompson Farms, gave a presentation on growing vegetables. Thompson Farms is located at 24727 SE Bohna Park Rd in Damascus. He talked about the development of his farm and the use of sustainable practices to help protect the environment and encourage pollinators and beneficial organisms. He posts “crop updates” daily to let customers know what foods and plants are available at his stand. The updates can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and on the farm’s phone (503-658-4640). (Pictures are on our HVGC website at Thompson Farms.)
Business Meeting
- Treasurer’s Report: Sandy Platz was not in attendance and will update her report at the next meeting.
- Minutes of the March Meeting: A final draft of the minutes was emailed and submitted for posting to the HVGC website and stands approved.
- Updates:
- Club Survey: The survey that was handed out last month was re-distributed. The survey asks for feedback concerning meeting topics and length, presentation content, field trips, and other activities.
- District Meeting: Julie reported that the District Meeting took place on April 2nd. Margie McDonald contributed a beautiful centerpiece, which Priscilla Robinson won in the raffle.
- The State Convention this year is a one day, mini Convention on Saturday, June 27th, from 9:00am until 5:00pm. Location: The Shedd Institute, 285 E Broadway, Eugene, OR 97401. All OSFGC officers, members and their guests are encouraged to attend. Registration begins at 9:00am, and there will be meetings, workshops, lunch and speakers. (Reference: oregongardenclubs.org/event/osfgc-annual-convention/)
- Website: Yvonne indicated that the website seems to be generating increased interest in the club, as evidenced by the number of guests attending our meetings. She suggested that if there are difficulties getting into the website with the password, we should empty our cache/history on our browsers.
- Budget Committee: Julie announced that at the May meeting we will be asking for Budget Committee volunteers for this year’s budget process.
- Promise Tree Project: A canister was distributed to collect contributions. This is part of OSFGC’s participation to provide vouchers for fire-resistant trees to help homeowners replace trees lost to recent wildfires.
- Announcements:
- COFFEE CHAT: will be on April 28th, at Panera’s at Clackamas Town Center Mall. This time we are meeting at 11:00 am. A sign-up sheet was distributed. Contact Wendy or Claudia (chtplantlady@gmail.com or 503-961-4507)for further information.
- Julie and Leona reported that Pat Marshall had a fall at her home recently and is being treated at a skilled nursing facility. Pat will be released to her home next week, so cards can be sent to her there.
- Reminders:
- The Backyard Habitat Happy Valley Garden Tour is on Saturday, April 18th, from 10-12:30. Please register at: Backyard Habitat Happy Valley Garden Tour 2026. Information on the event and registration is also on our website in the “What’s Growing” tab.
- Spring Garden Fair is May 2-3 at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds, 694 NE 4th Ave, Canby, OR 97013. Volunteers are needed to help out at the District’s Information Booth. This is an opportunity to provide information about the District’s activities as well as our own HVGC. Volunteers will receive free attendance to the Fair. For more information: Spring Garden Fair – Presented by Clackamas County Master Gardener Assoc.
- Next month’s coffee hosts are Jennifer Buss, Donna Endicott, Mary Lou Epperson and Donna Simonson.
- Horticulture:
- Donna Endicott brought in a Gold Nugget Sedum to share, and Diane Bryant adopted it.
- Bob Mell reported that his Iris dig has been postponed to July, when bulbs will be ready to move. However, he has dahlias available to share. Text Bob to arrange at 503-761-1507.
- Happy Birthday to our April Birthdays: 3rd – Yvonne Kochanowski, 14th – Patti Taylor
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lou Epperson