The President's Column
We have our 2012 schedule worked out! MARLS will not have an elaborate lily show this spring. With Missouri Botanical Garden (MGB) facilities unavailable, we couldn’t find a venue that would offer equivalent safety and public exposure for our lilies. Instead we will have a mini-show and pot-luck for ourselves June 23rd at Kim Peterson’s home.
Our educational meeting will be February 25th at MBG with Michael Heger, owner of Ambergate Gardens near Chaska, MN, the speaker. A flyer describing the presentation and following public lily bulb potting, is available from Debra Pratt. Contact her (314-599-2778 or DebrasPrat@yahoo.com) for a supply and put some up to help spread the word to the public.
Our spring bulb sale will be April 21-22 at MBG, potting party Friday evening, April 20th. Pam Hardy and Debra Pratt are pulling the sale together. Everyone please help out with this sale. We need to sell out so we do not have to carry bulbs over the summer. MBG has given us October 20th for a fall sale. Given the meager profits we have experienced from fall sales, the Board has reserved this year’s fall sale decision.
Regretfully this year marks the retirement of the Lily Trumpet. Publication costs are simply more than we can reasonably afford. Carol Bales produced outstanding productions each and every time and devoted selfless hours in the process. Thank-you Carol. Fortunately our web site, MARLS.COM, will fill the void and is available to everyone. YES, that is right. The internet is readily available to even those without computers or computer skills. Your neighborhood public library has computers connected to the internet for your use, for free. They will even help you get started. Go do it!
The Board has funded an NALS honorarium for Linda Smith and a MBG honorarium for Shirley Pupillo.
A new colorful revised edition of “Lets Grow Lilies” has just been published. We will have some available for the educational meeting @ $7.50. NALS is offering a two volume CD containing most everything from the 2011 show for $20 including shipping and handling. Order your copy from Stephanie@lilies.org, it is very well done, informative and something you will enjoy.
Finally financials: MARLS’ net worth over the past three years has eroded a little over $1000. Either several special one-time item or the Lily Trumpet expenditures could account for the deficit. Thus, I expect our scaled down 2012 activities will be reasonably sound. Remember to renew your MARLS 2012 membership.
How does your garden grow? Now is a good time to check-out those spots just waiting for new lily bulbs. In my case, I’ve spotted the deer tracks and know where to put a barrier. Now to find the time.
Don Kelley