November 2024

MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY POTLUCK MEETING

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2024

6:00 PM

LOCATION: 830 South Avenue West, Immanuel Lutheran Church

Directions for the November Meeting at Immanuel Lutheran Church:

Coming from the south on Brooks Street:

Turn east, right, onto South Avenue at the stop light by the fair grounds, go past the fair grounds, and the church is just across from Sentinel High School. Parking is behind the church on Sussex. Turn left onto Bow Street from South Avenue and go one block to Sussex, turn left and the church is the second church on the left. Go to the parking lot at the rear of the church. Use the church entrance from the parking lot on Sussex.

Coming from the North, East or West:

Turn off Brooks onto Stephens Avenue, go past CVS and Walgreens on either side of Stephens.

Turn left on Central at the Missoula Manor. Go one block and turn right onto Holburn Street. Proceed one block to Sussex and there is the church and its parking lot. It is the first church on the west end. Use the church entrance from the parking lot on Sussex.

Take the elevator to the Parish Hall. Someone will be at the door to welcome you!

Call Betty Ann at 406.370.1696 if you have questions or get lost.

PROGRAM: Why go to the 2025 National Convention of the American Iris Society? A discussion will be led by Gary Clark and Fred Frey on past convention experiences and what the convention in Billings, Montana has to offer.

2025 NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY

JUNE 3RD - 7TH, 2025

HOSTED BY THE BIG SKY IRIS CLUB, BILLINGS, MT

You can go to the Big Sky Iris Club website, bigskyirisclub.com, or on Facebook, Big Sky Iris Club and Big Sky Iris Convention, to review information.

ELECTED OFFICERS for 2025: At the October meeting election of officers was held. Your 2025 officers of the Missoula Iris Society are: President, Betty Ann Gustafson, Vice President, Anne Bowman, Secretary, Mitch Hall, and Treasurer, Bronwen Harris. Thank you all for being willing to perform these very important duties of our society.

At the October meeting, Mitch Hall gave a brief presentation on his year-long project to re-plant his front yard with a pollinator friendly seed mix obtained from the Missoula County Weed District. Their “Flowering Lawn Project” seed, a carefully curated blend of fine fescues, white Dutch clover, self-heal, and creeping thyme can be obtained from them or Caras Nursery for approximately $15/lb and you would need about 1.8 lbs for a 400 sq ft plot. Mitch found you would probably need about twice that much to over-seed and establish a healthy enough lawn to counter opportunistic weeds, and to fill in sparse patches. Mitch invites anyone to come by and have a look at the amazing results (1945 Alvina Drive in the Rattlesnake).

Thank you Mitch for sharing your experience. Swede and Betty Ann have seen his project and it is truly amazing. A must see.

ROSE ARBOR DONATION: We want to thank Gary and Katie Steen for donating the replacement cost of one of the rose arbors as well as constructing and placing the 4 rose arbors in the garden. Thank you for your generosity.

UNIVERSITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WEEKLY READERS BOOK GROUP has donated a monetary gift of $500.00 in the name of their 90 year old member, Dorleen Bakke, who was a superb flower gardener. The gift may be used in whatever way we choose. We will discuss how best we can use this gift at our November meeting.

THANK YOU: Thank you to Gary Steen, Katie Steen, Mitch Hall, Nancy Dold, Bronwen Harris, Judy Blunt, Swede Gustafson, and Betty Ann Gustafson for their time in cutting down the iris to prepare the garden for winter.

2025 DUES: It is time once again for our yearly dues. You may send them to Swede Gustafson, Treasurer, 3128 Eldora Lane, Missoula, MT 59803. Please make the check out to the Missoula Iris Society. New members, if you joined mid year 2024, you will be carried over into 2025.

CONDOLENCES: Our condolences to member, Marv Vinion, for the loss of his wife and brother. Our thoughts are with you.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Checking account balance: $1573.57

Bills Paid:

$535.47, reimbursement of replacement costs for 3 of the 4 rose arbors to Gary Steen

$100.00, water usage for sprinkling at the fort garden paid to the Historical Fort Museum

MINUTES OF MISSOULA IRIS SOCIETY MEETING OF OCTOBER 5, 2024

The October 2024 meeting was at the Immanuel Lutheran Church. There were 16 members in attendance.  The last formal meeting was July 8, just prior to the rhizome sale so there were no new meeting minutes to report since then.  A summary of activities since the sale can be found in the summer MIS newsletter sent to members on September 28.  The newsletter includes an updated Treasurer’s Report (copied below), and a detailed description of Fort Garden renovations, specifically installation of four rose arbors by Gary and Katie Steen, and primarily by Swede Gustafson and Judy Blunt cleanup of rose bushes, adding another layer of retaining wall blocks to, and overhauling, faltering iris beds.  Swede has been looking into how renovations over the past few years have changed the sprinkler system’s effectiveness.  Some adjustments will be necessary.

Treasurer’s Report for September, 2024 (copied from Sept 28, 2024 newsletter):

Checking Account Balance: $2,305.91 Savings Account: $5,240.80

  -$3,000.00 withdrawn to apply to the certificate of deposit Balance: $2,240.80

Certificate of Deposit: $3,184.85 on September 16, 2024, $35.71 interest earned

Certificate of Deposit renewed for 3 months at 4.5% interest. Increased by $3,000.00 from the savings account. Balance: $6,184.85

Program:

Each table held a group discussion about how their iris bed performed this year and what were plans for next year.  Each group then shared highlights (successes, mishaps, hopes and dreams) with the members present.  

Mitch Hall gave a brief presentation on his year-long project to re-plant his front yard with a pollinator friendly seed mix obtained from the Missoula County Weed District.  Their “Flowering Lawn Project” seed, a carefully curated blend of fine fescues, white Dutch clover, self-heal, and creeping thyme can be obtained from them or Caras Nursery for approximately $15/lb and you would need about 1.8 lbs for a 400 sq ft plot.  Mitch found you would probably need about twice that much to over-seed and establish a healthy enough lawn to counter opportunistic weeds, and to fill in sparse patches.   Mitch invites anyone to come by and have a look and the amazing results (1945 Alvina Drive in the Rattlesnake).

Betty Ann discussed a contribution the University Congregational Church Weekly Readers Book Club want to give to the Iris Society for the Fort Gardens.  Their group was inspired by one of their members, a 90-year old woman who has been an avid gardener, to think about giving their annual accumulation of collection-jar monies to us.  She also brought up an “Energize your Neighborhood” grant available from the City of Missoula which we have applied for and been awarded money from in the past, and that we should investigate again this year, perhaps for sprinkler system upgrades and other maintenance needs.  Jim Sadler (was) volunteered for the task to follow up on pursuing this grant, which could be worth up to $6,000.   Thanks, Jim!

It is time to save the date! We need to start thinking seriously about attending the national convention in Billings, MT. The national convention has never been in Montana. It is going to be a fantastic convention due to the very hard work of the Big Sky Iris Club. You can go to their website, bigskyirisclub.com, for more information.

The following have graciously consented to serve in their current capacity for the year 2025:

President: Betty Ann Gustafson           Vice President: Anne Bowman          Secretary: Mitch Hall                                 

Swede Gustafson, current Treasurer, is retiring from treasurer's position. He has been treasurer for at least 30 years.  Thank you, Swede!  He will train the new treasurer, Bronwen Harris for the position.

No new nominations for each position were taken from the floor and a vote on the officers for 2025 was taken. The current officers were re-elected, and newly nominated treasurer Bronwin Harris was elected unanimously.

HOLIDAY PARTY: In December we do not have a meeting. However, we have usually had a holiday party which consists of a turkey dinner potluck and a fun gift exchange in the form of gift stealing, with participation being optional. We normally have the party the first or second Saturday or Sunday of December. We will need a host to accommodate our holiday party event.  Be thinking if you would like a holiday gathering once again and if you would like to be the host.

Marie Nyquist was the Presidential Rhizome winner for the month of October 2024.

Respectfully submitted, Mitch Hall (MIS Secretary)

Dates to remember:

November 2 - Potluck meeting at 6.00

December – Holiday party, to be determined