February 11 - CVIDS Meeting at Marion Public Library
Just a reminder that our next CVIDS club meeting will take place next Saturday beginning at 1 PM. Master Gardener Jay McWherter will give a presentation on Hosta Virus X. There will also be a short business meeting that will include an update on our plans for this year’s AHS Region One Summer Meeting (please mark your calendars, July 20-22). As is our tradition, the meeting room has been reserved from noon, so come early and mingle with fellow members.  If you would like to contribute to the refreshments, please bring along a favorite dish to share.  We look forward to seeing you there. Click here for Google Map directions for MPL.


February 11 – Meeting Agenda
1) Welcome and roll call
2) Approve minutes of the January 12 meeting as published in the January Newsletter.
3) Treasurer’s report – Debbie Hansen
4) Updates:
- Club Plants – Keith Riewerts
- Manual/handbook – Jonathan Poulton
- Regional Meeting – Jackie Westhoff
6) Old business
7) New business
8) Door prize

Next meeting: March 10, 2012 – Washington Library

Missing in Action:
Zora is looking for the following items. If you know of their whereabouts, please contact her ASAP by e-mail or phone. Thank you!

1) Our CVIDS Banner (see photo below). Last seen perhaps last May for Spring Sale in N. LIberty

2) About a dozen dark green aprons with CVIDS name and embroidery

3) Easel and CVIDS Poster - last seen in action at the 2011 Winter Gardening Fair in Cedar Rapids

February 12 Winter Garden Forum in Iowa City
The Iowa City Press-Citizen recently announced that CVIDS President Zora Ronan will be the speaker at the February 12 Winter Garden Forum being held by Project GREEN and ICPL at 2-4 PM in the Iowa City Public Library. The forum is free and open to the public. As you know, Zora is a member and garden judge of AHS. In her talk titled "Daylilies - All the Pretty Faces", she will explore the many forms, patterns, and colors of the daylily world and show what you might select for your home garden. Certificates for three of Zora's daylilies will be offered as door prizes. I suspect that she will also get her audience excited about our Regional Summer Meeting!


Invitation from Zora Ronan & Deb Walser to Chicago Flower Show - March 12:
"Deb Walser and I are heading off to the Chicago Flower Show on Monday, March 12, 2012.  We hope you can join us.  The price is $65.00 per person for bus transportation, entrance to the show and driver gratuities. We will have two buses this year. Our tentative schedule is that one bus will depart Cedar Rapids at 6:00 am  (Wal-Mart on Blairs Ferry Road) and pick up at Westdale Mall at 6:20 am.  The second bus will depart at 6:30 am from Marion (Wal-Mart at Highway 151 & 13) and pick up in Mt. Vernon and Solon.  Other pick-up points might be possible—ask if you would like an additional stop.  We will try to accommodate you but can’t deviate far from the route. The buses will depart Navy Pier at approximately 6:00 pm and arrive in Cedar Rapids at approximately 11:00 pm.  We may stagger the departures from Navy Pier a bit to avoid congestion at the dinner stop. If you would like to make a reservation, please fill out the attached reservation form (see Zora's e-mail attachment) and send to me (ZR), along with a check for $65.00 per person.  Make the check payable to ‘See The World’ and send to Zora Ronan, 5031 North Marion Road, Central City IA 52214.  Deb and I are both sending out this invitation.  If you receive a duplicate, we apologize.  If we leave someone off, we apologize for that, also.  Please send the information on to other gardening friends who might be interested.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact either of us.  We hope you can join us. Zora and Deb"

Iowa Regional Lily Society Update:
Wanda Lunn reports that the Iowa Regional Lily Society has a brand new website that pertains to growing True Lilies in Iowa and neighboring states. Click here to check it out! It's well worth a visit.


Lynn Moffit Spoke on Barn Quilts in North English on January 29:
On January 29, CVIDS member Lynn Moffit gave a presentation on barn quilts at the EV History Center in North English. For more information on quilt block art and Lynn's presentation, click here to find Lynn on the front page of the Sigourney News Review.


News from Rainbow Iris Farm:
If you are interested to read the latest e-Newsletter from Rainbow Iris Farm (Bedford, IA), click here. Kelly Norris reports that he has written a book called "A Guide to Bearded Irises: Cultivating the Rainbow for Beginners and Enthusiasts". It will be published by Timber Press around May 1. In his Newsletter, he writes: "I’m so thrilled to finally be able to share this project with the world. It was an awesome experience to be able to write about my first expertise and passion in the plant world—352 pages and 318 photographs later. We will have copies available for sale at the nursery in May". Check his Newsletter for more information about this book. You can also click on a link to pre-order your copy on Amazon.


January 14, 2012, Meeting Report:
Our January meeting was held at Coralville Public Library with 51 members in attendance. The doors opened at noon for visiting and refreshments. At 1 PM, Lynn Stoll gave an extremely interesting PowerPoint presentation on "Region 1: Where it all began". This was followed by a business meeting at which the proposed budget presented in the January 2012 Newsletter was discussed and unanimously approved by those present.

2011 Betty Miller Photo Contest Winners:
Large Flower:  (1) Gerald Hobbs (2) Brenda Knipper
Doubles:  (1) Zora Ronan (2) Clay Dawson
Spider and Unusual Forms:  (1) Lynn Stoll (2) Zora Ronan
Landscape:  (1) Gary Oster (2) Brenda Knipper
Landscape/Clumps:  (1) Clay Dawson (2) Brenda Knipper  
Hybridizers’ Seedlings:  (1) Colleen Hansen (2) Gary Oster
Grand Prize:  Gerald Hobbs/Kirkwood King

Congratulations to the winners! The prize-winning photos may be viewed by clicking here.


Election of the 2012-13 CVIDS Board
Election of the 2012-13 CVIDS Board members took place at the Fall Banquet on November 12. Those elected were:

President:  Zora Ronan
Vice-President: Nancy Carlisle
Treasurer: Deb Hansen
Secretary: Donna Denly
Newsletter Editor: Lynn Stoll
Webmaster: Jonathan Poulton

These individuals will join Mike Carstensen (Past President) on the Board (see October 2011 meeting minutes).


Membership List Updated
The website's membership list was updated on January 18, 2012. Please contact Jonathan (jonathan-poulton@uiowa.edu) if any revisions are necessary. Thank you!