Dear ODCS members,

I am very pleased to announce that the ODCS Chrysanthemum Show 2023 will once again be at James Lee Community Center (JLCC) in Falls Church.  Please save the dates, October 28-29, 2023.  We had over 200 visitors at the Show last year and received much positive feedback.  It was a grand celebration of the beauty of chrysanthemums and a season’s growing effort by our members.  We are very fortunate to have the expansive space of JLCC to showcase our blooms. 

An email was sent to all members about the cancellation of the Ayr Hill Garden Club Sales due to no volunteers signed up.  Our effort is focused on the Green Spring Gardens Sales on May 20^th.  It is not too late to sign up.  Please see the SignUp Genius links below.

We are hopeful that our plants will be delivered on schedule.  Please sign up to help with Potting if you have not done so. 

Galen reports that their move to Messiah Village in Pennsylvania went very well. They are now unpacking boxes and starting to enjoy the many benefits and amenities of their new home.

It is the beginning of the growing season.  Happy propagating if you have mums that survived the winter.  Highly recommend thorough cleaning and sanitizing your pots in preparation to receive your new plants in May. 

Look forward to seeing you soon.

President,
Camilla Ng

Dear ODCS members,

ODCS members got together for a farewell luncheon social for Amy and Galen Goss on March 25^th, 2023, at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Springfield.  We wish Amy and Galen a smooth transition to their new home in Pennsylvania.  Amy and Galen have dedicated countless years in service not only to ODCS, but also to NCS.  Who knew that for a small gardening club like that there are so many behind-the-scenes tasks.  Galen did them all, like the wizard behind the curtain.  His generous gift of time, patience and tirelessly taking on various tasks allowed us all to enjoy the benefits of our membership and fellowship.  We will all miss Amy and Galen very,very much and wish them the best of everything.

President,

Camilla Ng

Dear ODCS members,

The official first day of spring 2023 is March 20^th, the spring equinox.  As I am drafting this newsletter today February 23^rd, with daytime high 79 degrees, it sure feels like spring is pushing an early start.  With a mild winter, many of our mums likely winter over.  The program on March 12^th will be on propagating mum cuttings from your winter over plants.  We hope to see you all then.

Ed Mascali and I reviewed fertilizers, Pro-Mix, and the ODCS feeding schedule at the February Zoom Meeting.  If you have any further questions on the fertilizers, please bring your questions to our next meeting or email to OldDominion@mums.org.

The National Chrysanthemum Society will be hosting a Zoom Presentation on Saturday March 4^th, 2023, 1PM.  You are all invited to attend.  The topic is “So Much to Know about H20”.  The speaker will be Andy Wickham who is an enthusiastic grower of large exhibition chrysanthemums.  He is a regular exhibitor each fall in the UK championship class for 18 blooms.  He holds a Ph.D. degree in chemistry and, as he describes it, “has all round interest in water”, particularly managing water for achieving quality growth of chrysanthemums. 

We are still looking for someone to take over the responsibility of Treasurer.  We also need a Sales Chair Person for the Ayr Hill Garden Plant Sales on May 13^th, and a cashier for Green Spring Gardens Plant Sales on May 20^th.  If you are interested to help and like to find out more information, please contact Galen or Camilla. 

I also like to give a heads up on a new Bonsai Mum program at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.  Registration information will be released in March.  If you are interested to learn how to train bonsai mums, this is an opportunity you do not want to miss.  Stay tuned.

President,
Camilla Ng

Dear ODCS members,

The Year of the Rabbit began on January 22^nd, 2023.  May we all have a happy and prosperous Rabbit Year.

We have several months before our plants arrive in May.  Traditionally, we offer ODCS members savings and convenience of buying supply.  Please see the Supply Order Form attached to this newsletter email.  Prices have gone up from last year in certain items.  It is no surprise though, as all consumer products and foods have increased in price. Please mail in your Supply Order to Alice Buch by February 18^th, 2023.  Your Supply Order will be ready for your pickup on May 6th, along with your plants.  If you are a new member, please be sure to attend the Zoom meeting featuring the different fertilizers for chrysanthemums.  The Executive Board members of 2023 are Camilla Ng as President, Ed Mascali as Vice President, Galen Goss as Treasurer, Janice Chen as Correspondence Secretary.  The Executive Board is comprised of elected officers.  Jacquie Smith as Member-at-large. The Standing Committees are as follows: Farhad Nourbakhsh as Plant Order Chair, Lisa Romano as Membership Chair, Van Avondolio as Webmaster, Van Avondolio and Alice Buch for Supply Order, Janice Chen and Jonathan Gazarek for Public Relations and Publicity, Dorothy Pines as the Newsletter Editor.  Rosemary Smith is the Past President.  I am grateful to each of you for accepting the duties as officers of the Board and Committee Chairs, providing continuity and services to chapter members. 

President,

Camilla Ng

Dear ODCS members,

First off, a very happy and healthy New Year to everyone!

Our group Plant Order to King’s Mums was submitted mid-December.  Many thanks to all members who mailed in their plant orders in a timely manner, and to Farhad Nourbakhsh and Galen Goss in preparing the order summary. 

Some of you have neither send in your plant orders nor renewed your membership for 2023.  You may still purchase plants at our May plant sales.  Lisa Romano, our Membership Chair, will be contacting you by phone and/or email for membership renewal.  The Membership renewal is also attached to the email of this newsletter.  Please mail your Membership form and check to Lisa Romano.

Dick Waldschmidt, who has been our Supply Chair for many years has retired from this task.  We gratefully thank Dick for his service to the chapter.  In the last several years, Gary Holliday has assisted Dick in Supply Order.  Gary has also resigned due to health matters.  We wish both Dick and Gary good health and thank them for their help.

The 2023 Supply Order Committee will be chaired by Van Avondolio, assisted by Alice Buch. A huge applause to Van and Alice for stepping up to lend a hand.  We will be sending the Supply Order Form with the February Newsletter.

Our Zoom meeting will be resume on February 12^th, 2023, 2:00PM.  Zoom Meeting information will be emailed to you as the date draws near.  Please save-the-date.  See you all then.

President,
Camilla Ng