'»?- 



-J». 



possible. The addition of straw mulch acts to retain 

 moisture and protect young seedlings from summer 

 heat. 



Although wildflowers are considered to be drought 

 tolerant, all plants need a certain degree of moisture 

 to germinate and continue growth. We consider peri- 

 odic watering to be the single most important compo- 

 nent in wildflower establishment. Assuring that the 

 site is evenly moist during the first 4-to-6 weeks after 

 planting is critical. Additionally, during the first grow- 

 ing season, we periodically monitor the site's devel- 

 opment and, if possible, deliver additional waterings. 

 Unfortunately in some instances, economics dictate 

 post- application treatment and some fields are left to 

 Mother Nature for continued watering. 



POST-APPLICATION: OVERSEEDING, SELECTIVE 

 HERBICIDE AND CONTINUED MAINTENANCE 

 The Department has recently begun overseeding some 

 of its wildflower sites with both annual and perennial 

 species. The results of these efforts have yet to be 

 determined. Selective herbicides have been included 

 in our establishment process for a number of years as 

 an immediate solution to the elimination of weed 

 competition during the first year of wildflower estab- 

 lishment. To date, its use has not been necessary; 

 therefore its effectiveness has not been gauged. Se- 

 lective herbicides for use in the continued mainte- 

 nance of wildflower sites is scheduled for this coming 

 year and its effectiveness will be studied. 



To date, continued maintenance has been limited 

 to scheduled fall mowing and overseeding. The wild- 

 flower program, in association with local garden clubs 

 and vocational schools, will not only establish new 

 fields this summer, but also concentrate much of its 

 effort on the maintenance of previously established 

 sites throughout the state. Maintenance in some in- 

 stances will involve the retilling and seeding of mar- 

 ginal quality sites, while others will simply be 

 overseeded. 



SUMMARY 



Our wildflower database continues to grow as we es- 

 tablish new wildflower sites and maintain others 

 throughout the state. When viewing a naturally occur- 

 ring stand of wildflowers, consider the sheer volume 

 of seed produced annually there. Realize also that the 

 rate of germination is extremely small. When we sow 

 wildflower seed, our germination rate has to be far 

 greater, as our seed volumes are much smaller. 



Consider what we have observed and noted above, 

 but in all instances temper that information with the 

 fact that Mother Nature always has the last word in 

 the final product. But, if public response is any indi- 

 cator of success. New Hampshire's Wildflower Estab- 

 lishment Program has been just that. As a result, there 

 seems to be a renewed awareness of wildflower estab- 

 lishment statewide, a greater involvement in the pro- 

 cess and, in New Hampshire especially... yet another 

 reason to anticipate spring! 



Thomas \. GllUgan is a Roadside Development Engineer in the 

 NH Bureau of Highway Design, Roadside Development Section. 

 This section of the NH Department of Transportation is respon- 



BOARD HIGHLIGHTS 



December 7, 1993, Pleasant View 



Bob Demers, Henry Huntington, and Dick Zoerb 

 were present. 



Previous minutes, reports: In the financial re- 

 port, it was wondered if the $5000 00 the Board set 

 aside as the beginnings of a scholarship/research 

 endowment fund was a line item included in the 

 total balance Chris Robarge will be asked about 

 the matter. 



Winter Meeting Peter van Berkum reported 

 earlier that everything was in place. 



Summer Meeting: The Summer Meeting will 

 be held at Ledgewood Farms and Spider Web Gar- 

 dens on either August 10 or 17. Bob Demers will 

 check on dates of other August meetings and final- 

 ize our date by the end of the month. 



Farm & Forest: There will be handouts at our 

 booth this year. Roger Warren is in charge of pro- 

 ducing these and he should call Mary Ellen Pitman 

 to find out the number of visitors expected and 

 then print the appropriate number of handouts 

 Pleasant View can furnish flowering material. 



New England Grows: No extra Plantsmen will 

 be printed, some issues will be displayed; mem- 

 bership forms will be given out 



Miscellaneous: After Christmas Bob will orga- 

 nize next year's Twilight Meetings. Demers Garden 

 Center and D.S. Cole Growers are two possibilities 

 in the spring. 



New Business: Only two people applied for 

 this year's NHPGA scholarships Because of this 

 disappointing response, it was decided to post- 

 pone awarding them until summer. This will allow 

 more publicity; students can apply during the 

 spring semester Henry suggested that we might 

 offer them through the UNH Financial Aid office; it 

 was suggested that children studying horticulture 

 whose parents are NHPGA members should be al- 

 lowed to apply as well 



Bob Demers wondered if a questionnaire 

 looking for information useful in creating a New 

 Hampshire Buyers' Guide could be sent to mem- 

 bers with their membership renewal forms. (Re- 

 newal forms have been sent, so this would have to 

 be a separate mailing.) 



Henry Huntington said that Alan Eaton, Ento- 

 mology, had asked him to be an advisor and 

 NHPGA representative for next year's greenhouse 

 1PM program. He accepted >•■ 



sible for the development of all landscaping and landscape-related 

 projects on the state highway system. \n addition to wildflower 

 establishment, its work includes the design and construction of 

 highway, wetland, and facility landscaping throughout the state. 

 This section designs: project construction is contracted out to pri- 

 vate companies. Those businesses interested in finding out about 

 requirements and procedures for bidding on some of these projects 

 should call Tom at (603) 271-161 1. 



18 



The Plantsman 



