Mike Bernard Acadiana Chapter American Hibiscus Society www.

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1 Mike Bernard Acadiana Chapter American Hibiscus Society www. Join us at the next meeting Tuesday, May 7 th at 6:00pm at the Ira Nelson Horticultural Center Our technical sessions the last two months have been based on Exhibiting Blooms at an AHS Show from the power point presentation compiled by Father Gerlich. This month is Show and Tell Time! In case you haven t heard, our annual show is Sunday, May 19th. If you haven t entered blooms at a show before, plan to do so this year. We will have a practice session at our meeting with a Mini Show! Bring your blooms. Each member can enter two blooms per category of Single, Double, and Miniature. We will be firming up plans for the show setup on Saturday, May 18 th and our Show on Sunday, May 19 th. Show Promotional Items will be available for distribution. Hope to see you there! Ann Bloom Contest The fourth photo has been selected for our 2014 Chapter Calendar. The winner is Pink on the Mountain entered by Sandy Scheuermann. Happy Birthday!! The fifth photo will be selected at the May Meeting, so bring your 4x6 photos. Each member can enter one photo in the contest. It does not have to be a recent photo, but must be of a plant grown by you. Sandra Theall Isabella Jinete Sheila Smoak

2 IT S SHOW TIME!!!!! May 18th and 19th Our next meeting will be the last one before our show and sale. We need be specific in our commitment to our job roles as well as the food we bring. Remember everyone talks about our food!!!! If you are unable to attend the meeting on Tuesday May 8 please reach out to me or one of the coordinators to volunteer. Saturday will be our set up time. Tables are arranged and plants distributed around the gym. We will confirm start times but usually around 8:00 and finish around 1:00 or so. Plants usually arrive around 10:00 but again we need to confirm this. Sunday will be spent working to put our blooms in competition ready mode then volunteering for the various jobs that need to be accomplished. Bloom runners is the first job that needs to be filled. This process requires moving the blooms from the main gym area to the judging tables on trays. Most of you would be able to volunteer for this as the other job function needed at this time is judging (and kitchen). I will NOT have any outside runners. Once we get closer to the door opening, additional job functions become necessary. We will have two check out areas with multiple job needs. Also we have the new membership and drawing area as well as working the sales floor to answer questions and assist customers with their plant purchases. Begin thinking where you would like to spend your time on Sunday after the bloom running and contact one of the coordinators below to advise of your preference. If you don t volunteer you may be asked to work on a team anyway. Members will tell you the show and sale is a lot of work but it is so much fun and you get to know other members better!!!! Great team building exercise!!!! Please remember this is also our opportunity to shine in front of the other clubs. This is also an opportunity to meet our fellow enthusiasts from the other two Louisiana clubs and the Houston clubs. The following committees have formed with the coordinator listed. Please gladly accept duties if any of these people reach out to you for assistance. However if you have a preference don t wait just call them direct. Plant Coordinator Mark Gore Sales Coordinator Sandy Scheuermann Show Floor Coordinator Don Higginbotham Judge Area Coordinator Rick Landers Hospitality Coordinator Debbie McGovern Membership Coordinator Mignon Arton Please don t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or suggestions this is OUR SHOW!!!! Together we make it the BEST and participation makes you feel GOOD!!!! Carolyn Cormier Stoute, Show Chairman Carolyn.a.cormier@chase.com or cell

3 The Texas & Louisiana Show Seasons kicked off on April 21 st with the first Space City Show of 2013 in Pasadena, Texas. As always, it was a wonderful event with wonderful people, blooms, plants, and food. The Texas & Louisiana Show Seasons continued on April 28 th with the first Lone Star Show of 2013 in Sugarland, Texas. It goes without saying that it was a wonderful event with wonderful people, blooms, plants, and food. Congratulations to Mark & Theresa Gore on their head table win of Best Open Collector Single with Angel s Wings! Congratulations to Jennie Marcantel on her head table win of Best of Show Single with Angel Baby! MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME!! Name: Address: Phone Number: City, State, ZIP: Dues may be paid at the meeting, show setup, or show or mail form with your check to: Buddy Short at 312 Vennard Ave., Lafayette, La 70501

4 Upcoming Events Red Stick Show May 5 th MBAC Meeting May 7 th Space City Show May 11 th MBAC Show Setup May 18 th MBAC Show May 19 th New Orleans Show May 26 th Space City Show June 2 nd Lone Star Show June 8 th AHS National Convention June 20 th to June 23 rd, 2013 Marriott Boca Raton at Boca Center 5150 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, Florida Tel: HOTEL RATE $99 per night Rate includes full hot breakfast Reservations can be made by calling Identify yourself as a member of the American Hibiscus Society Or online at Online Code is AHSAHSA Deadline for reservations is June 6, 2013 Tea s Tidbits By Theresa Gore Let's give a big Welcome Back to our Hibiscus plants! Although with our fluctuating temps, too much rain and not enough sun, they may want to stay in hibernation. I know I do but it is important to awaken your plants from their winter doldrums. If they have been in a shaded location, slowly introduce them to the sun a few hours a day. Inspect each plant for insects or disease. Use your magnifying glass! Insects such as whiteflies, mites, aphids, scale and thrips will also be coming out of their winter doldrums so be aware! Diseases such as wilt are common this time of year when the soil remains wet and there is insufficient sun or high temps to warm the soil which allows the roots to process the water so be aware! With clean tools, trim dead or weak branches and leaves, cutting 1/4" above a node, the bumpy spot along the stem where a new leaf or branch will form. Remove debris from the pot. Replenish the soil line with fresh soil or compost, keeping it away from the stem. Water thoroughly and begin weekly fertilizing with any fertilizer having a high third number. Remember, nitrogen, the first number, is for green leaves; phosphorous, the second, is for healthy roots, and potassium, the third, is for blooms. Squeeze the pot to loosen the soil and holding the plant, pull away the pot to inspect the root ball. Roots should be white and not be compacted. If necessary, loosen the roots with a slim tool (a chopstick works great!) and give your plant a new home in a clean pot 1 to 2 inches wider containing a loose, well draining soil. If you squeeze a handful of soil and it remains in a clump, it is too wet. If it crumbles and does not retain its shape, it is too dry. After potting, add a top dressing of pine bark or cedar chips to maintain soil temperature and to keep out weed seeds. As our weather improves, your Hibiscus will be happy to provide you with many blooms and you will be glad you and your plants have come out of hibernation!

5 Buddy s Blooms and Things Thanks to Theresa for giving all of us some great "kick start" information. If you follow her advice your plants will be smiling at you soon and jumping with buds. Isn't that what we all yearn for? Try her suggestions and report back to the club... From now until show day Sunday May 19th all I'll think about are ideas to promote our show. If we all do the same then our show will once again be a smashing success... Here are a few ideas and updates on where we stand as a chapter. Take a few of these promotional ideas and put them to work...the week of April 29th is a great time to start. 1) We've been in touch with Ann Justice and she will be promoting our show in her weekly Saturday column May 4, 11, and 18th. Look for it. 2) We have 7 banners and they will be put out this week. See if you can find one. 3) We'll also be on both TV 3 and 10 morning shows...not sure what those dates are. 4) Here's a fresh idea...our chapter member Marc Davis down in Houma has been posting his bloom pictures on his Facebook Page. He also posted our show flyer. he told me he's gotten terrific response. If you know how to use Facebook then I encourage you to do likewise but don't ask me for help. Ole folks don't know how. 5) Start sending out individual s to selective individuals, attach our show flyer, and ask them to come. Ask them to be your guest. After all, ADMISSION IS FREE!!! 6) Find places that have traffic and ask to put up our flyer on a counter top. Place some of our show cards in our holders and that makes a great display. Once they agree to the display they'll do it again next year if you go by and pick up the display after our show is over. We've had great success with...they'll help if you ask! Hair salons...where do have your hair cut? Restaurants that you frequent. Nurseries...remember our show is typically just before they shut down for the summer. Florist... Schools...remember kids are getting ready to be out for the summer and there's allot of buzz going on around school Your bank...use your imagination. Break rooms...post a color flyer on their activity board. I'm even trying some of the golf courses I go to. Churches. Where do you go to church? Clubs. Do you belong to any? Doesn't have to be a garden club How about a neighborhood association? The ideas are endless. Give us a hand and invite as many people as you can. Give one of our show cards to everyone you come in contact with...if you run out of supplies then call me at or buddy@shortfinancialgroup.com and I will personally deliver more to you. Service with a smile. See you are the meeting May 7th...Promo Buddy

6 For your viewing pleasure.. from Jennie Marcantel Seedling Red Flag Stormy Rainbow Bonnie Lass MBAC Officers President ~ Ann Peltier ~ ~ ann@acadianahibiscus.com Vice President ~ Carolyn Cormier-Stoute ~ ~ carolyn.a.cormier@chase.com Secretary ~ Jennie Marcantel ~ ~ bluesbabyj@hotmail.com Treasurer ~ Buddy Short ~ ~ buddy@shortfinancialgroup.com