The old Hellenistic Dog Days of Summer ran from July 3 – August 11. But don’t try and tell my pups those days are done yet. It is still hot and humid. The constellation Canis Majoris, which contains Sirius, remains visible in the dawn sky. The heliacal rising (when it appears in the sky before the sun, and Venus lines up with Jupiter) is August 11, 2025. The Egyptians used this to mark their calendar for Nile River flooding its banks. Right. Yes, we need rain, please. We had a drop last night. But as the saying goes, “More please.”
In the morning during our next meeting we will focus on alpines of the Northeastern zone. Jordan Touville, Staff Scientist/Terrestrial Ecologist at the Appalachian Mountain Club, will discuss these plus forest communities of our area. He did his Master’s at the University of Michigan and was a caretaker at the arboretum there. And now he is based in Burlington VT. His special interest is in how mycorrhizal fungi influence plant growth.
After lunch we will hold the “Big Plant Sale”. If you are sharing plants from your garden, please dig and pot them now. If you got more than just a drop last night, this is the perfect day to dig! The plants will need time to recuperate. And please write a label that not only includes the name, but also the height. Remember donors get a first pick chance! As usual, annuals will be “free” and not qualify for first pick.
In order to simplify the payment process, we will have tables priced $5, $10, and $15. When the flurry of buying has stopped, donors will have a chance to take back any plants of theirs still on the table. And then instead of reducing the price to half, let’s have “Buy one, get the second of the same value for free”. That will shorten the checkout lines! Of course we will have an auction in the morning for those very “special” items. But again, let’s keep prices to multiples of $5. Yes, we do still take checks too. See you there on Saturday, September 6th!
Berkshire Chapter NARGS 