SMDS Picnic 2008

The SMDS summer picnic was held at a wonderful site! Pat Salk's
Metamora Gardens is absolutely beautiful-- a good four acres
(maybe more) of island beds, shade beds, fairy beds, butterfly
beds --  all neat as a pin!!  I am sure Bill Kapustka had a hand in
that as well as providing a mouth-watering aroma which was
carried on the gentle breeze so that the smell of barbecued ribs
was everywhere!  Bill was exhibiting his masterful skill at the grill
with the ribs and was using Pat's special sauce.  So our jolly crew
roamed and wandered and chatted.  Deer control was certainly a
majour topic broached and harkened to by many. It seems the
herds are developing a hunger for daylily buds...  they are
nutritious. Though we all agreed we'd rather see the buds on the
scapes.

But we brave souls meeted and greeted -- all 50 some of us
(some from 60 - 80 miles away) -- renewed old acquaintances,
swapped tales (and lies), admired the vast array of superbly
grown daylilies... all the while waiting for the dinner bell and a
chance at getting at those ribs!!!  Some of us brought in photos to
show of this season's beauties.  Greg Schindler showed off a
lovely purple.  Pat didn't need photos -- her wonderful large
yellow double evoked tons of comment all on its own!  What a fine
seedling!  Very showy!  In fact lots of kind comments were
exchanged... and with good reason --  we have some very good
backyard hybridizers!

When the dinner bell rang I was surprised to find a whole range
of potluck dishes, and they were superb in taste!  The ribs stood
out, but also there was a summer squash dish (made with squash
picked that very morning) which received several raves, and the
baked beans (WOW!) Donald Crabtree was seen often returning
for more helpings of those beans --  they were extra special. 
Made by a lady from Bancroft, which is in the Saginaw Valley and
a lot of beans are grown in the Saginaw Valley!  I had one taste of
the beans and suddenly it was 1952 in my Aunt Luella's kitchen! 
Like I said, Great Beans!  Oh, but the ribs...  with all the ribs Bill
cooked you would have thought he had ribs for a week --  not so! 
In an hour they were all gone!  But the smiles on all the faces
were beatifical. Our own globe-trotting LaVere Webster enjoyed a
great meal --  they don't have food like that in Costa Rica.

With everyone replete and completely sated,  it was time to make
the sitting easier by thinning out the wallets -- auction time!  John
Juroszek served as auctioneer and he had a fine lot of daylilies
to auction (donations from club members) --  lots of rather pricey
cultivars were offered up!  The bidding was lively!  Armand
DeLisle read aloud the descriptions from his personal "bible"--
the 2008 Eureka! John, with his lively patter, secured a goodly
amount of money for the club coffers. Well done, John!  Many
folks were very happy with new additions for their gardens.  I
wish I could tell you what I won, but sadly I was outbid on
everything!! Just as well,  Bette said, we have enough daylilies,
besides where would you plant them?

Always the problem --  garden space never matches the size of
my eyes.

  ~ Lee Alden

Many Thanks to Our Hosts
Pat Salk & Bill Kapustka

Pat and Bills Famous Ribs were a great hit
as were all the dishes brought by club members

Our Auctioneer John Juroszek 

Pat Salk's remarkable
"Every Which Way and Loose"

"Let's Boast a Bit"