Hey brother my first 24 plants I planted in March shriveled up so I put some more seedlings in there place in May. I have learned that these melons adapt well and thrive if you do this 1. Before planting the seed I keep mine in the freezer, thaw for a day then put them in warm well water until they start to crack open 2. While there still wet spread them out on a towel to dry a little then put in a zip lock bag and add 2 table of antifungal powder shake it Good. 3. I like to use the 3x3" square starter pot and be sure to use mirical grow potting soil, 4. Place the treated seed in the center @ 1 1/2" deep ( under the moon phase of Scorpio ) 5. Important fact ! These melons grow in the desert So they must be planted in very loose sandy soil with a ph of 6.5 so do a ph test and adjust if need be. 6. Transplant the seedlings in May or June as they just will not grow below 85 f. Into a mound about 12" tall & 3 dia.( Secret ) I put my mounds together in February using 3 tbsp. Of triple 13 fertilize & a 1/4 cup of cotton seed meal about an inch above it. Let's that set and rot into the soil. I use the wire flags to mark my spot. When my seedlings are ready in late May I remove the flag,dig down to the decayed meal and place an empty 3lb. Folgers coffee can in the center and rake loose soil around it and pack it a little pull the can out and fill with the potting soil add the seedling in the middle. 7. Water real good using a root stimulater mix then about every other day for a week. When runners reach 3 ft. Add 2 more tbsp. Of fertilize to soil around the base 3" away from stem and bring soil into and around plant mix antifungal powder to water n pour about a cup to plant. 8. Do not water anymore unless the leaves wilt if they do just add a pint or so. Oh and 1 other thing plant some cucumbers nearby they love the taste of cucumber pollen and will help bring in the bee's to pollinate the female flowers. Call me 409 673 6425 if you need me.

I was a member for several years long before the internet came along. Those were lean years for gardeners it seems now...LOL Not so many books or magazines available and our local library's gardenbook shelves were rather bleak and out of date. Most of the flower shows and Botanic Gardens were located far away from GA where I then lived so not much benefit to me, and I had no luck then with seeds so the Members Seed Exchange didn't tempt me. The printed AHS publication seemed at that time not too helpful (Horticulture Magazine in those years was vastly superior...in my opinion) although both publications mostly ignored our Zone 8 and up growing conditions. And when the AHS did finally bring out a "Heat Zone Map", it's been heavily criticized as too few plants have been given heat zone ratings and not too accurate overall it seems. Now, afer all those discouraging words, I feel fairly sure that you as a student planning a career in the field might find the membership very useful... to network on an informal basis with other member-professionals at seminars. etc. might alone be worth the membership cost. I'm sure you've visited the AHS site online...and looked over the list of articles in the current publication...and the member's benefits? Have you asked your profs and fellow students if any are members? I think I might allocate my money first to local or regional garden societies or specialist organizations (if I knew where I was going to live/work after graduation and what plants most interested me), then perhaps join the AHS. No real advice, just some rambling thoughts, I'm afraid. josh Here is a link that might be useful: American Horticultural Society

Suji - You are welcome to stop by my open garden near Brookeville on May 29 -30. A few folks come from near and far to see the garden and how it is changing year to year. This year with the devistation of 3 Blizzards and crushed roses, I'm guessing that we will have much of the wild look of years some time ago which some visitors may welcome again. With warm weather after the snow, my rose classes appear to be a few days ahead of schedule. However, there should not be a significan shortage of bloom. We always welcome rose enthusiasts of all sorts. I am even cultivating more visits by teasing a couple of local garden clubs with OGR talks this spring to come and smell the roses - even the HT folks sneak a peak sometimes (I may have a few of them as well). Please stop by and enjoy whatever we have and share some of your OGR stories and ideas as well. We'd love to share the garden such as it may be this spring. PS - The roses have already begun to bloom. Father Hugo's rose, Old Blush and Sophie's Perpetual have already begun to bloom and some HP's buds are showing color. What's not to love about zone 6b? Best, Nick

I belong to two chapters right now. One we just meet at each others homes and try to plan an outing once a month. This group is not into going out and "playing" that much but I really enjoy the ladies so I stay. I look forward more to the gatherings we hold at each others homes. It's always fun. Games or maybe a potluck. The other chapter is huge. 125 members. Lots of politics to deal with etc. but they do a lot of really fun activities. They have somethings that are weekly or monthly like coffee mornings,book club,picnics in the warmer months etc, as well as teas,plays and dining out. w We also get invited to events other chapters put on because the Queen belongs to a Queen's council (group or Queens in the area). I am am a member of the court which makes me a Princess LOL. I am soooooo NOT a Princess. Since you are an official member you have access to all the things posted on the Queen Mother Board on the RHS website. Many chapters open their larger activities to all. Look for something in your area and attend. Te Tramping (attending without a chapter is fun. You meet more people because you are not sitting with a group of you own. Everyone talks to you. I found my smaller chapter I'm in that way. Went to a multi-chapter picnic alone and was invited to sit with them.