GARDENEWS - Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland

Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
Page
GARDENEWS
Volume 10, Issue 5 July 1, 2016
The Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc.
The official publication of the
Federated Garden Clubs of
Maryland, Inc.
Gardenews@fgcofmd.org
Published Tri-annually by
The Federated Garden Clubs of
Maryland, Inc.
4915 Greenspring Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 65172
Baltimore, MD 21209
410-396-4842
President
Nicki Schwab
mako261mom@aol.com
Editor
Ronda Goldman
gardenews@fgcofmd.org
Gardenews Representatives
District I
Linda Elias
selias78@msn.com
District II
Ronda Goldman
Goldman.ronda50@gmail.com
District III
Dot Sacker
rodosack@verizon.net
District IV
Kathleen Brosi
kathleen@brosi.org
District V
Brenda Ashworth
bkadfw919@msn.com
Deadlines to submit club
information
to your Gardenews
District Representatives:
November Issue - October
15
February Issue - January 15
July Issue - June 15
Gardenews is published
on our
Website: www.fgcofmd.org
www.fgcofmd.org
office@fgcofmd.org
Greetings! It seems like only yesterday that our National Garden Club
President Sandra Robinson joined us at our
Annual Meeting! I hope you enjoyed her
message to encourage children to play outside
and come back in contact with nature! Her
inspiration for the children’s book “The
Frightened Frog” is available from the NGC
website www.gardenclub.org.
Our garden club activities have been a flurry
since then, and I have enjoyed my travels
throughout the state, and most recently, the
NGC Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
We look forward to our NGC Schools which
will be offered this fall, including Landscape
Design School Course IV and Gardening Study
School Course II. Our schools offer dynamic
speakers who inspire continued education!
President Nicki Schwab
Noted Professor Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, will speak to
us about sustaining pollinator populations in our garden habitats. Mark your
calendar for November 5th at the Vollmer Center! Vendors will be there for a fun
morning of shopping.
This year we were able to give $5100 to the UMCES Scholarship Fund. I hope we
can do the same next year. Take a moment to see how you too can lend support
to my President’s Project “Scholarship for the Environmental Leaders of
Tomorrow!” If you would like to learn more about UMCES or if your club is
interested in a trip to the Horn Point Lab, the Chesapeake Biological Lab, or the
Appalachian Lab, please contact me for more information about the University of
Maryland Centers for Environmental Science.
Lastly, kudos to the state of Maryland for passing the Pollinator Protection
Act! For the first time, Neonicotinoids, a pesticide that threatens pollinators, has
been banned for home use. Well done!
Enjoy your gardens, and thank you for all you do to make our lives more enriched
and our communities happier!
Fondly,
Nicki Schwab
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Volume 10 Number 5
First Vice President’s Report …...Diana Bonner
This Vice President had the great pleasure of attending the Philadelphia Flower
Show in March . This year’s theme was “Explore America” and celebrated 100 years
of the National Park Service. The park exhibits reminded one of how breathtakingly beautiful our country is and how fortunate we are to be able to visit the
parks (without a passport or going through customs). FGCMD members are doubly
fortunate to have trips available to them to many lovely locations. The Landscape
Design Council had a very successful trip to Chanticleer, the Environmental
Consultants Council had a much talked about visit to the Howard County
Conservancy (a must see) and on June 14th the Gardening Consultants Council
plans to visit the Cunningham Manor House gardens in Cockeysville. Another
opportunity to visit beautiful places was Maryland’s House and Garden tours.
This Vice President was awed by the Queen Anne’s County and Talbot County tours.
She also visited several garden club flower shows and a moving Blue Star Memorial
Dedication by the Glen Arm Garden Club at Cromwell Bridge Road. Another Blue
Star Dedication was held by the Joppatown Garden Club. The State Annual Meeting
and Districts’ Annual meetings also provided opportunities to learn more about
garden and floral design. This Vice President is looking forward to attending
Landscape Design School’s final Course IV September 27-28th, Judges Council’s
Flower Show October 19th and the State Horticulture Day November 5th.
Diana Bonner
Diana Bonner at The Philadelphia Flower Show
Gardening Consultants
Council
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Gardenews July 2016
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Environmental Consultants Council
June Field Trip
The Environmental Consultants Council met at the Howard County Conservancy on June
7 for a tour of their property. The Conservancy is an environmental education center and land
trust, founded by a group of local citizens in 1990. “Their mission is to educate children and adults
about the natural world, preserve the land and its legacy and model responsible stewardship of the
environment.” This farm, which became known as Mt. Pleasant, had been in the Brown family for
eight generations, since 1703. It includes gardens, farm fields, streams and mature hardwood trees.
The historic farmhouse and surrounding multiple outbuildings including a blacksmith shop, bank
barn, carriage house, wagon shed, corn crib, smokehouse and chicken coup, have all been preserved
and maintained. We were told about the history of the farm and these structures, and how it now
serves to preserve and teach us about our agricultural heritage.
th
The farm also includes 4 miles of trails, farm animals, a nature center, a butterfly garden,
several community gardens and a 1.36 acre honors garden that showcases our native plants. Many of
the schools in the area visit the conservancy throughout the year, as well as many adults who also
come for the beauty of the surroundings and the gardens.
Photo: from left to right
Kathy Tucker, Nicki Schwab, Chris Myles-Tochko, Phyllis Rambo, Kim Barnes, Donna Miller, Jackie
Handley, Linda Harris, Diana Bonner, Lynn Walter, Carolyn Braverman, Nancy Johnston, Christa
Pusateri, Marjorie Schiebel, Susie Middleton
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International Photography Competition
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FGCMD Scholarship Winners
FGCMD: Congratulations to our FGCMD Scholarship winner Allyson Stolte. She was awarded
$3,500 and her application has been submitted for consideration for the CAR Scholarship. Allyson
will be a Junior at Delaware Valley University in
Doylestown, Pa. with a major in Horticulture. She plans
to enter into the Horticulture Industry after graduation.
Allyson is Vice President of the DelVal Collegiate Future
Farmers of America, DelVal Collegiate Farm Bureau ICC
Representative, member of the DelVal Horticulture and
Floriculture Societies. She is an active member and Sister
in Agriculture in her sorority, Alpha Alpha Lambda. Allyson has expressed her gratitude for the scholarship which
will be helpful in lessening her college debt. She has a
summer job with Milby Lawn Care in Elderbury, Md. A
Life Membership in the FGCMD costs $75 and all funds
go to the FGCMD Scholarship Fund. Checks may be sent
to the office.
BAKER SCHOLARSHIP: Vincent Che-Wei Yi has won the Baker Scholarship Award for the second consecutive year (and final year of eligibility). He received a Baker Scholarship of $7,500 plus a
scholarship from NGC for $4,000! His photo with an article were published in the November 2015
Gardenews when he won the 2015 Baker Scholarship. He is currently a Master of Landscape Architecture candidate at the University of Maryland College Park and received his Bachelor’s Degree
in History and Economics also from the University of Maryland.
He has greatly enjoyed his two years as a graduate student and has
found an interest in plant design and selection. This summer he is
working with the community of Druid Heights in West Baltimore
as a part of his thesis on reusing vacant lots as public open space.
Vincent is also excited for two of his rain garden designs to be installed later this summer.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (UMCES) SCHOLARSHIP – THE
STATE PRESIDENT’S PROJECT: “ Scholarship for the Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow”. At the March Annual
Meeting, a $5,100 scholarship was accepted by Melanie Jackson a
graduate student from the Horn Point Lab. These funds were generously donated by the FGCMD
and its Districts, clubs and individuals. Another UMCES Scholarship will be presented at the next
Annual Meeting so donations are greatly appreciated. Checks to the UMCES Scholarship Fund can
be made to the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc. On the memo line, please write UMCES
Scholarship Fund and send to the office.
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Landscape Design School Course IV
It’s the Final Four! Last chance to join us at this fun and interesting school with exceptional instructors. At Course III, we had 67 attendees, 37 Students and 13 who refreshed their credentials.
We received many compliments plus expressions of “sadness” that the school was coming to an
end. Course IV will be September 27-28 with an optional test on Sept. 29, 2016 at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel in Annapolis. The topics that will be covered are:
*Development of Landscape Architecture: World War II to Present
*Contemporary Landscape Design
*Design for the Future
*Redesign of Areas
*Community Participation-Organization and Individual Responsibility
*History and Development of Community Gardens
*Spot Light on Local Landscapes
*Visit to 3 gardens: 1 pubic and 2 residential gardens
In addition to this being our last Landscape Design School for quite awhile, the garden tours make
this a very popular course. There will be a cut off of attendees so you should register early. Check
the website and Events Calendar for the brochure.
Diana Bonner debonner@verizon.net and Ann Christ seiki@comcast.net
LDS Co-Chairmen
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Annual Meeting Highlights
Award of Achievement presented to
Virginia Decker
Dessie Moxley
Youth Award to
Mountain Laurel
Garden Club
Gibson Island receives
the Govenor's Bowl
Mount Washington receives Dessie Moxley
Youth Award
Susan Somerville Hawes
and Marion DeGroff presented Awards of
Achievement
Sylvia Deck and the Marie Coulter Bowl
Glen Arm Garden
Club receives the
Dessie Moxley Youth
Award
Presidential Award to
Karen Offutt
The Perennial Bloom
Award to Millie Sample,
Naval Academy Garden
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Annual Meeting Highlights
The Stieff Young Gardeners Achievement Bowl
presented to the Chestertown Garden Club
UMCES Scholarship
Award presented to Liz
Freelander and Melanie
Jackson
Member Award of Honor
presented to Linda Harris,
Mountain Laurel Garden
Club
Maryland State President,
Nicki Schwab presiding
over the state annual
meeting.
Four Rivers Garden
Club receives the Evelyn Cotton Maryland
Conservation Bowl
and the Rae B. Weeks
Historic Preservation
Award from NGC
President Sandra Robinson.
Marie Coulter,
Past State President and Past CAR
Director
Past President, Bonnie Stevens & Office Administrator
Dawn Sage
Maryland Roadside award
presented to La Plata Garden Club
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Gardenews July 2016
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
SCHOOL - COURSE iv
September 27, 2016 September 29, 2016
Crown Plaza Hotel
173 Jennifer Road
Annapolis, MD 21401
INFORMATION CONTACTS
ARE:
Diana Bonner
debonner@verizon.net
Ann Christ
seiki@comcast.net
Landscape Design School Course IV will be here before you
know it. So register now!
We will return to the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel in Annapolis
(formerly the Sheraton). Some instructors will be back by popular
demand and we have some exciting new ones. The topics to be
covered are:
- Development of Landscape Architecture from World
War II to Present
- Contemporary Landscape Design
- Design for the Future
- Redesign of Areas
- Community Participation Organizational and Individual
Responsibility
- Evaluating the Landscape Designs of Residential, Public
and Business Property
- History and Development of Community Gardens
The brochure/registration form is on the website and calendar of
events. Bring friends and neighbors even if they are not garden club
members. They may want to join a club after Course III!
Diana Bonner and Ann Christ, LDS Co-Chairmen
.
Volume 10 Number 5
LANDSCAPE DESIGN COUNCIL
In May the LDC had 26 people join us for a wonderful
trip to Chanticleer in Wayne, PA. The cold, nasty
weather cleared for us that day and the gardens were
gorgeous, and the guides gave us a fabulous 2 hr tour
of the Rosengarten’s house and gardens. Chanticleer
is one of 25 gardens featured in “Great Gardens of
America” and in 2015 it was one of the “Top 10 North
American Gardens Worth Traveling For”. It certainly
lives up to its reputation. There was much talk of
returning to view the gardens in summer and fall.
Lunch was enjoyed at Tango, a restored and renovated
railroad station, in Bryn Mawr, PA. Before heading
home we stopped at Carolyn’s Shade Gardens for a
walk through and buying spree of her luscious shade
plants.
At the District’s March Annual Meetings the following
awards were presented: Talbot County Garden Club
for refurbishing a small walled garden at the Historical
Society of Talbot County - $100, Crofton Village
Garden Club for creating a butterfly and pollinator
garden at the Crofton Community Library - $150,
Chesapeake Garden Club for renovating a butterfly
and pollinator garden at the library at Owings - $100,
For-Win-Ash Garden Club designing, planting and
maintaining a native butterfly garden at Forest Park
Golf Course -$150 and Howard County Garden Club
designing and planting a garden for the McCracken
House on the grounds of the Howard County Living
Farm Heritage Museum - $150.
LDC awards deadline is Nov.1st so get before and
after pictures of your club’s landscaping project so
they can win some of these awards. Info in Directory
and at www.fgcofmd.org
On Oct. 12, 2016 the LCD has planned a trip to
Gibson Island courtesy of Carolyn Keenen. This will
include a tour of the Island, a visit to the Salty Marks
Museum, a view of their Native Garden, a visit to two
home gardens and lunch at their beautiful, new
Clubhouse. Landscape Design School has Course IV
planned for Sept. 27-28-29. Sign up ASAP as space
will be limited. The information will be posted on the
website and Events Calendar.
Jane Chambers
Landscape Design Chairman
Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
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News from Around the State
District I - Eastern Shore
Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Worcester
Regional
Winners:
Youth Poetry Contest
Linda Elias selias78@msn.com
District I Director Susie Middleton:
In spite of the wet spring our
clubs have accomplished quite a
lot. Beginning with March aka
“meeting month”. We kicked
off on March 2nd with District I’s
Annual Meeting and Luncheon featuring Brent Heath of
Brent and Becky’s Bulbs speaking
on Summer Flowering Bulbs.
During the month there was also
the opportunity to attend other District meetings as
well as the State meeting and see a number of talented
speakers and designers.
Our District and others participated in the March
Home and Garden Show held at the Timonium
Fairgrounds, designers from each district produced the
following “show stopping” floral mannequin heads.
A display moss, succulents and mini pots of
kalancho created by
Linda Moore, Caroline
Garden Club, District I
Our "Hon", made of
mums, with mini pink
flamingos. Created by
Sylvia Parker, Homeland
Garden Club, Distict IV
Floral Design by Marilyn
Potter of Mount Airey
and New Market Garden
Clubs District IV FGCMD.
Featuring Aspidistra,
Bear Grass, Anthirium
and Hypericum
Dried and faux floral
arrangement by Anna
O'Kelly of Crofton Greenery Garden Club, District
II FGCMD.
Floral Display of Mixed
Succulents created by
Elyssa Baxter of Gunpowder Garden Club District III FGCMD.
May - Community Outreach typically our efforts
focus on civic improvement and public projects and in
early May the Oxford and Talbot Clubs have been actively involved in “Women Build” for Habitat. But,
remember when Super Storm Sandy hit in October
2012? While New Jersey had a lot of damage, there
was widespread damage on the shore resulting in closed
businesses, lost jobs and homes. We were approached
this year by one of our club members who had been
working with the State to assist individuals still in need.
Since July 2014, they had been working closely with a
particular Wicomico County resident, whose home was
destroyed in Hurricane Sandy. The home was deemed
unsalvageable and funding restricted them from rebuilding the home. The gentleman has been unable to
work for 10+ years due to a disability and had little to
no other options to recover from Hurricane Sandy.
Along with the help of Episcopal Relief and Development, they resolved his housing situation by purchasing
a used mobile home and connecting all necessary utility
services to the home. The county granted a special use
permit for the home with the stipulation that 18 evergreen shrubs be planted on three sides of the home.
Our district raised about $500 in support of the project.
Three clubs, Worchester, Somerset and Four Seasons
volunteered to spearhead the work and on May 4th held
a planting day.
Flag Laying at Hurlock Members from five District clubs met at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery
at Hurlock to place flags for Memorial Day. A flag was
placed at each of the 6,300 burial sites.
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Gardenews July 2016
Volume 10 Number 5
News from Around the State
Chestertown Garden Club celebrated their 85th
Anniversary!!! Beryl Kemp and Brenda Strange cut
the cake at the Club’s picnic!
On July 12th, “The Perennial Diva” will be presented by
Stephanie Cohen. Her subject will be new Perennial
Cultivars and what is new and applicable to our
gardening area. Ms. Cohen is the author of several
books and is a “fun and engaging speaker”. This
program is open to the public and begins at 11:00 AM,
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, in Chestertown, MD.
The October meeting will feature Dr. Schindler,
following his work with the National Geographic
Channel. Dr. Schindler spent several weeks in various
sites around the world, retracing the migratory route of
our ancestors from the roots of humanity in Africa to
the “New World”. He and his
Co-Star were dropped into a
time and place from our
evolutionary past with only
the period-correct tools
available to our ancestors. It
is a show of “real” reality and
allows viewers to actually
witness the requirements for
survival. This is an open meeting and the Community
will be invited to attend. On November 4, we will host
the Chestertown Garden Club Flower Show, “George
Washington Slept Here”. All Federated Clubs will be
invited to participate, as well as the public.
Dorchester Garden Club “The Potting Shed” a
Standard Flower Show was presented on May 25th.
There were 273 horticultural exhibits, 36 floral designs
and 2 educational exhibits. There were 6 members
from our club who exhibited for the first time. There
were many blue
ribbon awards and top exhibitor awards were placed.
The creative and colorful themed staging of “The Potting
Shed” was seen throughout the show through signage and
displays. “Gardens Aglow, Plants to Sow” was the theme
of the Club’s annual picnic, which was held at President
Julia Berman’s house and gardens. The Club’s annual
awards for Horticulture, Design and Rosa were
presented to members who met the Club’s criteria for
the past year.
Cookie Brohawn was the 2016
recipient of the Perennial Bloom
Award. She was recognized as one
who has given ongoing support to
our members as well as the Club
goals. She will be honored with a
plant to be planted where she
designates.
Greenfingers Garden Club held a “Horticulture
Education” program at Cecilton Elementary School.
Fifty-five students explored the benefits of herbs, the
difference between herbs and spices, and a hands on
project of making a glass herb garden to take home. All
the children received a handout with herb information
and a cookie recipe to make at home. A great day for
these special and enthusiastic 4th Graders!
Kent Island Garden Club’s Young Gardeners had a
fun spring. Approximately 10 first through third graders
enjoyed stories and crafts related to planting spinach,
growing zinnias, and the importance of pollinators in the
garden. Lessons will begin again in August. A “pizza
garden” has been built for the individuals at Chesterwye
in Grasonville. A local nursery donated tomato and
pepper plants along with basil, oregano and zinnias. At
the end of summer, we will host a pizza party for all to
enjoy. A bus trip to Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, PA
will leave Kent Island on Wednesday, October 19th.
Cost is $60; lunch will be on your own at Hotel Radnor.
Hope you can join us!
Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
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News from Around the State
Queen Anne’s Garden Club While we are on a
well-deserved break until September, this spring kept
the Queen Anne’s County Garden Club very busy
with Pilgrimage 2016. It wasn’t a perfect spring day,
but we still managed to bring out lots of intrepid
“pilgrims”. The Club selected the James E. Kirwan
Museum as the recipient of funds garnered from this
year’s Pilgrimage. This little treasure of a museum
was badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy, and our
Club felt that we wanted to help with some of the repair and restoration. Kicking off the fall, we will have
a joint meeting with Kent Island Garden Club, featuring Ruth Rogers Clausen as the speaker. Her program
is entitled “Glorious Last Hurrah”, referring to the
beauty in the waning days of summer. Guests are welcome on September 12 at the Queen Anne’s County
Arts Council, Centreville, MD. Please let President
Anne Foss know if you plan to attend (410-827-8618).
at St. Marks Church in Easton.
District I Programs for 2016
Looking forward we have a number of great programs
open to other clubs. Look at the FGCMD website for
more information on these programs:
September 19 – Our District will offer the second
session of Project Wild, A Workshop of Programs for Youth Grades K through 12 on
Wednesday, September 21st. Project WILD is
a great way to incorporate environmental education into your programs. WILD activities can be
done indoors or outdoors, are flexible enough to
fit almost the needs of almost any facilitator, and
are comprehensive enough so that minimal preparation is required by the user. Project WILD is
ideal for classroom teachers, environmental educators, park and nature center personnel, Scout,
Somerset County Garden
Campfire and 4-H leaders and others who work
Club was very busy during the
with young people. We invite you to attend; regmonth of May. On May 4,
istration forms are on the back table. During
2016, Mary Ann Peterman and
workshops, participants will get a chance to try
Frances Follmer purchased
out a variety of WILD activities. The basic materishrubs and accruements for a
als include two activity guides for K-12: the ProSuper Storm Sandy victim. They were joined by their
ject WILD K-12 Activity Guide which focuses on
husbands, Susie Middleton (District I Director), Mariterrestrial wildlife and habitat, and the Aquatic
lyn Booth (Four Seasons GC President), Suzy Young
WILD Guide which emphasizes aquatic wildlife
(Worcester GC President) and husband, and friends,
who planted eighteen shrubs at the home. It was rainand aquatic ecosystems.
ing off-and-on as the shrubs were being planted. EveBoth guides are provided after attending a six hour
ryone had a job from measuring and marking the planttraining workshop.
ing spots, to digging, to mulching. The job was com- Two more clubs will be holding flower shows this year –
pleted in one hour! This brought back memories of our be sure to look at the FGCMD website for more details.
childhood days of playing in the mud!
October 18, Talbot Garden Club Flower
Show
SCGC members and two guests
November
3, Chestertown Garden Club
planted flower baskets for the
Flower Show - Chestertown GC Standtown of Princess Anne. The floward Flower Show “George Washingers were supplied by the town.
ton Slept Here” Emmanuel Church
This has been an annual project for
Chestertown, 1:30-5:00
the club.
Talbot County Garden Club on May 14th, hosted
Enjoy your summer. It looks like it is finally here!
the Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage and enjoyed
record-breaking attendance with more than 1,300 visitors to seven spectacular homes. Cordy Tucker and her
Young Gardeners Club committee have been active leading children in a variety of activities, including making
bird feeders and learning about recycling. TCGC will
host a flower show "Paint It Autumn" on October 10-11
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Gardenews July 2016
Volume 10 Number 5
News from Around the State
District II - Southern Maryland Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles County, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s
Ronda Goldman Goldman.ronda50@gmail.com
presented a trifold that illustrated the plight of
pollinators, highlighted the gardens our club has
Anna O’Kelly
planted and encouraged the public to participate.
The slow start of Spring didn’t
We included a horticulture display that showcased
deter members from their busy
plants that provide food for hard working
schedules. District II clubs
took home many awards at the pollinators. In a local community newsletter we
encouraged our neighbors to provide additional food
State meeting in March,
several clubs had plant sales,
and habitat for pollinators in their yard, business,
and the District II Daffodil
place of worship and school.
show was very successful with over 400
Horticulture entries. The Hammond Harwood
Our members are enthusiastic supporters of the Bay
House hosted a gala to commemorate their 75th
-Wise program. They continue to have their
anniversary and members from three different clubs property Bay-Wise certified and our Kinder Farm
created beautiful floral centerpieces for the event.
Park Kitchen Garden was Bay-Wise certified in
Most recently, Charles County was the site of the
June.
Maryland House and Garden pilgrimage and each
home was decorated with beautiful floral creations.
Charles County Garden Club May was a busy
Hammond Harwood House once again sponsored
month with the annual Plant Sale and the Maryland
the Secret Garden Tour and many members were
House and Garden Pilgrimage in the county. Both
docents. We continue to encourage members to
were a success and now it’s time for a recess in July.
become Bay-wise Certified and are anxious to see
Following the tour, four club members put together
which club wins the $200 Award in October for
thirteen designs to interpret art at a ‘First Friday’
most members certified. Have a great summer
event held at the Port Tobacco Courthouse
everyone!
sponsored by The Society for the Restoration of
Port Tobacco. Art was provided by the Charles
County Arts Alliance. Some pictures of the art and
designs below. Designers L to R: Barbara
Carpentier; Paula Winkler; Andi Tart; Mary Lilly;
Paula Winkler
District II Director
Chartwell Garden Club is a proud participant in
the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. Our
young gardener’s planted a pollinator garden at the
Arnold Senior Center in April. The garden
included milkweed, lilies and sunflowers. At the
May 2016 Kinder Farm Park Meet & Greet we
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Gardenews July 2016
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News from Around the State
The board members enjoyed preparing lunch for
the District II board meeting held in Waldorf this
month. Thanks to the Hughesville Garden Club for
the wonderful arrangements that adorned the food
tables.
The Fall Flower Show to be held at the Charles
County Fairgrounds in September is titled
“Adventures in Wonderland”. Anyone interested in
designing may request a copy of the schedule.
Crofton Greenery Garden Club A group of
Crofton Greenery gals spent a delightful day at the
Chase Lloyd House and Garden this spring. The
home, the only three-story colonial residence in
Annapolis, was home to a signer of the Declaration
of Independence, several Maryland Legislators, a
Governor and a Supreme Court Justice.
Thanks to its last owner, Hester Anne Chase
Ridout, the 18th century Georgian mansion has been
home to older ladies in need for more than a
century. Seven women currently live at 22
Maryland Ave. The Chase Lloyd home continues to
be managed by a board of trustees established by
Mrs. Ridout, ‘by, of and for women.’
After a tour of the house and a lovely lunch in the
garden bursting with blooms and buzzing
pollinators, the Crofton Greenery team got busy.
We amended, pruned, potted, planted,
transplanted, divided and mulched parts of this
beautiful Bay-Wise Certified garden. The house and
garden are open for tours Mon – Sat 2-4pm.
Crofton Village Garden Club has been
conducting hands-on workshops for residents at the
Crofton Care and Rehabilitation Center for over 20
years through its Garden Therapy Program. Once a
month, the Garden
Therapy Committee,
chaired by CVGC
member Diane Smith,
plans a special garden
activity which
addresses the
individual abilities of
the residents of the facility. Each floral design and
its components are differentiated for each
participating resident depending on individual
abilities, so that each person is successful in
completing the project.
The residents appreciate the one-on-one attention
from our club members and enjoy this opportunity
to participate in various design projects while
sharing memories of their lives. After the
workshops, the residents take the finished projects
to their rooms to enjoy for several more days.
Crossroads of Hughesville Garden Club
created a twelve by sixty-seven foot butterfly
garden on the grounds of Maxwell Hall. The
garden currently contains thirteen different types of
host and nectar plants. Within the thirteen types of
plants, are forty-nine Milkweeds. Some of the
other plants are Coneflowers, Fox Glove, Russian
Sage, Bee Balm, Giant Hyssop and Sneezeweed.
Because the garden is near a hiking trail, we
anticipate a lot of visitors this summer. We will be
providing handouts on the critical need to help the
Monarchs and Pollinators in general. The handouts
will include a listing of plants with their designated
blooming times and general instructions on what is
needed for a safe habitat.
Pictured from left: Vicki Lomax, Pat Steelman, Brenda Darr, Sally Kemp, Linda Disney,
Robin Gill, Barb Mantini and Anna O’Kelly.
We are particularly proud that the Monarch Watch
Organization has recognized our efforts by
designating our garden as “Monarch Way Station
Number 12316.”
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Gardenews July 2016
Volume 10 Number 5
News from Around the State
Our newest Community Project is Garden
Therapy. Our first therapy program was at the
Charlotte Hall Northern Senior Center April 28th.
We introduced the seniors to our version of the
“May Basket.” They made a cone container and
filled it with beautiful flower arrangements. They
were thrilled to take their creations home. We
were impressed with their creativity and
enthusiasm for the project. The Director of the
Center visited during the program and as she
observed the activity, she said “this is the most
successful program we have had.”
The hives are thriving
and honeybees can be
seen all over the
Island. In keeping
with the theme of
pollinate, Claire
Jones gave a
wonderful presentation on “Sex in the Garden” at
our June meeting.
At the recent State and District meetings, members
were thrilled to receive several awards: the State
Governor’s Beautification Bowl and Community
We are working with the Volunteer Coordinator of Service award for our community planting, an
the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home to develop a
award for our yearbook and an Environmental
garden therapy program for the residents. We have Concern award from CAR.
promised to do four sessions during the year. Our We have a busy summer planned with several design
focus will be garden activities that result in the
workshops, garden therapy and an environmental
residents having something they can keep in their
meeting. In addition we are very excited about our
room. For our first program on July 12th, the
Holiday Boutique that will be held on Thursday
residents will be planting dish gardens.
October 20th in our brand new Clubhouse.
Calendar Note: Stay tuned for additional
information on our first Autumn Tea, 12 noon, Oct
2, 2016. In addition to the tea we will have door
prizes and entertainment.
Naval Academy Garden Club Millie Sample,
long time member of the Naval Academy Garden
Club (NAGC), recently received the Perennial
Bloom Award for her many years of service to the
Gibson Island Garden Club The Gibson Island NAGC, District II and the Federated Garden Clubs
Garden Club has had a wonderful spring filled with of Maryland. The list of
many activities: Two field trips took us to
Millie’s contributions and
Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville and Mt
awards is legendary and long,
Vernon in Virginia, several brave souls weathered too long to include in this
the storm to plant planters around the Island for
space. Presenting Millie with
our annual community planting day, our Jr.
the Perennial Bloom award at
Gardeners have planted their garden plot and are
this year’s National Garden
looking forward to an active summer filled with
Clubs Convention are Sandra Robinson (left),
workshops and educational programs and plans are President, National Garden Clubs and Nicki Schwab
underway for our 90th Anniversary coming up in
(right), President Federated Garden Clubs of
July.
Maryland.
One of our President’s themes is pollinate. We are
excited to announce that with the help of our
beekeeper from Anne Arundel Beekeeping
Association, we have 2 new honeybee hives on the
Island. Over Memorial Day weekend, our
residents enjoyed a show and tell program with our
very knowledgeable and enthusiastic beekeeper.
The NAGC has taken on a new project: the care
and maintenance of a 4-foot diameter planter in the
open air vestibule of the Jewish Chapel at the Naval
Academy. The planter is in full shade, creating a
tranquil entryway for the Chapel.
Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
Page 21
News from Around the State
St. Mary’s Garden Club A 2016 Leonardtown
High School graduate, Brennan Peabody, received a
$1000 scholarship for studies
committed to the
Environmental Sciences from
the St. Mary’s County Garden
Club. It was presented to him
at the annual June Scholarship
Garden Party. This year it was
held by the garden club in the
lovely gardens and waterfront home of member Pat
Brown and her husband, Mickey, where they gave
boat rides to all interested on the Cuckold Creek.
Brennan accepted the scholarship and made a brief
speech about his hobby of carving decoy ducks
which he started when he was 12 under the
guidance of a family friend. He started out making
he heads and then went on to making the bodies
once he was a competent duck head carver. He
won a blue ribbon at the St. Mary’s County Fair for
the first decoy that he made and has since won
ribbons at a number of fairs and shows. He is
working for a local seafood business and has for the
past several years while attending school and has still
maintained high grades. He is interested in the
health of the Chesapeake Bay and wants to help
discover all of the factors involved in its current
problems and to help develop plans to repair the
bay’s ecosystem. Brennan plans to attend St.
Mary’s College in the fall and will major in
Environmental Science.
Chesapeake Garden Club On Friday, April 8th,
Chesapeake Garden Club (CGC) donated $500.00
to Calvert Hospice in honor of Grace
Sturdevant, one of our
founders. Grace was also a founder
of Calvert Hospice. The money was
raised from thee center pieces sold at
the District II meeting in March. All
Helen Downey, Presithe materials for the pieces were
dent of CGC, Calvert
Hospice Director, Jean
donated by the designers.
Fleming and Kay Sturdevant, daughter of Grace.
District III - Baltimore and Harford Counties
Dot Sacker rodosack@verizon.net
District III Director Betty Reeves
District III garden clubs are planning
a fundraising event to benefit
Hampton National Historic Site to be
held on October 18, 2016 which will
provide funding to restore and
preserve the landscaping of the
grounds of this historic site. Morning
presentations on various topics of
interest of flowers, fashion & food and top-tier venders
will participate along with a seated lunch and fashion
show by Octavia planned in the afternoon. See flyer
elsewhere in this newsletter.
This fall of 2016, District III will take part in the Alice
Rush McKeon Tree Planting to be held in Harford
County. A trust was established to fund tree plantings
to beautify roadside areas in conjunction with the
Maryland Highway Administration. Date, time and
location will be forthcoming. The ceremony will be
open to all members of the Federated Garden Clubs of
MD.
Look for more information in the next newsletter about
Wreaths Across America which will be held on
December 17, 2016 at the Bel Air Memorial Gardens.
Sponsored memorial wreaths are placed on the grave
markers at state, national veterans cemeteries as well as
local cemeteries each December every year. These
annual simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies remind
people how important it is to remember and honor the
veterans across America.
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Gardenews July 2016
Volume 10 Number 5
News from Around the State
Bent Twig Garden Club was honored to receive two
awards at District III - Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland Annual Meeting in March.
The Gifts for Great Gardens Award, which included a
beautiful silver bowl and a check for $200.00, was presented in recognition of the creation of a butterfly/
pollinator garden at the Arbutus Library. Under the leadership of Community Service Co-Chairs Vickie Miler, Pat
Johnson and Jan Barthel, Bent Twig gardeners planted
Milkweed, Joe Pye Weed, Verbena, Daisies, Lilies, and
Caladiums and installed a bird bath from the garden of
Dollye McCarty.
The second award received by the club was First Place for
their yearbook, which was dedicated in memory of longtime member Dollye McCarty. In accepting the award at
our monthly meeting, Chair, Lynn Egan, thanked Shirley
Fratto and all who helped for their "team work".
Country Garden Club of Harford County had a
busy year. We have nineteen active members and plan to
add two more members in the fall.
The club decorated an artificial Christmas tree and donated it to the Festival of Trees. Money raised helped support the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance. We also participated in the State House Christmas tree project.
Our club again worked on flower arrangements for Hospice. This has been a project for the club for several
years. We continue to decorate The Hayes House museum in Bel Air at Christmas and Ladew Gardens at various
times throughout the year.
In November, club member, Bernice Erickson, reviewed
the four flower schools offered by the National Garden
Clubs. In the winter, club member, Naureen Fisher, presented a program about the flora and fauna of Cape
Town, South Africa. In early spring, Ann Nunn, a club
member, conducted a workshop on Kokedama. Participants in the workshop carried home cute little plants,
roots covered in soil and moss and wrapped in twine. At
the club's April meeting, Joyce Jordan, a member of the
club, presented the history of
Beleek Irish Pottery and displayed Victorian tussy
mussies. Our club participated in the Garden Mart
in Bel Air on May 6, a really,
really wet and rainy day. The
club carried on despite the
rain trying to prove our motto "we are small, yet
mighty".
In May, Charlie Conklin,
president of the Gunpowder
Valley Conservancy, discussed the important work of Festival of Trees with member
protecting and maintaining Joann Moore
the rich diversity of land and water resources.
The club plans to continue the landscaping project
at SARC, a non-profit agency in Bel Air that provides support services to victims of abuse. We look
forward to the next Garden Mart in Bel Air scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2017 at The Armory in Bel
Air.
Franklin Garden Club has been busy this spring
with interesting programs. During our April meeting Robert Mardiney from Irvine Nature Center
spoke to our club on the topic of Gardening For
Birds. Our May meeting was held at Hampton
Mansion with a tour of the mansion and farm. In
June we will celebrate the club’s 40th year anniversary with a luncheon at Piney Branch Golf Club.
Founding members will be present and presentations of events, trips and meetings over the past 40
years will be given.
Awards Chairmen, Terry Holman & Marie
Davis
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Gardenews July 2016
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News from Around the State
Our club members have been busy within the community maintaining the Reisterstown Library gardens and the
planter barrels located throughout Historic Reisterstown.
A scholarship was presented to a Franklin High School
senior graduating this spring and planning to major in
environment at college next fall.
Glen Arm Garden Club’s two-and-a half year Blue
Star Memorial project came to fruition on April 23 with
the unveiling of the Blue Star Memorial Marker at the
Cromwell Valley Park and Ride. Boy Scout Troop #124
and representatives of local American Legion Posts, as
well as local elected officials, assisted Glen Arm, District
III, and state garden club representatives in the dedication of the marker. Mission BBQ provided refreshments. Glen Arm’s plans for the coming year include
hosting a small Standard Flower Show.
Gun Powder Garden Club For the new $3 Million
Hereford Branch Public Library opening on Flag Day,
June 14th, Gunpowder Garden Club members created
and planted a red, white, and blue garden flanking the
Hereford Library sign along with six window boxes for
the upper tier of the new 15,000 square foot building.
Gunpowder earned the status of community “green”
friend and partnered opening day because of the past
years of National Garden Week plant/flower arrangements donated to the library center. Since the Hereford
Branch serves the largest geographic service area of any
BCPL branch, Gunpowder Garden Club is excited that
this “Green” outreach activity will lead to landscape/
plant guidance of the newly acquired surrounding park
area.
GGC President, Natalie Hamilton (center) and Baltimore County Public Library Assistant Directors,
James Cooke and Natalie Edington acknowledge contributions. Photo by Carmela Veit.
Hill and Stream Garden Club has scheduled a
trip to Suicide Bridge on Tuesday, September 20th.
Price of $99.00 includes a bus ride to Hurlock,
Maryland, a paddleboat ride, and all you can eat
crabs, chicken, clam strips, Maryland crab soup and
more. Bus departs from Carney Park and Ride at
9:15 am and arrives back at 5:30 pm. For information or tickets, please call Maria at 410-2564138 or Ann at 410-879-0976.
Lutherville Garden Club extends a warm welcome to our newest members this past year. As we
continue to grow in membership, so too we are
growing together in gardening knowledge as a club.
We are looking forward to implementing new plans
to upgrade the Trackside Garden in Lutherville with
a landscaping design to further enhance the gardens.
Native plants, beneficial perennials and shrubs will
be incorporated into the garden.
Periodic workshops with the students of Lutherville
Lab School from grades one through five, have been
very educational through lessons on garden related
activities; such as, planting tulips & daffodils, making bird feeders, and tending many plants in the
sensory and pollinator gardens. Recently, a generous monetary donation was presented to our club to
help further gardening programs at the school.
Talent in Action is always popular with our members. At each monthly meeting, members bring
flower samples to be critiqued by our club's accredited judges. Points are awarded in various categories. This activity demonstrates how to prepare
plant material for participation in a future Flower
Show. A monthly Garden Therapy session on making flower arrangements with the residents of College Manor has been an ongoing activity. Residents
look forward to taking part in a relaxing therapeutic
activity mixed with socialization with our members.
In September, a Mystery Design Challenge is
planned as an interactive way to become acquainted
with newest members and renew friendships with
fellow members. Jessica Jeannetta, a Naturalist with
Oregon Ridge Nature Center, will present a program in October on local fauna and its beneficial
impact on the environment. November's presenter,
Brian Gomes, speaker with the Oyster Recovery
Project, will discuss the history of the Oyster in the
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Gardenews July 2016
Volume 10 Number 5
News from Around the State
District IV - Baltimore City
Kathleen Brosi kathleen@brosi.org
District IV Director Ann Losin
The District IV Annual Meeting
and Silent Auction was held on
March 16 at the L'Hirondelle
Club in Ruxton. Jody Jewell of
the Mt. Washington Garden Club
was the featured speaker. A highly
creative, dynamic floral designer,
grower, and entrepreneur, Jody
has appeared multiple times on
Good Morning America, Fox and Friends and NBC
Morning News. She gave a thorough and entertaining
explanation and demonstration of tropical flowers and
foliage.
Mt. Washington Garden Club is in its 82nd year and
still growing. In March club members voted to increase
the size of the club from 25 to 30 members. This is a very
busy club that works hard to support good causes. To
support this activity Mt. Washington, under its new
membership rules, has been delighted to induct three
new, young members. These new members are anxious
to join in the club’s endeavors. They bring enthusiasm
and new ideas so they will be a real asset to the continued
work that Mt. Washington Garden Club does. For
example, in May, volunteers worked hard on the sale of
flowers at Clyburn Market Day. Their Children's Table
where children plant flowers in a container as a gift for
their mothers for Mother’s Day had a record number of
children participating.
It has also been a year of awards for Mt. Washington Garden Club. At the District IV annual meeting Mt. Washington received the first place award (for small club) in
Decorating Historic Buildings for their Christmas decoration of the Carroll Mansion in Baltimore. The club also
received is 1st place as a small club for The Dessie Moxley Youth Involvement and Development Award in
recognition of their children’s program on Market Day at
Cylburn Arboretum. This project also was awarded the
silver engraved plate for The Dessie Moxley Youth
Development Award at the state annual meeting.
Mt. Washington Club especially thanks their
awards chairman Mary Louise Snyder for all of her
hard, timely work on applying for these awards.
For-Win- Ash Club held its annual fundraiser, A
Card Party, luncheon. and silent auction at the
Forum , 4210 Primrose Avenue, Baltimore, on
March 28. The event successfully netted over three
thousand dollars according to, Kathy Jackson, Card
Party Chairperson. In April, Michel P. Anderson,
Eco literacy & Sustainability Coordinator at
the Waldorf School of Baltimore, addressed the
club. Known to students as King Compost and the
Green man, Michel is a world traveler, photographer, green builder, honeybee steward and permaculturist. He gave FWAGC members a horticulture
and design slide presentation. In May, Dorothy
Howatt, Past President, Central Atlantic Region,
Federated Garden Clubs, co-author horticultural
handbook currently in use by the Federated Garden
Clubs gave an interactive horticulture and design
presentation. Additionally, FWAGC joined the Potomac Chrysanthemum Society. Also in May Marsha Hairston and Jacque Dorsey took students from
Windsor Hills Elementary School on Nature Walk
at the Carrie Murray Center. In June, Rhoda Fassett and other FWAGC members continued the
spring cleaning and plantings at the Benjamin
Banneker museum. June closing exercises featured
a self-guided tour of Ladew Gardens and a luncheon
at Manor Tavern.
Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
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News from Around the State
Cliff Dwellers Garden Club partook in the Howard
Peter Rawlings Conservatory outreach program,
"Little Leaves". The program was designed for city
school children to teach them about ecosystems and
the plants each climate supports. Another purpose of
this program was to introduce local children to the
wonderful resource they have at their disposal in Baltimore, namely, the Conservatory. Alice Hubbard, District IV, hosted the event, while Glenda Weber, Naturalist and Education Coordinator at the Conservatory,
was the instructor. Glenda introduced the children to
three ecosystems, their world location, their climates
and flora. The children were guided through three
rooms where the climates; Mediterranean, Tropical,
and Desert ecosystems along with their respective flora
were interactively explained by Guides. In each room
the children listened, touched, sniffed, and learned
while they took notes and drew pictures of their favorite specimens. At program's end, each schoolchild
was given their own baby spider plant to take home
and nurture. It was a wonderful learning experience
for the dear city children, as well as, for the Cliff
Dwellers volunteers who included Barbara Lee, Flo
Crossley, Jackie Handley, and Pat McGrath. We all
learned a lot and had a wonderful time. It was a good
opportunity to take advantage of the treasure the Conservatory is to Baltimore which hosts a large number of
events for the city.
The Women's Club of Roland Park Garden Club
also had several outstanding programs during the 201516 year.
Some of these were:
Jill Jones described the work of the Baltimore Tree
Trust and the work this nonprofit is doing to restore
the city's urban forest one neighborhood at a time.
Kay McConnell shared the work she and others have
been doing at Friends School of Baltimore to create the
Native Plant Teaching Gardens.
Rob Mardiney presented an excellent program on
"Wildflowers" Fact and Folklore" in which he explained the ecology, legends, and folklore of Maryland's wildflowers.
Kathy Hudson and Penney Hubbard shared the 46
years of gardening that have gone into creating "On
Walnut Hill, The Evolution of a
Garden."
In June, Karen Offutt opened her gardens for members
and friends to tour these wonderful spaces that were
featured in Style Magazine in May.
Homeland Garden Club also enjoyed a tour of the
Hubbard’s garden (featured in Kathy Hudson’s book
“On Walnut Hill’). Other programs this spring included a workshop with Rennie Friedlander at her gorgeous new space Simply Beautiful Flowers, a presentation of orchid growing mistakes and how to fix them by
Clark Riley, and a presentation by Master Gardener
Pam Spencer covering the rearing of Monarch butterflies and how to garden for them.
District IV gardeners wish you all a happy, flower-filled
summer.
Melanie Jackson speaks about UMCES Scholarship Fund
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Gardenews July 2016
News from Around the State
Continued page 22
Volume 10 Number 5
Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
Page 27
News from Around the State
District V - Western Maryland Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Washington
Brenda Ashworth bkadfw919@msn.com
District V Director Lynn Walter:
Can it really be June and Summer
already? The year is flying by, but I
am still struggling to get my garden
in, as the rain has really held me
up. I hope your gardens are
flourishing!
District V held their Annual
Meeting on March 10th at
Ceresville Mansion in Frederick.
We had outstanding attendance
of 140 attendees, with 19 out of
22 clubs represented. Sylvia
Deck presented a floral design
presentation, enjoyed by all. As
clubs plan their next year, I
hope they will continue to
include environmental topics in
their meetings: Save the Bay,
Bay-wise gardening,
Sylvia Deck at District V A
creating wildlife
nnual Meeting
habitats, teaching and
empowering our youth. There are so many worthy
topics! The Director’s Award this year will go to the
club with the highest percentage of members who are
either Bay-wise certified, or National Wildlife
Federation Wildlife Habitat certified. Both are
easy to do, and are ways we can each work to improve
life for the wildlife around us. It is easy to think of
yourself as too little to make a difference, just a drop in
the bucket…..but together, we can add up and have
tremendous impact - a bucket full to overflowing!
There are things we all can do, whether in the country,
or suburbia, or the downtown. We CAN make a
difference if we band together and each do our part.
Coming up in the District is Mountain Laurel GC’s
Secret Country Garden Tour on June 25, which
promises to be a beautiful day. Our fall meeting will be
in Westminster October 6, with an entertaining speaker
from thegardenworkshop.com who will speak on
Growing Spring Flowers. This will be wonderful
timing for everyone to get organized for May 19, 2017,
when we will be having a District Flower Show. Much
more information will follow, but if you are interested
in helping, please contact Marjorie Schiebel from Mt.
Cross Country Garden Club - Cross Country Garden
Club members enjoyed an informative
presentation by Devon Kosisky on the beneficial honey
bee. There were beekeeping displays, a honey tasting
station, and a live observation hive made possible by
CCGC member Xina Kojzar and her beekeeper
husband, Paul.
Photo: Devon Kosisky, beekeeper and program
assistant at the Howard County Conservancy.
Cross Country Garden Club members maintain a
garden plot and a clay pot lady and boy at the Howard
County Conservancy. The clay pot lady and boy,
whose attire changes with the seasons, attract the
attention of many children and adults visiting the
Conservancy.
Cross Country GC members Mary
Dauber and Judy Christensen attire the
clay pot lady and boy for summer.
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Gardenews July 2016
Volume 10 Number 5
News from Around the State
Howard County Garden Club - The HC Garden
Club members and their spouses gathered at Kings
Contrivance on March 11th for our annual dinner party.
We shared a lovely
evening together and a
delicious meal,
celebrating friendships,
volunteering and
gardening.
On May 13, members
Judy Draper Perrine, Betsy Swancar, Jane
of the Howard County President
Kramer and Karen Learmouth.
Garden Club held their
monthly meeting at
the Howard Peters
Rawlings
Conservatory,
followed by a luncheon
in this beautiful
setting. Tours of the
Amaranthus caudatus, one of many beautivarious rooms of the
ful plants at the Howard Peters Rawlings
Conservatory.
lovely building
introduced members to
new desert, Mediterranean, and tropical plants as well
as unique gorgeous orchids. Everyone also enjoyed
hearing the history of the Conservatory during their
tour.
Mt. Airy Garden Club - The Mt. Airy Garden Club
was established on May 3, 1934 and has an 82 year
history as a dedicated community organization.
Members have noted that many in the Mt. Airy
community are not aware of the Club’s longtime
involvement in the Town. Some in our community
think our members meet only for “Teas” and to make
flower arrangements. To highlight the Club’s service to
the community, the Mt. Airy Historical Society and the
Mt. Airy Rotary Club invited our members to their
meetings to present programs focusing on the Garden
Club’s history and current projects in and around town.
Helping in the restoration of the deteriorated Pine
Grove Chapel in 1934 was the first major project of the
Club. The building was in ruins and quite an eyesore.
To save the building from demolition, citizens worked
to save the old structure built in 1846. The newly
formed Mt. Airy Garden Club organized a Garden
Party on the Chapel grounds to raise funds to convert
the old church into a chapel. Renovation began on
August 1, 1934 and the completed chapel was
dedicated on November 4, 1934! The Club has
continued its community involvement throughout the
years promoting the love of gardening, historic
preservation, leading garden therapy workshops for
special needs middle school students and seniors
citizens, tending demonstration gardens in Mt. Airy,
participating in community events, supporting Habitat
for Humanity projects, promoting floral design and
presenting flower shows, and partnering with other
organizations to encourage civic and environmental
responsibility. The Mt. Airy Garden Club planted a
Wye Oak seedling in 1976 in Pine Grove Cemetery
that is now a majestic 40 year old tree. Our Club has
supported and contributed to bringing a restored
authentic B&O caboose to Mt. Airy and is working on
a Blue Star By-Way Garden at the Mt. Airy Caboose
Visitors Center that will be dedicated this coming year.
“Teas” are still a delight and enjoyable for our members
as we focus on our Garden Club mission.
Mountain Laurel Garden Club - At March 10,
2016 District V meeting of the Federated Garden
Clubs of Maryland, Inc. (FGCMD), the Mountain
Laurel Garden Club (MLGC) was awarded the Dessie
Moxley Youth Award recognizing a specific project by
club members working with youth.
On March 21 at the State meeting of the FGCMD, a
special Award of
Honor was
presented to
Linda Harris by
Nicki Schwab,
State President,
along with
Sandra Robinson,
National Garden
Clubs, Inc. President, present for the award. The
Award of Honor recognized Linda for her “steadfast
dedication to the conservation movement which has
promoted environmental awareness in her community
Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
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News from Around the State
and the FGCMD, Inc.” Having held a variety of
positions in the club, Linda led the state organization in
the formation of the first Environmental School in
Maryland sponsored by the FGCMD. Students from
Garrett County as well as participants from other states
and Maryland counties traveled to Garrett County and
learned about many aspects of the environment and
engaged in hands-on activities through the informative
courses provided by knowledgeable
instructors. Because of Linda’s efforts, an
environmental council has become a reality in the
FGCMD. Linda has been committed to the Marcellus
Stream Monitoring coalition which recently was
selected to receive the Richard A. Johnson
Environmental Education Award.
MLGC received the Richard A. Johnson Environmental
Education Award on April 28, 2016 at a ceremony at
the Appalachian Laboratory at UMCES. MLGC was one
of seven organizations comprising the Marcellus Shale
Stream Monitoring Coalition headed up by MD DNR.
Members of the Conservation Committee have been
monitoring streams in Garrett County since March of
2012,collecting baseline data for the State. We were
honored to have Nicki Schwab and Joan Bender in
attendance at the award ceremony at the Appalachian
Lab in Frostburg, MD.
The Conservation Committee applied for and received
a $500 grant from the Maryland Environmental Trust to
help cover costs of planting a new meadow at Northern
Garrett High School. The meadow will be planted and
maintained by the science students with ongoing
educational activities. The committee also received a
Youth Pollinator Gardens Grant from NGC for $200.
These funds will cover the cost of soil amendments,
native meadow plants, a stone walkway, fencing and
extensive plant information
Split Rail Garden Club - What a Doll!! The Split
Rail Garden Club celebrated Alice Doll’s CAR
Perennial Award at a
club meeting when
District V Director
Lynn Walter presented
her with the
Certificate of Honor
for a life-time of
service to FGCM.
Alice has been involved
with the Federated
Garden Clubs of
Maryland since 1969
District V President Lynn Walter
and Alice Doll
and has been an active
member of Split Rail ever
since. Alice was a key expert working with FGCM and
the State in creating the Master Gardener Program in
Maryland. Alice was also fundamental in contributing
to the creation of many of the programs sponsored by
FGCM that many of us continue to enjoy today. Alice
loves spending time tending to her garden daily,
performing community service and sharing her
expertise as Horticultural Chair.
Split Rail in turn, honored Centennial High School
graduate Courtney Nicole Hammond with a $500
scholarship for her essay on the topic of “How do
plants, gardens or green spaces improve your
quality of life?” Nicole is a gardener who learned
how to organically grow a vegetable garden in order to
teach a disadvantaged inner city family how to grow
food to support their family. In addition, she
volunteers with the Miller Branch Enchanted Forest
Children’s Garden. Nicole will be studying
Environmental Science in the fall. Our club is in the
process of establishing a native plant garden in Historic
Ellicott City. Look for us in the next issue when we
will have before and after photographs!
Page 30
Gardenews July 2016
Volume 10 Number 5
News from Around the State
2016 National Poetry Winner
EVELYN TAWES GARDEN
Croak, croak, croak, here
comes the sun.
Three baby frogs are ready
for some fun.
Croak, croak, croak, rumble,
grumble, grrr.
Three hungry frogs in search
to cure their hunger.
Three flying frogs leap into
the air,
Chasing and eating flies not
leaving one to spare.
Slurp, slip, slide, down the
flies go.
Three stuffed frogs all lines
up in a row.
Croak, croak, croak the day is
done.
Three happy frogs had a lot
of fun!
On the eve of its 40th anniversary, the Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden has been designated a Level
II Arboretum by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program, administered through the Morton Arboretum. The Tawes Garden staff and the
Friends of Tawes Garden determined that their
target goal was Level II accreditation. They
achieved Level I status in 2013. During the past
year, we worked to meet the Level II criteria,
which include: documentation of a minimum of
one hundred species or varieties of trees and other woody plants; collection and planting in accordance with the Garden's collections policy
and master plan; and labeling of representative
plants with their taxonomic identification, including scientific and common names and native
range. Plants in the collection must be accounted for in some form of accessible data base. In
addition, the facility must promote the importance of trees through educational programs
geared toward the general public. The Tawes arboretum has hosted several tree identification
and care workshops with its partners in the Anne
Arundel County Master Gardeners and Friends
group.
Lily Carson, Grade 3. Sponsored
by the Worchester County Garden
Club
Garden Manager Ranger Jay Myers states that
"achieving Arboretum Level II accreditation validates the garden's founder Stevie Lyttle's vision
and the past forty years of hard work and support by numerous staff and volunteers. The designation also encourages elevated standards of
operation to ensure the future success of the garden."
Volume 10 Number 5
Gardenews July 2016
Page 31
News from Around the State
.
Federated Garden Clubs of
Maryland
New Mailing Address
P. O. Box 65172
Baltimore, Maryland 21209
Disrict II Director, Anna O’Kelly & National Garden Club President,
Sandra Robinson (Design created by Director O’Kelly)
Our Location
Vollmer Center at Cylburn Arboretum
4915 Greenspring Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21209
Please submit all correspondence to the
new mailing address.
Phone:410-396-4842
Email: office@fgcmd.org
Click this link for our updated
FGCofMD CALENDAR
on our FABULOUS WEBSITE!
http://fgcofmd.org/Calendar_of_Events.html
Find links to Registration Forms on the Calendar
of Events Page!
Support the FGCofMD
Scholarship Fund!
Citation presented to former President, Jackie Handley
http://www.fgcofmd.org/
Membership.html