Fall - National Capital Area Garden Clubs

VOLUME 72, ISSUE 2
FALL 2014
The Capital Gardener
The quarterly publication of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs
74 Garden Clubs ~ 419 Life Members ~ 2,307 Members ~ 18 Affiliated Societies ~ 6 Subscribers
In this issue
Capital Calendar
2
NCAGC Fall General Meeting
Rally Our Region
3
NCAGC Nominating Committee
3
Monday, October 6, 2014
10:30 a.m.
NCAGC Awards Report
4
NCAGC State Flower Show
5
Getting to Know Our Advertisers
5
District I
6
District II
6
District III
7
NCAGC Donations
7
District IV
7
NCAGC State Flower Show
8-10
Judges’ Council
11
Gardening Consultants’ Council
12
Gardening Study School
12
Landscape Design Consultants’
13
Flower Show School
13
Environmental Consultants Council
14
Environmental Studies School
14
Friendship Garden
15
Arbor House
16
Capital Column of Upcoming Events 17
National Capital Orchid Society
18
Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Soc. 18
Alice Ferguson Foundation
19
Montclair Garden Club
19
Beverley Hills Garden Club
20
Quantico Officers’ Wives’ GC
20
Haymarket Town & Country GC
21
Paint Brush Garden Club
21
Rock Spring Garden Club
22
Scholarship
23
Flower Show Registration Form
24
Proposed Bylaws Amendment
25
Venue: Potomac Community Center
11315 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
Lisa Mason Ziegler of The Gardener’s Workshop will present a program
on Growing Great Spring Flowers. Learn the varieties of hardy annuals to
plant in the fall and early spring to be the very first bloomers come spring.
This garden includes the favorites of spring: Snapdragons, Sweet William,
Sweet Peas and more! This program includes a seed-starting demonstration
with soil blocking.
Lisa will also discuss her new book: Cool Flowers
Lisa has been a cut-flower farmer since 1998; her one-and-a-half acre
working cutting gardens produces over 10,000 stems of flowers each week in
season. Lisa sells her flowers to florists, Colonial Williamsburg, supermarkets
and through her farm pick-up Garden Share
program.
Lisa’s sustainable and organic gardening
experiences have been gathered from everyday
life on her cut-flower farm nestled in the heart of
the city of Newport News, Virginia.
President’s Message
Cultivating Friends and Communities
Our summer has been reasonably successful. The gardenia that we brought in
last fall is now blooming on our front steps. The Buddleia has also now
bloomed, late but better than never. We still have hopes for the plumeria from
the Philadelphia Flower Show. From the back yard we are getting a good many
tomatoes as well as a few cucumbers, bell peppers and an eggplant or two. We
have also been pampering some potted plants with an eye toward the upcoming
state flower show.
Preparations for Science into Nature Equals Art are quickly reaching fever
pitch. Our standard flower show is scheduled for October 17-20, 2014 in the
headquarters building at the U.S. National Arboretum. Not only is this the first
state flower show in many, many years for National Capital Area but it is the
first ever presented in cooperation with the U.S. National Arboretum, which is
providing an educational exhibit and four horticultural speakers.
Page 1
Continued on page 2
Capital Calendar
September 2014
5 - District IV, Strathmore Mansion
9 - Environmental Consultants’ Council
meeting
9 - Ida Swiggett bench dedication
Meadowlark Gardens
10 - Landscape Design Consultants’
Council meeting
12 - District II General Meeting, River
Farm
13 - District I meeting, Kettering
Community Center
FALL 2014
Volume 72, Issue 2
National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc.
District of Columbia, Maryland & Virginia
Headquarters at Arbor House,
U.S. National Arboretum
3501 New York Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-1958
202-399-5958
www.ncagardenclubs.org
President: David Healy
1738 A Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-543-5919 davidhealy@dcaccess.net
Deadline
Issue
Months
July 10
Fall
Sept.-Oct.-Nov.
Oct. 10
Winter
Dec.-Jan.-Feb.
Jan. 10
Spring
Mar.-Apr.-May
Apr. 10
Summer
June-July-Aug.
15 - Rally Our Region Application Due
16-17 - Environmental Studies School
16-18 - Landscape Design School
17 - Judges Council Meeting
19 - District III, Meadowlark Gardens
24-27 - NGC Fall Board Meeting,
Des Moines, IA
30 - District IV trip to Fallingwater and
Kentuck Knob
October 2014
6 - NCA Fall General Meeting, Potomac,
MD
17 - All NCAGC Flower Show entries to
be submitted
18 - NCAGC Flower Show Judging,
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
18 - NCAGC Flower Show
Open to the Public - 1 – 4 p.m
Lectures, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
19 - NCAGC Flower Show
Open to the Public: 9a.m.–4p.m
Lectures: 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
19 - Deadline for NCA board member
reports to be emailed to the
NCAGC President
20 - Dismantling NCAGC Flower Show
26–28 - Central Atlantic Conference,
Dover, Delaware
November 2014
1 - Awards Deadline
3 - NCA Board of Directors’ meeting
12 - Landscape Design Consultants’
Council meeting
12-13 - Gardening Study School
17 - Joint meeting Garden Consultants’
Council & Environmental
Consultants’ Council
19 - Judges Council Meeting
20 - Morning of Design
December 2014
1 - Award of Honor Deadline
For calendar updates go to
www.ncagardenclubs.org
Click on Calendar
Send all information, articles and/or
pictures to Editor before the deadline.
Editor reserves the right to edit for space
requirements. Photos with photographer’s
name will receive photo credit.
Editor - Arlene Stewart
12200 Ashley Ct.
Manassas, VA 20112
703-791-4356 amstewart4@aol.com
Assistant Editor - Poss Tarpley
1705 Belle Haven Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22307
703-660-8661 posst@aol.com
Exec. Secretary/Circulation Carole Butler
1508 Auburn Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850-1120
301-518-9942
CaroleGdnClbs@msn.com
Advertising - Janey Nadler
802 Duke Street
Rockville, Maryland 20850-1012
301-424-3341 JN802@aol.com
Webmaster - Nancy Angelelli
7403 Essex Avenue
Springfield, VA 22150
703-569-8595 rangelelli@verizon.net
President’s Message, continued from page 1
The flower show workshop was well attended on June 27. All the
design classes and most the photography classes have been filled. But
there is still time for everyone to review the horticulture division and plan
to enter numerous specimens from your own gardens, sunrooms and
potting sheds. The flower show schedule is online at ncagardenclubs.org.
All entries must be received on October 17 and removed on October 20.
Everyone should plan to attend this show on October 18 or 19.
National Capital Area has a good many talented floral designers who
frequently share their designs. This flower show is a special opportunity
for you gardeners to share your successes.
David Healy, NCAGC President
Page 2
RALLY OUR REGION Ellen Dutka, NCAGC State Representative
Restore, Refurbish, Replant
The Central Atlantic Region encourages garden clubs to rally to restore gardens, shorelines,
parks, memorials, historical sites, roadways, and community facilities that have suffered
natural disasters, neglect or are in need of an update.
SAMPLE PROJECTS:
 Plant dune grass plugs on devastated shorelines.
 Replant trees/shrubs/perennials in park, cemetery, or historical site that needs restoration.
 Plant container gardens in/on community properties that enhance the residents’ lives.
 Clean-up/restore grounds of schools, libraries, parks, Blue Star Memorials, etc…
Click Here for the
Application Form
Document projects with photos, brief description and expenditures of the project by September 15, 2014.
Contact your NCAGC State Representative for more details!
NCAGC State Representative: Ellen Dutka
3 Purdue Ct.
Rockville, MD. 20850-1137
301-340-6974 or ellendutka@verizon.net
NCAGC NOMINATING COMMITTEE, Shirley Nicolai, Chairman
OUR NCAGC NOMINATING COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR
HELP
Every two years, National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. elects officers
for a two year term. Our success as an organization depends on the willingness
of qualified volunteers to provide leadership and enthusiasm for our membership. The benefits of serving include personal growth and meeting wonderful
people with like interests.
If this is the right time in your life to share skills and talents with others,
please contact one of your district’s two nominating committee members for
further information and possible consideration. You may also help by
providing names of others whom you think would be strong candidates.
Thinking ahead, if you are a seasoned garden club member, help by mentoring
newer members so that they develop the knowledge and experience for
assuming future leadership positions.
Elections will be held in March for President, First Vice President, Second
Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Arbor
House Treasurer.
Nominating Committee Members
District I: Danielle Brabazon and Ellen Spencer
District II: to be determined
District III: Anne Stuntz and Leigh Kitcher
District IV: Bette Lewis and Anne Bucher
Page 3
Paid Advertising
AWARDS
Karen O’Meara, 2nd Vice President
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer but as we head into fall, it’s time to put Awards on your to-do list!
Here is information regarding 2014 award submissions:
Yearbooks – to your District Awards Chairman by November 1st
Newsletters – to your District Awards Chairman by November 1st
Award #18 – to your District Awards Chairman by January 15, 2015
All other award submissions should come to me, Karen O’Meara:
Books of evidence for flower shows, publications, press books, etc., should get to me by November 1st
Member Award of Honor book of evidence should get to me by December 1st
My contact information is:
(the address on pages 24 & 25 in the Directory is wrong)
Karen O’Meara
442 Park Street, NE
Vienna, VA 22180-3559
703 281 4334
Work email: komeara@thewomenscenter.org
Home email: raykaren4334@cox.net
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions or need help!
Paid Advertising
Page 4
NCAGC STATE FLOWER SHOW
A Standard Flower Show
Open to the Public Free of Charge
October 18, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and
October 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
United States National Arboretum
Get growing . . . pruning . . . and grooming
It’s time to grow, prune, and groom and otherwise pamper the plants and fruit and vegetables you plan to
enter in the horticulture division of the NCAGC’s October flower show, “Science Into Nature Equals Art,”
presented in participation with the U.S. National Arboretum.
All eleven section titles of the flower show’s horticulture division honor the U.S. National Arboretum, such
as, “Fern Valley” (Container Grown Plants), “Asian Valley” (Chrysanthemums), and “Washington Youth
Garden” (Fruit and Vegetables). The sections are comprised of 49 classes. Before deciding upon which sections
and classes you may want to enter, check out the awards and the Award Rules and judging criteria listed in the
flower Show Schedule. See the schedule online at: http://www.ncagardenclubs.org/ by clicking on the words
“Review the Flower Show Schedule.”
Additionally, the last two pages of the show’s schedule provide a useful Glossary of Terms from the
“Handbook for Flower Shows, 2007,” along with the Scales of Points used to judge and to award ribbons to outstanding entries according to the National Garden Club’s Standard System of Awarding. That information helps us
not only understand why some entries win Blue Ribbons and other top awards but also helps us choose our best
specimens to enter in the show based on how they will be judged.
All horticulture and floral design entries must be brought in to the arboretum on Friday, October 17, starting
at 10am but before 4pm.
Plan to come to enjoy the show and invite others to attend during the times the show is open to the public,
free of charge: Saturday, October 18, from 1pm to 4pm, and on Sunday, October 19, from 9am to 4pm.
Arleen Ankeney
Publicity Chairman
“Science Into Nature Equals Art”
GETTING TO KNOW OUR ADVERTISERS - Janey Nadler
Two of our annual advertisers have upcoming fall shows in October and November.
The National Capital Orchid Society is holding their show from October 11-13 at the Behnke Nursery in
Beltsville, MD. This will afford you the opportunity to buy unusual orchids from NCOS and to visit one of our
nursery advertisers simultaneously. Look for their ad in this issue on page 18 or go to www.ncos.us for more
information.
The other advertiser is VMFA or Virginia Fine Arts and Flowers. The show will be November 5-9 opening daily at
10:00 a.m. Your garden club could plan a day trip to Richmond, VA to see the exhibition which is free and attend
related events which you have to sign up for in advance. Look at their ad on page 4 for more details and contact
information.
Please see the ads of our other advertisers, too: American Plant in Bethesda, Robert W. Baird & Co. based in
Towson, Behnke Nurseries Co. in Beltsville, Country Nursery in Burtonsville, The Gardener’s Workshop in
Newport News, and Hamma Down Enterprises in Fort Belvoir and Tudor Place in Washington, DC.
Page 5
DISTRICT I Danielle Brabazon, Director
Enjoyment - in Our Gardens, Our Clubs and Our Environment
It is so exciting to begin another garden club year, my last as your director. Can you
believe this is my fourth year?!! I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and is excited to
kick off District I activities with a meeting at the Kettering Community Center!
Kettering Garden Club is the most recent club to join District I. Please plan to attend on
Saturday, September 13th at 4:30PM and welcome members of the Kettering Garden
Club into the District I family. The fall District meeting involves a short business
meeting and a seminar, this fall the seminar is on Bees! Kettering Community Center is
located at 11800 Chesterton Dr., Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. There will be door prizes
and a book swap/sale. Bring any gardening book that you are willing to part with and
perhaps you will find something new and interesting! If you do not have a book but see
one you like, all it takes is a small donation ($1 - $3).
District I will also be hosting a Morning of Design on Thursday, November 20th at the White Oak Senior Center,
1700 April Lane, Silver Spring, MD. We are excited to offer this program with the Senior Center as a way to share
the National Capital Area with others!
District I is looking for some special people to help out! We need a recording secretary, someone who is able to
attend the two District I meetings and the 3-4 District I board meetings. We are also looking for an Assistant Director
to work with Julie Harrison, the current Assistant Director, when she assumes the role of Director. Please contact me
with any questions at danielle.brabazon@gmail.com.
I want to give a special thanks to the clubs that have invited me to participate in activities this year: Gardeners of the
Junior League's flower show, Woodmoor Garden Club end of the year pot-luck and Mount Airy Clay Breakers garden
club's installation dinner. I truly enjoy being invited to attend events with your club. I love meeting new people and
really enjoy hearing how garden clubs are such a fabulous asset in our lives!
Paid Advertising
DISTRICT II Angela Ganey, Director
Communities Smile With Flowers
Our summer is in full swing, the grass is beautiful, but that means a lot of
dreary rainy days. Our garden clubs have their programs in place for the
coming year and I am looking forward to attending some of them.
Remember to save the date for the annual Yacht Haven CG fashion show
on October 23rd and the Quantico Officers Wives Club Homes Tour in
December. These are a must and you shouldn't miss, more info will be sent
at a later date.
Lastly, our fall District II meeting will be on September 12 at River Farm.
One lucky person at the meeting will be the recipient of two tickets to the
American Horticultural Society’s Gala on September 20th.
NCAGC DISTRICT II BUS TOUR TO LONGWOOD GARDENS
Longwood Gardens Christmas Display
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014
INFORMATION/REGISTRATION > http://ncagardenclubs.org/
d2_long_tour.html
Page 6
DISTRICT III Leigh Kitcher, Director
Connecting With Community!
I am pleased to announce that the bench in memory of Ida Swiggett at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens has been
installed in the Sunny Native Plant Garden. As you recall, the planting of this garden was sponsored by District III
under Ida’s tenure.
Please join us for the dedication ceremony on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Meadowlark Botanical
Gardens. All who attend the dedication are invited to join Ida’s husband, Jerry Swiggett, for lunch at Westwood
Country Club in Vienna. Please RSVP to LeighKitcher@aol.com if you plan to attend the luncheon. Entrance to the
gardens is free to attendees of the ceremony.
Thank you to the clubs and individuals who contributed.
I hope to see you at the District III Fall Meeting on September 19 at 10:00 a.m. at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in
Vienna, VA.
The plaque on the bench has the following inscription:
"Enjoy this garden as Ida did - Share the sun with these natives –
Observe them balancing our environment."
In memory of Ida Swiggett, Sponsor of the Sunny Native Garden, 2011
Director, District III of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc.
DISTRICT IV Robin Hammer, Director
NCAGC DONATIONS
Clubs may make donations to:
Rain Garden, Community Gardening, Fern Valley,
Friendship Garden, Chesapeake Bay Foundation,
Nature Conservancy and Scholarship
Make checks payable to NCAGC and be sure to indicate which
organization you wish to receive the donation.
Please send your donation to :
Carole Butler, Exec. Sec. NCAGC
1508 Auburn Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850-1120
301-518-9942 CaroleGdnClbs@msn.com
The NCAGC Projects are explained in detail on our website.
http://ncagardenclubs.org/dues_vol_donations.html
under Donations.
Page 7
Making A Difference In Our Community!
District IV is BUSY!
Summer is here and many are gardening at
home and trying to keep cool! Our Annual
Presidents' Meeting, held on June 6th at
Strathmore Mansion, was terrific! Our Club
Presidents shared program highlights and
projects and we all heard some wonderful ideas!
Our next meeting is September 5th at
Strathmore Mansion.
If you haven't signed up yet--don't forget!
Please sign up TODAY for the District IV trip
to Fallingwater & Kentuck Knob on September
30th!
NCAGC STATE FLOWER SHOW
An attentive audience fixated on floral designers’ creative and informative
presentations filled the U.S. National Arboretum on Friday, June 27, 2014, for the
floral design demonstration leading up to the October Standard Flower Show,
“Science Into Nature Equals Art.”
“I am very grateful to all the generous, reliable, talented designers, supporters, and members of the Flower
Show Committee and the appreciative audience who helped make the design demo a success,” said Anne Bucher, the
Flower Show’s Chairman. “And, I am delighted to announce that all the classes for the Show’s floral design division
are filled.”
Anne said she wanted the design demo to be educational and feels that goal was achieved not only because all
the design classes filled but also because of the complimentary feedback she received, including raves calling this
design demo one of the of best programs ever done by the NCAGC.
The designers were Mary Ellen Alden, Mary Corley, Ellen Dutka, Cathy Hallmark, Bette Lewis, Babs
McClendon, and Arlene Stewart.
They demonstrated the more difficult designs, and they provided the applauding audience with WOW factors
like inspiring, imaginative, colorful, and creative designs. They shared practical tips and knowledge based on personal
experiences of successes and failures. They provided special information, such as, where to purchase mechanics
online, and how to select exotic and “foliage finds” where houseplants are commonly sold locally. They emphasized
the importance of adherence to show schedules, rules, and the principles and elements of design. Plus, there was an in
-depth review on the all-important, preconditioning of plant materials to enable plants to hold up through the duration
of the flower show.
The Flower Show, “Science Into Nature Equals Art,” is being presented in participation with the U.S. National
Arboretum, Washington, DC, and will be open to the public free of charge on October 18th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and
19th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the arboretum. Try not to miss this one.
Submitted by Arleen Ankeney
Publicity Chairman
“Science Into Nature Equals Art”
Paid Advertising
Page 8
Photos by Caroline Carbaugh and Lydia Barbour submitted with captions by Arleen Ankeney
Bette Lewis created an example of her interpretation of “Crossing the
Bridge” in Class 4 of the schedule in the upcoming flower show’s
Division II, Design.
Above: Arlene Stewart demonstrates
the “armature form” she made and
spray painted orange.
Below: Arlene’s finished, creative
design features her armature—a
skeleton and/or grid-like structure
created by the exhibitor
Mary Ellen Alden had a large design in progress next to her two
smaller arrangements of the same design on pedestals. The last
photograph of the largest design when she finished it dramatically
illustrates the point of her demonstration on the importance of
“proportion” when doing an arrangement regardless of its size.
Babs McClendon discussed the
mechanics used in floral design
such as the wire she holds,
which she used in her design,
and revealed her sources of
supplies. Also, she stressed
the importance of adhering to
the rules and specifications
called for in the design classes
as written in the flower show
schedules and handbooks.
Mary Corley displays plant specimens in
green bottles as they may be displayed if
entered in the horticulture division of a
flower show. She provided a “how to” on
conditioning plant materials in advance of
using them in a show so they are healthy
looking through the duration of the show.
Page 9
Paid Advertising
NGC Conservation Pledge
COUNTRY
NURSERY
“I pledge to protect and conserve the natural
resources of the planet earth and
promise to promote education so we may
become caretakers of
our air, water, forest, land and wildlife.”
(Adopted by the NGC Board of Directors in Stamford,
Connecticut, 1994)
3330 Spencerville Road
BURTONSVILLE, MD 20866
301-421-9593
Your Flower Show Team is working very hard to ensure that all exhibits and design and horticulture entries can be
handled expediently on October 17*. We have a very tight timeframe that day: The door will open at 10 a.m. and
will close promptly at 4 p.m. Please help us help you by doing the following:
 Use the attached Registration Form (page 24) to list ALL of your entries, including, exhibits, photos, designs
and horticulture.
 Fill out the Registration Form and the Horticulture Entry cards before you get to the Arboretum that day.
 Fill out the top section of the Registration Form and fill out the first four columns with the specific details for
each entry.
 If you have not already been given a Registration Number, you may request one in advance from Lydia Barbour
at lydiabarbour@hotmail.com, or you will be assigned a number on October 17.
 If you need more than one Registration Form, you'll find a link on the NCA web at
http:/www.ncagardenclubs.org/ that will enable you to print additional copies.
 The horticulture entry cards will be available at the District Meetings in the fall.
 We will be accepting entries from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ONLY.
 When you get to the Arboretum on October 17, see Lydia Barbour & her team who will check you in and direct
you to the appropriate people to accept and pass your entries.
 When finished, return your Registration Form to Lydia and her team.
Thank you
Lydia Barbour, Registration Chairman
*If you are entering photographs, you will have sent those to Lydia Barbour before October 1.
Page 10
JUDGES’ COUNCIL Estelle Woodcock, Chairman
"Beautifying and Educating Our Surrounding
Community"
Fall is fast approaching and we are looking forward to
our General Meeting after the summer hiatus. It is
scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at 10:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Potomac Community Center,
11315 Falls Road, Potomac, Maryland. The September program will be by Dot Yard, NGC Flower Show School
Committee Chairman on “Judging Etiquette and Writing
Comments”. The slate of officers for 2015-2017 will be
presented. A short report on a suggested topic, such as
judging horticulture and new mechanics, will be on the
agenda at this meeting and at future meetings. A light lunch
will follow the program. Attendees are asked to bring a
sandwich to share. Beverages will be provided. Contact
Susie O’Neal, Hospitality Chairman. smaeho1954@aol.com
or at 703-492-0188, with any questions .
The rest of the programs for the year will continue to be
on the third Wednesday, four meetings all told. On
November 19, 2014, we will have our Annual Chili CookOff at Evalee Ciuca’s house. On March 18, 2015, we will
hold our Installation of Officers’ Luncheon. Our program
will be presented by a knowledgeable wholesaler. On June
17, 2015, we will hold our Annual Picnic, the place to be
determined. If you would like to volunteer a venue, please
contact Anne Bucher, Program Chairman, at
abucher487@aol.com or 301-585-1926.
District I will be the hostess for the fall Morning of
Design, in conjunction with the Judges’ Council. It will be
at the White Oak Community Center, on November 20th.
If you are interested in attending Flower Show School
please see the article on page 13 in this Capital Gardener.
Designer:
M’Ellen Alden
Designer:
Bette Lewis
Designer:
Ellen Dutka
At our last meeting, the following awards were presented:
The Medrith Striker Perpetual Award to Ellen Dutka,
for the most blue ribbons in the Design Division of a
Standard or Small Standard Flower Show for the previous
calendar year.
Designer:
Muriel Turner
The Silver Trowel Award to Bette Lewis
for the most blue ribbons in the Horticulture Division of a
Standard or Small Standard Flower Show for the previous
calendar year.
I hope you are having a fantastic summer!
Affectionately and appreciatively,
Estelle Woodcock
NCAGC Judges’ Council Chairman
Designer:
Babs McClenden
Page 11
Designs entered in the
Lily Show.
GARDENING CONSULTANTS’ COUNCIL Audrie Whitney, Chairman
A happy Autumn season to all !
First of all, our thanks .... and CONGRATULATIONS ! .... to Ann Lunson .....
for winning the National Garden Clubs award for GCC’s Membership Directory
at the national convention this year.
Fall brings two very interesting meetings: On September 10, we are guests of Landscape
Design Council for a talk and tour of Huntley Meadows Park, which is undergoing a huge wetlands restoration project. Located in the Hybla Valley area of Alexandria, this historic island
covers 1500 acres, and attracts many varieties of birds and other wildlife. Since 1980, it has
become silted in; aggressive plants have expanded and nomadic beavers have abandoned dams,
allowing wetlands to drain and dry out. Kevin Munroe will give us a background talk about the
wetlands project, which has five major segments and then take us on a tour. Sounds wonderful!
On November 17 we will meet at the Arboretum’s new classroom to hear Joe Belsan, a long
-time resident of Fairfax, who writes a gardening column for the Golden Gazette, a monthly
newspaper for senior subscribers. He also is known as a “foodscaper” designing vegetable
gardens for clients, and has a table at the Oakton Farmers Market every Saturday during the
planting season. He will speak on organic vegetable and container gardening....Joyce Skoglund,
V.P. says he is a very interesting fellow..!
Joyce has organized the new Gardening Studies Course, which will be held November 12
and 13 at Merrifield Gardens. This is the time to refresh and also to encourage fellow gardeners
to attend!
GARDENING STUDY SCHOOL Joyce Skogland, Chairman
Gardening Study Schools is a series of four courses designed to
give the student an understanding of how and why a plant grows.
Students will learn Basic Botany for Gardeners which will include
plant structure, reproduction and how plants survive. Our second topic
will cover Soil; the definition, testing, mixes, functions, roots in soils
and the characteristics/structure of soils. We will also cover Houseplant Basics, Plant Propagation along with a Propagation Activity and
a presentation on Sustainable/Eco-Wise planning and planting and
Permaculture.
The next scheduled school will be Course 1, Series IX.
This school will be held on November 12th and 13th, 2014
at Merrifield Garden Center, 12101 Lee Highway
(Fair Oaks location), Fairfax, VA.
Check your District newsletters and the NCAGC website
for additional information and registration. Or you may
contact the school chairman, Joyce Skogland,
at 703-591-4017 for further details.
Page 12
Plan to attend and develop a respect for and
appreciation of plants and their roles in our
lives and activities. Remember, you don’t
have to take these classes in any order.
Refreshing consultants, non-consultant garden
club members and others interested in better
gardening are welcome.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONSULTANTS’ COUNCIL Jo Sellers, Chairman
Thanks to LDC Vice President Babs McClendon, our members can look forward to enjoying
another year of exciting and educational programs. September 10, 2014 will be Wetlands Restoration
Project by Kevin Munroe at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Va. (We have invited the Gardening
Consultant Council and Environmental Consultant Council to join us as our guests). November 12,
2014 will be Unlocking Nature's Puzzle combined with Pollinator Gardening by Alonso Abugattas at
Potomac Community Center. February 11, 2015 will be Vertical Gardening & Living Walls by Amy
Strunk at Merrifield Garden Center located at Fair Oaks. April 8, 2015 will be a bus trip to Annmarie
Sculpture Gardens in Solomons, MD. This will also be our Installation Lunch to be held at Vera's
White Sand Restaurant.
At our September meeting we plan to vote on donations to be made to philanthropic groups suggested by
members. A committee of Caroline Carbaugh (Chairman), Babs McClendon and Poss Tarpley has been selected to
receive suggestions. In the interest of saving time at our meeting, please contact them with your suggestions.
The bus trip to tour gardens in Philadelphia, PA in May was greatly enjoyed by the 49 members and guests. Of
course it rained, which seems to be a tradition endured by LDC members. There was no complaining and one got the
feeling that members would be disappointed if it didn't rain.
September 16-18, the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland will hold Landscape Design Study School, Course 1.
Look for information on their web site, www.fgcofmd.org. One of the perks of taking the courses and becoming a
LDC member is that folks may attend our exciting & educational programs as well as attend bus trips to tour in the
rain.
Jo Sellers, President LDC
FLOWER SHOW SCHOOL Sandi Smith Piccirillo, Chairman
BACK TO SCHOOL - Flower Show Judges School
All of our Schools provide such a benefit to the members in National Capital Area
Garden Clubs. As Flower Show School Chairman for NCAGC, Inc., it is a priority for
me to ensure everyone has an opportunity, if they so choose, to take advantage of this
wonderful, challenging and interesting course of study.
Many clubs have new and longtime members who have jumped right in to the spirit of garden club and have signed
up. Perhaps you would like to as well. Even if you may not want to become a flower show judge, there is so much
information you can take away on horticulture, design and Flower Show Procedure, plus the how of writing schedules
and planning a club flower show. I believe this is important information and expertise that needs to continually flow
into our memberships as clubs grow and evolve. With enough students, we can provide a wonderful Course I
experience for those who are interested.
We've gotten an overwhelmingly positive response to holding a Flower Show School Series which is composed of
four Courses in Northern Virginia. So far, we have over 40 garden club members from several districts signed
up. If you've been sitting on the fence about your commitment to learn, it's not too late to add your name to our
list. Thea McGinnis is tracking this list on my behalf so if you are interested, please send her an email as soon as
possible. Her email is humblebeewriter@aol.com . For more information on Flower Show School and other schools
available to you through National Capital Area Garden Clubs, click this link.
http://www.ncagardenclubs.org/flowershowschool.html
I look forward to having as many of our members coming BACK TO SCHOOL.
Thank You! Sandi Smith Piccirillo,
NCAGC, Inc. Flower Show School Chairman
Page 13
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS’ COUNCIL Mary Corley, Chairman
A great year of combined meetings with the Garden Consultants Council came to a fun and delicious end at the
home of Lydia Barbour with a catered barbecue and lucrative plant auction. Lydia’s beautiful garden, viewed from
the delightful comfort of her screened porch, was the perfect setting to inspire us all.
Our new year promises to be another winner. The Landscape Design Council has invited us to join them for our
first meeting on September 10, at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, VA. The program’s topic will be the
“Wetlands Restoration Project” presented by Park Manager, Kevin Munroe. A tour of the park will follow. See the
Landscape Design Council article in this issue on page 13 for further details.
Joe Belsan, Gardening Expert, will be the main attraction at the combined Garden Consultants and Environmental
Consultants Councils meeting on November 17 at the United States National Arboretum at 10:30 a.m. Joe is a highly
recommended speaker and not to be missed. He will instruct us on the secrets of successfully growing fruits and
vegetables.
Lydia Barbour has arranged a fabulous list of speakers and topics for the Environmental Studies School on
September 16-17. See the following article or check the NCA website for the registration form and schedule. Leave
the vacuum cleaner behind and enjoy one or two days of intellectual stimulation.
Times have changed. Circumstances have changed. The new reality is mandating a change in our by-laws
regarding the dates of our meetings. It has been suggested that we meet in September, November, either March or
April, and June. It would be advantageous if we could find a day of the month that suited most of our members, so be
thinking of what works for you.
If anyone has problems with transportation to the meetings, let me know and I will try to arrange a ride for you.
We look forward to seeing everyone in the fall.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SCHOOL Lydia Barbour, Chairman
Every gardener I know is an environmentalist. Every single one of us cares about the plants we nurture and the things
that affect them, which are air, water, soil and other living things. It just so happens that those are the four major
components of the Earth's Life Support System. The Air is the next topic being addressed by National Capital Area
Garden Clubs as we deliver Course 3 of the National Garden Club Environmental Studies School Curriculum.
It is being held in Derwood, MD at the Agricultural History Farm Park on September 16 & 17, 2014.
Briefly:
Each day begins at 8 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast. The lectures begin at 8:30 a.m.
September 16:
Chuck Schuster will cover two subjects: the ecology of air; and outdoor and indoor air pollution.
Amanda Rockler will cover two subjects: rain forests from her first hand experience living in Costa Rica's
Rain Forest; and sources of environmental information such as the Watershed Stewards Academy.
We'll take a 2 hour tour of the Capital City Contracting facility and landscape and hear about their Paradise
Project - Oxygen Created Here.
September 17:
Mark Freedman will talk about Montgomery County's Resource Recovery Facility at Dickerson MD and the
2014 award from the US EPA for Clean Air Technology.
Pam Hosimer will talk about environmental education in schools.
Alonso Abugattas will describe the principle causes of animal and plant species depletion and extinction.
Mike Moran will teach us about environmental ethics.
An exam follows for those interested in becoming an Environmental Consultant for the National Capital Area.
Details regarding cost and lodging are available on the registration form which can be found at
http://www.ncagardenclubs.org/envstudyschool.html or secured from NCA Environmental Studies School Chairman,
Lydia Barbour at 301 203 6696 or at lydiabarbour@hotmail.com or Course Registrar, Karen Lucas at 703 759 5547
or at karen@acmeindustries.com.
Page 14
FRIENDSHIP GARDEN
Ellen Spencer, Chairman
Donations
April 11 through July 10, 2014
Little Farms Garden Club of Potomac
Yacht Haven Garden Club
Woodley Gardens Garden Club
Trowel Garden Club of Triangle
Garden Club of Montclair
Potomac Village Garden Club
Gardening Consultants Council
Seedling Garden Club
Westmoreland Hills Garden Club
Meet our 2014 Friendship Garden Intern!
Carla Esposito-Barresi arrived in June as the 2014 Friendship
Garden intern. This chairman has interviewed interns for 13
years and has never met one so energetic and enthusiastic – even
on a day when the temperature had reached the mid-nineties.
Carla is a Montgomery College student with only two classes
remaining before finishing her Associate Degree in Landscape
Technology. She is focusing on plants, biology and design.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires with Italian parents, she has
studied architecture and was working as a legal translator (Italian
to Spanish and vice versa) in Europe when she met her
American husband in France. They moved to the US and
eventually settled in Rockville, MD. In 2011 she studied with
the Master Gardener program and worked for the USDA which
is where she learned about the USNA internship program. Carla
tells me that her goal after finishing her formal education is to
work in public gardens. Our Friendship Garden internship is a
good beginning.
Paid Advertising
Page 15
Paid Advertising
Paid Advertising
ARBOR HOUSE
Lorraine Leonard, Volunteer Coordinator
Welcome to New Volunteers at Arbor House!
On behalf of our state organization, I’d like to welcome
a new volunteering club: Gardeners of the Junior League
of Washington DC! They’ve been coming to help out at
the Arbor House Gift Shop on the 4th Friday of the month
since the shop opened in March. A big thanks to all of our
new volunteers: Patricia Beatty, Vicki Campbell, Elise
Gillette, Mona Hanferd , Jane Mitchells, and Sue Moran.
From the Rock Spring Garden Club, we appreciate the
help, as always, of Kate Abrahams, Barb Kiker, Jane
Robinson and Felicia Schwenk. Barb-thanks especially for
helping with the spring redecorating and helping with the
ice-cream freezer move. Tanta Cove Garden Club is
always a big help on the third Friday of each month. Jan
Kohout, Marybeth Dority, Dee Droter, Camille McIntye,
Jean Rositol, Judy Meade, and Vreni Peters represented
their club by helping over the last few months. Thanks,
Tanta Cove!
As always, thanks to Casey Kneipp from Cheverly
Garden Club, the shop’s volunteer treasurer. David Healy,
our state president, pitched in and helped with the water and
snack pickup and delivery. Thanks! And to Mary Beth
Cecil, our manager and, in addition, “big time” volunteer,
thanks for making volunteering at Arbor House fun! There
was always a vibrant exchange of ideas between Mary Beth
and the volunteers. This resulted in a great-looking shop
and excellent relationships with visitors and customers. And
all those extra volunteer hours “above and beyond”--thank
you, Mary Beth!
Garden clubs! Please think about signing up for a day
or two to help at the Arbor House Gift Shop. For people
who’ve never been to the arboretum or haven’t visited in a
long time, you’ll discover why the arboretum is a jewel!
There is always time during your volunteer shift for a visit
to see something new at the arboretum. Every month has
something beautiful! Just give me a call at 301-952-9340 or
e-mail lorraineleonard@verizon.net
Marybeth Dority, one of the new
volunteers from Tanta-Cove Garden
Club, discusses an invoice with Lisha
Jones, cashier at Arbor House Gift
Shop.
Page 16
CAPITAL COLUMN of UPCOMING EVENTS
AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY—NCAGC Affiliate
September 20, 2014 - AHS Annual Gala held in the gardens at River Farm overlooking the Potomac. For more info: 703-768-5700
POTOMAC CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY - NCAGC Affiliate
The Potomac Chrysanthemum Society, would like to invite all National Capital Area
Garden Club members and anyone interested in mums to attend one of our club
meetings. The meetings are held at 10:40 a.m. at Twinbrook Community Library,
202 Meadow Hall Drive, Rockville, Md. 20851.
 September 13th, 2014 our program will be a class on Traditional Floral Designs.
 October 11, 2014 we will be demonstrating how to groom and condition a
chrysanthemum bloom for a show.
 November 8th, 2014 we will be making a Holiday Floral Arrangement.
Hope to see you there. If you have any questions or need additional info please
contact Dorrie McDonald 301-855-7448
NATIONAL CAPITAL ORCHID SOCIETY - NCAGC Affiliate
The National Capital Orchid Society show from October 11-13 at the Behnke Nursery in
Beltsville, MD. Look for their ad in this issue on page 18 or go to www.ncos.us for more
information.
YACHT HAVEN GARDEN CLUB
The Yacht Haven Garden Club presents its 2014 Fashion Show and Luncheon:
"50 Fabulous Years - Flowers, Friends and Fun", scheduled for October 23, 2014.
For additional information please contact Terra Defibaugh, tadmommy@verizon.net .
OLD DOMINION CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY - NCAGC Affiliate
The Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society presents “100 Years Ago,” a Standard Flower Show.
The show is free and open to the public Saturday October 25th 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday
October 26th 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Merrifield Garden Center, Fair Oaks, 12101 Lee
Highway, Fairfax, VA. Photographers are welcome.
ODCS 2012 Show - Norton Vic
NCS Bronze Medal Best Multiple
Bloom Disbud & Best Basket
Grown by David Eigenbrode
Photo by Todd Brethauer
Page 17
NATIONAL CAPITOL ORCHID SOCIETY, NCAGC Affiliate
National Capital Orchid Society’s 67th annual exhibition and plant sale!
The National Capital Orchid Society’s 67th
Exhibit and Sale will be hosted at the Behnke
Nursery in Beltsville, MD. The exhibit theme
is “Orchid Wonderland” and exhibits will be
presented by plant vendors, visiting orchid
societies within the tri-state region, and
individual orchid connoisseur growers. The fall
blooming season for orchid plants presents an
opportunity to view unusual species and well
established hybrids grown to professional
perfection. There will be a parallel offering of
lectures on orchid cultural practices each day.
If you have unanswered questions on how to
raise and care for orchid plants in your home,
this palette of six separate lectures will provide
a chance to learn first-hand from accomplished
growers. There will be a group of 10 renowned
plant vendors drawn from their east coast
greenhouses who will offer plants to meet the
needs of the most discerning growers.
For further details and complete schedule, please visit the National Capital Orchid Society website at www.ncos.us.
Paid Advertising
Plant Sale Hours:
Saturday, October 11, 2014 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Monday, October 13, 2014 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hours:
Saturday, October 11, 2014 10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Monday, October 13, 2014 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
OLD DOMINION CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY, NCAGC Affiliate
There is a design competition division in addition to
the horticultural entries. “100 Years Ago” challenges the
designer to commemorate in flowers the start of Babe
Continuing the tradition of October flower shows
featuring chrysanthemums that began in the United States Ruth’s baseball career, the first Model T Ford to roll off
in 1830 in Massachusetts, the Old Dominion Chrysanthe- the assembly lines, the first Mother’s Day, the opening of
the Panama Canal, the opening of the show Pygmalion
mum Society will host the only Washington, D.C. area
and the start of World War I.
mums show this fall on October 25th and 26th.
Beginning from rooted cuttings in mid-May, growers
from Virginia, Maryland, the District and the mid-Atlantic
Region, nurturing and shaping their garden and large“A taste for flowers and
bloomed exhibition mums during the summer months
decorative plants
bringing them to their peak by shading them to control
accompanies the
development of culture
when the plants first experience long nights indicative of
and refinement as
the coming fall. The show provides an opportunity for
naturally as the taste for
music or art…”
growers to share the beauty of their blooms with a large
audience and to meet in friendly competition both against
James Morton, 1891
Chrysanthemum
the National Chrysanthemum Society standards for the
Culture for America
particular type of flower shown and head-to-head as the
Photo by Galen Goss
teams of judges are challenged to pick the best in the
show for the honor, ribbons and cash awards.
Page 18
Chrysanthemums:
“Starry-eyed Daughters of the Fall”
ALICE FERGUSON FOUNDATION, NCAGC Affiliate
Imagine the beauty of a landscape designed to mimic nature and restore native fertility and hydrology, where
visitors can trace the rain as it moves across the landscape in a series of carefully engineered bio-swales and rain
gardens. Imagine this natural landscape as a backdrop for buildings that seamlessly integrate into the vital ecosystems
of which they are a part.
Imagination turns to reality at the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center, which is
also home to Fergie’s Gardeners, a member of the District 1, National Capital Area Garden Clubs. The Hard Bargain
Farm house and gardens are perched on a hilltop with views to the Potomac River across to Mount Vernon and up
river to Washington, DC. Since 1954, the Alice Ferguson Foundation has shared the wonder and excitement of the
farm, woodlands, wetlands, and waterways of the Potomac River watershed with thousands of students, teachers, and
citizens every year.
The Foundation’s Potomac Water Study Center,
now under construction, embraces the most stringent
set of green building energy efficiency requirements
anywhere in the world. The goal of the Living Building
Challenge© (LBC) is to regenerate the natural environment, which is what sets it apart from other building
standards like LEED that have become so ubiquitous
over the last decade. To achieve harmonious balance
with nature, LBC© building goals include net-zero
energy, net-zero water, carbon neutral, and non-toxic,
non-polluting requirements. Perhaps the most
interesting thing that sets them apart from a gardener’s
perspective is that they must also aspire to beautify the
landscape. In fact, the Living Building Challenge’s
seven performance areas are referred to as “petals,”
and include place, water, energy, health and happiness,
materials, equity, and beauty.
The Foundation’s Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center is the perfect site for this project that demonstrates
how the natural world and the built world can coincide. For the past 60 years, the Foundation has been the premier
provider of environmental education experiences through the Washington, DC, area. The farm offers hands-on field
study experiences for learners who explore the multitude of habitats, flora and fauna, as well as connections to
agriculture and food sources.
The Foundation is thrilled to add this innovative approach to landscape interpretation and watershed management
to its suite of educational components. To learn more about this legacy for future environmentalist gardeners, please
visit the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s website at www.fergusonfoundation.org or contact Laura Ford at
lford@fergusonfoundation.org or 301-292-5665.
Montclair Garden Club
On June 25th the Garden Club of Montclair toured the Seven Oaks
Lavender Farm. The farm is family owned and operated in Catlett,
Virginia. Members cut their own lavender and attended a lavender
wreath making class. The farm's lavender shops carries over 50
different products most of which are made at the farm. Best sellers
include culinary lavender, syrups, chocolates, honey and teas. Lunch
was at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Nokesville, Virginia.
Members pictured are Kathy Sahlberg, Maureen Stableford, Maggie
Gustavson and Brenda Hallam.
Page 19
Beverley Hills Garden Club
Beverley Hills Garden Club Raises $1171 for ALIVE! House Charity
Saturday May 17, 2014 was crisp, sunny and clear, a
perfect day for a sidewalk sale. Starting at 6a.m., early
bird members of the Beverley Hills Garden Club
energetically unloaded and arranged four tables full of
perennials and houseplants propagated from their own
homes and gardens as well extra vases, pots, garden tools
and books. It was all part of a fundraiser Sidewalk Sale to
benefit ALIVE! House, the oldest continuously operated
shelter for women and families in the Commonwealth of
Virginia, located in downtown Alexandria. At the end of
the day, they had sold almost $1200 worth of goods; all
of profits were donated to Alive! House.
The project was the brainchild of club member Helga
Abramson, who initiated contact with ALIVE!, worked
Setting up for the sale.
L - R: Helga Abramson, Shirley
Indelicato, Holly Sapp
out all logistical arrangements with their organizers and
coordinated the efforts of about 20 different club
members who worked in shifts to deliver tables and
donated items, set up, sell and break down at the end of
the day. Helga and a Friday team also worked for several
hours the day before labeling and pricing items for the
sale. ALIVE! was thrilled with our participation and
attributed the high turnout at least in part to the club's
very visible presence. In turn, Beverley Hills Garden
Club members were energized by the project, forged new
friendships with some of our newer members and had the
opportunity to thin out some plants and clear out
basements, attics and garages. It was a great day and a
worthy cause!
Helga Abramson
L-R : Barbara Archey, President
Anne Alexander, Helga Abramson,
Sharyn Abbott, Sally Reams
Quantico Officers’ Wives’ Garden Club
Several members of the Quantico Officers’ Wives’ Garden Club assisted the residents at Greenfield Assisted Living
with a Patriotic Arrangement for the 4th of July. Each resident was given a plastic mayonnaise jar (with marbles
placed on the bottom to help weigh them down) and filled with water. The seniors were given blue alstroemeria, red
and white carnations, zebra grass (used for
a starburst effect) and other assorted
greenery and were helped with making a
fresh floral arrangement in the jar. The
jars were then placed in red holographic
bags to cover them. A small American
Flag was placed in each arrangement to
finish it off. Extra arrangements were
made to pass out to some of the residents
that were unable to make it to our activity.
All had a wonderful time and the
Garden Club Member Gwen Best
Residents at Greenfield Assisted
arrangements looked fabulous!
with a resident of Greenfield
Living with their flower
Assisted Living
arrangements
Page 20
Haymarket Town & Country Garden Club
L-R: Dawn Randall, Patsy Simpson (farm
owner), Carol Kovalick, Sylvia Dement,
Joyce Miller, Elsie Davis, Ruth Johnson,
Stacey Pannebecker, Amy Hamilton, Judy
Tweel, Ronnie Levay and Ellen Percy Miller
“THE CHOSEN ONE”
On July 8, a large group of club members headed out to
Winchester VA to take a tour and shop at Thumper’s Daylily
Farm. It turned out to be a picture perfect morning to stroll
through the lily fields and take in all the beauty! After
shopping for ourselves, we chose a special daylily to be
named after our garden club (since it is our club flower), a
lovely, lavender lily with a yellow throat and white ruffled
edges.
Meet our “newest member,” the Haymarket T&C
After a fun-filled morning taking in the country air, we ended our day trip with
high tea at the Coach and Horses Colonial Tea Room in Winchester. We had
two additional guests join us for this beautiful luncheon of home-made savory &
sweet treats and a pot of tea each for every personal taste. Wonderful friends,
flowers and finery was the name for this day.
“A NEW SEASON”
We invite you to join us, “Beyond the Garden Gate,”, September 9, 2014, as we start a new club season with lots
of great monthly programs. We meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month, September-May at the Evergreen Fire
Station on Route 15 just past Haymarket. Meeting time is 10:00-12:00, a light lunch is provided. We welcome
new garden guests!
Paint Brush Garden Club
Blue heron, egret, ospreys, a bald eagle as well as turtles, ducks, and
geese were spotted by members and guests of the Paint Branch Garden
Club on a June 26 guided pontoon boat tour on the Anacostia River
Water Trail. James Foster, President of the Anacostia Watershed
Society, provided expert commentary that focused on his organization’s
continuing efforts to protect and restore the Anacostia River and its
watershed communities by cleaning the water, recovering the shores,
and honoring its heritage. The two-and-a-half-hour round trip cast off
at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park and travelled to a point near the
Anacostia Park in the District of Columbia. Points of interest included
a former landfill now the restored
Bladensburg wetlands, creeks that are part
of the watershed, Kenilworth and Kingman Marshes, Kenilworth Aquatic
Gardens, the U.S. National Arboretum, and Kingman Island, the location of
Historic Langston Golf Course. Since its founding in 1989, the Anacostia
Watershed Society has made a great deal of progress in cleaning up the
Anacostia River and its watershed; the society envisions making the river
fishable and swimmable by 2025. Foster urged participants to join the AWS
and become engaged as volunteers and supporters of these efforts. Paint
Branch Garden Club expressed its gratitude for the tour with a donation to the
organization, recognizing the society’s invaluable work. On return to
Bladensburg Waterfront Park, garden club members and guests enjoyed a
catered luncheon in the park’s Picnic Pavilion.
Page 21
Rock Spring Garden Club
Rock Spring Garden Club Sends Four Students to Outdoor Lab Summer Camp
On a glorious summer morning it was hard to determine which was brighter – the beautiful sunshine or the smiles
on the faces of our campers! For the second summer, Rock Spring Garden Club has sent campers to Arlington Public
School’s Outdoor Lab overnight program. Thanks to successful fund raising efforts of the club we were able to send
FOUR campers this year.
The Phoebe Hall-Knipling Outdoor Laboratory near Warrenton, Virginia, is a blend of the traditional camp
activities (hiking, evening campfires, crafts, skits, etc.) and unique nature-based offerings. It is an extension of the day
and overnight visits that students in Grades 3 and 5, respectively, take to Outdoor Lab during the school year. The
week- long stay provides a higher level of nature exploration, with activity options such as orienteering. Students are
given opportunities to explore the natural world through focused activities of their own choosing and self-directed free
time activities. All of our campers have attended Outdoor Lab just for the day experience, which heightens their
interest and desire for the week long adventure.
Our deserving campers come from three Arlington County elementary schools. Bereket and Sara are from Barrett.
Bereket , the youngest of four children, will attend Swanson in the fall as a 6th grader. He is in 4-H where he
participates in the “Save the Earth and Environment Club”. He proudly shared how he and his friends participate in the
Lubber Run clean up where they gathered “bags and bags of trash”. He also participates in the Pennies for Patients
program where the students bring in pennies that eventually are given to programs for childhood cancer treatment.
Bereket wants to attend Outdoor Lab to be able to spend more time in the forest and learn how to properly care for the
environment. “It’s a big forest there and where I am we only have a little forest, Lubber Run!”
Sara, the younger sister of Hosana who received our scholarship last year, is the second youngest of five children.
She is a rising 5th grader. Her favorite subject is reading, especially in science areas. She sings in the chorus, works in
peer mediation, and especially likes to provide comfort when peers are angry or upset. Sara is interested in all aspects
of the natural world, especially how insects and animals work within nature to provide a balance. She hopes to study
science in depth and her trip to Outdoor Lab will provide her with a rich experiential background to launch that quest.
Arleth, a fifth grader at Key and a rising 6th grader at Williamsburg, is one of four children. She loves social
studies and learning about other countries. She wants to attend Outdoor Lab so she can learn to canoe, hike, and
witness more animals in their natural environment. She is an artist and looks forward to sketching and writing about
her new experiences. Her long term goal is work in the medical field and “help people”.
Ruth attends Randolph, where she will be a 5th grader in the fall and she serves as a safety patrol. An avid reader,
Ruth’s favorite subject is science where she enjoys exploring subjects in the natural environment and health. She has
never been camping before and she longs to explore the outdoors in a safe and natural setting. Ruth is very concerned
about pollution, endangered plants and animals especially from abuse and oil spills. She is a very deep thinker and
reports that she “wants to study how science, politics, and economics are all connected”. She exclaimed, “Do you
think that’s strange?” Absolutely not!
A common concern among all the campers is the need for more green spaces in their communities where children
can play safely and explore the natural world. Outdoor Lab will give them a week’s worth of that experience, and one
that they will hopefully build upon in their future studies
and endeavors. As Chris Reid of the Arlington Public
School’s Science Office shared as a consensus from
principals and counselors in the student’s schools, “You
are giving them a life changing experience!”
It is a club changing experience for Rock Spring Garden
Club to be able to send these four deserving students to
Outdoor Lab.
Dorinda Burroughs
Scholarship Chair
Rock Spring Garden Club
Four Arlington Students who won scholarships to camp from Rock
Spring Garden Club pictured with Margi Melnick, RSGC President,
(left) and Dorrinda Burroughs, RSGC Scholarship Chair (right)
Page 22
SCHOLARSHIP Carol Coose, Chairman
Hello National Capital Area Garden Club Members! My
name is Ashley Anne Strobridge, and I am a student at George
Mason University, majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. I would like to take this moment to say thank you,
and say that I am so thrilled and grateful to have been awarded
the NCAGC Scholarship again this year. This scholarship will
be extremely helpful in letting me finish my degree with a
fresher start in the world because I will have a lower amount
of debt than I would have without it, so thank you, so much.
This summer has been a bountiful one for me, not only with
academic activities, but with the growing season as well! For
the first time in over 5 years, I have been able to grow
pumpkins again because we are finally in an area with enough
sunlight. Because we don’t have much yard space, I have been
limited to growing them in pots, and though some of the plants did not
survive this endeavor, I have three pots of baby boos, mini jacks, and
gourds, all of which have a baby pumpkin or gourd growing on them.
Though it hasn’t been a perfect growing season for me, battling powdery
mildew and vine borers, I’m hoping to still get a handful of squash from my
efforts. And luckily, I am already able to enjoy the loveliness of my various
types of Morning Glories and my Echinacea, all blooming away in this
glorious late summer weather.
This summer I was also lucky enough to land an internship with the
Center for Climate Change Communication at GMU, where I dealt mainly
with the Climate Communication Consortium of Maryland. For this group I
authored two media guides for the Consortium members, one dealing with
extreme heat, the other dealing with preserving living shorelines for their
role in protecting against the climate change events of super storms and sea
level rise. I also had the joy of being able to author a fact sheet on coolroofs, which is a type of roof that reflects the sun’s heat, therefore battling
the heat-island effect and helping to curb climate change. This project was
of particular interest to me, as I am extremely interested in reaching out to
local communities to let them know what they as individuals can do to make
a difference. In the case of climate change, it is so easy to get overwhelmed
and feel insignificant, but I love the feeling of letting folks know that
together, individual efforts really do make a difference!
As for academics, with two A’s (in Environmental Justice and Environmental Economics for the Citizen) and an A+ (in Sustainable Development),
for my spring courses, and two more A’s for my summer courses (Applied
Ecology and my internship), my GPA is a solid 3.93, and I hope to keep it
climbing with the four courses I am enrolled in for the Fall. Included in this
Fall lineup is Business and Sustainability, a course which I have been
looking forward to taking since beginning at Mason.
Also for the fall, I am hoping to get a work study position with Clean
Fairfax, a division of the Fairfax County government whose mission is “to
encourage environmental stewardship and urban sustainability in Fairfax
County, Virginia through education, programming, and community
involvement.” This position would be a perfect match for my interests,
passions, and abilities, so wish me luck! And again, thank you so much for
your generosity! May your harvests this fall be bountiful!
Page 23
Proposed Bylaws Amendment TO ARTICLE VIII – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
To be voted on at the October 6, 2014 NCAGC General Meeting
ARTICLE VIII – Nominations and Elections, Section 2 of the Bylaws reads:
The President shall appoint the chairman of the nominating committee, who shall be a member
of the Board of Trustees. Each District Director, upon assuming office, shall appoint to the
NCAGC Nominating Committee one (1) member from the Board of Trustees and one (1)
member who serves or has served on the District Board. In addition, the committee shall
consist of the three (3) immediate Past Presidents to serve as non-voting advisors.
Proposed Amendment:
In the second sentence, after Board of Trustees, insert: or one (1) chairman reporting to the
Board.
Strike the third sentence in its entirety and replace with: In addition, the committee shall
consist of one active former President to serve as a non-voting advisor.
ARTICLE VIII, Section 2 of the Bylaws would then read:
The President shall appoint the chairman of the nominating committee, who shall be a member
of the Board of Trustees. Each District Director, upon assuming office, shall appoint to the
NCAGC Nominating Committee one (1) member from the Board of Trustees or one (1) chairman
reporting to the Board and one (1) member who serves or has served on the District Board. In
addition, the committee shall consist of one active former President to serve as a non-voting
advisor.
Rationale: With a small Board of Trustees, it can be difficult for District Directors to find
appropriate or willing appointees. The new wording provides flexibility, easing the burden of
District Directors. The three (3) immediate Past Presidents may no longer be members of
National Capital Area Garden Clubs. Having three (3) non-voting members of the committee
seems unnecessary.
Proposed Terminology Bylaws Amendment
To be voted on at the October 6, 2014 NCAGC General Meeting
The recently amended NCAGC Articles of Incorporation use the term Director/s, not Trustee/s.
Proposed Bylaws Amendment: to strike the term Trustee/s and replace with the term
Director/s throughout the Bylaws.
Rationale: The Bylaws terminology should conform to that of the Articles of Incorporation.
Shirley Nicolai, Parliamentarian