Spring - National Capital Area Garden Clubs

VOLUME 71, ISSUE 4
SPRING 2014
The Capital Gardener
The quarterly publication of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs
79 Garden Clubs ~ 409 Life Members ~ 2461 Members ~ 18 Affiliated Societies ~ 9 Subscribers
President’s Message
In this issue
NCAGC Awards Report
2
Capital Calendar
3
NCAGC Donations
3
Getting to Know Our
Advertisers
4
NCAGC State Flower Show
4
District I
5
District II
6
District III
6
District IV
7
Morning of Design
8
Quantico Officers’ Wives GC 8
Rock Spring GC
9
Environmental Studies School
10
Landscape Design Consultants’
Council
10
Gardening Consultants’
Council
11
Judges’ Council
11
Scholarship
12
NCAGC Speakers Bureau
13
Life Membership
14
Friendship Garden
14
Capital Column of Upcoming
Events
15
Arbor House
15
NCAGC, Inc. State Meeting
Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.
Cheverly Community Building
6401 Forest Rd., Cheverly, MD
Virginia landscape designer Dave Marciniak will present
a program on landscape and gardening myths
Cultivating Friends and Communities
By the time you read this, we should be past this ridiculously cold winter and
be beginning to see which plants have been damaged and which have not
survived. Unless you planted tulips, there may not be many this year. We are
told that the government shutdown and the sequester nixed the fall planting of
tulips by the Park Service and the Smithsonian. I’m sure the Congress
exempted itself and the White House has private funding, but this will be a less
colorful spring hereabouts.
I will schedule no more state meetings at the U.S. National Arboretum. Last
fall’s meeting was preempted by the shutdown and moved to a Fairfax County
facility. This spring’s meeting was preempted by the Arboretum itself for a
“rain date” for a tree climbing competition scheduled a week before by the local
chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
So our April 12, 2014 awards meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. in the Cheverly
Community Building, 6401 Forest Rd., Cheverly, MD under the aegis of the
Cheverly Garden Club. Cheverly is easily accessible via I 295 which intersects
with the Capital Beltway at Beltsville and at National Harbor and also via Route
50 which also intersects the Capital Beltway between Beltsville and National
Harbor.
Thank you to all the clubs, districts and councils who participated in the
Lots to Shout About project. The results will be announced on our website
www.ncagardenclubs.org and will be used to promote our garden clubs and to
remind our communities of what we have done and are doing for them.
All of our clubs are expected to participate in the state flower show “Science
Into Nature Equals Art,” scheduled for October 17, 18 and 19, 2014 at the U.S.
National Arboretum. We have partnered with the Arboretum in the flower show
(they are providing an educational exhibit and four lecturers) so we do not
expect to be preempted.
See you in Cheverly.
David Healy, President
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AWARDS
Karen O’Meara, 2nd Vice President
The Awards committee had a grand time reading and evaluating the applications we received. It is amazing
to learn about all the things our garden clubs do. Applying for awards is not just a way to win a certificate or a
ribbon. It’s how we share experiences with other clubs, open eyes to new ways of doing things and spread the word
about the benefits of joining a garden club. I encourage all of you to spread the wealth. Tell people how much we
do and how much fun we have doing it!
Karen O'Meara
nd
2 Vice President, NCAGC
Awards Chairman
SPRING 2014
Volume 71, Issue 4
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.
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
Page 2
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
Capital Calendar
March 2014
1 - Arbor House Opens
7 - Morning of Design Hosted by District III
8 - Herb Society Potomac Unit Meeting
8 - Potomac Chrysanthemum Society
Meeting
14 - District II Awards Meeting, River
Farm
15 - District I Awards Meeting
US National Arboretum
20 - NCAGC Judges Council Flower
Show
21 - District IV Awards Meeting,
Strathmore
28 - District III Awards Meeting
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
30 - Potomac Hosta Club Meeting
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April 2014
1 - Deadline for any state meeting
reports to be emailed to NCAGC
President
4-21 Ikebana International Annual
Exhibition
US National Arboretum
9 - Landscape Design Council’s Meeting.
Lecture & Tour of American
University Arboretum & Gardens
10 - Deadline for Summer Capital
Gardener Articles
10 - 12 District II FlowerShow,
River Farm
12 - NCA State Awards Meeting
Cheverly Community Building
12 - Potomac Chrysanthemum Society
Meeting
14 - Environmental & Gardening
Consultants Meeting
16-18 Washington Daffodil Society Show
27 - NCA board member reports due to
the NCAGC President
27 - Garden Day at Stratford Hall
30 - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Convention, Norman, Oklahoma
May 2014
1 - NCAGC Club Dues due to Carole
Butler
10 - Georgetown Garden Tour
12 - NCAGC Board of Trustees meeting
17 - District 1 Bus Trip to Fallingwater
June 2014
6 - District IV Presidents’ Meeting
11 - Landscape Design Council’s Picnic
13 - District II Presidents’ Meeting
18 - NCAGC Judges Council’s Picnic &
Auction
19-28 Irish Garden Tour
20 - District III Presidents’ Meeting
25 - Environmental & Garden
Consultants Councils joint picnic
27 - NCAGC Flower Show Design Demo
US National Arboretum
For calendar updates go to
www.ncagardenclubs.org
Click on Calendar
Floral design demo, June 27,
will preview state’s fall flower show’s designs
Floral designers will provide educational demonstrations on June 27
previewing designs featured in the state’s upcoming fall flower show,
“Science Into Nature Equals Art,” October 17-19, 2014, at the U.S.
National Arboretum. The design demonstrations will be held on Friday,
June 27, from 10:30a to 12:30p in the auditorium at the U.S. National
Arboretum. The event is free and open to the
public.
Any member of National Garden
Clubs, Inc., may enter the NCAGC’s October
flower show.
NCAGC DONATIONS
Clubs may make donations to: Rain Garden, Community Gardening, Fern Valley, Friendship Garden,
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Nature Conservancy and Scholarship
Please send your donation to :
Carole Butler, Exec. Sec. NCAGC 1508 Auburn Ave., Rockville, MD 20850-1120
301-518-9942 CaroleGdnClbs@msn.com
Make sure you indicate which organization you want the donation to go to.
The NCAGC Projects are explained in detail on our website.
http://ncagardenclubs.org/dues_vol_donations.html under Donations.
Page 3
GETTING TO KNOW OUR ADVERTISERS - Janey Nadler
It is hard to believe that once again a new year is beginning. Even though the snow (and ice) is on the ground as I
write this, I am thinking ahead to SPRING when the plants will once again poke their heads from the ground and
beckon for care and attention.
That thinking brings me to point out a new advertiser to The Capital Gardener. Hamma Down Enterprises is
offering fresh and aged horse manure for compost in our gardens and hay for mulching or bedding, among other
uses. This is very much in keeping with “green” gardening. See their ad on page 13 and then contact Shawn for other
garden services they offer.
A second new advertiser is Stratford Hall, the historic home of Robert E. Lee. On April 27th, at the beginning of
Virginia’s Historic Garden Week, they are having “Garden Day at Stratford Hall”. Since they are located about 2
hours from Washington this makes a very doable trip for NCAGC clubs. Special group tours can be prearranged on
other days. An overnight trip would be even more fun to allow time to see other places of interest in the vicinity.
Their ad on page 2 has lots of details including a web site address and phone contact information.
Sometimes our advertisers tell me they do not see any results from their ads. Members -----
Please support our advertisers and let them know you saw their ad in
The Capital Gardener so they will continue to support our NCAGC.
NCAGC STATE FLOWER SHOW
National Capital Area Garden Clubs and the U.S. National Arboretum join together
to present a Standard Flower Show
C
When writing out or saying the show’s title, use: “Science Into Nature Equals Art”
A Standard Flower Show, October 17 – 19, at the
U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
National Capital Area Garden Clubs and the United States National Arboretum joined together to present a Standard Flower Show,
“Science Into Nature Equals Art,” set to be staged at the arboretum from October 17 through 19, 2014.
“Although the NCAGC has held numerous flower shows at the National Arboretum in the past, this is the first time the Arboretum is
a partner in a show with us,” announced the show’s Chairman, Anne Bucher, an Accredited Master Flower Show Judge. “This is also the
first time we are including a class in the show for photography exhibits.”
NCAGC’s Poss Tarpley, also an Accredited Master Flower Show Judge, wrote the show’s schedule. She took her inspiration from
gardens, points of interest, and features found within the National Arboretum.
The arboretum’s Director, Dr. Colien Hefferan, appointed Ms. Nancy Luria, Head of Education and Visitor Services at the Arboretum, to represent the Arboretum on the flower show’s committee. The Arboretum is providing an educational exhibit as well as speakers for
the four lecture programs held during the show.
“The Arboretum is a natural to partner a flower show with our organization,” said David Healy, President of National Capital Area
Garden Clubs. “We have a long history as a National Arboretum stakeholder providing both volunteers and funding support. For example,
we operate the Arbor House gift shop in the Friendship Garden there for the benefit of the arboretum. And, we have been supporting Fern
Valley for over 50 years.”
“We look forward,” Anne Bucher said, “to having many of our members participate in this show as well as having the general
public attend the show in October.”
Submitted by Arleen Ankeney
Publicity Chairman
“Science Into Nature Equals Art”
Page 4
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DISTRICT I Danielle Brabazon, Director
Enjoyment - in Our Gardens, Our Clubs and Our Environment
District I is excited for our March 15th Awards Meeting at the US National Arboretum!
Every club that turned in Award 18 will be receiving a certificate, so please come and see all
the great things happening in District I! We are also having a talk by Fred Tutman, the
founder of Patuxent Riverkeeper! Come hear about the environmental issues affecting the
Patuxent River, one of our largest regional waterways!
Please also join us for
our bus trip to Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd
Wright designed house just outside Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania! We are going on Saturday, May
17th with one stop leaving Cheverly, MD at
6:30am and we expect to return by 9:30pm. Cost is
$100 per person. Lunch will be at the historic
Stone House Inn and we will be shopping nearby.
Please contact Ann Gardenhour if your interested:
acgardenh@aol.com
Thank you to everyone who has made the past year a fabulous one for District I and the National Capital Area!
Here's looking to a wonderful 2014! There are always many activities taking place in District I and in the National
Capital Area! Many of our clubs will be having plant sales and garden walks, please share with me so that I can share
with all our clubs! The Fall of 2014 will offer a National Capital Area flower show and District I will host a Morning
of Design. We are always looking for fresh ideas and would welcome anyone interested in becoming involved with
District I events!!
Page 5
DISTRICT II Angela Ganey, Director
Communities Smile With Flowers
The garden clubs are not only creating mini flower shows and learning at their meetings, but are active in
many community projects. I am amazed to learn how active so many of our garden clubs are creating beautiful
gardens in their communities.
A special thank you to our former director, Nancy Angelelli, for taking the leadership for our Small Standard
Flower Show, April 10, 11, and 12, at River Farm. This will be an indoor show and the dates will enable you to
participate in the AHS Spring Garden Market. We will have extra flyers at our District 2 awards meeting at River
Farm on March 14. Our expert awards Chairman Lin Stauffer will be ready to award many deserved honors to our
clubs. Speaking of River Farm is there someone who would like to give some time volunteering at their gift
shop.....once a week, once a month, etc.
Date to remember: MORNING OF DESIGN, MARCH 7, MERRIFIELD GARDEN CENTER IN FAIRFAX.
Admission is $3. What better way to learn from
the experts. Sponsored by District 3 and the
Judges’ Council.
On April 29, during VA Garden Week, the
Chapel Square Garden Club is sponsoring a bus
trip to Fredericksburg to visit historic homes.
The cost is $85 which includes bus fare, snack on
bus, tour ticket and lunch at a local restaurant.
Joan Becker from CSGC sent a flyer to each of
the District 2 Garden Club presidents. Please
share with your members.
A special thank you to the BHGC and to
Tansill Johnson who chaired the beginning of the
refurbishing of the Wounded Warrior gardens
and Ft Belvoir. We hope to continue with this
project and have our garden clubs participate in
planting, maintaining, etc. We couldn't have done
it without Tansill's leadership.
DISTRICT III Leigh Kitcher, Director
Connecting With Community!
Congratulations and thank you for all the wonderful decorating and community outreach
activities that District III clubs did to inspire and bring beauty to our communities. The holidays are
always made very special for many more people than you realize by your efforts. The Christmas
tree decorated with fresh greens and natural handmade ornaments by Ayr Hill Garden Club for
Historic Vienna, Inc.’s Freeman Store was thoroughly enjoyed by hundreds of first time visitors
during Vienna’s first First Night Celebration. I was amazed to hear their comments and pleased to
share how the ornaments were made. Your efforts continue to make a
difference in your communities.
Don't forget the District III Spring Meeting will be on March 28 at
10:00AM at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. Our program
will be on Green Roofs by Maureen Alonso who is the Regional Horticulturist with the
General Services Administration (GSA). Her team of four provides landscape design and
maintenance to over 60 federal properties. She will focus on several recent GSA projects
ranging in size to up to 5 acres. So much space is available on the roof and it is just amazing
how effective a green roof can be, not only for our environment, but also to conserve energy
within the building.
Leigh Kitcher, District III Director
Page 6
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DISTRICT IV Robin Hammer, Director
Making A Difference In Our Community!
District IV hosted a delightful Morning of Design in early November—an extremely successful event! We had a
record crowd, over 135 garden club members & friends attended! The presenters, Arlene Stewart, Leigh Kitcher &
Jane Oliver Smith, were all marvelous & informative and refreshments, special thanks to Chevy Chase GC!, were
delicious! Thanks to the Judges’ Council, Millie Rever and to all involved in putting this event together and to all who
attended!
I have just finished a marvelous two day class, hosted by the Environmental Studies School and I have not stopped
talking about how much I learned and how much I enjoyed it! I am now looking forward to taking the next class I
can! If you have not had a chance to take one of these courses, I encourage you to try and make time to attend one (or
more!) offered by our terrific Councils that interests you! The organization was terrific, the lectures interesting and
varied, the whole experience was so good—I really can’t say enough good things about the School—please go and
check the schedule and SIGN UP! You will be so happy you did!
Strathmore Mansion was gorgeous this winter, thanks to our
fabulous District IV garden club members! The Holiday
Decorations were enjoyed by all, especially the members who
attended our Holiday Party on December 11th.
Our next District IV meeting will be on March 21st at 10 am
at Strathmore Hall Mansion—I look forward to seeing you at
Strathmore!
District IV Decorating Strathmore Mansion!
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MORNING OF DESIGN - DISTRICT III and The Judges’ Council
SPRING SYMPHONY
An Explosion of New Design Ideas
March 7
10:30 am --- 12:30 am
Merrifield's Garden Center
12101 Lee Hwy Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703-968-9600
Donation: $3
Hosted by District III
* Lot's of Parking! *Easy access from Fairfax Pkwy!
*Refreshments! *Great Floral Designers!
*Car pooling promotes laughter
Quantico Officer’s Wives Garden Club
Quantico Officer's Wives Garden Club sponsored a
special holiday-themed garden therapy at Greenfield's
Assisted Living in Stafford, VA on December 11, 2013.
Anne Anderson, Tami Burkhardt, Carol Jackson, Phyllis
Phillips, and Susan Van de Putte assisted 20 residents
with three separate projects. Each resident filled an empty
wine bottle, that had a hole drilled in the bottom, with a
strand of white lights. Each bottle was topped off with a
decorative cork with a Christmas pick in the center and
then a ribbon was attached at the neck. The residents
were so excited when we plugged in their light strand and
they saw how beautiful it was. Those sparkling lights
added some sparkle on their faces.
And if that wasn't enough we wanted them to have
beautiful Christmas centerpieces on the dining room
tables, so the residents assembled 11 bud vases with white
pine, holly, and red roses with a colorful ribbon and
ornament on a pick to finish it off. The pine and holly
came out of the woods and were gorgeous next to the
deep red roses! The centerpieces were a lovely addition to the
dining room with all the other
Christmas decorations. The
residents had a wonderful time
and couldn't wait to take their
Then each resident made a little angel necklace with a
projects back to their rooms to
strand of ribbon for the necklace, a large double paperclip plug in! Smiles on their faces
for the body and wings, and a green bead for the head.
were the best gift ever!
This took no time to put together but each one wore their
little guardian angel proudly!
Page 8
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Rock Spring Garden Club
RSGC members Janice Haines, Renee Bayes,
and Dorinda Burroughs
The Rock Spring Garden Club held its fourth annual
Holiday Design Event in November, attracting a sold-out
crowd of more than 200 to watch experts put together a
variety of fun and simple floral arrangements for the yearend holidays. Sarah von Pollaro, owner of Urban Petals
and host of the WETA special “Flower Empowered,” was
joined by designer and RSGC member Shelia Moore in
demonstrating creative uses of colors and containers.
RSGC member Dorinda Burroughs, who co-chaired the
event with Thea McGinnis and Joan Asboth, initiated the
program several years ago. It is the club’s major floral
design education program and fundraiser for community
outreach. “We have a wonderful evening to start the
holidays, plus we raise the money to do things like send
children to camp at Arlington’s Outdoor Lab,” said
Burroughs. The floral arrangements were auctioned off
after the demonstration. Pumpkin flower arrangements
made by club members, design materials, and buckets of
greens also were sold as participants enjoyed refreshments
and winners of door prizes and raffles were announced.
Funds raised during the event support the Outdoor Lab,
Rock Spring Park, Garden of the Year, and educational
activities in area schools.
Photos by Mary Cottrell.
Designer Sarah von Pollaro
Page 9
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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SCHOOL Lydia Barbour, Chairman
Course 2 of the Environmental Studies School Curriculum was held on January 14 & 15 at the Agriculture History
Farm Park in Derwood Maryland. All 22 attendees found the lectures to be fun and informative, and I'm told that
everyone learned something new. One of the useful things that I heard, and will pass along to my local community to
encourage more of my neighbors to get the ivy removed from their trees is this: Ivy acts like a sail, enabling a heavy
wind and rain storm to pull the tree right out of the ground.
This particular course focused on The Land,
so we heard lots about reducing pollution at
the source. Our tour was of the Montgomery
County Recycling Center and Transfer
Station. If you have never been, it is
fascinating to see the myriad ways that a
single stream of recycling is separated into
useful collections of material, most of which
are sold by the County for a profit. It costs
them about $3 million per year to run the
center and they make a profit of $400-800
thousand each year. So not only is it the right
thing to do for the environment but it is the
right thing for the economy as well.
Most of the tour was indoors, but some was
outdoors. However it was all so interesting
that you can see that the attendees were
smiling even under their umbrellas.
Our next course will be focused on The Air and will be held again at the Agriculture History Farm Park in Derwood
Maryland on September 16 & 17. We have just begun to plan and as soon as we have enough details we'll publish
the registration form. But don't wait...put the dates on your calendar now because you'll want to be sure to be there!
If you have questions in the interim, please email them to your Environmental Studies School Chairman,
Lydia Barbour, at lydiabarbour@hotmail.com
LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONSULTANTS’ COUNCIL Jo Sellers, Chairman
As President of Landscape Design
Council I have some BAD NEWS
and some GOOD NEWS. First
the BAD NEWS. We had to
cancel the March Charleston, SC
Refresher trip due to not enough
folks signing up to fill the bus.
The GOOD NEWS is that now we
will be having a Refresher trip in
either late May or early June to the Philadelphia
area for an overnight trip instead. This means
less bus travel time and still being able to spend
2 days seeing super gardens. A couple of my
Herb Society of America friends that live in that
area have recommended private and public
gardens. (Always ask the locals for the best
gardens to visit.) To join the Landscape Design
Council and for further information contact
Jo Sellers at josellers@cox.net .
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Page 10
GARDENING CONSULTANTS’ COUNCIL Audrie Whitney, Chairman
The Fall season began in September with a Tri-Council meeting - Landscape Design Council (LDC), Gardening
Consultants’ Council (GCC), and Environmental Consultants’ Council (ECC)- at Green Spring Gardens. The
speakers, Dick and Judith Knott Tyler, gave a program on “Landscaping a Shade Garden”. Following a refreshment
break, each council held a brief meeting.
In November, GCC and ECC met in Laytonsville, Maryland at Ruppert Landscaping. In one of their two LEED –
environmentally rated buildings, everyone enjoyed hearing the company’s history and present work. Then we were
treated to a hayride tour of their tree nursery --- including several of their area-specific dogs who keep the deer away !
Our next joint meeting will take place of
Monday, April 14, when members will board a
Skipjack in Annapolis for a cruise and an
update from a Chesapeake Bay Foundation
representative. He will speak on what measures
are being taken to restore the health of the Bay
and its plants and wildlife.
A picnic and plant sale in June will wrap up
Marshall Farm, and what they grow in the the season.
sun… both large trees and electricity. You
Audrie Whitney,
can see rows of solar panels behind rows
President,
GCC
of trees.
Marshall Farm - A green roof
between two of the buildings.
JUDGES’ COUNCIL Estelle Woodcock, Chairman
"Beautifying and Educating our Surrounding Community”
Spring is almost here and it’s time to survey the result of the damage caused by a harsh winter.
On March 7th, the Judges’ Council will be sponsoring Morning of Design (MOD). The
November Morning of Design was overwhelmingly attended. Many thanks to District IV,
working in conjunction with the Judges’ Council. District III is planning a “Spring Symphony”,
an explosion of new design ideas, at Merrifield’s Garden Center in Fairfax, VA at 10:30 a.m. See
page 8 for more details. It is our purpose to bring design programs on a rotating basis to all our
districts. However, members of other districts are welcome.
March 20th is the date of a Small Standard Flower Show by the Judges’ Council, in lieu of our
regular meeting. It will be preceded by a very brief business meeting at 10:00 a.m. The Flower Show will be from
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All judges are invited. Schedules are available from Lisa Adelman. The Show will be held
at the Church of the Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Rd., N E, in Vienna, VA. It will primarily serve to give judges the
opportunity to demonstrate their skills in design and horticulture, as well as keeping their credentials updated. The
theme is “March to a New Beat“, featuring houseplants, an armature class, and design techniques using binding,
bundling and pillowing.
We were treated with a “surprise” from our
hostess, Evalee Ciuca, at our last meeting. Everyone
What can the Judges’ Council do for your club? attending chose from an assortment of iris rhizomes
to take home with them. Thank you, Evalee, for your
If your club is having a flower show, no matter what the size, thoughtful gifts and gracious hospitality.
please submit the schedule to Babs McClendon, our Schedule
Proudly, at the Symposium following the CAR
Chairman, babsm@erols.com , for guidance and advice.
Conference, of the many attendees, all of our 34
Do you want to enter a flower show but don’t know where to National Capital Area Garden Clubs’ judges passed
begin? Acquire the “Handbook for Flower Shows”, available with flying colors! Congratulations!
The Washington Daffodil Society Show will be
at Arbor House at the Arboretum or from NGC Headquarters.
April 16th-18th in Fairfax, VA at American Legion
Don’t hesitate to ask the Judges’ Council for help. We would Post 177. Please call Mary Anne Barton,
love to have everyone participating in a Flower Show.
703-273-8641, for details and more information
on entering.
Page 11
The Judges’ Council Flower Show, “March to a
New Beat” will provide an opportunity for the
judges to get creative. One class requires leaf
and plant material manipulation and another is
for an Armature Design.
Muriel Turner creating her
design at CAR Conference
NCAGC SCHOLARSHIP
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Muriel’s completed design above.
A beautiful example of leaf
manipulation.
Carol Coose, Chairman
Hi fellow nature-lovers! My name is Ashley Anne Strobridge, and I was one of
2013’s recipients for the NCAGC scholarship. I am so appreciative of how that
scholarship has allowed me to attend college at GMU in order to pursue my degree in Environmental and
Sustainability Studies, with a minor in Women’s Studies. I have definitely taken advantage of that opportunity at
Mason to do some great things for the environment! This included heading up a project involving getting funding
for, and operating a machine that will convert cooking oil into usable biodiesel to use on campus instead of using
pollution-heavy diesel. It also included getting involved with two environmental groups on campus, the Green
Patriots, and the Environmental Action Group. I took two environmentally themed courses, including Intro to
Environmental Policy, and Sustainable World, in which I was able to do many research projects involving
sustainability, and which enabled me to make connections with the Smart Growth and Sustainable Communities
Dept. at the EPA, and the Sustainability Office on campus, both of which I now have the opportunity to intern with
over the summer. In my Sustainable World course, I was able to do a project with the Sustainability Office where I
monitored the recycling habits of students at Mason in order to find out how effective some of the new recycling bins
were, and for the larger goal of creating better recycling awareness at Mason.
In the spring semester I am looking forward to taking three environmentally themed courses, including
Environmental Economics for the Citizen, Sustainable Development, and Environmental Justice. I have a feeling all
of these will help me on the road to working toward creating sustainable communities in cities and rural areas for a
career once I graduate. Also this winter I will be continuing to nurture my passion for recycling by volunteering at
the Mason Recycle Mania Basketball Game on the 25th of Jan.
While I attended NOVA before Mason, I was also involved in environmental activities. I was Public Relations
Chair and then President of the NOVA Green Club, during which time we hosted a visit by the Sierra Club, attended
the DC Environmental Film Festival, and conducted numerous stream clean-ups, among other activities. Also while
at NOVA, I worked on the NOVA Fortnightly newspaper staff as their Environmental Columnist. I wrote articles
covering green events around campus, as well as writing an article uncovering the fact that NOVA Alexandria
Campus wasn’t recycling properly, and that much of the recycling was being thrown away. This led to an effort on
the part of the students, myself included, to get a new system in place, and finally the next semester there was single
stream recycling at NOVA Alexandria, and many of the recycling problems were solved.
I have always cared about the environment and how we treat her. This is why I have a particular interest in
building sustainable communities. When a community’s practices are sustainable, then it is better for the water, air,
and soil in that community. Without sustainable communities, what we drink, what we breathe, and what we eat are
compromised, and so are we.
Page 12
Paid Advertising
NCAGC SPEAKERS BUREAU
Billie Trump, Chairman
The Environmental, Gardening and Landscape Design
Councils of the National Capital Area offer consultant
speakers on the topics listed below. For further
information, questions and/or suggestion, please call or
email the chairman Billie Trump, Speakers Bureau,
NCAGC. 703-960-1476/trump29@verizon.net
The following programs are available now:
COUNTRY
NURSERY
Environmental
VAMPIRE ENERGY------Vampires are in your home and
they are sending your money to your electric utility while
you are getting no value. How can you find and eliminate
these Vampires? This presentation discusses the genesis
of our electricity today and where it can come from in the
future. We often hear talk about solar, wind and geothermal energy but energy efficiency is often considered
the “first fuel”. . How can each of us make our homes
more energy efficient in small and large ways? What
should we be looking for to find the vampires and what
should we consider when purchasing new appliances?
Garden Consultants
GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS---Native plants
will give your garden a sense of place and attract the
birds, butterflies, and bugs. WHY BUGS? It is an entire
habitat! Learn to enhance your garden using our beautiful
native tree, shrubs, and perennials
CLIMBING THE WALLS & COVERING THE GROUND
--No, this is not a slide program about English Ivy. It is
about the many garden plants that can be used as ground
covers and vines to beautify your garden spaces.
CONTAINER GARDENS----Promise in a Pot. How to
select a pot, the plants to grow in it, and the care of it.
GARDENING WITH CHILDREN ----Everyone has the
power to matter in the lives of children. Learn how to
share your love of gardening with the younger generation.
Paid Advertising
3330 Spencerville Road
BURTONSVILLE, MD 20866
301-421-9593
Landscape
THE ART OF PRUNING----Boxes and balls, or the
natural look? Learn when and how to prune your shrubs
and trees. Learn about the tools and see a branch cutting
demonstration on various plants.
PLANTS WITH FALL AND WINTER INTEREST----A
slide program showing perennials, shrubs and trees from
Fall through Winter and early Spring. This program
includes fall color, fruits, interesting barks and a few
evergreens..
PERENNIALS FOR SHADE
PERENNIALS FOR SUN -----Both are slide programs and
include information on fertilizing, watering and mulching
and times to transplant or divide.
WINTERIZING THE GARDEN----Things to think about,
both before and after a killing frost.
Page 13
Paid Advertising
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
In 2013, NCAGC added 2 new National Life members
and 19 new State Life members to our rosters. We
welcome these additions and hope we can continue to
increase this support in 2014. Both memberships provide
funds in support of gardening-related scholarships.
National Life membership requires a $200 donation and
State Life requires a $50 donation.
Virginia Render, Life Membership Chairman 2010-2013
notes, “I have enjoyed serving my term as the Life
Membership Chairperson. Barbara Kiker has been
appointed as the new Life Membership Chairperson.
Future applications for Life memberships should be sent
to her by mail or e-mail”.
Contact information is as follows:
Barbara Kiker
6012 Nassau Drive
Springfield, VA 22152
Phone: 703-451-5922
kiker01@verizon.net.
Forms are available at www.ncgardenclubs.org.
FRIENDSHIP GARDEN
Ellen Spencer, Chairman
Paid Advertising
Donations
October 11, 2013 through January 10, 2014
Garden Club of College Gardens
In memory of Gary Brooks
Quantico Officers’ Wives’ Garden Club
Potomac Home and Garden Club
In memory of Pat Fulford
Neshanic Garden Club (Neshanic Station, NJ)
Riverwood Garden Club
Fairfax Ferns Garden Club
Landscape Design Council
Ellen M. Spencer
In memory of James van Sweden
Garden Club of College Gardens
In memory of George Ramick
Page 14
CAPITAL COLUMN of UPCOMING EVENTS
Washington Daffodil Society Show - NCAGC Affiliate
ADS Mid-Atlantic Regional Show, NGC Small Standard Flower Show
April 16, 17, & 18, 2014 (Wed, Thurs. Fri.)
New Location: The American Legion Fairfax Post No 177
--3939 Oak Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
Show open to public: April 17, 2 PM – 7 PM and April 18, 10 AM – 1:30 PM
Show Chairman: Glenna Graves (540)434-8587 / glennamgraves@comcast.net
To Enter Design: Mary Anne Barton (703)273-8641 / wbill@bellatlantic.net
POTOMAC UNIT OF HERB SOCIETY OF AMERICA - NCAGC Affiliate

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
Meeting Saturday, March 8, 2014, 10 am to 2 pm at The US Botanical Garden, 103 Maryland Ave., Wash. D.C.
Patterson Clark will be speaking on the Urban Jungle.
Annual Herb Plant Sale will be held April 25-26, 2014 at The US National Arboretum in Washington. D.C.
For more information, contact Shirley Harp - (703)425-9523
POTOMAC CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY - NCAGC Affiliate




Meetings are held on the 2nd Saturday of the month. In March and April they will be held at Davis Library,
6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda Maryland at 10:30am.
Plant Sale May 17th from 8am - noon at Bethesda United Church of Christ, Bethesda, MD also at Bowie High
School parking lot, Bowie, MD
Plant Sale May 24th from 8am - noon at White Oak Shopping Center, Silver Spring, MD and at Rt. 355 and
Fulks Corner parking lot across from the Gaithersburg Police Station, Gaithersburg, MD.
For more information, contact Dorrie McDonald - (301)855-7448 or dorrie.mcdonald@mums.org
POTOMAC HOSTA CLUB, INC. - NCAGC Affiliate

Annual Spring Meeting: March 30th at the Fair Oaks Merrifield Garden Center from 2:00 - 4:00.
Guest speaker will be Janet Draper. Open to the public free of charge.
ARBOR HOUSE Lorraine Leonard, Volunteer Coordinator and Mary Beth Cecil, Manager
Volunteers Come Through, Once Again!
Tanta Cove Garden Club! Thanks to members of your club, Norma Merritt, Virginia Corum, Michelle Gish and
Jan Kohout for helping out in the Fall. And Barb Kiker, from Springfield Acres GC--always can count on her good
ideas for the shop and doing what needs to be done. Ann Grace (Capital Hill GC), Ann Gardenhour (Cheverly GC),
and Julie Harrison (Mt. Airy Clay Breakers GC) were a great help to manager, Mary Beth Cecil (Mt. Airy Clay
Breakers GC) during a big conference and sale in late October! A big thank you again to Julie Harrison for helping
out her fellow club member, and the Arbor House manager, Mary Beth, during January inventory.
The Arbor House Gift Shop will open on Saturday, March 1st. If you aren't a regular volunteer, think about
volunteering a day or two during 2014. I think you'll have fun plus you'll be a big help. The shop will be open Fridays,
Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays (the same days that the US National Arboretum will be open).
Lorraine Leonard
Volunteer Coordinator
Page 15