Featuring Freeman Medal Garden History & Design 2015 National

Featuring Freeman Medal Garden History & Design 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference

The Garden Club of America Spring 2015 11630 GCA_ April July_2015_Layout 1 2/12/15 11:26 AM Page 1

GCA Bulletin Spring 2015

The purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of educational g i v d n i L

e meetings, conferences, correspondence t t e n n a e J and publications, and to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.

Submissions EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE GREAT The Bulletin welcomes letters, articles with photographs, story ideas, GARDENS OF THE WORLD and original artwork from members of GCA clubs. Email: [email protected] for more information or visit the Spring is the perfect time to stroll H. F. du Pont’s Bulletin Committee page in the members area of the GCA website: masterful 60-acre garden. Enjoy showstopping www.gcamerica.org for the submission form. blooms in the March Bank, Sundial Garden, Submission deadlines are May 15 (Summer), August 15 (Fall), and November 15 (Winter 2016). Azalea Woods, and Peony Garden. Narrated tram The Garden Club of America is a 501(c)(3) organization. The GCA tours available. To discover what’s in bloom, visit Bulletin is published four times a year for club members by gardenblog.winterthur.org or call 302.888.4856. The Garden Club of America, 14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022. On the Cover Spring in the Baby Boomer Retirement Garden. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Garden “At Winterthur, his family’s iconic estate in Delaware, Club of America Collection. Henry Francis du Pont had the vision to let nature paint the picture.” – Southern Living

Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between I-95 and Route 1. Take I-95 to Exit 7 in Delaware. 800.448.3883 • winterthur.org Features spring 2015

Freeman Medal: Garden History GCA 2015 5Quercus macrocarpa 16 & Design 35National wins a medal Including Through the Looking Affairs and Legislation By Alice Thomas Glass by Joyce Connolly, Baby Conference (NAL) Boomer Retirement Garden Runner up Arctostaphylos densiflora Including Profiles, Interviews, by Nora O. Howard, Acres of ‘Howard McMinn’ Conference Speakers, Club Diamonds by Jenny Rose Carey, Projects, and more Club Projects, and more

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Executive Committee From the President Katie Heins Accepting Leadership

GCA Executive Committee “And the day came when the 2014-15 risk to remain tight in a bud Katie Heins, GCA President was more painful than the Stony Brook Garden Club, Zone IV risk it took to blossom.” Anne Copenhaver, —Anais Nin (1903-1977), author 1st Vice President Twin City GC, Zone VII A search for “leadership” on the internet Debbie Edwards, Vice President produces an abundance of material about the GC of New Haven, Zone II different characteristics of good and effective Laura Haley, Vice President leaders. However, before one can consider The Little GC of Rye, Zone III embracing these qualities, there must first Mary Kent, Vice President be a willingness to serve in a leadership role. Plainfield GC, Zone IV Agreeing to serve as a leader at any level is GCA President Katie Heins often a daunting decision, but it shouldn’t be. Phyllis Lee, Vice President There is an inherent amount of personal sacrifice in agreeing to lead, and usually the The GC of Honolulu, Zone XII greatest sacrifice is time. It is important to ask yourself exactly what you would be giving up, Kathy Metz, Vice President if anything. Will you be gaining more than you will be losing? Millbrook GC, Zone III Another consideration in accepting a leadership role is the matter of allowing oneself Nancy Murray, Vice President to be vulnerable, open to potential criticism, and to making mistakes. All leaders will make GC of Palm Beach, Zone VIII mistakes but mistakes can be turned into positive learning experiences and they often help an Debby Melnyk, Recording Secretary organization to move forward. There is a psychological term called “fear of failure” that can Late Bloomers GC, Zone VIII be paralyzing. Every leader recognizes this but knows it is better to have tried and perhaps stumbled rather than not to have tried at all. Great leaders strive for success, not perfection, Marilyn Gregg, Corresponding Secretary because perfection is unattainable. River Oaks GC, Zone IX There are different styles of leadership. If you don’t possess the qualities of a leader you Hilary Salatich, Treasurer admire, that doesn’t mean that you won’t find success with your own style. “One size does Indianapolis GC, Zone X not fit all,” and you should not be intimidated by the style of others. It is essential to trust Vicki Saltonstall, yourself and believe in the possibility that you may create a whole new leadership model. Director Serving on the Executive Committee We are all members of one or more of the 200 GCA garden clubs and with that Chestnut Hill GC, Zone I membership comes an inherent responsibility to help our garden clubs succeed. It is important to recognize that individual commitment to a group effort is required to make any Jennifer Barnette, Chief Operating Officer organization successful. GCA leadership begins at the club level and it is club leaders who go on to leadership positions in the national organization. There are different levels of club leadership beyond serving as president or an officer and many club presidents say that the most difficult part of their jobs is to fill the leadership positions within the clubs. If you are asked to serve in a leadership role, look at it as a privilege and an opportunity. It takes a special kind of courage to accept a leadership position and the responsibility that accompanies it. Reach beyond your comfort zone and within yourself for the courage to say yes. Commitment brings great satisfaction and enhanced self-esteem, and you will serve as a role model for those around you in all levels of your life. One of the greatest reasons to accept any leadership position is the opportunity it will provide for personal growth. You will stretch yourself to learn and to succeed in ways you could not have imagined, and you may make surprising and positive discoveries about yourself.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 From the Editor Ann Price Davis Bulletin Committee Building Blocks

My mother reminds me that I always liked a crash Bulletin Committee 2014–15 program. I’d rather say that I like to see results. Putting Ann Price Davis, Chairman out the first issue of the Bulletin did feel like a crash Glenview Garden Club, Zone VII program, with Emergency and Intensive Care signs Louise Wells, Vice Chairman looming, but now we are into steady construction. Twin City GC, Zone VII The Bulletin Committee is the crew, articles are the Amy Dilatush bricks, and photos the ornamentation. GCA clubs and , committees supply the mortar, and Headquarters is Advertising Manager the supportive foundation. The architect of the new Nantucket GC, Zone I design is Laura Case (New Canaan GC, Zone II) while Anne O’Brien, Guest Editor Amy Dilatush (Nantucket GC, Zone I) continues to Columbine GC, Zone XII shore up the infrastructure with strong ad sales. (Keep Penelope Ross, Copy Editor advertisers in mind.) The rest of us are subcontractors, Fairfield GC, Zone II dividing up the tasks of developing stories, asking GCA Bulletin Chairman Ann Price questions, writing, making editorial decisions, zone representatives: Davis staying in contact with our club and committee correspondents, editing copy, fact-checking, writing captions, and proofreading. Every Patricia McGill, member of the crew contributes to making it all happen, four times a year, often wearing Nantucket GC, Zone I several different hard hats. It is a tremendous collaboration, and one of the most fulfilling Laura Case, Graphic Design in my GCA career. We get it done. New Canaan GC, Zone II And, in case you haven’t noticed, GCA is full of people and clubs who get things done. Lorraine Alexander, Editor-at-large, In this issue we cover a gamut of meaningful endeavors. We look into what is going on and Millbrook GC, Zone III who’s supplying the underpinning of ideas and momentum—for example, the National Affairs and Legislation Conference and the people responsible for its smooth production; Pamela Hirsch, GC of Morristown, and the new GCA Photography Committee, spearheaded by an energetic group of early Zone IV adapters. We take a close look at the work entailed in recording oral histories as well as Shelley Clement, GC of Allegheny Co., garden images, archived for posterity. We celebrate efforts to restore our country’s prairies Zone V and coastal wetlands, and the skills of the tech-savvy, who tell us how-to, generously Gay Legg, St. George’s GC, sharing their knowledge and experience with the rest of us. As always, reports from the Zone VI clubs—in all their variety—enlighten and inform. These articles, like those in any issue, represent only a sampling of the many and Mary Anne Burke, James River GC, diverse interests of our garden clubs. Are the endeavors they describe the building blocks of Zone VII The Garden Club of America? I would say yes—they are the additions and renovations to a Beth Kibler, Palmetto GC, venerable structure. Our metaphoric building is always expanding to include the new while Zone VIII honoring the old. Mary Haggerty, Founders GC of Dallas, Zone IX Lanie Grever, Cincinnati Town & Country GC, Zone X Katherine Palmer, Green Tree GC, Zone XI Gina Brandt, Hancock Park GC, Zone XII

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  New England’s Premier Flower Show The Newport Flower Show American Beauty Timeless Style

Rosecliff was the birthplace of the ‘American Beauty’ rose. This iconic flower, which became a symbol of excellence, is the inspiration for our 20th anniversary. Join us to celebrate the classic and timeless style of the American Beauty. Rosecliff, Newport, RI Opening June 19, 20 & 21, 2015 Night Party June 19 Presenting Sponsor Bartlett Tree Experts www.NewportFlowerShow.org

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Freeman Medal Quercus macrocarpa wins a medal! by Alice Thomas The Garden Club of Houston, Zone IX GCA Horticulture Committee Vice Chairman Freeman Medal

From Left to Right: Freeman Plant Award Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak) is the 2015 How is the Quercus macrocarpa Freeman Medal winner. This majestic oak is also referred to as Blue winner bark chosen? Bur Oak acorns Oak, Mossy-Overcup Oak, and Scrub Oak. The slow-growing seedling A Selection Quercus macrocarpa has a deep and strong root development, and is an efficient user of Committee chosen leaf and acorn water. It often establishes itself in dry spots or prairies. Usually wider from the major Photos by Blakley and than tall, the tree can reach 100 feet in height and width and live 200 regions of the country Nancy Linz to 300 years. Once mature, the Bur Oak has a beautiful shape with is asked to study Previous page: Bur and vote on the Oak in winter horizontal branches. The large distinctive acorns wear a fringed cap nominations. They are and are often used for ornamental decoration. The acorn is easy to scholars, teachers, and propagate. The bark is thick and corky with deep furrows and a unique active horticulturists. fiddle-shaped leaf that is often 9 inches long. The wood is commercially Members of the F committee change marketed as white oak. It is both drought and pollution resistant and each year. What serves as an excellent street or park shade tree. The Bur Oak provides impresses them are support for our native pollinators. The oak genus is crucial to more extensively researched caterpillar species than any other tree. Moreover, oaks provide food and and well-written papers. Three or four shelter for many birds and animals. It is a true anchor to our ecosystem good photographs are and grows in USDA Zones 4 to 8. —Nominated by Nancy Linz, Garden required. They must Club of Cincinnati, Zone X be high resolution, accompanied by photo the 2015 honorable mention recipient is Arctostaphylos release forms, and densiflora‘Howard McMinn.’ This manzinita cultivar, developed in properly identified. California, has quickly become a success, in part because of its adapt- This year we had a ability. It tolerates average soil conditions and does not require heavy record number of 19 summer watering. It is slow-growing and mounds to form a spread- nominations! Many of ing shrub that can reach 6 to 8 feet in a sunny location. If the lower the plants submitted branches are pruned, the plant displays a striking red bark that peels this year can be re- in the fall to reveal attractive smooth-textured branches. It serves as nominated in 2017. A a great transitional plant or screen. Winter is the natural blooming Winner or Honorable time for the manzanita. Tiny clusters of bell-shaped pinkish-white Mention may not be flowers form and provide nectar for insects. Once pollinated, they resubmitted. form red fruit that birds enjoy. The new green leaf growth in the Arctostaphylos early spring is vibrant and provides interest in the garden. Hardy in densiflora ‘Howard USDA Zones 7b to 10. McMinn.’ Photo by —Nominated by Joan Andrews and Janet Riley, Randy Baldwin Orinda Garden Club, Zone XII

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Freeman Medal

This watercolor painting was created by Angela Overy, Garden Club of Denver, Zone XII, in 2014 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Freeman Medal. Can you name the 20 winners illustrated below? (See page 68 for the answer key)

What is the history of the Freeman Medal? Louis McDaniel Freeman and his wife Judy gave the Freeman Medal to GCA in 1995 to honor his mother, Montine McDaniel Freeman. A member of New Orleans Town Gardeners, Inc., “Tina” Freeman was an outstanding horticulturist, a GCA Director, and Vice President. The award is the only GCA medal given to a plant—native to North America, and deserving promotion.

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 

Our GCA History Making

Legends Needlepoint rug created for the raffle for Bedford Live GC’s “All Thru the House” benefit in 1973.From by Anne R. Myers left: Dot Hinitt, Gretchen Hill, Garden Club of Pru Regan, Starr Irvington-on-Hudson, Lawrence, Jane Kilbourne, Penny Zone III, GCA Historian Hyde, and Mary LeRoy.

Winds of Change, compiled by Diana Morgan Olcott to commemorate the 75th anniversary of The Garden Club of America in 1988, chronicles the work of Dot Hinitt epitomized the intelligent, multi-talented, and our organization’s national committees during the transformative creative individuals whom each of us has gotten to know, work decades of the 1960s through the 1980s. As a prime example, with, learn from, and enjoy through our association with the the book emphasizes member garden clubs’ crusade to “bring GCA. Some become dear friends, and most earn our respect for the environmental movement to the nation’s doorstep.” Major their hard work and devotion to the club. Imagine the hole in her initiatives of this period included creation of the National Affairs club’s history if Marilen Tilt had not written about her own and and Legislation Committee as well as what was then called The others’ memories of Miss Hinitt. GCA Collection of the Smithsonian Slide Library of Notable Capturing personal commentaries by and about long- American Parks and Gardens, both featured in this spring issue of standing members is fundamental to a comprehensive and well- the Bulletin. documented archive. This effort will not only allow members Many, if not most, of these generations of GCA women have to better appreciate a club’s leaders; it can provide fascinating sadly moved on. For example, Dorothy Humphreys Hinitt earned material and inspiration for future programs and projects. The mention in Winds of Change because of her service as Bulletin richness of such histories can be enhanced by footnotes to events Editor in 1964-1968. However, Miss Hinitt, like so many GCA and to the colorful stories that bring them to life. Members’ members, made her greatest impact locally through her numerous reminiscences and recollections can take us beyond facts to real interests and friendships. In a tribute to her, Marilen Tilt, a appreciation. The process of collecting such data is now made Bedford GC member and historian who knew her personally, easier by forms and documents under Historian Resources wrote, (Capturing Oral History) on GCA’s website. As Ernestine Goodman, the GCA’s first Secretary, aptly “Her obituary appeared…in the Patent Trader on July 25, noted in her foreward to her 25th-anniversary history: “One by 1989…. To look at its placement no one could possibly have one [leading members] are slipping into the background. Many known the impact the subject had had on her community…. of them have left forever the gardens they made and loved, and The Trader obituary only briefly described the facts of her life: most of the new members who are doing [the organization’s] thirty-year editor at Reader’s Digest, Historian for the Town of work today know little of its early history and progress.” Miss Bedford, author, member of the Bedford Garden Club, Editor Goodman was referring to the Founders of GCA, but her of the Garden Club of America Bulletin, and fifty-year resident observation is very important to all of our current endeavors. of the Town of Bedford. There was, however, much more to say about this remarkable woman, whom many called ‘Miss • • • Hinitt.’’’

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Our GCA History

Taking an oral history: It’s All About the Interview —Beth Brumbaugh, Akron Garden Club, Zone X

Oral history is collected through ensure that both the interviewer and what to buy and, for lighting setup assure that you can pause whenever recorded interviews, with the interviewee are picked up on mic. directions, “two-point or three-point a break is needed. If recording video, minimum outcome being an edited lighting.” Your transcriber may prefer counsel the subject to avoid dressing Video Recording For transcript. Thoughtful preparation will to work from an audio recording, in narrow, close-set stripes and solid recording video, setup considerations ensure that you capture and preserve rather than a video, in which case black or solid white. Photographic in addition to quietness include club members’ memories skillfully you’d need to do both. lights can be warm—layers are a selecting an attractive, simple back- and smoothly. good idea. Suggest bringing makeup ground and chair in which the subject Prepare the for touchups. Audio Recording Record- sits erect, mounting the video record- Interviewee Make the inter- Working in a two-person inter- ing setup requires comfortable chairs ing device on a tripod at interviewee viewee feel at ease. Provide a copy view team is ideal, with one posing in a quiet site that precludes inter- eye level, shutting out natural light, of the questions, not to write out the the questions, the other operating ruption and an audio recorder resting and using photographic floodlights on answers, but to reflect on memories. the equipment, and both making it a on a stable surface. Confer with your stands with umbrellas. Lighting is a Record in the interviewee’s home, pleasure for the interviewee. See the transcriber before making an audio must for a professional-looking end or offer to arrange transportation to GCA website Historian Resources for recorder purchase, to verify compat- product. Consult Google “photo- the interview site. Seat the subject further aids to capturing oral history. ibility. Conduct a test recording to graphic light kits” for ideas about comfortably, provide water, and

Dorothy Humphreys Hinitt November 5, 1894–July 11, 1989 Excerpt from “Tribute,” written by Marilen G. Tilt (Bedford Garden Club, Zone III) for the club’s Archive, September 2008 “In 1972 Dorothy Hinitt was awarded the GCA’s prestigious Medal of Merit. This highest of honors was bestowed by ‘a member club to one of its own members, with the approval of the Garden Club of America Medal Awards Chairman, for contributions of exceptional merit in the field of horticulture, conservation or civic achievement within the area of a member’s respective club.’ By this time Dot’s accomplishments were well known. She had written and published The Bedford Gardener’s Almanac, an informative and useful journal for both beginners and the experienced. A charming catalogue of advice, the almanac still has a place on many a Bedford GC member’s bookshelf. The Bedford Cookbook had been twice reprinted under Dot’s leadership. She had co-authored Volume II of Bedford GC’s The Story of the Club and been Chairman of GCA’s Library Committee (1959-62) and her club’s In 2009-2010, Akron Garden Club, Zone X, mounted an oral history project Historian (1971-76). Her beloved garden had been a learning place in celebration of its 85th anniversary. The stories of more than 20 members for many garden club members. From 1964 to 1968 she had been the and club presidents prior to 1980 were documented via audio and video Editor of the Garden Club of America Bulletin, guiding it through the recordings. These as well as transcripts of the recorded conversations are ‘minefields’ [GCA’s word] of higher expenses, a new postal zip code maintained in the club’s archives. At its 2011 annual meeting, an 18-minute system, a reduction of yearly issues from six to two, and continued high video of interview excerpts, “The Legacy of the Akron Garden Club,” was standards of content and style. She had written countless small histories presented to the membership in recognition of its many contributions to the for the Bedford Historical Society. She was in the midst of important Akron community. From left: Natalie Cook, Robin Hardman, Suzanne Rogers, research on a future publication, The Burning of Bedford: July 1779. This Nancy Parry, Sandra Smith, Muriel Hutchinson, Elizabeth Myers, Suzanne petite, unassuming woman with the giant intellect had finally gained the Rickards, Ruth Moorhead, Kathleen Van Devere, Julia Bain, Janise Parry, recognition she deserved.” Rosaline Mather, Dedee O’Neil, and Kathy Keller.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Photography Committee

A Snapshot of a new GCA Committee: Photography

by Crissy Cherry,

Lake Forest Garden Club, Zone XI Sunrise shoot at Botany Bay, SC, during the 2014 Charleston photography workshop GCA Photography Committee Chairman with Brenda Tharpe. Photo by Crissy Cherry

Documenting a garden with a tripod by Judith McMillan, Shaker Lakes Garden Club. It won the creativity award at the Southampton Garden Club Flower Show.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Photography Committee

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Photography Committee

On July 1, 2014, GCA welcomed the addition of a new GCA committee— OPhotography—the first new committee since the 1960s.

In 2004 a pilot program in Photography, Colleen Miniuk- as part of the Judging Committee, was Sperry and the launched with the objective “to make fall workshop photography a part of flower shows, to train in Portland, a talent pool of approved judges and to take Oregon, with pictures of plants.” Corliss Engel served as Bryan Peterson. the first chairman. In 2006 the Photography Photography Subcommittee moved to Flower Show workshop sign- and the objectives were broadened to ups work in a include the education of photographers manner similar and the education of club members to to GCA Visiting learn and appreciate photography as well Gardens—when you put your name on The Photography as the objective to improve the quality of the interest list, you receive the initial Committee outside GCA photography across the GCA spectrum. email to sign up. The zone representatives Headquarters in New Today photography has become a key part are available to assist club photography York. Front row from of the fabric of GCA. There are currently chairmen in offering photography study left: Mary Jo Beck, Kathi Shea, Malinda Bergen, over 150 clubs with photography chairmen. groups within their clubs—a fun and Georgianna Erskine, Avery There are more than 140 members in interesting way to involve members in Brighton, Sandra Bergsten, the photography judging program. advancing their photography skills. They Jean Matthews, Penny Most importantly, GCA produces many will help with club photography shows, Ross, Crissy Cherry. Back publications that depend on gorgeous and as well as promote the Photography row: Tempe Thompson, informative photographs. The committee Committee page on the GCA website—a Ann Franzen, and Leslie currently has six zone representatives (from great source of learning tools. The most Purple. Missing: Hilary the even zones) who each serve several exciting recent event was the photography Salatich. Photo by Avery zones. In 2015 six odd zone representatives show at the US Botanic Garden in Brighton will be added to the committee. In Washington DC, which ran all summer to addition, serving on the Photo Committee great accolades. The show featured thirty are the Editor and Associate Editor of 24” x 36” prints by GCA photographers. focus (the digital photography magazine The Photography Committee’s goal is published quarterly) and a Photography to continue to improve the quality of Education Coordinator who plans semi- photography as it is an integral part of every annual photography workshops focusing publication, committee documentation, on skills and current trends. The spring and the archives. workshop will be held in Moab, Utah, with

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Ca l l 2 0 3 - 2 9 5 - 7 2 8 8 o r v i s i t u s a t w w w. Ju l i a B . c o m

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Garden History & Design

Gardens. GCA members Eleanor Weller Reade (Garden Club of Twenty, Zone VI) and Helen Rollins (Piscataqua Garden Club, Zone I, d. 2009) led the charge to obtain historic and contemporary garden images from GCA clubs, garden owners, and public repositories throughout the country. n The two also embarked on an ambitious project to Next Page: gather glass lantern slides that had been dispersed Mrs. Harry J. to individual GCA clubs over the years. Bauer Garden, From the outset the Slide Library Committee Pasadena, CA. knew that the collection it had amassed should be c. 1920s-1930s. donated to a public institution so that it could be Glass lantern readily available to researchers. Among the insti- slides were tutions considered as stewards were Winterthur in projected Delaware, Wave Hill in New York, and Dumbar- onto a screen ton Oaks and the Smithsonian Institution, both with a ‘magic n Among some of the most fragile images in Washington, DC. Fortunately for the Archives lantern.’ Their Casa Alejandro, in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gar- of American Gardens, the decision was made to fragile nature Palm Beach, FL. dens are the thousands of historic glass lantern donate the collection to the Smithsonian! Thou- is particularly evident in ones c. 1920s-1930s. slides included in the Garden Club of America sands of glass lantern and 35mm slides making Glass lantern Collection. They document invaluable facets of like this that up the Garden Club of America Collection were have fractured. slide lectures historic gardens and their designs, many of which put together by donated to AAG in 1992. Since that time the have been altered or lost over time. the GCA were GCA’s Garden History and Design Committee loaned out to The founders of the GCA were well aware of has continued that important legacy by docu- Matinicock clubs across the transitory nature of gardens and how import- menting dozens of gardens each year for the GCA Point, Glen the country ant it was to document them. Established in 1919, Collection at AAG. Cove, NY. John to educate the GCA Slide Committee set out to study and Scott Duer, members record GCA member gardens as well as historic Photographs courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, Archives of photographer. about different ones. Over 3,500 glass lantern slides were amassed American Gardens, Garden Club of America Collection. c. 1920s-1930s. regional between 1920 and 1935 and were loaned out to While

plantings and clubs for lectures and other programs. The early handsome, the

design styles. slide collection became the impetus for the mon- colors applied n umental GCA publication Gardens of Colony and to a glass State by Alice G. B. Lockwood (Greenwich GC, lantern slide Zone II, d. 1954). by a ‘colorist’ Each glass lantern slide started out as a black working in a and white photographic image developed directly photography onto a 3” x 4” sheet of glass. The image was then studio were not always

hand-tinted with translucent paints by a ‘colorist’ historically

working in a photo studio who exercised a mea- accurate. sure of artistic license in terms of color choices. n Whereas an actual garden may have featured a yellow palette of flowers, the glass lantern slide view may have showcased pink varieties. A handsome end product, yes, but one that can cause headaches for garden historians trying to identify specific plants or restore a garden! Fast forward half a century when, in preparation for its 75th anniversary year in 1988, the GCA established a special committee to compile a Slide Library of Notable American Parks and

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Garden History & Design n Through the The GCA Lantern Slide Collection Looking Glass at the Archives of American Gardens

by Joyce Connolly, Museum Specialist, Smithsonian Gardens

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Garden History & Design

Baby Boomer Retirement Garden

by Nora O. Howard, GC of Hartford, Zone II GCA Garden History & Design Committee Vice Chair Summer and winter landscapes in the Baby Boomer Garden. Photographs courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Garden Club of America Collection.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Garden History & Design In 2012, the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens accepted into its collection the Baby Boomer Retirement Garden of the Litchfield Garden Club, Zone II. This garden is an excellent example of why the Garden Club of America encourages all our clubs in such endeavors. Do you have a garden in mind to document? Do you wonder if it would ‘fit’ into the Archives of American Gardens? The wonderful Baby Boomer Retirement Garden fit perfectly. Here’s why. It’s an American garden. The Smithsonian Institution’s collection covers a wide variety of gardens, with the requirements that they are undocumented elsewhere and must be on American soil. The different ways we garden in this country are worth documenting for the benefit of researchers and the public now and in the future. It told a story. The Baby Boomer Retirement Garden owners wrote about designing the garden and then gardening in it for the past four years. The details they generously shared are personal and captivating. The photographs were particular and personal. The photographs told their own version of the garden’s story. You don’t need a professional photographer—just the right camera. The paperwork was in order. The forms are straightforward and easy to fill out. Have questions? Your Zone GHD Representative can answer them. Or call on the friendly staff of the Smithsonian for help. It usually takes less than a day to get an answer! It’s a keepsake. The Archives of American Gardens treasures the documentation and shares it online and on-site with visiting scholars—for research, publication, and exhibits. In addition, the homeowner and your club receive a copy of the documentation. And now let’s hear from the homeowners who created the Baby Boomer Retirement Garden: [It’s a] “dense yet low-maintenance garden designed to meet the needs of lifelong gardeners who have chosen to simplify their lives by downsizing to a smaller property…. The garden serves to minimize tasks such as weeding, mulching, and staking. In setting the framework for the garden, the view of the surrounding landscape was a guiding principle. An old apple tree…is the focal point of the large lawn, which leads the eye to the mountain vista beyond. The renovation of the house included the addition of glass windows and doors so that every room’s west-facing wall would have a view of the landscape. The garden area is compact but features great variety: …a rock garden, an herb garden, a shade garden, perennial borders, and a water garden.… If we planned our low-maintenance garden properly, the gardenless condominium or assisted living facility might have to wait for our arrival for a few more decades.”

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Garden History & Design

“Choose a garden that is easy to A few years ago a chance conversation, after a lecture I had given to the New document Canaan Garden Club, reminded me of that tale. It led me to suggest the documenting and you of one of the club’s own “diamonds” for will get the Garden Club of America Collection, since 1992 the core collection of the it done. Archives of American Gardens (AAG) at Every by Jenny the Smithsonian Institution. My lecture had been about women of the 1920s, and garden Laura Case, then Chair of the club’s Garden Rose Carey, History and Design Committee, let it slip has its The Garden Club of that her own house and garden had belonged to the longtime editor of House and Garden unique Philadelphia, Zone V magazine. That editor, Richardson Wright, was a prolific garden writer in the 1920s and story; Former GCA Garden History ‘30s. I could hardly contain my excitement make sure & Design Vice Chair and invited myself for a visit. It was winter, and as we wandered her gardens in the snow that you Laura told me about the hard time she was having securing access to a garden she was tell your attempting to document. I looked at her and own.” said, “Why don’t you document your own garden?” What a fascinating project—Laura added, given talks about it and the process of just hadn’t seen it. documentation. A story from the 1800s was made famous in I went home and re-read all of Laura’s success story can inspire all GCA thousands of speeches delivered by its author, Richardson Wright’s books, with Laura’s Garden History and Design Committees Russell Conwell, the founder of Temple property in Silvermine, CT, foremost in my to look for their own overlooked “Acres of University, Philadelphia, PA. The moral mind. Some years passed before I received Diamonds.” Choose a garden that is easy to of the tale was that we should look for the an email from Laura telling me that she document and you will get it done. Every “Acres of Diamonds” in our own backyards had in fact documented her garden for the garden has its unique story; make sure that Abefore searching the world for them. Smithsonian archives. She has also, she you tell your own.

Illustration: Richardson Wright’s country house, by David Mode Payne. Photos: “Sun House” Garden as submitted to Smithsonian Institution, AAG

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Garden History & Design “Acres of Diamonds,”

or the case for documenting your own garden

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  AAG by the Numbers GCA Supports Students of Garden History & Design

8,731 gardens and cultural GH&D Scholars landscapes documented in…

42 Jessica Brode, a graduate student at collections George Washington University, was one of two GCA Garden History and Design Interns at the Archives of American Gardens last summer. She 4,612 worked with the Horizon cataloging system and gardens documented in the had the opportunity to research and write blog GCA Collection posts about gardening topics. She also worked with the Smithsonian’s Digital Asset Management System which enables one to organize and 3,564 track digital assets, including those in the GCA glass lantern slides form the Collection. Her internship matched perfectly with core plus her master’s program in Museum Studies, with a concentration in digitization. 37,000 35mm slides of historic and Catherine Bell, a graduate student at contemporary gardens the University of Texas, Austin, received the second internship at the Archives. While at AAG she created Facebook, Twitter, and blog posts for 19 Smithsonian Gardens, which fit nicely with her GCA-funded GH&D Master of Science in Information Studies. She Internships since 2003 also helped catalog new garden submissions to the GCA Collection and digitized a selection of the W. Atlee Burpee and Co. records for the 37 Smithsonian’s Transcription Center. gardens added to the GCA Collection in 2014 Jessica Herlich received the Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History and Design. This fellowship was established in 2000 by GCA member 85% Douglas Thomas (Millbrook Garden Club, Zone II) to of submissions are now further the study of history and design in the American digital images garden, and to consider future gardens and their place in the environment. Jessica, a PhD student in anthropology at the College of William and Mary, sought to explore 287 the pre-colonial Chesapeake landscape. For her project, requests for information she gathered archaeological sediment samples from from AAG in 2014 coastal Virginia which she processed at the University of California, Berkeley’s wet laboratory. She has not yet 98 completed her dissertation research, and we look forward requests regarding the to her final conclusions. GCA Collection Garden History and Design is in good hands with our chosen scholars and their work gives us reasons to be proud. 44 —Teed M. Poe, Cherokee Garden Club, Zone VIII, “One-Minute Reports” GCA Scholarship Committee Vice Chairman

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Garden History & Design: Club Projects Preserving the Memories

1930 on the shores of Lake Michigan. Among its varied landscapes is a large organic CSA garden. • The gardens of Pickerel Run, River Hills, WI, owned by Anne and Fred Vogel, were inspired by Colonial New England. • The owners of Greenfire Woods, Hattie and Ed Purtell, have devoted 40 years to nurturing their property along the Milwaukee River. • Mer Grossman who owns the Little Swan Lake, Jackson, MS, owned by Mary Ann The layout of the enclosed garden at Pickerel House in the Big Woods has transformed Petro and added to AAG in 2011. Photo by Hubert Run, on the Milwaukee River, was modeled on a former hunting preserve to a welcoming Worley Colonial designs. property with whimsical touches to Get started… …Keep it up! delight both young and old. • The owners of The Chimneys have Swan Lake is Garden Club of Jackson’s first Photographing and documenting gardens for preserved the original Franz Lipp design garden submitted and accepted into the AAG is a vital activity of Green Tree Garden and have devoted years to developing an Archives of American Gardens. It took two Club, Zone XI. Their gardens demonstrate a extensive arboretum. years for Mary Ann Petro to document her wide ecological and stylistic range: —Kathleen Asmuth, property’s architecture, plantings, and sea- • Harmandie’s owner was president of Green Tree Garden Club, Zone XI sonal transitions. Mary Ann has shared her GTGC from 1935-37. knowledge and experience with other club • Lynden, a historic family farm, is now members who are working on documenting Lynden Sculpture Garden with more than their own gardens. 50 monumental sculptures sited across 40 —Ouida Drinkwater, acres of park, lake and woodland. Garden Club of Jackson, Zone IX • 119-acre Afterglow Farm was built in

The Chimneys, River Hills, WI. A venerable 60-yr- old multi-trunked crabapple tree draws the eye across the edge of a woodland garden.

Little House in the Big Woods, Mequon, WI. Afterglow Farm, Port Washington, WI. A charming Native prairie plants ratibida pinnata (grey-head fountain topped by a whimsical bear is the focus coneflower) andmonarda fistulosa (bee balm) of the circular perennial garden. Photo by Kathy border a mown pathway to the prairie behind the Wigdale house.

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Tech Tip

Documenting a garden: It’s All About the Details –Beth Neville, Milton GC, Zone I

Take your time and allow • Manker Arboretum: the Get the owner Use time-saving your committee two years to 300-specimen-tree collection of involved in the methods like placing tracing complete a documentation. Uli and Philip Manker documentation, especially in paper over the first map to indicate • The 1910 Rabin House, owned identifying plants and garden garden features, design themes, Be imaginative in your by Beth and Bob Neville: a features, and in locating maps. plant names, and locations where selection of gardens. Since 2001, historic house garden The owner’s interpretation of documenting photos have been Milton GC has documented five applicable landscape theories taken. very different gardens: Get permission from the and philosophies is especially • Van Orman Estate: a horse farm owner first! Selling points: Get help from other committee important. and barn estate • having the garden in the or club members with talents • McLoughlin Garden: a tiny Smithsonian’s archives will add Make maps at large for taking good photographs and rocky-sited garden on a public cachet to the property, scale and reduce them later. writing good garden descriptions. road • the owner’s privacy can be Mat boards are 30” x 40,” an easy Take photographs in all • Spalding Garden: a garden by maintained, and size to use. A scale of 1” = 10’ four seasons. Take many more than a famous designer, Fletcher • the garden will not be open to works for modest-size gardens. you need and weed out the poor Steele, now owned by Milton GC the public. ones.

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14-0741.GCL.FlowersMag.halfpage.indd 1 2/26/15 3:49 PM  The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  GCA Directors What’s the buzz about...?

Patti Spaght, What is your What garden has What is your “go to” passion? made the biggest plant reference? Fairfeld Garden Club, Photography and travel impression on you? AHS’s A to Z to experience Les Quatre Vents, La Fairfield, CT the wonders of nature Malbaie, Quebec—it What is your favorite Patti is Director of Zone and the beauty of epitomizes the seamless season? gardens combination of an Late Spring because II—twenty clubs in CT exquisitely designed I love to see so many Who or what plants and trees and RI with 1800 club set of gardens created inspires you? by Frank Cabot, an bursting into bloom. members. Patti lives in Paul Caponigro experienced plantsman, and his son John gifted with an artist’s Your favorite plant? Southport, CT. She is an Paul Caponigro— eye. Tree peony avid traveler and skilled photographers who capture nature with What is your favorite Favorite nursery? photographer (and traditional and garden in the United Oliver Nurseries modern photo States? in Fairfield, CT— judge!) who has chaired techniques Longwood Gardens in absolutely fantastic! several GCA committees. Kennett Square, PA And they have a great newsletter and catalog. How would you describe your How would you gardening style? describe your My gardening style leadership style? is eclectic with I prefer to emphasize specimen plant “we” rather than “I” material and some when leading a group. formal elements in a village setting. Words that you live by? Make a difference. What is your best garden tool? Maine weeder

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Tech Tips

Taking good garden photographs: It’s All About the Light —Wendy Concannon, Wissahickon GC, Zone V

When photographing nature, you lighten up dark shadows and even out duces dramatic light. After a rainfall is attention to the outlines of your have to pay close attention to natural the light on your subject. a great time to shoot in the garden. subject matter. light—it can make or break a great Look for the light being reflected in Weather A sunny day is both Diffusers/Reflectors shot. Some things to consider: the raindrops and how saturated your your best friend and worst enemy. Both are versatile and effective pho- colors will look. Time of Day For landscapes, Sunlight will add sparkle and bring tographic accessories. A diffuser will shoot in the morning or late after- life to your subject—but watch your Camera Direction Watch create shade. A reflector can work as noon. The golden hours are at sunrise time of day. Overcast days with your camera angle. Move around to a main or fill light. Both also create and sunset. Mid-morning light is dull light can produce flat-looking see how the light changes. Direct an instant backdrop. A piece of white stronger, casting noticeable shadows, photographs. On the other hand, light can be strong and dramatic. poster board can work as a reflector. but still can be a great time to shoot. bright overcast days can produce soft, Position yourself so the sun is at an Polarizing Filters A po- Midday sunshine is difficult because evenly illuminated light. This can be angle, and you can see how it will larizing filter is useful for landscape of the contrast of harsh shadows with ideal for outdoor portraits and wildlife, frame your subject matter with a photography. On a sunny day, it will blown highlights. If you must shoot since there are no harsh shadows bright outline. Experiment with the make blue skies richer, and it magi- midday, find open shade, or wait for being cast on the subject. If the light sun backlighting a flower, and you will cally removes reflections from glass, a cloud to cover the sun. A diffuser seems flat, you can use a reflector to see how it makes the petals glow. water, and metal. On an overcast day, to shade your subject or a polarizing add highlights. Dynamic weather in At sunrise or sunset, you can shoot it saturates the colors of the scene filter will also help. You can also use the process of changing (i.e., before toward the sun and create a dramatic by removing glare from every leaf or your flash on “fill flash” mode to or after a storm) almost always pro- silhouette of your subject. Pay close blade of grass.

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 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 GCA Profiles Guy Denny: Saving the American Prairie How did you become a field In 1967 Ohio’s legislature had adopted naturalist, and when did Ohio’s a resolution expressing concern over losses of conservation movement begin in wilderness and threats to the state’s natural earnest? heritage. Several years passed before Ohio’s My own story is simpler than the state’s, but Natural Areas Program was launched. Fund- even mine was full of unexpected turns. My ing has fluctuated with election cycles—poli- father worked for Dun & Bradstreet, and I ticians tend to be natural enemies of conser- was set to follow that path, studying finance vationists. at the University of Toledo. But one day in And so for Ohio the Time cover my junior year I went to a MetroPark, where reflected Malcolm Gladwell’s I saw people going into a nature center, “tipping point”? and soon found myself in a lecture there on Precisely. I am reminded of one of my favor- lichens. That was the start for me. I kept ite quotes, from a Senegalese man, Baba Di- returning to the center, led hikes, and was oum. He made a speech in New Delhi—this eventually hired as a seasonal naturalist, then was at about the same time, in 1968—before recruited by ODNR’s Division of Parks and the general assembly of the International Recreation. Union for Conservation of Nature. “In the So despite your intention end,” he said, “we will conserve only what we to prepare for a career in love, we will love only what we understand, accounting— and we will understand only what we are I fell in love! Or you might say I returned taught.” to my childhood preoccupations. I grew up Guy Denny showing Silphium terebinthinaceum in what I now see as a privileged situation: I (yellow prairie dock) and the most typical of all was allowed to play outside. My mother used prairie tall grasses, (big Andropogon gerardi to find grasshoppers in my pockets. I went bluestem.) Photo by Rollie Henkes into the woods with my friends, collected insects.... Guy Denny’s name is synonymous with As for Ohio, The Nature Conservancy ongoing efforts to value and protect the great here dates from the 1950s, a time of real prairielands of the Midwest and specifically energy, and with fewer political battles than of his home state of Ohio. He has been vitally now. In some respects people today are not involved in many programs—special advisor paying attention, but back then we were to the Ohio Environmental Council, board already realizing that private efforts were not member of the Ohio League of Conservation enough. The moment people nationwide Voters as well as of the Midwest Biodiversity might remember was when the Cuyahoga Institute, executive director of the Ohio River caught fire near Cleveland. Biological Survey, and, not least, a GCA Zone X Honorary Member since 2002. It’s Ah, yes, the famous photo of the a long list, crowned by many years, five as river in flames. director, at the Division of Natural Areas Right, the 1969 Time cover photo. Actually & Preserves within Ohio’s Dept. of Natural the river had caught fire many times prior to Resources (ODNR). that, due to runoff pollution from the steel plants. The photo dated from 1952, but the cover coincided with the public’s growing Little GC of Columbus members Deborah Kelley awareness of environmental issues. and Julie Johnson with Guy Denny

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  GCA Profiles

Pollinated by butterflies and bees,Echinacea Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower) With a sticky center that discourages ant raiders purpurea (purple coneflowers) are deep purple in attracts bees and butterflies and gives off a scent of its pollen, Silene regis (royal catchfly) is the wild and especially admired by Guy for their similar to anise. hummingbirds’ own heavenly hash. beauty.

The thrust of many of your Tell me about your own private What is a Witness involvements has in fact been prairie north of Columbus, near Tree? toward education. St. Gilead. You give a half dozen A witness tree, apart from inspiring Robert Education is my credo. It’s all about helping or so tours of it annually, is that Frost’s collection of poems that won the people understand and love what they have right? Pulitzer in 1943, was a marker for property around them. When that happens they are Yes. Native plant societies, conservation lines used during the early days of European ready to fight for it. groups, and to a lesser extent garden clubs, settlement in this country. In land surveying, visit; schoolchildren seldom come because So, against this backdrop, where a property corner sometimes could not be prairies are at their height in July-August, do your beloved prairies come marked because the true point lay on a cliff or when school is out. We cover prairie ecology into play? What exactly is a in a lake, for example. A substitute (a stake or and the identification and historic uses of prairie? post or tree) located within a distance of 660 prairie species. I want to emphasize, howev- A prairie is a grassland that is virtually tree- feet of the true corner was then established er, that my prairie is not a natural one, but less, an ecosystem dominated by tall grasses at the so-called witness corner. In the case more a prairie garden, created on 22 acres of and forbs (prairie wildflowers). In the late of a tree, a mark was cut into the bark and my farmland. I collected seeds from prairie 1700s and early 1800s, when mapping the the location of the witness tree noted in the remnants, planted a replica of pre-settlement state occurred via witness trees [see sidebar] surveyor’s field report. The term has been tall grasses. It’s almost a museum piece, not and surveys, there were between 1,000 and expanded to encompass trees that were an ecosystem. 2,000 square miles of native tall-grass prairie present at key events in American history, like in Ohio. Now there is very little left. You find Prairies by definition, you’ve Civil War battles. It has even been adopted as it along railroad tracks, roadsides, and medi- said, are mostly comprised of tall the name of an Oregon vineyard, to honor a an strips. But most of it has been destroyed. grasses? venerable oak on the property that carries the Utilities are big culprits, spraying rights-of- Yes. At the foot of the Rockies you have mark of an 1854 survey. way on protected lands. short grasses, then in the Dakotas you get the —Lorraine Alexander, mixed grasses, home to antelopes and prairie Millbrook GC, Zone III dogs, and by the time you reach eastern

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 GCA Profiles

The Heritage Garden

at-risk locations were collected with the help increases in native flora within the garden, of Jane Rogers, Akron GC. The first monetary which in turn has led to increases in native donation came from the Little GC of Columbus. insects, birds, turtles, fish, and more. The Hope herself is a member of the GC of Dayton, Garden Club of America recognized the Heritage for which she was Visiting Gardens Chair in Garden with a 2006 runner-up Founders Fund 2010-2012 and Conservation Chair in 2012-2014. Award. That same year Hope received the GCA She is also an Honorary Member of the GC of Medal of Merit and the garden became the Cincinnati. The Heritage Garden is Ohio’s official 13th Affiliate of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife botanical garden of native plants, and Hope’s Center near Austin, TX. Hope was honored influence continues to inspire garden clubs with a Zone X Civic Improvement Award in throughout the state. 2007. The Heritage Garden is now listed as a Aside from offering a living museum to Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife a stream of visitors, what has the Heritage Federation, and an Official Monarch Way Station Garden accomplished in its short life? A by Monarch Watch. Hope Taft next to an Asimina triloba (pawpaw), biological survey (a BioBlitz —look it up!) in both —Lorraine Alexander, a slender indigenous tree that bears edible fruit. Zebra swallowtails feed exclusively on 2008 and 2010 found evidence of significant Millbrook GC, Zone III its leaves. Photo by Guy Denny

Hope Taft, First Lady of Ohio during her husband’s two terms (1999-2007), calls Guy Denny one of the “godparents” of the Heritage Garden, which has graced the Governor’s Residence in Columbus since 2001. Guy was recruited by Hope after she visited his private prairie in Knox County; he still serves on the oversight committee and helps with educating a small army of volunteers to maintain the garden. What exactly is the Heritage Garden? It is a series of spaces representing the five major physiographic regions of Ohio as well as smaller ecosystems, such as a sedge meadow, bog, fen, wetland, and of course a prairie. It is also a model for the integration of native plant species into naturalized settings. The garden was Hope’s brainchild, and it’s her commitment to the state and the environment that brought together the “godparents” and other conservation leaders. The master plan was devised by Cincinnati landscape architect Gary Meisner and plantsman Dewey Hollister, a member of the GC Zone X club members visited the Heritage Garden in June 2014, with Guy Denny (3rd from left) and of Cincinnati. More than 6,000 plants from Hope Taft (3rd from right) as their guides. Photo by Jan Kennedy

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  GCA Profiles

nize the plants with which they co-evolved. A butterfly bush, for example, is a cultivar that attracts butterflies like a magnet. But it does not feed them, so you have no future generations of butterflies if you do not give them, in addition to the magnet, something they recognize, something native to lay their larvae on—another argument for biodiversity. And so the overriding question becomes “What can we do to conserve or restore our prairies?” If we are talking about bringing back prairies on tracts of current farmland, we’d first have to restore lost microbes. The land might have to be “inoculated.” It’s never been done, but one day we may grow microbes in the lab and then reintroduce them into the soil. Reestablishing a natural ecosystem on fallow land is slow but entirely feasible. In summer Silphium terebinthinaceum (prairie dock) and Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) create Unfortunately some of the land that had expanses of vivid color in Guy Denny’s private prairie. Prairie photos by Guy Denny been protected here has, with the rising price of corn, been put back into industrial-style Kansas the landscape is, or was, dominated production. by tall—6-foot-high—grasses. As for conserving what little remains, Real prairies, which by definition have Aldo Leopold’s first rule of tinkering was nev- never been plowed, also have an abundance er to throw anything away just because you of soil microbes critical to plant fecundity. don’t know what to do with it. Protection But these have been killed off because we do allows us to continue to learn. Through inno- not use sustainable farming methods. vative programs, garden clubs can raise local We can also be unwitting enemies of awareness of these areas before they are lost. the natural species that are features of real And, of course, incorporating native species prairies. The manager of a 40-acre prairie into every garden is important. acquired by the Ohio Department of Natural Areas wanted to spray the invasive common Finally, what would you say to teasel (Dipsacus fullonum). I got there first, the younger generations who with volunteers, and we managed to remove will inhabit this land? it manually; we went from throwing up our I would say that the virtual world on the hands to giving natural species a chance. screen is not as exciting as the natural one. There is nothing like the “wow” moment And what about other forms of when a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis. life in real prairies? The insects, —by Lorraine Alexander, for example. Silphium laciniatum (compass plant), a staple of Millbrook GC, Zone III prairies, has the peculiar attribute of petals that Native insects, at the bottom of the feeding point north-south, thus the name. Aldo Leopold chain, do not usually adapt to non-native called it “a harbinger of the fate of the prairie.” plants. With few exceptions they only recog-

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 VISIT AS A GROUP AND SAVE!

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Featuring a rare display of more than a dozen original Kahlo paintings and works on paper, this limited six-month engagement will also include a stunning flower show reimagining the artist’s famed garden and studio at the Casa Azul, her lifelong home in Mexico City. Select from a variety of guided tour options, dining packages, and discounted ticket rates during this blockbuster event.

CALL TODAY FOR INFORMATION, AVAILABILITY, AND PRICING 718.817.8687 | [email protected] | nybg.org

Mobile Media supported by Karen Katen Foundation

This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940. Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. © 2014 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Frida with Olmeca Figurine, Coyoacán, 1939. © Nickolas Muray Photo Archive GCA Directors What’s the buzz about...?

Abby Gray, Who or what inspires Plant combination? Bucket list garden? you? Peonies, Sally Holmes Sissinghurst Castle St. George’s Garden The talents of the ladies rose, and lavender Garden, Kent, England from my club Club, Baltimore, MD What is your best What garden Abby is Director of How would you describe garden tool? personages have made your leadership style? My hands the biggest impression Zone VI—13 clubs in Inclusive, I hope. on you? Best garden website? Beatrix Farrand and MD and DC, with What is your passion? Royal Horticultural Frederick Law Olmsted over 700 club members. Learning about all Society disciplines Your job requires a lot She knows her zone What is your “go of travel. Do you have What is your favorite to” garden or plant an airport vice? well, having served as season? reference? Reading & sudoku both Vice Chair and Spring, because summer Sunset’s Western Garden is on its way. Book I don’t travel without Chairman. Abby lives in my How would you describe What is your favorite US sound machine. Riderwood, MD. your gardening style? garden? Eclectic Kykuit, Pocantico Hills, Motto or words that you NY, because it marries live by landscape with art so If it isn’t fun, we aren’t well. doing it right. People would be Your favorite foreign surprised to know this gardens? about me Both in England: I grew up in Brazil and Englefield House in speak fluent Portuguese. Berkshire and Haseley Court, Oxfordshire To totally relax I love being out on the boat with my husband.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Profiles in Conservation: 2015 NAL Conference Speakers february 23-26, 2015

by Pamela Hirsch, GC of Morristown, Zone IV and Lorraine Alexander, Millbrook GC, Zone III Photos by Suzanne Booker-Canfield and Mary Palmer Dargan The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  GCA 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference

Kim Elliman, President and CEO of the Open Space Collin O’Mara, President Institute, based in New York and CEO, National Wildlife Laura Turner Seydel, John Ager, Elected in State and a partner for 40 Federation (NWF) Co-founder of Mothers 2014 to the North Carolina years in protecting 2.2 million From 2009 to 2014 and Others for Clean Air, House of Representatives; acres throughout North he was Delaware’s top daughter of Ted Turner husband of Annie Ager, GCA America environmental official; She chairs her family’s Cary Fowler, Conservation Committee His mother, Ann he subsequently went to Captain Planet Foun- Agriculturalist, teacher, and Vice Chair: Agriculture Elliman, chaired GCA’s the NWF, the largest and dation, promoting executive director of the Managing the forests, Conservation Commit- oldest wildlife conserva- environmental education Global Crop Diversity Trust trails, and exotic species tee from 1981 to 1983, tion and education orga- worldwide. As director He has been instrumental of Hickory Nut Gap when the NAL confer- nization in the country. A of the Environmental in the creation of the Farm, purchased by his ence was initiated. Add to gardener himself, he ad- Working Group she Svalbard Global Seed family in 1916, he calls this a background in pri- vocates simple steps first, seeks to eliminate toxic Vault, the biggest and its 90 acres a “local food vate equity and the food e.g., putting something chemicals in food, air, safest biodiversity facility system.” Disturbed by industry, and you have in our home gardens to water, and consumer in the world. Located slashed funding for NC a firm advocate for land provide habitat. But by products and to promote in Norway 800 miles schools and environmen- conservation, specifically organizing our efforts better health, especially from the North Pole, this tal protection, John won the reauthorization of the in a larger context, we for children with asthma fail-safe deposit bank for his election by 393 votes Land and Water Con- become more effective, and what author Richard seeds has the capacity to on a platform of “re- servation Fund (LWCF), avoiding mere “random Louv calls Nature Deficit store 4.5 million sample claiming and rebuilding which will come to a vote acts of conservation.” Disorder. seeds. our civic culture.” in September 2015.

The following agency heads and elected officials came before GCA’s 300 delegates during two full days of presentations, February 24 and 25.

Clark Bunting, President Rear Admiral Dr. Michael Stebbins, Nat Mudd, Legislative Lucinda Robb, Former and CEO, National Parks Jonathan White, Assistant Director for Director, Southern President Lyndon B. and Conservation Association Oceanographer and Biotechnology, White Environmental Law Center Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” (NPCA) Navigator of the Navy; House Office of Science Johnson’s granddaughter, He works with states Director, Navy Task Force, and Technology Policy, and board member of the A media-industry (Dis- and their local environ- Climate Change co-founder of Scientists and National Archives Foundation covery Channel) inno- mental groups on clean Emphasizing the critical Engineers for America and the Arlington [VA] Food vator and ardent wildlife air, clean energy, and Assistance Center advocate, he stressed the impact of climate change Discussing myriad forestry issues. Major importance of GCA’s on national security, aspects of pollinator sup- recent concerns include Lucinda spoke about asking EPA to lower he described 3 strate- port, he highlighted the the problem of coal ash the Highway Beautifica- permissible ozone levels gic issues we face: new work of such programs storage, e.g., spillages in tion Act, signed by her and to strengthen clean Artic transportation as Bee Smart for school- Kingston, TN, and Dan grandfather in 1965. She air regulations for our routes resulting from children, the Corn Dust River, NC, and their showed a historic black national parks. unprecedented ice melt, Research Consortium, cleanup; the Georgia and white film clip about vulnerability of coastal and pollinator policies coastline’s marsh buffer; her grandmother. infrastructures due to within the 2008 and and offshore drilling rising sea levels, and 2014 farm bills. He also from Virginia southward global water-security risks described the present and how it is damaging affecting food supplies shift in how government coastal areas. and population migra- manages federal land to tions. enhance habitat for pollinators and its increased oversight of companies producing chemicals that destroy them.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 GCA 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference

Ellen Conrad, GCA NAL Committee Vice Chair: Gene Karpinski, Climate Change; Co- President, League of President, Bedford 2020 Conservation Voters The Honorable Peter Ellen described the His organization publish- Welch, US House of benefits of solar energy, es each elected official’s Representatives (D-VT), Rich Innes, GCA’s NAL among other renewables, voting record on the serving on the Committee on Washington, DC, Consultant and the “smart grid.” The environment. He asked Energy and Commerce and The Honorable Betty He explained how im- sun’s energizing capacity us to follow clarification the Committee on Oversight McCollum, US House of portant our actual visits has tripled in the last two of the Clean Water Act and Government Reform Representatives (D-MN) to members of Congress years, and solar power and funding for the Land To address the real chal- As ranking member of are and the necessity of is already cheaper than and Water Conservation lenges of climate change, the Interior-Environment continued correspon- coal or natural gas, both Fund. In his view the he encourages us to be Appropriations Sub- dence with them. He also encumbered by threats best sources for scientific more energy-efficient in committee, her priorities called deserved attention to public health. Bedford information on climate our private lives, to help include investment in to the work of Martha 2020, a community-wide change are the websites of the workers in carbon-re- transportation infrastruc- Phillips and Suzanne environmental initiative the Department of De- lated jobs find new ones, ture, such as the Green Booker-Canfield, NAL in the Lower Hudson fense, the International and focus on developing Line light rail corridor in Vice Chairs and editors Valley, is committed to Panel of Climate Change, a comprehensive energy her home state, and the of NAL’s online Legisla- incorporating solar into and the National Re- policy that will advance protection of air, water, tive Update. the area’s energy mix. sources Defense Fund. economic opportunities. and wild lands.

The following agency heads and elected officials came before GCA’s 300 delegates during two full days of presentations, February 24 and 25.

Stephen Ayers, The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable The Honorable Architect of the Capitol Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeanne Shaheen, Barbara Boxer, United Earl Blumenauer, United States Senate (D- United States Senate (D-NH) States Senator (D-CA) United States House of Starting his 10-year RI), founder of the Senate Representatives (D- The only woman to be At the last minute, due to term in 2010 with a Oceans Caucus, member of OR), advocate of public elected both a Governor a Foreign Relations Com- $600 million budget, he the Senate’s Environment transportation and land use oversees maintenance and Public Works Committee and, as of 2009, a US mittee meeting, Senator management and operations of the US Senator, she believes Boxer could not attend, In his home state he Routinely seen riding his Capitol as well as another firmly in energy efficien- but her Senate aide holds regular town bicycle throughout the 17.4 million square feet cy as a bipartisan issue. discussed her sponsorship meetings, called “Time capital, he serves on the of government offices The soon-to-be-repro- of infrastructure legisla- to Wake Up,” related to Ways and Means and and the care and im- posed Shaheen-Portman tion, authorizing flood climate change. A leading Budget committees and provement of 553 acres legislation, which failed control and ecosystem advocate of our oceans’ is recognized nationwide of grounds. Currently the to pass in 2014 due to a restoration, and efforts health, he calls for an end for his support of the Capitol dome is undergo- filibuster in the Senate, is to protect California’s to dumping and carbon “livable communities ing restoration, as is the intended to create more coast from offshore oil pollution. He asked GCA movement.” He chal- Cannon Caucus Room, than 190,000 jobs, save drilling. She has written to require corporate lenged us to address where NAL delegates consumers $16.2 billion laws designating more America to do a better “what an ideal farm bill met for years. A 2007 law a year in energy costs, than a million acres of job of confronting the would look like” for each requiring an annual 3% and cut CO2 emissions wilderness. challenges of climate of our states. Currently reduction of energy usage and other air pollutants change. half of the farm bill’s in government buildings by the equivalent of funding is spent in just has resulted in the AOC’s taking 22 million cars off six states. bettering that number by the road–all by 2030. several percentage points.

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  GCA 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference

from a career in the hospitality industry, having begun her own hotel/meeting planner The NAL Conference: business in 2002. (It’s important to know, too, that the NAL Committee by-laws require someone from the local club to serve as a liaison on the NAL Board, and their club has always had someone there helping.) With qualifications obviously well settled, what is it that Lisa and Jennifer actually do? In Lisa’s case, she handles all hotel- related issues, which include the full-day on-site meeting on Tuesday, menus, zone breakout sessions, audio-visual needs, and even the dinner at the c. 1878 Cosmos Club, a DC institution. And her work is clearly gratifying. “It’s fun to watch these intellectually curious women swoop into town and embrace environmental issues. It makes me feel so excited each year. It’s really something to behold. This meeting spreads Lisa Frulla pointing out a feature on a projected map. the word and makes you realize how issues such as water quality and fracking he National Affairs Frulla and Jennifer Jameson, [hydraulic fracturing] can actually be and Legislation both members of the capital’s Perennial GC, discussed constructively and brought to your T(NAL) meeting, held every Zone VI, remain the same. And both were own club or backyard, so to speak. It is February in Washington, DC, is a big able to discuss their work in the busy days very inspiring.” conference, packed with speakers from prior to the conference. Betsy Nottingham, Jennifer agrees. “For GCA members, myriad disciplines and with 300 delegates active in the Palm Beach and Perennial clubs, it is not only the 3 P’s that government from GCA clubs nationwide. Have you encouraged them both to become involved officials know so well—politics, process, and ever wondered who exactly nearly a decade ago due to their prior work. policy—but also passion and professionalism. makes it happen? As with most GCA Jennifer, a political appointee under the [The NAL] is grassroots advocacy at its events, a chairman and a committee oversee second President Bush, had a government- best. As Lisa says, it is so inspiring to see everything. But who are the behind-the- affairs background, lobbying with nonprofit these very passionate, professional delegates scenes people that make the days we attend associations but never actually working in understanding all of the intricacies of the work so seamlessly? Congress. When she took a break to be issues involved. Friends of mine on the Hill Well, many of the key organizers change with her first child, the NAL position was say that the GCA delegates really from year to year, but some, such as Lisa a good fit. Lisa, on the other hand, comes know their stuff!”

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 GCA 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference

Jennifer should know. She handles undergoing a projected ten-year overhaul, space is not appropriate for boxed lunches. the Hill part of the NAL equation: but in a new venue in the Capitol building So we’ve had to find separate rooms to all government contracts, such as bus itself: the US Capitol Visitor Center. “It’s a accommodate all 300 delegates with only 30- transportation to and from government big deal,” Jennifer says, “to be able to secure a 45 minutes for lunch. This is a big new buildings, along with the treasurer reports, room…big enough to hold 300 people that challenge.” banking duties, and budget. But, as in all is also close enough to the Capitol to make it “Our biggest fear, however, “ Jennifer things, there can be frustrations. “If we run easy for Senators and Representatives to slip adds ominously, “is a ½ inch of snow. out of water…or the room temperature over quickly and then return to their daily A ½ inch of snow in DC can totally needs to be raised or lowered, or the AV isn’t routines.” cripple movement.” Hmmmmmm. working, it takes an act of Congress!” Both women are excited about this It’s a good thing these What they don’t get involved change. “The space is terrific,” Lisa explains. talented women are with is picking the speakers—but “but we’re a little nervous since it is brand used to surprises in an era of the duo are their handlers, shepherding them new for us. It is a museum and so was built climate change! before and after they make their presentations. to handle visitors. Still, there are logistical —Pamela Hirsch, (The Zone Reps also help with this.) issues—like where we’ll be eating lunch. The GC of Morristown, Zone IV It is evident to anyone who works with or observes Jennifer and Lisa as they prepare for the NAL meeting that they have found a productive, sisterly symbiosis. “We both just love hanging out with each other, and that’s what makes the job so special. After all these years we know how to make things run smoothly, and the appeal for us is just to be here. It’s a big job for one person, so we are glad to have each other.” Lisa will be co-chairing GCA’s 2017 Annual Meeting and senses already that it will be a particularly complex challenge. NAL is easier to plan, she says. “It has a clear-cut process. It is always in the same place. It’s a clean and lean meeting. Not as many committees participate here as in the planning for an Annual Meeting.” But 2015’s NAL conference is not coming entirely out of the Jennifer Jameson confers with Lindsay Marshall. playbook of experience. Its second full day of meetings, Wednesday, will take place not in the Cannon Caucus Room, which is a Perennial Challenge

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  GCA 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference Spotlight on Lindsay Marshall, GCA National Affairs and Legislation Committee Chairman

When did you begin servation Fund will be decided LAfocusing on this when its refunding, after fifty year’s conference? When years, comes before Congress in did it take over your home September. office? And finally we had always The NAL Committee to respect the very tight sched- LM is active year-round, ules—and unexpected floor following legislation and updat- votes—of the people we wanted Lindsay, you have ing eNews on the GCA website. to address us. My chairmanship began July 1, just concluded, ton GC, Zone II), and Rich LA 2013, but my full-time work Have you any stories only days ago, GCA’s most Innes, GCA’s consultant in DC, on this conference, when nearly of close schedul- important conservation for constant and invaluable help. LA everything else had to be pushed ing calls or some other conference of the year, in I also relied heavily on Martha aside, began last September. You high drama that might Washington, DC. A three- Phillips and Suzanne Book- either trot, or canter, or gallop, have required more of the day event that puts the er-Canfield, both NAL Vice and I think I galloped all the quick-stepping you referred emphasis squarely on edu- Chairs. Not only do they all way. It took many people to to earlier? cating GCA’s 300 delegates get along beautifully, they have reach the finish, and I am so from all twelve zones about many contacts in the legislative Well, I should say proud of the committee mem- environmental issues, it’s a offices; Rich, for example, could LM from the outset that bers. They helped me tailor top- massive undertaking. How go directly to the schedulers, and we invite about twice as many ics to current legislation, which did you come to this job? then I’d send a formal letter. He speakers as actually come. Still, drove the choice of speakers. Where did your involve- and I emailed and phoned each people sometimes drop out too ment begin? other many times daily. During late to be replaced. This year it That process, choos- This requires going the conference we even had happened with Senator Boxer a ing and scheduling back to the 1980s, LA hand signals. The back-and-forth half hour before she was due to LM the speakers, who are the when Ellie Kelly, the third began to feel like a dance. speak, so I jumped onstage and heart of the conference, Chairman of NAL, was my As for the speakers, we called on Vice Chairs Marsha must have been daunting. mentor in the St. George’s GC needed to cover many issues— Merrell of ConWatch and Could you tell us how you of Baltimore. That was about coastal areas, the parks, clean Martha Phillips, who does the went about it? a decade after the Clean Water water—and so with an eye on Legislative Update and gave a First and foremost I Act’s passage, and we were all pending legislation we set out to quick tutorial on the veto pro- relied on Conservation hopeful and engaged. Leaping LM select people who would educate cess (President Obama had just Committee Chairman Jennifer forward, I moved to Atlanta in us well, preparing the delegates vetoed the Keystone XL bill). Fain, Claudia Bell (Little Comp- 2000 and soon joined Cherokee to approach their senators and GC. My career was as a physical representatives on the Hill. We therapist, so I was already very come here to be advocates for interested in issues of health and, legislation GCA supports based by extension, the environment, on its position papers, which parks, and other green-space are posted online. For instance, initiatives. I became my club’s the Clean Water Act, created in NAL/Conservation chair and the 1970s, is facing attempts to began working on a beltline reduce its budget and impact, so park project, which led to my this was something we wanted becoming a zone representative, to highlight. Likewise, the fate then NAL chair. of the Land and Water Con-

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 GCA 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference

together with the Sierra Club conference speaker in part due and others, to express opposition to this chain of events. to digital billboards in the case of Scenic America v. the Federal It’s clear that there’s Highway Administration. GCA’s LAan art to planning longstanding commitment to that goes beyond organiza- preserving scenic landscapes tional skills. What, as you led to unanimous approval of look back, was your big- the filing by GCA’s Executive gest challenge? Committee on December 29th. In January, trying not Lucinda Robb, whose grand- LM to panic! There was mother Lady Bird Johnson is still uncertainty in the program, Is there an overrid- Cary Fowler—he’s been forever linked to the original and our speakers’ bios needed LAing thought you’ve crucial to the creation of a global 1965 Highway Beautification printing. Just two days before come away with from this seed vault—was the first speaker Act, became our last confirmed that deadline we had to move 3 intense experience? we invited, and I followed up or 4 speakers’ time slots. Early in the process with him throughout the year. I’d like to add a few admin- LM you realize that you Nonetheless, at the last minute istrative notes: This 2015 confer- don’t, can’t possibly, know every- he was supposed to leave for ence is only the second year that thing; instead you utilize your Norway, then changed his ticket the invitation and registration resources, and that means the to attend our conference. forms were accessed online. This remarkable expertise of others. As for pure drama, I barely is an important trend and, not –Lorraine Alexander, had a Christmas this year, but least, a way of lowering our car- Millbrook GC, Zone III; for a most exciting reason. bon footprint. We also reduced GCA filed its first-ever amicus, the amount of paper given to the or friend-of-the-court, brief, delegates.

Conservation endeavor. A Conservation Study the state’s 30-year ban on the plan their own activities as well. Study Trips Trip to the Adirondacks explored practice. The Conservation Study In Memphis they arranged for a The inaugural GCA Conservation efforts to preserve a lovely rural Trips are primarily educational, local historian to lead them on Study Trip was held in Portland, way of life and the meaning of and are packed with speakers a tour of the Shiloh battlefield, OR, in 1989. Nancie McGraw, “forever wild.” In Memphis the and trips to relevant sites. What and in Carmel-by-the-Sea they Portland Garden Club, organized group saw conservation projects attendees gain is critical to enjoyed a golf outing at one of a program to address issues within the city, heard about efforts understanding issues on which the most magnificent courses in facing the Columbia River to preserve the rich heritage of the committees may take a America. Conservation Study Trips Gorge. Subsequent trips have the area, and made a trip to see position. With time for socializing provide an important dimension educated the Conservation and modern growing practices used and gracious entertaining by the to the work of Conservation and NAL Committees on an array of by young farmers in the Delta host organizers, spouses have NAL, while adding a generous challenges facing conservationists today. This fall the group will discovered how stimulating and measure of thoroughly enjoyable in various parts of the United learn about uranium deposits enjoyable these trips can be, camaraderie. States. In Yellowstone National in Southside Virginia, the risks and are eager to be included. —Celie Harris, Park, the trip delved into problems involved in mining that resource, They join on many of the field Winchester-Clarke GC, surrounding the wolf recovery and the political pressures to lift trips and in the evening, but they Zone VII

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Conservation/NAL Clubs TakingAction Clubs Taking Action

Zone I meetings we had attended advocating Beacon Hill Garden for governmental action on clean energy, Club, Boston, MA climate change, and ocean policies. It was our hope that other GCA members ith a combined 19 years of like us would be in the crowd.” The two NAL meetings and many had no inkling of just how large that Conservation Committee trips W demonstration would be! under their belts, Beacon Hill Garden “When we emerged at the steps of Club members Ginger Lawrence and the Natural History Museum on Central Sharon Malt had a burning desire to take Park West,” Sharon exclaimed, “we were their advocacy efforts for clean, renewable astounded to see that the March had energy, and climate change policy to attracted an enormous crowd, much larger the next level. The perfect opportunity than Bill McKibben had forecasted.” presented itself on Sunday, September 21, Estimates, according to the Huffington 2014, when they traveled to New York Post, counted as many as 400,000 City to participate in the People’s Climate marchers, making this demonstration March. the climate-related event with the largest Their venture began in August Beacon Hill GC members Sharon Malt and Ginger participation in history. Ginger summed when climate advocate and visionary Lawrence were among the 400,000 participants at up the experience as follows: Bill McKibben visited Boston for an the People’s Climate March. orientation gathering that brought together a spectrum of community leaders and To be part of this exciting of those affected by the ravages of climate advocacy group members who believe that “ and inspiring day was disruption, followed by a rousing two the time is now to address the climate indescribably joyful and a minutes of noise-making to wake up world issues facing the planet and, ultimately, the validation of our many years leaders. At 1:00 pm, the four-mile-long world’s children. Joining Mr. McKibben of advocacy work for the GCA line of marchers began to move slowly and were ministers, labor organizers, and and other environmental peacefully through midtown Manhattan environmental coalition spokespeople who affiliations. We marched with while onlookers cheered from the sidelines. rallied the crowd to join them in New farmers, beekeepers, students, Bill McKibben has given climate York in September. After that gathering, and people of myriad races advocates a powerful new avenue for advocacy groups coalesced throughout and walks of life, from as far expression and collaboration through the Massachusetts. Ginger and Sharon away as Texas, Los Angeles People’s Climate March. Perhaps when decided they would attend the march as and Norway. the next opportunity arises to get together representatives of the Beacon Hill GC, as ” in support of a clean energy world, more well as a new advocacy organization called Why New York City in September? GCA members will join in. Sharon and Mothers Out Front. In total, the Boston The People’s Climate March was designed Ginger say that it is something no one who area sent more than 30 buses to the March. to coincide with the United Nations has ever been to an NAL meeting would On the morning of the People’s Climate Summit, which took place two want to miss! Climate March, the twosome met on Fifth days later. This convening of 1,200 world —Sharon Malt, Beacon Hill GC Avenue, entering Central Park through leaders was tasked with formulating a the 69th Street entrance and stopping for framework for the Paris climate talks next a moment of inspiration in the GCA’s year. The occasion gave marchers a stage to Centennial garden. Ginger commented, voice their unanimity for climate action. “We spent our walk through the park And voice it they did, with a moving reminiscing about the years of NAL two-minute period of silence in memory

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Conservation/NAL Clubs TakingAction

Zone III in this field. They are an opportunity to Bedford and learn about the latest thinking on climate Rusticus Garden change. Tell me something I don’t know, Clubs, Bedford, NY you say? Trust me, they will! Bedford GC has been a strong supporter of Bedford 2020 from its inception; we’re really eco- comrades-in-arms. Since 1911 the club has actively encouraged civic planting and the protection of native plants; its members have also been uninhibited about marching their environmental concerns straight to the government on both local and federal levels. Wilhelmine Waller, a Community advocates for Bedford 2020 shine a light on solar. former Bedford GC president, campaigned against the use of DDTs and chlorinated hydrocarbons a full five years before the he Bedford 2020 Environmental 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Summit and Solar Action Day Spring. was held on January 31, 2015, six Judy McJunkin with Dr. Ellen Mosley-Thompson T —Ellen Rouse Conrad, Bedford GC; and Dr. Lonnie Thompson. Photo by Greg Henshall, years to the day after the first Bedford GCA NAL Vice Chair, Climate Change; Co- Charleston Gazette Environmental Summit. That initial Founder, Bedford 2020 gathering was about goals. In 2015 the Kilimanjaro. Dr. Ellen Mosley-Thompson focus was on action, specifically regarding is co-founder of Ohio State’s Core solar energy as a component solution Zone VII Paleoclimate Research Group and Director to climate change that saves money and Kanawha Garden of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research enhances economies. At the end of 2014 Club, Charleston, WV Center. She has led many expeditions to there was enough solar electric capacity Antarctica and Greenland to retrieve ice operating in the U.S. to power more than free public lecture in March 2014 cores. The presentation of their research, 3.5 million average American homes. sponsored by the Conservation “Climate Change: The Evidence, People, Over 550 attendees heard Amory Lovins, Committee of Kanawha Garden A & Our Options,” captivated the audience chief scientist and co-founder of Rocky Club featured the husband-wife team, of 750—the largest club event ever. They Mountain Institute, share his vision of a native West Virginians Drs. Lonnie stressed that recent extreme weather events world without fossil fuels by 2050. The and Ellen Mosley-Thompson. The two are a consequence of the earth’s sustained 2015 summit resulted in signups for solar are renowned paleoclimatologists and temperature rise and that the rise is installations and energy efficiency upgrades professors at Ohio State University who continually affected by the global increase as well as pledges to keep our water supply have documented climate changes of in carbon dioxide emissions. pesticide-free, commitments to “single- the last 800,000 years by analyzing ice —Judith McJunkin, Kanawha GC stream recycling,” and support of our core samples from polar ice sheets and local farmers. These community efforts high mountain glaciers. They collaborate are driven by two valuable partners of globally with scientists to document Bedford 2020: Bedford GC and Rusticus glacial melting. Dr. Lonnie Thompson, a GC. And how those efforts have grown! National Medal of Science recipient, has The summits are not just cozy reunions of led expeditions for over 30 years to study like-minded conservationists—although glaciers and obtain ice core samples from they always attract the best and brightest the Andes, the Himalayas, and Mount

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Conservation/NAL Clubs TakingAction

wetlands is the tipping point to provide Bay Visions Partners healing for the ocean—our goal. Two for Plants (P4P) representatives from each club—Carmel- Projects by-the-Sea, Hillsborough, Marin, Orinda, n an ongoing project, Piedmont and Piedmont, and Woodside Atherton—form Orinda Garden Clubs work with Save the Bay Visions Committee which meets The Bay and the East Bay Regional Park regularly to discuss and support our clubs’ I to help restore the Martin Luther King, restoration efforts. Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland, CA, by Bay Visions celebrated its first planting native plants along the transition anniversary at the 2015 NAL conference zone. in Washington, DC, where it was founded The first joint meeting of the Bay Visions Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club and a year ago. The collaboration of the clubs Committee in February 2014. From left: Nancy the Return of the Natives Restoration reflects the theme of GCA’s 2018 Annual McKlveen, Anita Hansen, Pat Wall, Annis Kukulan, Education Project propagate and replant Meeting in California: “How the West Is Nancy Griffith, Karen Gilhuly, Marilyn Brumder, local natives for the Fort Ord Dunes State One.” As all six clubs encourage other Bay Missy Nelson, Mary Hufty, Jan Zovickian, Julia Park on Monterey Bay. Area garden clubs and groups to participate Burke, Suzi Salmen, Faith Brown, Pam Wiley, Judy At Old St. Hilary’s Open Space in this vital restoration crusade, we will Shallat, and Georgia Schell. Photo by Mary Hufty Preserve, Tiburon, CA, members of Marin demonstrate the power of one! Garden Club collaborate with the Marin Zone XII —Peggie MacLeod, Master Gardeners and Marin County Bay Visions Woodside-Atherton GC Committee, CA an Francisco Bay, the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast of the Americas, Sis a critical part of commercial fisheries of the Pacific and a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway. More than 95% of historic tidal marshes, which provide buffering from ocean surges, have been leveed and filled, resulting in lost fish and wildlife habitat. Water diverted to water- hungry California has progressively reduced the flow of fresh water into the Bay. With the goal of a more beautiful and functional estuary system in Northern California, the six GCA clubs of Northern California have banded together to join with communities and advocacy groups “to restore and protect the San Francisco Bay Area’s bays; to educate our members and communities on the bays’ critical importance to communities, the environment, and ocean health; and to support conservation and improvement efforts on our bays From left: Bonnie Brooks, Faith Brown, Derry Wisnom, Susan Osborne, and Mary Hufty select a native plant and estuaries.” 100,000 acres of restored mascot for Bay Visions. 2014 Photo by Margie Murphy

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Conservation/NAL Clubs TakingAction

Open Space to propagate native bunch we enjoyed a tour of the Salinas Valley, grasses from seeds collected on site. Then including a wine-tasting at Talbott they plant the seedlings in areas that Vineyards. We dined at Tehama Golf they’ve cleared of invasives. Club, where a Clint Eastwood sighting Woodside Atherton Garden Club, made our day. For those who could stay an partnering with Save The Bay, works additional day, Thursday morning brought monthly to restore the tidal marsh us three speakers on redwoods, followed transition zone to increase wetland habitat, by lunch and guided walks at Point Lobos protect against pollution, and create a State Park. The afternoon included a visit demonstration site for public education to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park where we and leadership. were able to be among the redwoods, a Hillsborough Garden Club, has been Mary Lou Righellis and Jane Ellison sample the fitting activity for GCA members visiting active for a decade in San Francisco Bay produce at Tanimura & Antle with the harvesting California. Our wonderful day concluded restoration through generous donations and packing machine in the background. Photo by with refreshments at the home of Diana Nancy McKlveen and hands-on projects. Currently HGC Fish. That was a treat indeed. She and anticipates a collaboration with Heron’s Missy Jensen could not have done a better Head Park to restore wetlands habitat in was rounded out by a guided bus tour job of organizing us, nor could they have the Bayview-Hunters Point area of San through Ft. Ord National Monument, done it more graciously. Francisco. Bureau of Land Management Landscape —Celie Harris, Winchester-Clarke GC, Conservation System. The next venture Zone VII; Conservation Committee was to the Salinas Valley, an agricultural Vice Chairman: Forests/Redwoods Conservation Study area, where we heard speakers at the Trip: Monterey headquarters of Tanimura & Antle, a large Peninsula produce grower. Exectutive VP and COO Mike Antle reminded us “farmers were the n October 2014, the Conservation and first conservationists,” and enumerated NAL Committees met in Carmel-by- the company’s modern growing practices. Ithe-Sea to learn about the challenges Before lunch we watched a lettuce crop facing the Central California Coast. being harvested. A remarkable device The meeting spanned three busy days. built exclusively for Tanimura & Antle At venues from the coast to the Salinas dramatically increases the efficiency with Valley, we heard 26 accomplished speakers which workers can pick and package the from a variety of academic, government crop in the field. A speaker on bees pointed and environmental institutions. Our first out that a third of our dietary components stop was the Monterey Bay Aquarium, depend on pollination, and stressed that a beautiful exhibit space where we had diversity in bees helps ensure more effective a behind-the-scenes look at its research pollination. A local organic grower facility. Sea otters, much more than plush spoke about the food safety challenges toys, are key to maintaining balance in facing his business. A talk entitled “Oil their kelp forest habitats. At California & Water Don’t Mix” addressed local State University, Monterey Bay we heard concerns about the volume of water used about the region’s water woes. A speaker for fracking. It was also pointed out that described the decommissioning of the most shale gas development is occurring San Clemente Dam and efforts to recreate in “water starved” parts of the country. Redwoods in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Photo navigable waterways for fish. The day Following our introduction to agribusiness by Joan Murphy

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  GCA 2015 National Affairs and Legislation Conference RichInsider InformationInnes LA: Rich, anyone who has attended Nixon’s Attorney General, to NAL’s Chairs. I began with the NAL conference in the past 8 be the first administrator of the Derry McBride, and by the years has quickly learned that you EPA. That was in 1970. He had way it was during her term that are GCA’s guru, our key advisor on to pull together a hodgepodge GCA gave Bill Ruckelshaus— policy issues. And on strategies of clean water and clean air who loves gardening and has for making ourselves heard by permits. EPA couldn’t sue then, a beautiful garden outside Congress. I think that Lindsay and there was a real incentive, Seattle—its Frances K. Marshall and others would say if you like, for states to attract Hutchinson Medal. I think we could not advocate effectively pollution under a “business- of her and Lindsay almost as without you. You have had a career friendly” lack of regulation. The sisters. They have the same that makes me think of the Beatles first order EPA issued was the energy and calm demeanor. “long and winding road” lyric. Shall Rich Innes with Lindsay Marshall at banning of DDT. But NAL goes back to the we begin with the Peace Corps? the 2015 NAL Conference. late 1960s and Willie Waller. RI: Well, we could begin People forget that the EPA [Her speech “Conservation further back, with the Bronx. toughest issues solve problems and was created during the Nixon Is Everybody’s Business” was make informed decisions.” That administration. in the May 1959 Bulletin, a Really? makes the journey from Dooley and Yes. But things changed fast decade before NAL began.] I know—no accent. My mother the Peace Corps to Meridian seem after Nixon. Ruckelshaus went was an English teacher, and like a fairly straight line, despite elsewhere but returned in Lindsay says that you were strict about pronunciation. I what I said earlier. 1983, thanks to James Baker. I indispensable in identifying and grew up in the 41st precinct, With a few stops along the way. went from grad school to work scheduling this year’s speakers. Fort Apache. I worked at the EPA in the with him and his deputy, Al How did you go about that? ‘80s, under Bill Ruckelshaus, Alm, who became a leading Once themes were established Better and better! on pollution-control programs. environmentalist. by Lindsay, ideas for speakers And, yes, I spent 3 years in I eventually followed him to came from many quarters. the Peace Corps in Kenya, Brown Ferris [Industries], And then? (Scheduling was the nightmare!) where I worked on agriculture where I focused on projects I spent five years on the staff of We wanted a balance, people projects— designed to create an improved the late Senator John Chafee with bipartisan records. I had regulatory climate for civic- of Rhode Island, another worked closely with Collin Of course. minded corporations; and then, bipartisan figure, working O’Mara for years, and with —[laughing] and trained as of 2006, to Meridian. It’s on clean water provisions to Cary Fowler at Meridian. I volunteers. I was influenced dedicated to the art and science combat oil pollution in the met Rear Admiral White when as a child by Tom Dooley of collaboration, and very much oceans, track medical waste, he took part in a meeting on paperbacks. He was a physician the creation of Ruckelshaus. He’s and further environmental the Arctic; we were one of the who helped people in a vital 83 now, a true bipartisan, education. founding nations in 1991 of the underdeveloped parts of Asia. I someone I really think is of the Arctic Council. Functioning in remember reading those stories caliber of the Founding Fathers. And now at your own Conservation Washington requires keeping and wanting to be like him. I first met him when I was at the Strategies you have many clients— current. Lindsay has a gift Kennedy School. the state of Washington and for combining leadership Skipping right over your education Native American tribes there, the with enormous effort and the We’re Bartlett Tree Experts, a 100+ year old tree and shrub care at UNC and Harvard, I was reading He became your mentor, you’ve National Environmental Education juggling of competing interests. company with global reach and local roots. We provide expert, attentive about the Meridian Institute, where told me. When did he come to Foundation (NEEF), among others. She’s the one who made it service, a safety-ﬁ rst record and a range of services that includes: you are a Senior Fellow, and I was Washington? When did you begin collaborating happen. struck by its mission statement: “… He left Indiana for Washington with the Garden Club of America? —Lorraine Alexander, • Tree & Shrub Pruning • Fertilization & Soil Care FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR TREES. to help people involved in society’s at the request of John Mitchell, I count the years in terms of Millbrook GC, Zone III • Cabling & Bracing • Insect & Disease Management

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Call 877.BARTLETT (877.227.8538) or visit BARTLETT.COM Tech Tip

Photographing people at an event: It’s All About the Preparation —Linder Suthers, Trustees’ GC, Zone VIII

Documentation photography, or event. Deleting photos is simple in Large groups shot during a workshop. Change photojournalism, is the art of telling the world of digital photography, Consider the background. Show your position—stand on a chair, a story through pictures. Follow so the more photos you take, the some of the surroundings in the or get low and shoot up at the these tips to get the best shots of better your choice when saving only photograph. Try to group people group. Head and shoulder shots any significant event you plan. “the best.” together without lining them up in are great—just make sure that the a single row. Depth and dimension the setting is unique. Consider the Prepare Speakers add to the photo—just make sure lighting, especially on faces. Avoid Make your “game plan” —a list of If speakers are involved, ask if you that all faces are fully visible. Set direct sunlight or heavy shade. photos you need to take. Be sure may photograph them before their your focus at the center of the all your equipment works, batteries talk. If you must wait, be patient group, and use the continuous Capture the ambiance are charged, and memory card is for a pause in the speech. Most burst setting on your camera to Remember to capture the ambiance new. Plan to bring a tripod for low- public speakers are well-versed in take multiple shots. of an event. A flower show full of light situations or for flower show engaging the audience—they will people is a fun time. Most entrants entries. pause at an important point they Small groups and their winning designs are glad are trying to make. Use a tripod, When photographing small groups, to have their pictures taken. Take lots so that when you get that pause, show what they are doing. Be During the event, take lots of your camera is focused and ready observant, watch for someone to photos of people enjoying the to release. smell the roses, or ask for a quick

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Dedee O’Neil, If you had a title Your favorite plant, What is your “go different from bloom, shrub, etc.? to” garden or plant Akron Garden Club, “director,” what would Serviceberry would be reference? it be? on the list, as would Alan Armitage’s and Akron, OH I loved being the Zone zinnias which provide Michael Dirr’s books Dedee is Director of X Hort Representative. constant color... and and the Missouri the bumblebees love Botanical Garden Zone X—11 clubs in Have you had a GCA website mentor? them.

IN, MI, OH, with over Christine Freitag—a How would you What garden has made 1220 club members. An wonderful friend and describe your gardening the biggest impression advisor style? on you? avid grower, Dedee lives “Always room for one The Lurie Garden at What is your passion? more”—in my garden Millenium Park in and gardens in Akron. Definitely and at the dinner Chicago. It is beautiful, She previously served as horticulture—I love table. I treasure plants serene, magnificent—a growing plants. from my Mom and wonderful garden with chairman of her zone. gardening friends. I broad swaths of plants. What is your favorite season? am trying to restrict any new purchases to Bucket list garden? Spring! The native plants. Butchart Gardens in sight of the Victoria, BC first pale green What is your best leaves on the garden tool? What do you consider willow trees, My narrow-blade, to be the quintessential the crocus “GCA moment” at stainless steel shovel; Annual Meeting? and daffodils, I use it to plant bulbs The roundtable always thrills and annuals, as well as discussions: sharing me. I love to larger plants. No rust, ideas, learning how watch as the no need to sharpen— different the clubs are. various plants and the shovel will not emerge, and break. delight when To totally relax I take the dog for a walk I see that Most useless tool? in the woods. they made Bulb planter—might it through function in sandy soils, another but not in our soils. Ohio winter.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Among the many notable gardens created by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., the “Blue Garden,” designed for Arthur Curtiss and Harriet Parsons James, from 1912–1918, for their Newport estate in Rhode Island, remains a unique expression of landscape art. This garden room was enlivened by an unusual horticultural palette requested by Mrs. James, “a monochromatic concentration of purples and blues.” Dorrance Hamilton, a noted philanthropist with a deep interest in preservation, made restoration of this garden possible. The Blue Garden is a private garden, open by appointment one day a week, Plants for from late June through early October. Please visit our website for more information. Every www.thebluegarden.org Passion

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The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Maclura pomifera – Osage- will be male and another female orange…bois-d’arc . . . bowwood Break in the Wind! (although you can find entirely . . . hedge apple . . . post wood male or entirely female trees . . . the names seem to go on as well) and of course it is forever. And with good reason. the female branches that bear This bomb-proof native of the those hulking brainfruits. It has south-central US, praised by a tendency to produce basal some and maligned by others, suckering growth, often covered seems to have been put to with armor-like thorns. Make no endless uses over the centuries. mistake about it. This is a tree The trees were planted as for war-like situations. Osage is windbreaks across the prairies, by Paul Cappiello, Ph.D., known for its extremely dense and as hedges before barbed and decay resistant wood—fence GCA Honorary Member and Executive Director of wire fences. Wood has been Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, Crestwood, KY posts have been known to last used for bowls, bows, arrows, for decades in the drier parts of fence posts, wheel hubs and more. Ground up leaves and fruit were used the country. Bows made of Osage wood can outperform hickory and ash by as an insecticide. Bark extracts can tan leather and root extracts produce as much as 50% in distance contests. And if one can withstand the abuse a yellow dye. And if you believe the tales, the fruit can rid your basement it dishes out, if worked into a finished product, the wood offers a warm of spiders! It hasn’t cured cancer yet . . . but then, given the chance . . . and rich golden glow. I can personally attest to both points, having turned who knows . . . But “not so fast,” you might say. Osage-orange, to some, a Maclura bowl in my basement shop. The resultant piece is one of the is an invasive, thorny mess of a homely hedge-row volunteer that invades most beautiful and indestructible I’ve ever produced. But it cost me about pastures, jams chain saws and in the fall, covers the ground with the a 500-tablet bottle of ibuprofen to return my wrists and fingers to normal most infuriating ankle-breaking fruits. If there ever was a schizophrenic service! Now for those interested in planting an Osage, there is actually tree it would have to be Osage-orange. A member of the mulberry family some hope. Some years ago a grafted male cultivar was introduced to the (Moraceae), hedge apple grows into a medium-sized tree with a broad- nursery trade. ‘White Shield’ is thornless and fruitless but retains all the rounded crown of rather disorganized branches. It has an odd tendency other indestructible qualities of the species. It isn’t the most refined tree in to separate flowers by gender from one branch to the next – one branch the world but sometimes, desperate spots call for desperate measures!

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The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Wind!

and drainage, grain processing, the list. Can we learn to store it Gusts timber milling, and grinding of for on-demand use? Can we reli- spices, tobacco, paints, and dyes. ably integrate city-size quantities Windmills for such tasks of wind energy into existing grid continued to be refined— systems? What about handling among other places, on the west- spikes and dips? Must every and Gales ern plains of the US—and with system maintain full capacity Do you remember the first time you saw hinged steel blades, they grew as backup for times when the lighter and more efficient. Then, wind fails? Or can grid opera- them—sleek giants ordered like a silent late in the 19th century, a bulky, tors pool and exchange backup multi-blade model was invented power and resources, as markets that generated electricity. in California and Australia are army across the landscape, blades circling Around 1900, effective elec- proposing? And how do we trical output turbines with airfoil economically transmit power blades began to be developed in from the empty plains or deserts slowly? someone Europe, although cheaper fossil (where the turbines tend to be) fuel-fed steam generation domi- to high-demand areas? Real cost “Windmills!” nated the power market. has to factor in R&D, manu- cheered, Sharing air as raw material, facture, construction, shipping, aviation grew, inspiring the next installation, maintenance, and “Clean electricity!” great leap forward in wind-gen- exchange agreements—a com- But these are wind turbines, erating electrical systems. The plex calculation. not windmills, those primitive scarcity of fossil fuels during and Then there’s the question of machines that performed grind- after the world wars stimulated ecological and visual values: wild ing and water-pumping tasks their development. After the places and open waters, violated in China and Persia a thousand 1930s, Danish and German de- by 500-foot towers with 200- years ago. Long before the term signers incorporated new mate- foot blades and the access, wires, “aerodynamic lift” existed, rials that allowed for streamlined and activity associated with ancient technicians harnessed designs, simple mechanics, and them. Birds, bats, and insects by Anne O’Brien, the wind energy they observed high-efficiency power produc- colliding with them. Communi- powering sailboats to a shaft tion. Experimental electrical ty aesthetics. Columbine Garden with a millstone on the low end plants began operating in the But wind is free, renewed and sails or blades on the high US, Great Britain, and Europe. forever as the sun heats and Club, Zone XII end. Turbine blades, on the Wind energy in the US cools the earth’s surfaces. Its use other hand, revolve by means of went big time following the contributes to a more stable a rotor connected to a spinning 1973 oil embargo, when the US climate, less dependency on shaft. Federal Wind Energy Program fossil fuels, cleaner air, and quiet, Around 1200, windmills got involved and the commercial safe operation. With electricity began to appear in Western Eu- market moved toward utili- generation from wind continu- rope, where gears were added, as ty-scale wind farm applications ing to grow at its present rate of well as methods of manipulating we see today. 25 percent or more annually, can sails with brakes, spoilers, and As wind power has moved we live with its gifts in spite of flaps. Windmills became pre-in- into the mainstream, new chal- the difficulties associated with dustrial Europe’s “motor.” Their lenges developed. their implementation? It seems applications included irrigation Economic viability heads likely that we’ll find a way.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Photos courtesy of The American Wind Power Center, Lubbock TX, and the Nantucket Historical Society Blustery Day “Oh the wind is lashing lustily, and the trees are thrashing thrustily, and the leaves are rustling gustily, so it’s rather safe to say... looks like a rather blustery day.” —Winnie the Pooh, Submitted by Taylor Tait, New Canaan Garden Club, Zone II

Photo taken at Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area by Diane Viall, GC of Allegheny County, Zone V

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Wind! Seaside Garden

First Cliff, a gardens were added to complement the rolling lawn that runs down Carefully sited on bluff that runs to the water’s edge. down to Scituate Harbor on one side and the open Atlantic on the Pat’s mantra has always been “survival of the fittest,” as the other, lies the house Seaside Garden, built in 1858. Its garden was northeastern exposure and year-round salt-laden winds make for first designed and installed in 1945 by Donald Wyman for his client tough growing conditions. Early on, she decided to modify the 1995 Gladys Michaud, mother-in-law of the current owner Pat Michaud, planting plan, adapting it to specific coastal conditions. She has a member and past president of the Cohas- enjoyed particular success with hydrangeas, set Garden Club, Cohasset, MA (halfway junipers, bayberries, spireas, and weigelas; between Boston and Plymouth.) Wyman has propagated several hollies; and made was convinced that the existing gnarled old space off her kitchen to grow the basics: to- cherry tree was past its prime and should be matoes and herbs. Last year she bravely had replaced by locust trees. Almost as soon as a ten-inch diameter limb removed from the the locusts were planted they died, leaving old cherry tree, to prevent the possibility of the weathered old cherry tree, which stands prevailing winds uprooting this wonderful to this day. stalwart. In 1995 Pat and her husband took up Gardens and oceans don’t always mix. residence at Seaside Garden, where they But in the case of Seaside Garden, Mother decided to live on one level only. Walls were Nature and Pat Michaud have made peace. removed and windows added, ensuring that Windblown cherry tree —Susan Kearney, the 180° ocean view not be lost. A stone Top: View from “Seaside Garden” to Scituate Cohasset Garden Club, Zone I retaining wall, brick terrace, and formal Harbor. Photos by Martha Gangemi

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Book Review

Book Review

The Gardener’s Pieces to be Read in Bed by especially in Connecticut’s rocky, Bed-Book Those Who Love Green Grow- lean soil, is both a vanity and by Richardson Wright, ing Things.” It is a collection of a folly—and self-deprecating 2003 Modern Library daily meditations upon life in humor is absolutely required. Gardening Series edition, the garden, combined with 11 On June 8 he writes: “Though with an introduction by longer essays, each written at it may appear the height of Dominique Browning. the end of the month (Decem- cynicism, I always assume an ber being the exception). After air of satisfaction when other Richardson Wright, born in each meditation there is a brief gardeners acknowledge failure. 1887, became House and Gar- instruction, seemingly addressed Not that I would crow over their den’s editor in 1914 and contin- to the reader, but often quite defeats, but it is consoling to ued in that job for an astound- specific to the writer’s garden: realize that I am not the only ing 34 years. In the course of his “Brown beetles on Peonies, one who fails dismally.” long life, he published 28 books Roses and such, can be picked It is possible that some of his on a wide variety of topics, by hand and exultantly dropped good cheer emanates from the reflecting his near-polymath role food and, most pertinent to our into a can of kerosene.” very good times he was living in, as a historian of all things Rus- purposes, a passionate gardener. While there are a few hints of as the book was published just sian, a connoisseur of antiques, The Gardener’s Bed-Book car- the author’s personal history— before the Crash of ’29. a world-traveler, a lover of fine ries the subtitle “Short and Long born in Philadelphia, married to In December, he writes, “The a lady from Boston—much of words that are now written at what I think I know of Wright the end of this ephemeral chatter is inferred from his writing. should have been set down at Clearly a man who grew up the very beginning. For these reading the King James Version pages are a snare and a bitter of the Bible, the Book of Com- delusion. Dr. Johnson would mon Prayer, and Shakespeare, have called them ‘a long-winded Wright moved easily among the and multifarious dissimulation.’ Smart Set of New York publish- Very little actual gardening is ing and the artistic community recorded here…The wise and drawn to his country place in the sensible, having read this far, Silvermine, CT. He does not need read no farther. We take name-drop, although he does refuge in the thought that ‘there mention that his piglets—who is a pleasure in being mad which stage a dramatic breakout at one none but madmen know!’” point—came from John Held, If there is little of actual Jr. gardening here, there is much While one should not treat humor and even more phi- this book as a horticultural guide losophy, and a reader can feel (outdated gardening practices refreshed and recharged, ready abound—such as mulching with to tackle the spring catalogs after peat moss, or spraying lead arse- such an enriching experience. nate on the fruit trees) this is a —Jane Harris, Middletown book that reminds the reader of Garden Club, Zone II, GCA the importance of humor in the Library Committee Chairman lives of gardeners. Gardening,

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Zone Meeting ZoneMeeting

steamboats jammed Baltimore harbor. Political parties frequently met here to nominate candidates for president, and citizens proudly referred to the place as “the monumental city.” • Photographers from 9 out of 13 clubs submitted entries to Eat, Prey, Love. 14 of 36 entries were novice! • Each club interpreted a Broadway show for the table centerpieces. • 96 registrants for the luncheon Talbot County Garden Club arrives at the Maryland Club in Baltimore for was a new record. Barbara Gould presenting the Floral Zone VI’s Mini Meeting, The Little Shop of Horrrticulture. From left: Georgia • Roundtables were lively with Design Achievement award to Loan Adler, Nancy Thompson, Caroline Benson, Susan Pyles, Peg Keller, and Zone Representatives circulating Thanh Tran with Margaret Costan Nancy Hickey, President looking on. Photos by Barbara from table to table in pairs. Robinson

Zone VI Awards 13 Clubs in MD and DC Zone Floral Design Achievement Award “The Little Shop of Horrrticulture” Loan Thanh Tran, Catonsville November 6, 2014 Garden Club The Maryland Club Zone Historic Preservation Hosted by: Halten Garden Commendation Club, Timonium, MD Dumbarton Oaks Park Chaired by: Sue Grady and Conservancy, Proposed by Susan Somerville-Hawes Georgetown Garden Club Zone Judging Award Speakers Nancy Harrison, Hardy Garden Michael Szesze, owner, Club Carnivorous Plant Nursery Barbara Spaulding Cramer Zone “Carnivorous Plants for you Floral Design Education Award Home and Garden” Susan Pyles, Talbot County GC Nan King, Trowel Garden Club “2013-2018 GCA Strategic Plan Flower Show Award Wrap-up” Best in Show—Photography Lindsay Hardesty, Amateur Crickett Woloson, St. George’s Gardeners Club GC “GCA Website Update” Highlights Reilly Henson and Melissa Hey, The meeting was held at GCA Scholars, College of The Maryland Club which William and Mary, sent their was formed in 1857, when video, “A Monarch Study.” workboats, sailing ships, and

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  NewsWorthy NewsWorthy

the event to fund horticultural were displayed along with the for our 90th anniversary party in Zone I and conservation opportunities judges’ comments in a separate October 2014. This was a night Bennington for high school students in the educational section. The show led to savor as we took to the dance Garden Club coming years. up to September’s Zone I Flower floor to celebrate with a line- Bennington, VT —Marjorie Peff Show, where club members saw dancing instructor. The decorating the real thing, inspiring them to committee pulled out all the stops click away and enter their work in to create a western atmosphere, The Bennington Garden Club Garden Club of future shows. and our brigade of talented cooks held its first annual “Tea in the Dublin —Nancy Rierson gave us a delicious meal. Proceeds Garden” at the Park McCullough Dublin, NH from a silent auction and raffle Mansion. This Romantic Revival will go toward our 2015 GCA structure was built in the 1860s, Milton Garden Club Flower Show. As we look back, and is one of the best-preserved Milton, MA we are grateful for the talented, Victorian mansions in New civic-minded women who came England. A guided tour of the before us to lay the foundation for mansion and Hiland Hall Garden, today’s club. Through the years followed by tea in the refurbished our mission has never wavered. carriage barn, rounded out Our goal is to continue to build the afternoon. BGC members on that foundation for those who supplied tea, refreshments, and follow in our footsteps. distinctive floral arrangements —Carla Morey, for elegant tablescapes using their GCA Photography Judges Julie own fine china, linens, and silver Crocker and Connie Oliver service. This highlighted the conferred over an entry at GC of beauty of an important historical Dublin’s mock photography show. Zone II landmark, and was a great family Shutterbugs click in Dublin. The Garden Club of event for young girls and their Garden Club of Dublin held a Darien parents. Joyce Hall and Jane mock photography show at its Darien, CT Childs hosted the event, organized August 2014 meeting. Organized by the Flower Arranging and by Photography Chairman Karen The Garden Club of Darien Fundraising Committees. BGC Bunch, members were asked has donated $44,000, raised plans to use the proceeds from Milton GC members Elizabeth to exhibit their work in this Mozek and Georgia Lee show off from Birdsong, our GCA Flower unjudged show. autumn flowers from our gardens. Show of October 2013, to two Eight members completed Photo by Carla Morey projects in the Town of Darien. multiple entry cards for “Spring At popular Cherry Lawn Park, into Summer” and “Winter,” two “We look pretty good for 90!” 40 tree stumps were removed, classes that might be encountered proclaimed Carla Morey, President 38 new trees planted, and two in a GCA show. The unmounted of the Milton Garden Club. The mirrored gardens at the park photos—no larger than 8”x10”— days of fancy hats and white gloves entrance planted. Weeping cherry, were displayed on trifold display are ingrained in our DNA, but Kwanzan cherry, sugar maple, boards. The club’s GCA pho- we love to mix it up when we can. dogwood, and crabapple trees tography judges Connie Oliver Western hats replaced the pillbox, can now be found throughout and Julie Crocker wrote helpful boots took the place of sensible the park, with mountain laurel, comments. Photos that had been pumps, and pearls sat at home andromeda, hydrangea, iris, lilacs, Photo by Marjorie R. Peff entered in previous GCA shows while we brought out the bling and hellebores in the gardens.

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 NewsWorthy

Middletown interest of the club. Katchen Garden Club was a firebrand. She was a Middletown, CT fixture at the NAL conference in Washington, DC, and a The Middletown Garden Club familiar face to scores of national staged its 2014 in-house flower and local elected officials. Just show in memory of Katchen prior to her death in 2013, the Coley, a beloved member who City of Middletown honored joined the club reluctantly, but Katchen’s service on the town influenced the focus of the club Conservation Commission by for years. Katherine “Katchen” naming an open space preserve in Coley joined the club in the her honor. For the flower show, 1960s as a way to meet people twelve club members created and to fit in to her new home floral arrangements inspired by in central Connecticut. Katchen Katchen’s life: her childhood in knew well the interests of garden Germany, her anthropological club members; her mother was studies in the Navajo Nation, Garden Club of Darien members gather to dedicate Cherry Lawn Park. Front an avid gardener and flower her founding of a social services row from left: Lesley Sandison, Angela Lineberger, Lisa Brickman, Susie arranger. Katchen was neither. network for recovering addicts, Brewer, Betsy Becker, and Debbie Bussey. Back row: Jamie Rubin, Margaret She was a young faculty wife of and her love of the earth. Her Smith, and Emily D’Andrea a Wesleyan University professor. spirit continues to inspire the Last fall the club planted 1,600 the Darien Historical Society and What happened though, is the club as others take up her causes. naturalizing narcissis bulbs along the YWCA. This long-neglected story of a member who found —Ona McLaughlin the northern front of the park. property sustained considerable her niche in conservation issues, Our second project involved damage during Hurricane reporting at every club meeting clearing and replanting an Sandy. Cleanup efforts involved and making conservation a major New Canaan overgrown berm situated between removing rotted wood pilings, Garden Club rusted rolls of fencing and rocks, New Canaan, CT along with damaged and decayed fallen trees and scrubs. A local The New Canaan Garden tree professional crown-pruned Club hosted Frances Palmer, a historic white pine and oak trees, well-known ceramics artist and replaced broken cables, and passionate gardener, on October judiciously severed dead limbs 15, 2014. Frances’ presentation from nearby trees. Then, a trusted enraptured NCGC members, local nursery helped us procure as she documented her love of and plant low-maintenance and both art and flowers, particularly deer-resistant native species— dahlias. Frances grows hundreds hollies, yews, rhododendron, two of dahlia varieties in a small beautiful hawthorn trees, and fenced garden, as well as flowers arborvitae. and vegetables in raised beds on GC of Darien members Kathy Haire —Debbie Bussey Katherine “Katchen” Coley, her former tennis court. Recently and Janet Sargent water new Middletown GC’s “accidental” she has been experimenting plantings at the Darien Historical member. Photo courtesy of the with bees and fruit trees. Her Society. Photos by Carol Caulfield Coley family. studio is an airy and spacious

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  NewsWorthy

Collection. Arete’s accompanying hardcover catalog, Gardening by The Book: Celebrating 100 Years of the Garden Club of America, was described as a “Book of the Year” by The New York Times. We were encouraged by this presentation to recognize the Library’s discrete riches, especially their reference potential, and to remember the One of Stella Ryan’s botanical substantive foundation they creations. Photo by Avery Brighton provide for the Garden Club A happy group from the New Canaan Garden Club visited the home of of America. We’ll all have to insects.” Being squeamish about ceramics artist and avid horticulturist Frances Palmer in September. Photo by be patient, however; due to taxidermy, no matter what the Caroline Garrity renovations at Headquarters, the size of the living creature, Stella Library will be closed for the near adds that her art evolved because “it seemed more fun to invent 1790 barn where she creates days; in my library I spend my future. my own insects and try to tell a her hand-decorated and wheel- nights…. With the flowers I am in —Alison Hain story. All the specimens are pieced thrown collections. Her natural the present…. I go into the library together using twigs, sticks, seeds, surroundings provide inspiration and all history unfolds before pods, nuts, cones, weeds, and a for her art. Follow Frances Palmer me.” These are words to live by for Zone IV glue gun. I used acrylic paints, on Instagram. Arete, who organized a stunning Rumson Testors enamel, and a wondrous —Taylor Tait GCA centennial exhibition at Garden Club assortment of nail polishes.” New York’s Grolier Club in the Rumson, NJ Stella says her insects mix art and summer of 2013. On view were whimsy and are visual references Zone III very fine, very old, and seldom When Stella Ryan attended a to 19th century Darwinian seen manuscripts enriched with Rumson Garden Club jewelry entomologists. Stella mounts her Adirondack magnificent color illustrations, workshop in order to fashion insect creations to simulate the Garden Club all from the Library’s Rare Books Lake Placid, NY a pin from plant material for a Victorian fad of insect specimen botanical jewelry challenge, the collections replete with taxidermy Adirondack GC Hits the Books. last thing she expected was that pins, and also creates mini- In August 2014 Adirondack this would inspire a new passion. dioramas to display her insects in Garden Club was pleased to With a BA and MFA in painting action. welcome Arete Warren, recently and drawing from Louisiana State —Sarah Rossbach Fleming retired chair of the GCA Library University, Stella went several Committee and a past President steps beyond the assignment and of Millbrook GC, to talk to us began to create bugs, beetles, Short Hills about the library’s holdings. Arete and bees from unusual plant Garden Club is among the most knowledgeable material she found while walking Short Hills, NJ custodians of this remarkable her dog. Stella explains, “I have jewel in the GCA crown. Her an intense interest in bugs and The Short Hills Garden Club talk began with a quote from Arete Warren and former Presidents admire the opalescent displays held a workshop to create “rustic 19th-century poet Alexander Bobby Hansen and Joan George at of butterfly wings, but didn’t structures” at the Cora Hartshorn Smith: “In my garden I spend my the Grolier Club exhibition. want to kill or handle dead Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 NewsWorthy

beautiful outdoor spaces. The Maryland Extension Apiculturist meeting included a floral design and worldwide beekeeping competition with two classes lecturer and consultant. The incorporating the recently made decline of honeybee populations rustic structures: “Upon a Table is causing increased alarm Top” and “From the Ground Up.” throughout the agricultural sector SHGC is involved for the second because crops pollinated by bees year in a Partners for Plants account for $100 million a year project to remove invasive plant in Maryland’s Eastern Shore. material from the Cora Hartshorn According to Embrey, die-offs in Arboretum. The Arboretum is honeybee hives caused by disease, a 16.45-acre native woodland habitat destruction, urbanization, habitat nestled in Short Hills lack of nutrition sources, and Township. It boasts one of the pesticides are coming together as Short Hills Garden Club members Village Garden Club of Sewickley state’s greatest concentrations of “the perfect storm.” Fewer natural members Maggie Setler (in Amy Richardson and Heather native wildflowers (more than 150 habitats, meadows and agricultural Cadranell building a red cedar table foreground), Betsy Christof, and species) and is home to over 100 hedgerows have limited the at David Robinson’s workshop. Nancy Wilcox select flowers to species of birds, rare ferns and an resource of pollen, their essential Photo by Susan Van Tassel create tussie mussies to exchange observational beehive. with other club members. Photo by source of protein. The number of —Donna Dixon Alisa Lenhardt honeybee hives is also declining in January 2015. Despite snowy because fewer young people are weather, several members gave a brief history of tussie taking an interest in the work. attended the fun and fascinating Zone V mussies and of the language of Embrey concluded with these workshop led by David Robinson flowers. Then the fun began, with tips to help honeybee survival: of Natural Edge of Trenton and Village Garden Club club members assembling their planting open-faced flowers and organized by Horticulture Chair of Sewickley own nosegays. Alexandra McCabe bee-friendly plants, putting a Kathleen Bourke. Mr. Robinson Sewickley, PA coordinated the tussie mussie mason bee nesting box in your specializes in building rustic activity while Nancy Wilcox yard (they don’t sting), and, if you garden structures from wood, We all know that flowers have a arranged a delicious organic have the acreage, planting crimson primarily red cedar, which he language of their own. Whether luncheon, making this a most clover, buckwheat, or a pollinator harvests on his property. Using flowers speak to us through memorable meeting. meadow. He also suggested power tools, saws, and their their sheer beauty, or that we —Annette Atwood becoming a beekeeper. imaginations, members created use the language of flowers as —Rita Osgood beautiful outdoor structures to an expression of our feelings, adorn their summer gardens— humankind has been enamored by Zone VI trellises, benches, tables, tuteurs these fragile beauties for centuries. and even an arbor gateway. In Village Garden Club of Sewickley Talbot County February, the club brought it full hosted a Valentine’s luncheon Garden Club circle with its Garden History at the home of Club President Easton, MD and Design meeting, featuring Annette Atwood, following its John Danzer from Munder Siles February business meeting. Little Helping Bees Helps All of Us. In Garden Furniture, who spoke did Program Chair Julie Buscher November 2014, Talbot County on the beginnings and future know that our members would so Garden Club sponsored a talk of garden furniture, “exterior enthusiastically embrace her idea. at the Easton Public Library by A bee pollinates an open-faced decorating,” and tricks for creating First Vice President Kate Johnson Michael Embrey, University of flower. Photo by Barbara Tuffli

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  NewsWorthy

of the Coastal Conservation Zone VII League; and had the rare privilege James River of visiting the privately-owned Garden Club and Mulberry Plantation, then The Tuckahoe Middleton Place and Drayton Garden Club of Hall. And we shopped. We sported Westhampton Janet Gregg’s unique “must have” Richmond, VA jewelry designs at Ann Long Fine The garden gate at the Potager Art Gallery followed by dinner. A miniature boxwood tree created Garden at Mulberry Plantation On the way out of town we by a member of Founders GC of Our September 2014 bus trip to afforded an inspirational view. stopped at Hyam’s Garden Center Sarasota for Meals on Wheels. Charleston, SC, was the ultimate Photo by Tricia Sauer Photo by Jeannie Russell which carries the low country garden club trip— there was plants we grew to love, particularly never a quiet moment among in a beautiful home overlooking toiletries, socks, or slippers, that the Southern yew (Podocarpus Tuckahoe and James River GC the Stono River; toured houses had been collected throughout macrophylla). Our shared GCA members—not on the bus, nor and gardens (two designed by the year from club members by garden club trips are fun and a among visits to glorious private Loutrell Briggs) and Dick Jenrette’s Project Chair Gina Gregoria. The great tradition we will continue gardens, spectacular homes, Roper House, a magnificent Greek Founders GC of Sarasota is proud well into the future. plantations, restaurants, and clubs. Revival mansion overlooking the of our partnership with Meals on —Hylah Boyd Our tour was superbly planned Charleston Harbor; lunched in Wheels and their devoted service and orchestrated by the Charleston the garden of GCA Honorary to the community. Horticultural Society—beginning Member Patti McGee; heard Zone VIII —Jeannie Russell with David Stickel’s Japanese- superb speakers—Suzanne Pollack, inspired garden on James Island, Dean of the Charleston Academy Founders and ending with a tour of the of Domestic Pursuits, Virginia Garden Club of Junior Ladies’ Isaac Motte Dart House, one of Beach (a Richmond native!) who Sarasota, Inc. Garden Club Charleston’s most elegant gardens. has just published Rice and Ducks, Sarasota, FL Athens, GA In between, we were entertained and her husband Dana, founder For the second year, Junior Ladies’ Santa’s elves were busy in Garden Club members were December of 2014 as Zone VIII required to drop off two bags of Founders Garden Club of Sarasota leaves, mulch, or pine straw at the continued its 20-year tradition site of our 2013 Centennial Tree of donating holiday tray favors Project, located in Memorial Park. to Meals on Wheels of Sarasota. In coordination with Athens- The program delivers a nutritious, hot meal to more than 460 needy residents of Sarasota County. Under the direction of Irene Page, FGCS Vice President, 327 red-ribboned, fresh miniature boxwood Christmas trees were created by club members. This year, in addition to the boxwood Tuckahoe and James River club members (and one member of Boxwood GC) trees, we sent an additional in the garden of the William Stone House, Rainbow Row, Charleston, SC. Two bags full! Photo by Alice Photo by Susan Epstein gift—wrapped items, such as Bullock

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 NewsWorthy

Clarke County and park officials, Ivan Bailey sculpture? Where is cut into a tree limb’s collar when our “Leaves to Trees” bags have the herb garden and who tends pruning. These were among been collected and the contents it? (the kindergarten). Can you dozens of tips gleaned from a spread to help maintain our trees find the luffas? What is the state free seminar offered on a very through the seasons. A great butterfly? How do you know cold January morning when way not only to mulch them, if this is a Certified Pollinator more than 130 people packed discouraging unwanted weeds, but Habitat? Find something recycled the Mississippi Agriculture and also to encourage recycling and in the classroom. And on and Forestry Museum’s auditorium conservation. on it went. The teams were to learn how to improve — Alice Bullock given an hour to complete the their landscaping skills. The Trustees’ winning scavenger hunt search. Enthusiastic, excited, and seminar was the brainchild of team, from left: Alice Fraser, Karen educated, the teams returned to the Garden Club of Jackson, Trustees’ Pannell, Corinne Reeves, and Anne the classroom where all questions co-sponsored by Mississippi State Garden Club Coakley. Photo by Linder Suthers were answered and the winning University Extension Service, Savannah, GA team announced. The school the MS Agriculture & Forestry clues was assigned to each team, was awarded an honorarium Experiment Station, Hinds Seeking a fresh idea for a meeting guiding it without revealing to further the students’ Community College, and the Ag program? Try a horticultural the answers. This was a great environmental studies. Museum. Topics included lawn scavenger hunt. Members of opportunity to work with a new —Cathy Solomons maintenance, correct pruning the Trustees’ Garden Club were group of friends. The teams techniques, soils and fertilizers, treated to a fun afternoon of were given beautiful garden choosing the correct turf, proper education and competition. maps drawn by Hort Chairman Zone IX mulching, care of tools, licensing, Members brimmed with curiosity Holley Jaakkola, along with a and much more. Martha Hill, as they arrived at 2000 GCA list of questions delineating their The Garden Club Department Chair of Landscape Hull Award winner Bill Eswine’s quest. Can you find the mosquito of Jackson Management Technology at Savannah Country Day School plant (citronella)? Where can Jackson, MS Hinds Community College science classroom. Club members you find the broccoli? (Hint: it’s and one of the speakers, noted: were randomly divided into not in the lunchroom.) What Avoid “volcano” mulching. Don’t “We had a mix of professional teams. A leader familiar with the grows near the tendril of the mix sand with clay soil. Never and residential, with owners of

GC of Jackson members who helped with the landscape seminar. From left: Sarah Dabney Gillespie, Gail Doty, Jacquie Planck, Emily Dunbar-Smith, Cheryl Welch, Susan Haltom, Charlotte McNeel, Carolyn McIntyre, Frances SCDS outdoor classrooms and campus gardens, painted by Holley Jaakola Morse, Linda Lambeth, and Elaine Chatham. Photo by Ouida Drinkwater

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  NewsWorthy

landscaping companies, their George Washington to be Elevated plants are easy to view workers, the foreman of a local Governor of the Territory South of from a wheelchair; sounds of nursery, Master Gardeners, City the Ohio River. Territory homes wind chimes and fountains add of Jackson workers, yardmen, built at that time were rough- the dimension of sound; plants homeowners, garden club hewn log cabins, but Mary Blount were selected by Tom Pellet for members who really garden, insisted on “a proper wooden their interesting textures and and hopeful prospective house.” So nails were shipped in fragrances. The diversity of trees, landscaping students.” An from North Carolina and glass shrubs, annuals, perennials, interpreter was available for Knoxville’s Blount Mansion was for windows was brought in from aquatic plants, roses, herbs, and Spanish-speaking attendees. The built in 1792 on the banks of the Virginia. Her home was one of the bulbs is a compact representation Garden Club of Jackson hopes Tennessee River. Photo by Jean first frame houses on the western of the broad range of plants Bonnyman to repeat and improve upon the frontier, making it a mansion in throughout the Memphis Botanic seminar next year, taking into In 1934 the Knoxville Garden its time. Garden. The Sensory Garden is a account suggestions offered by Club and the fledgling Blount —Jean Bonnyman lovely, everyday getaway, as well participants. Mansion Association began a as a tranquil setting for special —Ouida Drinkwater collaboration that has flourished occasions like weddings and for 80 years. This milestone marks Little Garden Club cocktail parties. This delightful KGC’s commitment to historic of Memphis haven at the Memphis Botanic Knoxville preservation and maintenance of Memphis, TN Garden is one of Memphis’ best- Garden Club the 200-year-old site’s Colonial kept secrets. Knoxville, TN Revival garden. Blount Mansion, The Sensory Garden is a slice —Kim MacQueen designated a National Historic of perfection tucked away in Landmark by the National Park an unassuming corner of the Service in 1965, is in the heart of Memphis Botanic Garden. A Zone X downtown Knoxville, surrounded 1987 GCA Founders Fund by modern buildings and busy winner, the Garden was due for Akron Garden Club streets. Workers from nearby a renovation, led by the Little Akron, OH businesses and government Garden Club of Memphis and offices stop by to find a respite re-opened in April 2014. A GCA Honorary Member within the garden’s white picket four-season garden planned to Kenneth D. Cochran retired at fence. Visitors to the house engage all the senses, its primary the end of 2014 after 30 years can experience what life on the purpose is to enable people as curator and program director frontier was like for the Blount with special needs to enjoy the of Secrest Arboretum, Wooster, family. Each December the club garden experience with ease. OH. Cochran’s immeasurable gathers fresh greenery and fruit to create colonial-style Christmas decorations throughout the house, Knoxville Garden Club “Monday enriching the holiday tours. Ladies” descend like a whirlwind Situated on the banks of the on the grounds of Blount Mansion, weeding, planting, pruning, Tennessee River, Blount Mansion and raking to keep the garden was built in 1792 as the home shipshape. From left: Jackie of William and Mary Blount Congleton, Sue Dilworth, and (pronounced “blunt”). William, Debbie Campbell plant the herb a signer of the U.S. Constitution, The pergola entry to the Sensory Garden at Memphis Botanic Garden. garden. Photo by Lisa Smith was appointed by President Photos courtesy of Mark Kalagias, MKX Photography

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Co-chairs Lisa Melamed and mately, the goal is to have club Tori Gagne, a small group from members enter a GCA photogra- the Lake Minnetonka Garden phy show. Club is honing their photography —Mitzi Magid skills. One of the main objectives of Blooming Exposures is to motivate LMGC members to The Garden Club have fun with photography. The of St. Louis group is currently working on a St. Louis, MO range of fundamental elements like composition, depth of field, shutter speed, and light. They meet once a month to have a Akron Garden Club Past Presidents Sherrie Kimberly, Dedee O’Neil and Ruth lesson, view some examples, Moorhead with GCA Honorary Member Kenneth D. Cochran, recently retired discuss ideas, and receive an from Secrest Arboretum. Photo by Kathryn Wiggam assignment from Understanding Exposures, by Bryan Peterson. legacy includes transforming the signage program. Cochran has This book aims to demystify the 125-acre arboretum from a site more than 50 years experience complex subject of photography exclusively for scientific research applying science and technology and to ease moving away from the to an inviting landscape of to landscape horticulture. He “automatic” setting. From there, enjoyment and discovery for the joined Secrest in 1984, after it’s about learning to shoot in general public. He raised funds teaching at Ohio State University’s “aperture priority.” for expansion, formed a friends Wooster campus for six years. His The group is planning field group, spearheaded construction commitment to horticulture began trips to photography shows, of outreach facilities, and created as a youngster, when he grew promoting several workshops, miles of paths through display vegetables for the family’s roadside Bluestar (Amsonia ciliata ‘filifolia’). and researching the possibility of gardens that educate visitors in market. Secrest Arboretum is Photo taken by Tom Incrocci at hosting a guest lecturer. Ulti- selecting appropriate sustainable part of the Ohio Agricultural Shaw Nature Preserve, courtesy of plants. Cochran’s seminars, Research and Development Missouri Botanical Garden propagation workshops, garden Center, a division of Ohio State, Let’s Go Native again this Spring! tours, and plant sales heightened which conducts research involving On any day of the year, the 2,441- awareness of plants and of the foods, agriculture, family, and the acre Shaw Nature Reserve near St. arboretum. He is renowned for environment. Louis, offers a diversity of natural generously sharing his knowledge —Beth Brumbaugh habitats reflecting the area’s and passion for native plants and geological and biological diversity. sustainable landscape management So when the Garden Club of St. with home and professional Zone XI Louis visited in May 2014, we gardeners. The Akron Garden looked forward to a morning of Club, which proposed Cochran’s Lake Minnetonka note-taking, interrupted only by honorary membership in 2011, Garden Club the sheer joy of wildflowers and is recognizing his distinguished Wayzata, MN native plants thriving in their best career with a major gift to environment. The reserve, 30 Secrest in his name. The funds Blooming Exposures is out minutes from its world-renowned will underwrite a “Learning shooting…photos, that is. Led parent, the Missouri Botanical from Landscapes” interpretative by Photography Committee Photo by Lisa Melamed

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  NewsWorthy

Garden, provided educator James Initiative, a community-wide book: Exhibitions: Concept, Tragor to answer our barrage of committee that combines a variety Planning and Design. The designer questions. All, including James, of organizations in a collaborative illustrated his talk with slides were charmed by the wildflowers effort to encourage the use of showing a variety of exhibitions in bloom: spiky-petalled shining of native plants and pollinators he has created, along with slides bluestar (Amsonia illlustris), and in the Kansas City landscape. of the Garden Club of Honolulu’s its sister, ciliat bluestar (Amsonia Education about native plants and past flower shows. Because the ciliata), whose petals have a pollinators has led to action! club is preparing for Shangri-La, softer geometry; yellow blooming —Laura Sutherland a Major GCA Flower Show in butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa); May, the topic was especially and pale purple wild geranium timely. His advice for flower (Geranium maculatum). We Zone XII shows was good-humored and found a sloping hillside covered specific: “When you put two in dense and thriving wild ginger The Garden Club of pieces next to each other, they (Asarum canadense). For some Westport Garden Club member Honolulu should have a good conversation. Kathy Gates with Doug Ladd at the most memorable sight was Honolulu, HI Don’t allow your viewer to see a striking woodland orchard Dunn Ranch Prairie. Photo by Laura the whole thing at one glance. Sutherland blanketed with ostrich ferns and Entice people in, allow them to spiked with persimmon trees. Our restoration of the prairie. The discover. Like an oriental garden, tour wrapped up with lunch and walk culminated in a face-to-face you need mystery. Look at what is enthusiastic conversation about with the bison herd. The visit distracting, and get rid of it.” The making Missouri natives a focus continued in the seed collection Garden Club of Honolulu has of our gardens. Another trip is shed and the native plant nursery, been presenting beautiful flower planned for this spring. where discussion included shows since 1931. With its newly —Meg Shinkle and innovative techniques for seed acquired knowledge of how to Diane Wyse Jackson make the most of its exhibition collection and the challenges Dr. Tom Klobe makes a point. Photo space, the club looks forward many of these native plants by Jan George present. Dunn Ranch Prairie is the to wowing the public, and the The Westport largest remaining prairie remnant “It makes perfect sense, but judges, with its exquisite displays. Garden Club in the region. 100% of its 3,258 we never thought about it this —Jan George Kansas City, MO acres has been planted with native way.” That was the unanimous seed, including prairie blazing star, and enthusiastic reaction to The A beautiful, early fall day greeted purple coneflower and Mead’s Garden Club of Honolulu’s Garden Club of Westport Garden Club members milkweed. It is home to prairie February speaker. Dr. Tom Klobe, Santa Barbara as they visited Dunn Ranch chickens, American bison, and Professor Emeritus and Director Santa Barbara, CA Prairie, two hours from Kansas the federally-endangered Topeka of the University of Hawaii Art City, with Doug Ladd, Director shiner minnow. As part of The Gallery spoke to the club about Garden Club of Santa Barbara of Conservation, The Nature Nature Conservancy, Dunn the elements and principles of members recently enjoyed a Conservancy—Missouri, and Ranch Prairie is an important floral design—space, line, form, planting work party for the author of two field guides: North demonstration and research site. value, color, texture, pattern, planned Children’s Maze at the Woods Wildflowers and Tallgrass The field trip was a result of time and motion—as they relate Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Prairie Wildflowers. Doug led Ladd’s inspirational talk to WGC to exhibitions. Dr. Klobe has The Maze, a community gift to a wagon tour and walk in the in February 2014. Since that organized and designed more commemorate our club’s 2016 prairie, where he identified time, the Westport Garden Club than 200 exhibitions around Centennial, is in the shape of native plants and explained the formed the KC Native Plant the world, resulting in his 2012 a butterfly and was designed

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 NewsWorthy

and botanical settings as Persia, Spain, Italy, and India. Garden Club of Irvington-on-Hudson chose what is perhaps the most unusual aspect of the property for its Founders Fund proposal: restoration of the Temple of Love. This romantic folly was built on a rocky outcropping overlooking the Hudson River, surrounded by 30-foot waterfalls. After Mr. Untermyer’s death in 1940, the entire garden grew wild for lack of appropriate funding. Under Mr. Tilghman’s lead- Garden Club of Santa Barbara members dig their work. From left: Jocelyne ership, and aided in part by the Meeker, Jane Buchanan, Debbie Geremia, Carol Newman, Sharon Bradford, $7,500 Founders Fund award, the Shirley Ann Hurley, Ladeen Miller, and Carol “Puck” Erickson. The cantilevered structure of the Temple of Love, as well as the rest Temple of Love was once the of Untermyer Park, has begun to centerpiece of elaborate rock take on a semblance of its original by GCSB member and artist Founders Fund gardens and waterfalls. grandeur. Lenore Hughes. It will be the Committee —Sharon Dowsett, The Portland gateway educational feature of New York City A highlight of the September Garden Club, Zone XII the new children’s area at the GCA Founders Fund Committee Garden, ready for exploration Meeting in NYC was an The FALL Bulletin will focus by school children in April excursion to Untermyer Gardens on water. And we are always 2016. California native Coyote Conservancy in Yonkers, a interested in hearing about your Brush (Baccharis pilularis) was 2014 Founders Fund finalist • significant milestones the plant of choice for its soft proposed by the Garden Club of • meaningful civic projects texture, drought tolerance, and Irvington-on-Hudson. Timothy • terrific fundraisers. hedging adaptability. In the Tilghman, Horticulturist for Submission is simple— Garden’s historical area nearby, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, • Go to the Bulletin Committee our members will restore the and Gerry Gilmartin, GCIH page of the GCA website. Wooded Dell display with a Founders Fund Chairman, led • Click on “Article and Photo diversity of native plants. Visitors a tour of the 43 remaining acres Submissions” in the Resources will be invited to pause at the of the original property. Samuel sidebar on the right hand side. Lockwood de Forest/Campbell Untermyer, a successful corporate • Copy and paste your 250 word Bench to share a bit of history lawyer and avid horticulturist, article into the form and the quiet beauty of nature. acquired the property in 1899, • Upload photos or illustrations. Both gardens, community gifts expanding it to over 150 acres, from our club, celebrate our long • Click “Submit.” At one time, colorful beds flanked and setting about to make it “the history with the Santa Barbara Questions? Ask your zone rep. the stairs from the Vista to the finest garden in the world.” One Botanic Garden. Overlook of the Hudson River. of its most striking features is Deadline: August 15 for FALL —Jane Buchanan Photos by Jessica Norman, a walled garden with allusions “Water” issue (mid-October Untermyer Gardens Conservancy to such diverse architectural delivery)

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Bulletin Board

BulletinBoard: Cuttings from the Calendar

April 2015 18-25 Historic Garden Week in 28-29 GCA Major Flower Show 7 Garden Tour(XII) 8-9 GCA Flower Show (IX) Virginia (VII) Sponsored (IX) River Oaks GC and Orinda Garden Club, The Founders GC of by The GC of VA, Houston GC, Florescense Orinda in Bloom, Dallas, Founders Jubilee Statewide tour of homes Illusions, Museum of Fine Orinda, CA. Contact: 2015, Dallas Arboretum, and gardens. Arts, Houston,TX. Mary Ellen Schneider Dallas, TX. April 8, Contact: Karen Miller April 28, 29 10-5pm. [email protected] 1-5:45pm. Contact: historicgardenweek@ Contact: Kelty Crain 8-10 GCA Major Flower Show Marilyn Weber gmail.com [email protected] (XII) GC of Honolulu, [email protected] 20-22 Zone Flower Show (VIII) May 2015 Shangri La, Honolulu 11-12 GCA Flower Show (VIII) The Palmetto GC of 1 Letter of Intent due for Museum of Art, Honolulu, The GC of Palm Beach, South Carolina, Columns, New Honorary Members HI. May 8-9, 10-4:30pm. Hort Couture, Esther B. Rivers and Roses, Hilton [email protected] May 10, 11-5pm. O’Keefe Gallery, Palm Contact: Kitty Wo Columbia Center, 1-2 Flower Sale ((V) Providence Beach, FL. April 11, 10- [email protected] Columbia, SC. April 21, GC of PA, Williamson 4pm. April 12, 12-4pm. 2-5pm. Contact: Francis Free Trade School, Media, 9 Plant Sale (I) Contact: Mary Pressly Robinson [email protected] PA. May 1, 1-3pm. May 2, GC of Buzzard’s Bay, [email protected] 21 Club Flower Show (V) 8-2pm. Contact: Minnie St Mary’s Parrish Hall, 14-15 Zone Flower Show (IX) The Planters, Horticulture Ullman [email protected] South Dartmouth, MA. Memphis GC and The 9-noon.Contact: Ruth & Photography, Jenkins 5 GCA Flower Show (VII) Little GC of Memphis, Oliver Jolliffe Arboretum, Devon PA. Twin Cities GC, The Memphis in Bloom, [email protected] Contact: Janice Legg Beauty & Bounty of Old Memphis Botanic Garden, [email protected] Salem, Old Salem Museum 9-10 Daffodil Show (XI) Memphis, TN. 23 Club Flower Show (XI) & Garden, Winston-Salem, Town and Country GC, April 15, 2-5pm. Westport GC, Fleurishing NC. May 5, 12:30-4pm. A Daffodil Show on the Contact: Cary Brown Art, Contact: Laura Powell Contact: Laurie Whitaker Lakeshore, Maywood [email protected] [email protected] whitakerdesigns@ Ecology Center, 17-19 GCA Flower Show (X) earthlink.net Sheboygan, WI. May 9, 23-25 GCA Flower Show (XII) Akron Garden Club, 12-5pm. Contact: Lulu Hillsborough GC, Creative 6-7 Zone Flower Show (II) Beauty Reigns, Akron Art Lubbers Growth, Burlingame Greenwich GC, Beyond the Museum, Akron, OH. [email protected] Woman’s Club Burlingame, White Gloves, Greenwich April 17-19, 11-5pm. CA. April 24, 10-5:30pm. Country Club, Greenwich, 13 GCA Flower Show (IX) Contact: Robin Hardman April 25, 10-3:30pm. CT. May 6, 1-4pm. May 7, Gertrude Windsor GC, [email protected] Contact: Susan Grau 10-12:30pm. Wish You Were Here, 17-19 GCA Flower Show (II) [email protected] Contact: Karen Marache Tyler Municipal Rose Fairfield Garden Club, [email protected] Garden Center, Tyler, TX. 24-26 GCA Flower Show (X) The Best of Times, The May 13,1-5pm. Indianapolis Garden GC, 6 GCA Flower Show (IX) Burr Homestead, Fairfield, Contact: Harriet McArthur Les Belles Fleurs, CIRQUE, GC of Lookout Mountain, CT. April 18, 10-4pm. hsmcarthur@ Indianapolis Museum of Landmarks of Lookout, April 19, 10-3pm. caldwellfnd.com Art, Indianapolis, IN. Lookout Mt. Fairyland Contact: Fleur Rueckert April 25, 11-5pm. Club, Lookout Mountain, [email protected] April 26, 12-5pm. GA. May 6, 3-6pm. Contact: Amy W Cooke Contact: Molly Adams [email protected] [email protected]

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Bulletin Board

15-16 GCA Flower Show (XII) 4 GCA Flower Show (III) 23-24 Zone Flower Show (X) 23-24 GCA Flower Show (I) Seattle GC, Northwest North Suffolk GC, GC of Cleveland, Rooted GC of Mount Desert, The Passages, Bellevue Botanical Looking Back, The Old in Cleveland, Inter- County Fair, The Union Garden, Bellevue, WA. Field Club, Setauket, NY. Continental Cleveland Church, Northeast Harbor, May 16, 10-4pm. Contact: June 4, 1:30-3:30pm. Hotel, Cleveland, OH. ME. July 24, 10 4pm. Diana Neely Contact: Nancy Golder June 24, 8-1pm. Contact: Freddy Shaw [email protected] [email protected] Contact: Lisa McConnell [email protected] lisamcconnell@ 17-20 GCA Annual Meeting 15-16 GCA Zone Flower Show roadrunner.com August 2015 Flower Show (III) (I) Fox Hill GC, Tales, 8-9 GCA Flower Show (I) 26-27 Millbrook GC w/ the clubs Trowels & Treasurers, GCA Flower Show (V) The Lenox GC, of Zone III, Kaleidoscope, Dedham Hilton, Carrie T. Watson GC, 4 Rainwater… weather Rochester Riverside Dedham, MA. June 15, by 4 Fourscore and Ten/ or not!, The Berkshire Convention Center, 1-5pm. June16, 9-11am. For All Seasons, The Tom Botanical Garden, Rochester, NY. May 18, Contact: Ruthie Barker Ridge Environmental Stockbridge, MA. Aug 8, 9-5pm. May 19, 9-5pm. [email protected] Center, Erie, PA. June 27, 12-5pm. Aug 9, 10-5pm. Contact: Susan Detjens 10-5pm. Contact: Daren Contact: Mary Ellen 19-21 [email protected] Non-GCA Major Flower McCullough O’Brien maryellenobrien@ Show, Preservation Society darenmccullough@ 25-29 Board of Associates Trip hotmail.com of Newport County, gmail.com June 2015 Newport Flower Show July 2015 1-4 Quarterly Meetings at HQ American Beauty Timeless GardenScribe Plant Organizer Style, Rosecliff Mansion, 8 GCA Flower Show (I) helps you keep track of all the 1-2 GCA Flower Show (X) Newport, RI. Nantucket GC, plants in your garden. Now you’ll Country GC, Guns Contact: Patricia Fernandez Sincerely,’Sconset- never forget what you’ve planted, where you’ve planted it and how and Roses, Muskets and [email protected] Glimpses from a Summer to care for it. Marigolds, Fort Meigs Village. The Siasconset Museum, Perrysburg, OH. Casino, Siasconset, MA. Order today at June 2, 9-4pm. July 8, 10-4pm. Contact: www.gardenscribe.com Contact: [email protected] Mary Jo Beck [email protected]

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Freeman Medal Answer Key

Could you name the 20 previous Freeman Medal winners? Answer key for page 7:

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 Dig Deeper

DigDeeper: GCA Resources

Garden History Editor’s Notes: The use of agenda, and tripod and video plus Linder Suther’s illustrated & Design lantern slides declined with the camera instructions are now “How to Photograph and Event” The Archives of American introduction of smaller 2” x posted on the Historian’s and Wendy Concannon’s tips for Gardens is a subtab of the 2” transparencies, followed by webpages at https://www. taking dreamy garden photos. GH&D Committee page on 35 mm slides which were less gcamerica.org/index.cfm/ the GCA website: https:// expensive to produce. members/historian. focus www.gcamerica.org/index.cfm/ The Golden Age of American Marilen Tilt’s Tribute to The “Paintings To Pixels” members/archives-american- Gardens: 1890-1940, (1991) by Dot Hinitt can be found in online photography contest gardens/ Eleanor Weller Reade and Mac its entirety on the Historian’s featured 96 entrants from all The “Recent Acquisitions” Griswold (GC of Somerset Hills, webpage. twelve GCA zones. The six web pages are a good place Zone IV) presents the social classes — close-up, landscape to start exploring the GCA history of gardens of the Gilded Photography color, landscape monochrome, Collection. There you can find Age. The Photography Committee waterscape, creative techniques, a list of all the submissions page has an in-depth list of and gardens — asked added since 2008. You can dig Capturing Oral History resources — everything from photographers to send their deeper by searching within Akron Garden Club has a 5-minute video, “Photo 101: interpretations of famous the Archives, Manuscripts, provided its project tools for use Getting to know your camera” to paintings. The winner, Danna and Photograph Collections by other GCA clubs. More than a Quick Reference PDF on how Dearborn, Piscataqua GC, Catalog by geographic location, a dozen forms and documents, to email photos. Look for the Zone I, was determined by the name of the garden, or by including the interview current and back issues of focus popular vote — over 250 votes specific garden features, such as invitation and questionnaire, (including an index), club study were submitted. Mary Turner, fountains, parterres, or pergolas. interviewer training session guidelines and suggestions, and Seattle GC, Zone XII, won the information about up-coming Creativity Award. workshops and flower shows The top readers’ choices for Travel to the Great Gardens of the World with photography classes each class are featured in the Unique small-group tours go behind the scenes to meet designers, gardeners, at https://www.gcamerica. Spring 2015 special issue of historians and residents. Explore with Karla Lynch, M.S. Longwood org/index.cfm/members/ focus. Graduate Program and Registered Landscape Architect. photography. The Bulletin Committee page has photo tips September 30–October 11, 2015 specific to print publication, Italy—Three Centuries of Power and Romance

Starting in Padua and Venice, sample great food, fabulous architecture and splendid scenery. On our way through Tuscany we stay in Florence for several days enjoying gardens and historical sites as well as ceramic centers, wineries, and markets with our resident guide. Then to Rome where participants can savor daily life as the Italians do, amidst ancient Etruscan sites. Fee covers private coach travel and many meals, in addition to walking tours of each city, and all entries. Sites include the Padua Botanic this goop heals ! Garden (Oldest European Botanic Garden and a UNESCO Heritage booboos! Site), Villa Gamberaia, La Foce, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, Giardino using the power ! Torrigiani, Uffizi Gallery, the Roman Coliseum, Villa d’Este, Hadrian’s of plants.! Villa and many more.

Twelve days. Limit: 18. For details call Karla Lynch 630-721-1502 or Judy Keslik 630-321-1664 2 oz. tin - $12.! E-mail [email protected] www.booboogoop.com http://www.vikingtvl.com/karla-lynch---garden-tours.html

The Bulletin :: Spring 2015  Repeat Bloomers and Sage Advice...

Repeat Bloomers and Sage Advice...

between digitalis and isoplexis. To cut down tall, Spring cleaning tips from garden savvy Its reddish-orange tubular flower decorative grasses: ladies of GCA across the country… has a yellow throat, blooms in take a long piece of cord or rope — Assembled by Beth Kibler, Palmetto GC of SC, Zone VIII full sun, and is guaranteed to be and tie the bundle together a showstopper. Next, I weed and tightly. If you have a chainsaw clean out a spot for my new gem. handy, you can cut the grass sheaf As soon as the ground is dry Wintering in Florida, —Alice Thomas, The Garden Club in one quick pass — the rope enough to walk on, I weed summering in of Houston, Zone IX keeps it tidy and makes clean-up whack the perenni- Ohio... Prep the orchids you Have paths or walk- easy. Even cutting with clippers is als will hang in the trees until your with tasty seedheads that I ways that need easier. I use the dried grass sheaves left standing all winter in case a return next autumn. Inspect cleaning? Try bleach— in my veggie garden to create a hungry chickadee came by. This containers for sturdiness and more than you think you need. walking path. By fall, the grass year, that might be May. repot if necessary. Hang those I stock up. Purchase a very fluffy stalks have nearly decomposed, —Jane Harris, Middletown GC, that prefer a bit more shade on paint roller with a long handle — but I have a fresh supply each Zone II the interior branches and those the roller pad is to clean concrete. spring. that take more light on the outer When the snow melts, I try to Find a container that will accom- —Dedee O’Neil, Akron GC, portion of the limb. Mine are stay ahead of the Hairy modate the roller. On the first Zone X hibiscus trees, not as young as bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta). warm spring day, blow off the area The first thing I do is to they used to be (but neither am I). Not much chance of success, but to be cleaned. Paint on the bleach spread a layer of So I give them, and the orchids, I did find a recipe for Hairy bit- and let it sit. Rolling, as opposed compost over my entire a really good last supper before I tercress pesto that might make the to spraying, gets in all the nooks rose and vegetable gardens. A leave. job easier to take. I also cut back and crannies to get rid of salts month later, when the roses start I take cuttings of the prettiest all the perennials I have left in and to remove the algae and mold to leaf out, I spray them and geraniums to reroot in Ohio for disarray through the winter. I used that makes pathways and terraces drench the soil with compost tea summer blooms. They survive the to be so proud of myself for doing slippery. It will also keep down the to help restore beneficial microor- long drive wrapped inside ziplock this in the fall until I realized I was weeds between bricks on a terrace. ganisms and reduce diseases like bags. removing what could be vital food I hose off the bleach so it doesn’t black spot. Pack up the ivy topiary for its for the birds and other wildlife. get tracked into the house. —Barbara Tuffli, Woodside- return. Give it with a long drink —Ginny Levy, West Chester GC, —Lanie Grever, Cincinnati Town Atherton GC, Zone XII of water, let drain, and mist the Zone V and Country GC, Zone X leaves, wrapping the clay pot — My tip is for hybrid tea first in damp newspaper and a roses — to create stronger large plastic bag, then into a tall blooms that will reward you box. Save room in the car for through the summer. I start “pick me up plants” from nurseries Paris...always a good idea! cutting the canes and look for on the way home. the white pith. It has to be really Romantic Ile St. Louis —Kathie VanDevere, Akron GC, white — you can tell when you Zone X 4 BEDROOM 3 BATH APT keep cutting. (After a winter like (3RD FLOOR - The first thing I do is hit this, we may have to cut the canes NO ELEVATOR) the perennial cata- to the ground.) When my daugh- WEEKLY OR MONTHLY logues to see if there is a new ter was young, I would have her CALL OR EMAIL plant that might do well in my paint the cut end with fingernail FOR MORE INFO: growing zone. This year I found polish —a bright color is fun. [email protected] or Digiplexis ‘Illumination Flame.’ — Caroline Borgman, Glenview (631) 329-0550 GC, Zone VII This new foxglove is a cross

 The Bulletin :: Spring 2015 PartingShot: Death Valley by Danna Dearborn, Piscataqua Garden Club, Zone I

Paintings to Pixels—a GCA online focus competition Awards: Best in Show and Most Votes of all Entries Class: Landscape—Color “George Inness” “While driving with the top down at 7 am through Death Valley, I came upon this tranquil vista. It seemed so soft and cooling before the intense heat of the day.” 14 East 60th Street New York, NY 10022 (212) 753-8287 [email protected] www.gcamerica.org