Conservation and Waste

PUBLISHED BY THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA SINCE 1913 WINTER 2018

Conservation and Waste Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference Founders Fund 14838-Follies Ad GCAB Winter 2018_Layout 1 10/30/17 12:30 PM Page 1

FOLLIES: ARCHITECTURAL WHIMSY IN THE GARDEN

Opening April 1, 2018, in the Winterthur Garden Escape into the imaginative world of garden follies, Winterthur’s first-ever exhibit of whimsical and classic garden structures—all set within Henry Francis du Pont’s majestic garden! Thirteen fantastic structures await exploration—from a Gothic-inspired tower, an Ottoman tent, and neoclassical follies to a Chinese pavilion, American summerhouses, a faerie cottage, and creative contemporary follies. Group rates available. Get your Follies! Details at 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org/follies.

Presented by

Clockwise: Needle’s Eye Folly, Chinese Pavilion Folly, and Green Folly. Illustrations of upcoming follies, by Eric Leland.

Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between I-95 and Route 1 • 800.448.3883 • winterthur.org 77595

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1471A0166_Regal_Lighthouse_8.625x10.875_2.indd The Bulletin 2018  Cyan Magenta Yellow Black :: Winter GCA Bulletin

13869-Garden Club of America Bulletin Spring 2017_Layout 1 1/19/17 1:23 PM Pag

GCA Bulletin Spring 2017

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 meetings,The purpose conferences, of The correspondence, Garden Club of and Americapublications, is to stimulate and to restore,the knowledge improve, and protectand love the of quality gardening, of theto share environment the throughadvantages educational of association programs by andmeans actions in ofthe educational fields of meetings,conservation conferences, and civic correspondence,improvement. and publications, and

Advertisingto restore, and improve, Submissions and protect the quality The ofGarden the Clubenvironment of America, a 501(c)(3)through organization, educational publishes Bob Leitch the Bulletinprograms quarterly. TheandBulletin actions accepts in advertising the fields from of GCA clubs, clubconservation members, and relevantand civic companies improvement. and individuals. Dig deeper... Media kits and the ad submission form are available on the GCA website or upon request. The Bulletin welcomes letters and story Submissions and Advertising WHAT’S IN BLOOM? ideas from GCA club members and other interested parties. The Garden Club of America, a 501(c)(3) organization, publishes Springtime always brings excitement to the Winterthur n Advertising:the Bulletin quarterly. The Bulletin accepts advertising from GCA Garden! Spring festivals celebrate the March Bank, Sundial Reserve by January 15 (spring issue); Garden, Azalea Woods, and Peony Garden. Narrated tram Aprilclubs, 15 (summer);club members, July and 15 relevant(fall), and companies October and 15 individuals. (winter issue) tours available. To discover what’s in bloom, visit Media kits are available upon request. Additionally, the Bulletin n Submission Deadlines: gardenblog.winterthur.org. ‡† welcomes letters, articles with February photographs, 1 (spring); story ideas,May 1and (summer); original Augustartwork 1 (fall), from and GCA November club members. 1 (winter) DAFFODIL DAY • Saturday, April 22, 2017 n Contact:n Advertising: [email protected] Reserve by May 1 (summer issue); August 1 (fall Celebrate the beauty of the daffodil and enjoy Winterthur’s issue); November 1 (winter issue); and February 1, 2018 (spring issue) one-of-a-kind daffodil display! The day’s events will include n Submission Deadlines:The Garden May 1;Club August of America 1; November 1; and daffodil tours, a special tea, daffodil show and crafts for the kids.‡† February14 East 1, 60th2018 Street • New York, NY 10022 • (212) 753-8287 n Contact: [email protected]@gcamerica.org or visit the Bulletin Committee’s landing page on the GCA website (www.gcamerica. AZALEAS AND BLUEBELLS • Saturday, May 13, 2017 On the Cover: Enjoy the spectacle of thousands of azalea blossoms and acres org) for the ad submission form of wildflowers! Highlights include tours of Azalea Woods and Penny Ross (FairfieldThe Garden Garden Club, Club ofZone America II) shot the cover photo a specialty sale of azalea plants propagated for specimens at with her Nikon14 East 60thD50. Street She • Newwrites, York, “On NY 10022 a January • (212) walk 753-8287 with my Winterthur. ‡† dogs along Compo [email protected] in Westport, Connecticut, I noticed the unusualOn the pastel Cover: clouds and reflections on Long Island Sound. I ran PEONIES AND PRIMROSES • Sunday, May 21, 2017 homeUnderplanted and returned in the with mossy my woodlandcamera in at time Sheep to Meadow, capture Norththis scene. Winterthur’s peonies and Quarry Garden primroses will be in At theHaven end Island of the in jetty Penobscot are a coupleBay, ME: of lily dozen of the resting valley gulls(Convallaria with a full flower as we celebrate this spectacular spring display in the viewmajalis of Eatons), thick Neck, stemmed New wood York, fern across (Dryopteris the water.” crassirhizoma ) and Winterthur Garden. Special lectures and a walking tour to both Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Photo by Missy Janes ‡† the Peony and Quarry Gardens included. (Fauquier and Loudoun Garden Club, Zone VII) Book your garden group tour! Special rates available. Call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org/groups.

‡ Included with admission † Members free

WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY • 800.448.3883 • winterthur.org

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Features winter 2018

Waste Shirley Meneice 2018 Founders 18 Management 32 Horticulture 43 Fund Including Talkin’ Trash; Doing Conference 2017 Including Roots Rising, Zone I; What’s Right; The Problem of Omaha, Nebraska Energy Efficient Outdoor Plastics; Such a Small Thing, Kitchen Classroom at Dunbar Such a Big Problem; Success Garden, Zone IX; Therapeutic with Interception; The Ocean Garden: Nurturing Plants and Cleanup Enriching Minds, Zone XI

69 | Dig Deeper

28 | Nathaniel Reed 38 | The Monarch Migration, the 35 | Luise Strauss Prairies, and Milkweed

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 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 From the President Executive Board

The New Year has arrived and there is Executive Board much in store for The Garden Club of 2017-18 America. Dede Petri, President, As you’ll see in the following pages, Georgetown Garden Club, Zone VI our Annual Meeting, “How the West is One,” rapidly approaches, offering a Debbie Edwards, First Vice President, time to challenge, inspire, educate, and Garden Club of New Haven, Zone II entertain as nearly 600 of us gather to do the Jessie Shelburne, Corresponding Secretary, important business of the GCA. We’ll have Founders Garden Club of Dallas, Zone IX an opportunity to hear from distinguished Lorill Haynes, Recording Secretary, Garden Photo by Linder Suthers speakers, elect new officers and zone Guild of Winnetka, Zone XI directors, and learn more about efforts to strengthen the GCA’s future and empower clubs around the country. Cindy Hilson, Treasurer, Hancock Park In the new year we’ll also continue our critical efforts to “restore, improve, and protect Garden Club, Zone XII the environment.” This issue of the Bulletin puts a timely focus on the GCA’s groundbreaking Marguerite Borden, Vice President, Cohasset action in conservation. Given the cultural and environmental challenges, there has never Garden Club, Zone I been a more urgent moment for the GCA’s brand of informed leadership. And, as you will Crissy Cherry, Vice President, Lake Forest see in the following pages, the GCA is embracing that challenge. Garden Club, Zone XI In December the GCA announced an exciting new national restoration initiative for clubs, offering grants to support landscape restoration and conservation projects in Gretchen Downs, Vice President, Country communities devastated by natural disasters. The GCA clubs have a unique ability to Garden Club, Zone X undertake stabilization, long-term restoration, and rehabilitation in the face of ecological Linda Holden, Vice President, The Augusta destruction. And this new program is designed to support our GCA family. Garden Club, Zone VIII You can also learn more about an inspiring collaboration between the GCA and the Missy Jensen, Vice President, Carmel-by- National Audubon Society as well as the GCA’s recent urgent appeals to Congress to protect the-Sea Garden Club, Zone XII pristine wilderness and critical seed and plant conservation efforts. Through advocacy, awards, education, and more, GCA club members are rolling up their Wendy Serrell, Vice President, Hortulus, sleeves to protect our public lands and save our planet. By working together at the national Zone II level—and empowering the efforts of 200 clubs across the country—the GCA offers a united Mary Harman, Zone Director Serving on force for the environment. the Executive Board, Country Garden Club, The power of one is great—the power of 18,000, enormous! Zone X

With thanks, Jennifer Barnette Cohen, Chief Operating Officer

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  2018–19 GCA Nominating Slate 2018–19 GCA Nominating Slate

he GCA Nominating First Vice President Missy Jensen Sandra Thomas Committee has proposed Debbie Edwards Carmel-by-the-Sea Kanawha Garden 12 nominees, listed herein, Garden Club of New Garden Club, Club, Zone VII T Haven, Zone II Zone XII to serve as officers and zone directors for the 2018-20 term, 2018 Co-chairman, Annual Meeting 2017-19 Zone Director commencing on July 1, 2018. 2017-19 First Vice President 2017-19 Vice President 2015-17 Chairman, Audit These nominees will serve with 2016 Creative Leadership Award 2015-17 Chairman, Conservation 2015-17 Member, Finance 2014-16 Vice President 2012-14 Zone Rep, Conservation/NAL 2013-15 Member, Audit the officers and zone directors 2012-14 Chairman, Program 2008-10 Club President 2013-15 Zone Rep, Garden History & duly elected for the 2017-19 term 2012 Zone Civic Improvement Design under the leadership of President Award Zone Directors 2012 Medal of Merit 2010-12 Zone Rep, Program 2009-11 Zone Vice Chairman Dede Petri. The slate was 2007-09 Club Co-president Abby Coffin 2006-08 Club President approved by the Executive Board Chestnut Hill Garden 2003 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting Corresponding Club, Zone I on December 5, 2017, and will Secretary Carolyn Ruth be voted on by the member clubs Jessie Shelburne Stancill 2017-19 at the 2018 Annual Meeting, Founders Garden Zone Director Laurel Garden Club, 2017 “How the West is One,” in San Club of Dallas, Horticulture Judge Zone IX 2016 Zone Conservation Award Francisco, CA, in late April. Zone IX 2013-15 Zone Rep, Horticulture 2017-19 Zone Director 2013-14 Member, Strategic Planning 2011-13 Zone Rep, Bulletin Executive Board 2017-19 Corresponding Secretary 2011-13 Zone Chairman 2009-11 Zone Rep, Founders Fund and Zone Directors 2011-13 Chairman, Admissions 2009-11 Club President 2005-06 Member, Library 2009-13 Zone Rep, Centennial 2017-19 Term 2003-05 Chairman, Administrative 2010 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2010-11 Linda Fraser Publications (Webmaster) Vice Chairman, Nominating 2004 2009-11 Southampton Medal of Merit Zone Rep, Nominating 2001-03 President 2007-09 Garden Club, Zone Vice Chairman Director 2000-01 2005-07 Zone III Club President Anne “Dede” Zone Vice Chairman 2003-05 Zone Rep, Program Neal Petri Barbara Kehoe 2001-03 Vice Chairman, Conservation- 2017-19 Zone Director Georgetown Garden Guild of Garden Club, Education 2015-17 Chairman, NAL 1999-01 Winnetka, Zone XI Zone VI Zone Rep, Conservation/NAL 2013-15 Zone Chairman 1989-91 Club President 2013-14 Member, Strategic Planning 2011-13 Zone Rep, Conservation/NAL 2017-19 President Vice Presidents 2009-11 Zone Rep, Awards 2017-19 Zone Director 2015-17 First Vice President 2006-08 Club President 2015-17 Zone Rep, Awards 2013-15 Chairman, Policy Research Linda Holden 2014 Medal of Merit 2010-12 The Augusta Garden Vice President Jorie Nailor 2014-15 Vice Chairman, Nominating 2011 Club, Zone VII Creative Leadership Award The Garden Club of 2013-15 Zone Rep, Nominating 2010 Medal of Merit Philadelphia, Zone V 2010-12 Chairman, Garden History & 2009-10 Director Serving on Executive Design Board 2017-19 Vice President 2009 Horticulture Judge 2008-10 Director 2014-16 Chairman, Judging 2008-10 Vice Chairman, Garden 2017-19 2009 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2014 Chairman, Zone Meeting Zone Director History & Design 2015-17 2006-08 Zone Rep, Awards 2012 Barbara Spaulding Cramer Zone Chairman 2005-07 Zone Rep, Garden History & 2014-15 2004 Co-chairman, Annual Meeting Zone Floral Design Zone Rep, Horticulture Design 2012-14 2002-06 Vice Chairman, NAL Educational Award Chairman, Philadelphia 2003-05 Club President 2000-02 Club President 2011 Medal of Merit Committee of the GCA 2010-12 2001 Zone Conservation Award 2011 Floral Design Judge Club President 1998-00 Zone Rep, Conservation 2010 Creative Leadership Award 2009-11 Zone Rep, Nominating 2007-09 Zone Rep, Flower Show 2005-07 Zone Chairman 2003-05 Zone Rep, Bulletin 2001-03 Club President

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 2018–19 GCA Nominating Slate

Executive Board 2013-15 Zone Rep, Nominating he Nominating Commit- and Zone Directors 2013 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting Barbara Shea 2011-13 Green Spring Valley tee consists of 12 members 2018-20 Nominees Zone Rep, Horticulture 2011 Horticulture Judge Garden Club, Zone VI T serving two-year terms, 2009-11 Zone Chairman including the chairman and vice Recording Secretary 2007-09 Zone Rep, Program chairman, each representing one Mary Harman 2005-07 Zone Vice Chairman 2014-16 Area Vice Chairman, Judging Country Garden 2005 Medal of Merit 2012-14 Zone Vice Chairman geographic zone. The committee Club, Zone X 2003-05 Zone Rep, Awards 2008-10 Zone Rep, Flower Show is charged with the responsibility 1999-01 Zone Rep, Awards 2005-07 Chairman, Horticulture of selecting the best qualified in- 2004 Creative Leadership Award 2002 dividuals from the member clubs 2017-18 Zone Director Serving on Julia F. Johnson Zone Horticulture Award 1998-00 Executive Board Little Garden Club of Zone Rep, Horticulture to ensure the continued excel- 2016-18 Zone Director Columbus, Zone X lence of the GCA’s leadership. 2015-18 Member, Audit Marianne Salas 2014-16 Chairman, Program Late Bloomers 2017-18 Nominating Committee 2014 Garden Club, Zone Medal of Merit 2015-17 Chairman, Scholarship 2012-14 VIII Iris Wagner, Chairman Zone Rep, Program 2016 Medal of Merit 2010-12 Club President 2013-15 Club President Seattle GC, Zone XII 2012-14 Zone Rep, Scholarship 2016-18 Chairman, Garden History & Treasurer Abby Gray, Vice Chairman 2010-12 Zone Rep, Conservation/NAL Design 2017 Medal of Merit St. George’s GC, Zone VI Cindy Hilson 2014-16 Vice Chairman, Garden Hancock Park Libby Moore Anne Ferrell History & Design , Little Compton Garden Club, Saint Paul Garden 2012-14 Zone Rep, Garden History GC, Zone I Zone XII Club, Zone XI & Design Cynthia Rubin, Sasqua GC, Zone II 2016-18 Treasurer/Chairman, Finance Elizabeth 2013-16 Member, Finance 2017 Creative Leadership Award Brumbaugh Cindy Willis, Southampton GC, 2016 Medal of Merit Akron Garden Club, Zone III Vice Presidents 2015-19 Chairman, Policy Research Zone X Darby Scott 2011-14 Treasurer/Chairman, Finance , GC of Morristown, Fleur Rueckert Zone IV Fairfield Garden 2016-18 Chairman, Communications Club, Zone II Zone Directors 2014-16 Zone Rep, Communications Mary Jo Strawbridge,The Garden 2013-16 Assistant, Historian Elizabeth 2013 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting Workers, Zone V Montgelas Martha Moore, The Tuckahoe GC 2016-18 Chairman, Flower Show Connecticut Valley 2015-16 Chairman, Nominating Pamela Green of Westhampton, Zone VII Garden Club, Zone II Seattle Garden Club, 2014-16 Zone Rep, Nominating Tootsie Adams, Junior Ladies’ GC, 2015 Creative Leadership Award Zone XII 2016-18 2013-14 Member, Strategic Planning Zone Rep, Awards Zone VIII 2012-14 Zone Rep, Awards 2016 Medal of Merit 2014-16 Tempe Thompson, The Little GC 2010-12 Zone Chairman Zone Chairman 2016-18 Zone Rep, Flower Show 2012-14 2008-10 Zone Rep, Judging Zone Rep, Flower Show 2014-16 Zone Rep, Nominating of Memphis, Zone IX 2009-11 2006-08 Zone Rep, Flower Show Club President 2010-12 Chairman, Visiting Gardens 2014 Anna Warren, GC of Michigan, 2006 Medal of Merit Floral Design Judge 2008-10 Zone Rep, Visiting Gardens 2004-06 Club President 2001-03 Club President Zone X 2004 Floral Design Judge Diane Majeski 1996 Horticulture Judge Garden Club of Marianne Bestler, Lake Geneva Marilyn Donahue Englewood, Zone IV GC, Zone XI The Little Garden Club of Rye, Zone III gca staff administrator 2016-18 Zone Chairman Alison Dolack 2017 Horticulture Judge 2017 Creative Leadership Award 2014-16 Zone Rep, Communications 2015-17 First Vice Chairman, 2011-13 Club President Horticulture 2015 Co-chairman, Annual Meeting

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The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  From the Bulletin Committee Bulletin Committee

Happy New Year to All!

Each new year brings us hope Bulletin Committee 2017–18 for a better something. We ponder Gina Brandt, Chairman which New Year’s resolutions to Hancock Park Garden Club, Zone XII adopt. Maybe it’s global, or maybe it’s Laura Case, Vice Chairman just for a better version of ourselves. New Canaan Garden Club, Zone II As we consider these decisions, Lorraine Alexander, Vice Chairman perhaps take a cue from the articles Millbrook Garden Club, Zone III in this issue, and resolve to become a “mindful shopper”—making more Pamela Hirsch, Vice Chairman Garden Club of Morristown, Zone IV deliberate decisions about what we buy, recycling, and limiting our use of Gay Legg, Vice Chairman plastic. St. George’s Garden Club, Zone VI Photo by Missy Janes Yes, plastic is a problem and it’s the Madeline Mayhood, Vice Chairman subject of one of the features in this issue. Just thinking about the extent of its pollution can be im- James River Garden Club, Zone VII mobilizing, but there are also new ideas, innovations, and research going on. We can be inspired by zone representatives Carlos Herrera (page 20) and his ethic to reuse, repurpose, and recycle. And be buoyed by the opti- Georgia Lee, Milton Garden Club, Zone I mism of Boyan Slat, the 23-year-old CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, whose goal is to rid the oceans of Tamera Galvin, Ridgefield Garden Club, Zone II our seemingly endless stream of discarded plastic (page 27). Then there are the examples of Carmel- Christa Amato, North Suffolk Garden Club, by-the-Sea and Beaumont garden clubs, who, like so many GCA clubs, have directly tackled issues Zone III of plastic proliferation through collective action. We can also learn from conservationist Nathaniel Kathryne Singleton, Rumson Garden Club, Reed (page 28), who has spent over 50 years saving endangered ecosystems. Zone IV Throughout the pages of this issue the theme of conservation is ever-present. From Mt. Cuba in Helen Wagner, West Chester Garden Club, Delaware to Lauritzen Gardens in Nebraska, the site of the 2017 Shirley Meneice Horticulture Zone V Conference, conservation and preservation are at the forefront. You’ll read about native grasses, Brooke Morton, Perennial Garden Club, Zone VI prairies, and monarch butterflies. You will find ideas from other GCA clubs to bring about positive Nancy Inman, Albemarle Garden Club, Zone VII change. Don’t miss the Founders Fund article (page 43) about the three finalists’ stellar projects, pro- Julie Badger, Sand Hills Garden Club, Zone VIII posed and seconded by GCA clubs. Speaking of clubs, all 200 will be front and center at the Annual Ouida Drinkwater, The Garden Club of Jackson, Meeting in San Francisco in late April—another opportunity for education about the thorny con- Zone IX servation issues of today. Betsy Bosway, Indianapolis Garden Club, Zone X With all the challenges we face, let’s resolve to Lynn Steiner, Saint Paul Garden Club, Zone XI keep moving forward! Our world demands it, and Teri Taylor, Garden Club of Santa Barbara, we are up for the task. As always we thank you for Zone XII your collaboration and support of the Bulletin, and a executive board liaison special thanks to the GCA staff. Jessie Shelburne, Founders Garden Club of Dallas, Zone IX —The Bulletin Committee zone director liaison Margaret Costan, Georgetown Garden Club, Zone VI Committee members at Brooklyn Bridge Park. finance committee liaison Ellen Ball, Garden Study Club of New Orleans, Zone IX gca staff administrator Paige Trubatch

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The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  FUNDING THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF VIRGINIA’S PUBLIC GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES SINCE 1929

Photo courtesy of Sue Gouldman

Mark your calendar April 21-28, 2018

“Virginia is especially beautiful during Historic Garden Week,” notes A beloved spring tradition, Historic Garden Week gained important Nina Mustard, President of the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV), the recognition when the Garden Club of Virginia reported the results sponsoring organization of the country’s oldest statewide house and of its first economic impact study of this successful fundraiser. “The garden tour. For eight days every spring, visitors are welcomed to nearly Garden Club of Virginia was able to provide reliable figures estimating 200 of the most picturesque private homes and gardens showcased in 29 the cumulative impact over almost fifty years to be over $425 million,” communities across the commonwealth. states Mustard.

The GCV horticulture programming and flower shows inspire one “It’s the largest ongoing volunteer effort in Virginia that promotes of Historic Garden Week’s greatest attractions, the world-class floral so many of its communities, both large and small,” shares Stephie arrangements created by club members. It is estimated that over 2,200 Broadwater, State Chairman of Historic Garden Week. “We felt that an arrangements, using greenery and flowers grown in members’ own gardens, economic impact study would help validate that work.” Both agree, and will decorate the homes featured on this anniversary year. Tour proceeds Broadwater concludes, “Historic Garden Week would not be possible fund the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s historic public gardens, without the hard work of nearly 3,400 Garden Club of Virginia members a fellowship program and a centennial project with Virginia State Parks, in 47 clubs across the state.” which the Garden Club of Virginia helped to establish.

Visit www.vagardenweek.org for a complete schedule, suggested itineraries and to purchase tickets.

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 HALSBROOK.COM

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  GCA Spotlight

The GCA Launches National Restoration Initiative In the wake of catastrophic hurricanes and forest fires, the GCA has announced a $50,000 national restoration grant program for clubs. The initiative, to be funded from the GCA fiscal year 2017–18 operating budget, supports landscape restoration and conservation projects undertaken by clubs in communities devastated by recent natural disasters. All that is required is a one-page application, timetable, and discussion of relevant conservation, horticulture, and preservation issues addressed by the proposal. The initiative builds on existing efforts of the Conservation, Horticulture, and Garden History & Design committees, all of which promote a greater understanding of the interdependence of horticulture, environmental protection, and community improvement. Chairmen of the three committees will review applications and recommend awards to the Executive Board. Clubs may submit requests for restoration support by either of two application deadlines: March 31 and May 31, 2018. The application form may be found on the Photo courtesy of Wikimedia GCA Members Area homepage.

The GCA Renews Collaboration with National Audubon Society The GCA’s efforts to restore, improve, and protect the environment are enhanced by constructive collaboration—whether it is working with universities to select scholarship winners or joining with local community groups to pursue habitat restoration through Partners for Plants. In November the GCA formalized an important relationship, renewing a memorandum of understanding with the National Audubon Society, first signed in 2015, providing for ongoing collaboration at the national and club levels. The presidents of both organizations signed the agreement offering a framework for mutually agreeable projects concerning birds, pollinators, biodiversity, and native plants. Photos by Debbie Laverell

The GCA Reaches Out to Capitol Hill In November the GCA renewed its decades-long opposition to drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, calling on members of Congress to protect the richly varied ecosystems in the Arctic. In a letter and call to action, the GCA outlined its support for “native plant biodiversity,” and opposed the use of the tax bill as a “vehicle for opening this rich wildlife habitat, unique to the area, to development.” The GCA also mobilized on behalf of critical plant and seed conservation efforts. Despite Congress’s appropriation of $14 million for plant conservation activities in fiscal year 2017, the Interior Department chose to cancel or block a number of competitively solicited and funded contracts. In a letter to Congress and Secretary Zinke, the GCA demanded release of the approved funds, noting that the programs were “ecologically and fiscally sound efforts that support jobs, successful land restoration, and economic development.” More information is available on the GCA website. Photo by Debbie Laverell

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Waste Management: Talkin’ Trash Let’s face it, the subject of waste is not a sexy topic. It’s messy, complicated, and confusing. The Paris Climate Accord attracted celebrities in droves. It’s doubtful the “Paris Waste Accord” would have quite the same cachet. But waste is a subject that’s becoming critical in our 21st-century reality—so important that it is now the subject of the GCA’s ninth position paper. One [wo]man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so the adage goes. But how do we determine what’s trash, as in it has no value and is bound for a landfill, versus what’s recyclable? City and town mandates differ from one zip code to another, and each municipal facility—literally the way trash is processed—has varying capabilities as well. Then add repurpose and reuse into the mix, and it all becomes even more confusing. Forget about using big words like polyethylene terephthalate, bisphenol-A, or some idle reference to PET, HDPE, and LDPE. That’s when eyes glaze over and most of your audience is gone, gone, gone. No wonder nationwide recycling rates have stalled at 34 percent over the last six years. We love convenience, which combined with massive choice is a mainstay of the American Dream. But the dream can become a nightmare, and the constant discarding of the old to make room for the new is trashing our planet. We consumers throw away goods faster than they can be recycled: plastic bags and bottles, paper products, disposable razors, electronics, even furniture. And think about this staggering statistic: we generate roughly 728,000 tons of garbage a day. We have become a throwaway nation. But let’s back it up a bit. Do we even know where our trash actually goes? We dutifully bag our garbage and haul it out to the curb. But remember: our trash never really goes away. It just goes away from us. Is it being taken to a landfill? Incinerated? In line for conversion of waste-to- energy? Ditto for recycling. It’s fair to say that most of us in the GCA are voracious recyclers. But once the recycling truck trundles down the road and adds our recycling to its load, do we actually know where our glass bottles, magazines, papers, and plastic milk jugs go? The truck has left our neighborhood, but are we confident all our “recyclables” are, in fact, being recycled? It stands to reason that checking with city or county officials may give us answers. Taking it one step further—touring a recycling facility, or a sewage treatment plant, landfill, construction waste facility, mixed municipal solid waste incinerator, or cogeneration facility—will give us a better understanding of what’s trash and what’s recyclable. And then thoughtful consideration about how we will dispose of what we buy could lead to more deliberate purchasing, repurposing, and discarding habits. As we deal with waste issues individually, remember the GCA message—clubs and communities working together can have profound and lasting effects. —Ouida Drinkwater, The Garden Club of Jackson, Zone IX

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Waste Words Glossary* Biodegradable: capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms Compostable: non- liquid material that can be placed into a composition of decaying biodegradable material that eventually turns into nutrient-rich soil Disposable: designed to be used once or a limited number of times and thrown away MRF: materials recovery facility. A specialized plant that receives, separates, and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers Recycle: to treat or process waste materials to make suitable for reuse Repurpose: to give a new purpose or use Reuse: to use again especially in a different way or after reclaiming or reprocessing Single-Use: material that is used once and then thrown away Single Stream: a system in which all paper fibers, plastics, metals, and other containers are mixed in a collection truck instead of being sorted by the depositor into separate commodities (newspaper, corrugated fiberboard, plastics are handled separately throughout the collection process; aka “fully comingled” or “single sort”) Trash: something worth little or nothing Upcycle: to change the original intention of the object so that it becomes something different Waste: refuse (rubbish, garbage, sewage, trash) from places of human or animal habitation Waste-to-Energy: the process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste. WtE is a form of energy recovery and most processes produce electricity and/or heat through combustion or produce a combustible fuel commodity such as methane, methanol, ethanol, or synthetic fuels. *definitions from Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, and Wikipedia

Becoming Mindful— How Did I Get All This Stuff? I spent the last year packing up my New Jersey house of three- plus decades and continually wondered, “How did I get all this?” In addition to my own stuff, I was dealing with unopened boxes of other people’s stuff—inherited from my parents, in-laws, and our two sons. We absorbed whatever seemed to need a home, and then kept shopping when the impulse struck. Sound familiar? I struggled for a year to find environmentally sound solutions or “new homes” for what I was trying to avoid dumping into our local landfill. If you consider that there are 3,000 active landfills in our country today, I suspect I’m not alone in my dilemma. Yes, out of my sight was out of my mind, but giving unwanted possessions away or calling 1-800-Got-Junk might only be making them someone else’s problem. Now that our house is sold, my goal is to be a mindful shopper, whose mantra before any new purchase is “How will I repurpose or recycle this later?” —Pamela Hirsch, Garden Club of Morristown, Zone IV

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Waste Management

grew up on the throwing every inch of it in mean streets of Los dumpsters—drywall, electronics, Carlos Herrera Angeles. His parents glass, doors, wood, concrete, were migrant workers who followed the seasonal crops—grapes in light fixtures, desks, file cabinets, McFarland, citrus in Bakersfield—up and down the California coast. every metal imaginable.” He Eventually the family settled in LA, and his mother—by then a single knew there was an alternative to parent—picked trash to earn a living, which instilled in her five tossing everything away. children a profound understanding of the value of other people’s stuff. Fast forward 24 years and After school on Mondays they’d head to the rich suburbs west of the now Herrera, with his sister city, Tuesdays to Hollywood, Wednesdays would be downtown Los Vicky at his side, is founder Angeles, rooting through garbage cans. “We’d go to Dodger Stadium and president of Interior for every home game,” says Herrera, “but never to watch the game. Removal Specialist, Inc. (IRS), We’d be in the parking lot going through the trash.” They were taught the only company of its kind to sort—metals from plastics from glass from paper—and their pecking in the country that specializes order—copper was king, then cast iron, then steel. Herrera’s mother in comprehensive commercial turned other people’s refuse into money to support a family of six. interior demolition, hauling, When he pined for a pair of Nikes and asked his mother if he could and recycling. IRS’s clients buy them with the bucket of scrap tin, she refused. “She told me, ‘That include the law firms, studios, Top: Metal sinks and grab bars will pays for the gas for the car, the copper helps pay our rent, the steel goes multinationals, developers, be reused thanks to IRS’s generous toward electricity.’” In addition to an intense work ethic, two of her contractors, and malls that program that helps nonprofits. guiding principles became ingrained in her son’s DNA: be responsible dot the Los Angeles landscape. and be accountable. When a company moves Middle: Lighting fixtures salvaged After flirting with gangs as a teenager, Herrera eventually found locations or “upgrades,” typically from corporate office buildings and his way to construction and quickly took note of the epic waste he every five to seven years, the old hotels around Los Angeles await a saw on job sites, all ultimately bound for landfills. “I’d grown up with space needs to be demolished new, nonprofit home. my mother, who found value in almost everything,” he says, “and here so the next tenant can build out Left: Carlos Hererra, founder and I was watching a demo crew ripping an entire office space apart and to their specs. Enter IRS, a one- president of IRS.

by Madeline Taking What’s Left, Mayhood, James River Garden {DOING WHAT’S RIGHT} Club, Zone VII  The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Waste Management

windows, chairs, conference backs become planting beds tables, file cabinets, carpet, for an afterschool horticulture sofas, sinks, staplers, paper, program; small filing cabinets and a whole lot more—all of morph into bedside tables it from the various sites IRS at an orphanage in Mexico. has demolished. “We donate Repurposing and reusing are about 30 to 60 tons a month,” important words in the IRS says Ludt. And IRS makes lexicon. “Recycling doesn’t need

File cabinets donated to nonprofits have been repurposed as kitchen cabinets. it all available to nonprofits to happen until something is at no cost. From homeless at the end of its life,” observes company show: they take it back to studs and dismantle everything. shelters, churches, and schools Herrera. What to do with the guts? Part of IRS’s demolition package includes in the area to orphanages IRS has grown significantly disposition of all the contents—from drywall to wiring, furniture to in Mexico, IRS supplies a since its founding in 1994 lumber, carpet to ceiling tiles. host of organizations with and today employs over 250 California law mandates that construction projects generating much needed equipment. “A people. Herrera is driven to act four cubic yards or more of waste per week must divert 65 percent conference table that was used responsibly in every decision he of its debris to recycling. The goal is 75 percent by 2020. But the for several years in a law firm makes. His mother’s principles waste industry tracks by weight, and heavy materials make it easy for on Wilshire Boulevard might guide him every day: “We’re facilities to reach their recycling percentage rates. So, theoretically, have a second or third life as concerned with doing what’s to meet the requirement everything being diverted from any a dinner table at a shelter for right,” he says, “rather than particular site could be all concrete. Not only is the recycling battered women,” notes Ludt. simply doing what’s easy.” percentage tracked by weight, but also by a facility’s average. “It’s Bookshelves turned on their a method designed for cities and counties to verify total diversion for their area, but is useless on a job-by-job basis,” explains Richard Ludt, IRS’s director of environmental affairs. Meaning many of the facilities can hide the lack of diversion of much of the material that eventually becomes toxic waste—the hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from drywall when it’s buried, formaldehyde in manufactured wood, petroleum in carpets, rare earth metals in electronics—all of which could potentially (and often does) get dumped into landfills. It’s a concern to Herrera and his team that some of the toxins released eventually end up in groundwater systems; a culprit for the mercury that poisons drinking water, for example, is improperly discarded fluorescent bulbs. This is a part of “business as usual” IRS chooses to resist. Acting responsibly and being accountable are what drives Herrera and his company’s ethic, thanks to the lessons his mother taught him. Upwards of 80 percent of what comes out of the sites his company demos is diverted from landfills. The drywall becomes gypsum, a soil amendment used by farmers in Northern California, and manufactured lumber and carpet are diverted to local waste-to- energy facilities where they are used to power generators. It is against Herrera’s moral code to waste so one of the most profound aspects of the business he has built is the 100,000-square- foot warehouse chock-a-block full of everything conceivable his A pile of mixed metals extracted from jobsites. IRS will separate what is reusable company has salvaged—framed art, cables, desks, lamps, doors, and recyclable.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Waste Management

As a teenager I remember watching my father patiently cut up the six-pack rings that held our soda cans together. When I asked him why, he said, “What if an animal got caught in this tangle?” He was The Problem a math whiz employed in the field of cellulose technology. If he ever had any awareness of the modern environmental movement, he of Plastics never mentioned it. What he did have was a love of animals and a sense of justice. Whether those plastic rings were the beginning or end of his concerns about the polymers that had already taken over consumers’ imaginations, from Tupperware to toys, I’ll z never know. But I do know he’d have been squarely on the side of Peanut, a red-eared slider, who— rescued from a plastic beverage ring that deformed his shell, making it narrow at the center, like a peanut—has been the poster turtle of Missouri’s Department of by LORRAINE ALEXANDER, Conservation education programs Millbrook Garden Club, Zone III for three decades.

Debris including ropes, nets, plastics, and biological specimens found on a 2009 SEAPLEX expedition. Photo courtesy of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Waste Management

If only we could all be rescued, like Advances reported on the first actual tally a little of it at a time. But scientists from Peanut, from the plastics without which we of global plastic waste, which revealed that, Bejing to Cadiz are studying garbage. The cannot conceive of living. Just try convincing of the 33.6 million tons of plastic that are 5 Gyres Institute, based in Los Angeles, your neighbor (or yourself) to go without discarded annually, only about 9 percent scoured the world’s oceans for plastics plastic wrap and freezer bags…and see how is recycled, 12 percent is incinerated, and between 2007 and 2012, scooping up quickly defenses go up. You can research a 79 percent either goes underground into surface particles and visually counting very non-plastic toothbrush—good luck!—but landfills, where it conveniently disappears, in large pieces. Researchers from the Scripps it will be shipped to you in a plasticized the present, or remains scattered throughout Institute in San Diego sailed into the Great envelope. And what about the squeeze-tube the environment. Sir David Attenborough’s Pacific Garbage Patch to take samples and the toothpaste comes in, and the bottle that Plastic Oceans organization estimates that eventually make very educated guesses based holds your minty mouthwash? And you humanity manufactures 300 million tons on, say, the number of plastic drift nets or haven’t even left your bathroom yet! of “virgin” plastic yearly, which he calls “an bottles or dead seabirds per nautical mile. Here’s the crux of the problem: aside environmental catastrophe.” Why? Because To reach the so-called garbage patch, from a few bioplastics made from switch no matter how much plastic you throw away, the Scripps expedition went deep within the grass, soy, sugar, or corn, traditional it never really goes away, not at this stage in planet’s largest ecosystem, the North Pacific plastics, made from heating and treating our technological development at any rate. Gyre. Similar to slow-moving whirlpools, the hydrocarbons, are not biodegradable; they And we are enablers. A 2015 study presented gyres—there are five big ones—are generated are impervious, so far, to the microorganisms before the American Association for the by currents and winds, and they keep ocean that decompose organic matter. Even the Advancement of Science confirms that 8 waters circulating around the globe. Their photodegradable ones, reduced by light million tons of plastic enter the oceans every vortices pull in debris either directly, from to tiny pellets, remain suspended in our year as refuse. fishing and cargo vessels, or indirectly from oceans, where marine life including coral Among the risks posed by plastics for the waste produced on land and moved, via mistakes them for food. If you try to melt consumers is that of drowning in a sea rivers, to the coastlines. plastics, they release toxic VOCs. If you bury of statistics. What does 9 percent of 33.6 Beach cleanup is important to erase them, they leach methane, a greenhouse million tons look like? We can see only dangerous eyesores, but much of the gas estimated to trap heat 30 times more powerfully than CO2. Recycling, so far our best societal shot at controlling plastic waste, is nonetheless an exercise beset by a confusing array of permissible categories and the inadequacies of many facilities. Further, most recycled plastics are actually “down-cycled,” meaning a plastic bottle is typically good for only one more use, as plastic turf, say. After that, it’s tossed. (Glass, an alternative food container, is 100 percent recyclable and has an endless recycled life with no loss of quality. Citing handling costs, however, business interests have collided with conservation ones.) To any of us convinced we never quite succeed at living in the present, this One of the great seabirds native to the North Pacific, with a typical wingspan of six feet, the Laysan waste-management disaster can seem ironic albatross is especially at risk from floating plastics. As of February 2017, 98 percent of studied albatross because, as it turns out, we are experts at had ingested plastic debris, which obstructs their digestive tract and can puncture internal organs. Photo living in the present. Last October’s Science courtesy of the Surfrider Foundation

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 

Albatross_17x11.indd 1 7/12/12 2:25 PM made thermoplastic polymer, derived from centers, the only real solution is the invention cotton cellulose) had been invented by John of materials that will supplant plastics as we Hyatt, a young printer in Upstate New know them, period. So far assorted bacteria York. Rayon followed in 1890; Bakelite, and even mealworms, who have an uncanny the first plastic derived from a fossil fuel taste for Styrofoam, have been studied as (coal), in 1907; cellophane in 1912. It wasn’t avenging angels, with no wide-ranging long before hydrocarbons dominated the results. Donovan Hohn, whose Moby-Duck: production of plastics, and this skyrocketed The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at during World War II, when plastics were Sea documents the story of a container that The plastics we discard on land and at sea are used widely, from parachutes to bazooka broke apart in the Pacific in 1992, provides swept into the vortices of these gyres, and the barrels. With peace, the challenge was how an overview: “What’s most nefarious about largest is in the North Pacific, where the so-called to keep factory wheels spinning. Enter the plastic is the way it pretends to deny the North Pacific Garbage Patch has formed. Diagram modern consumer. Suddenly plastic, cheap laws of matter...the way it is intended to courtesy of Wikimedia and versatile, was everywhere. And that be thrown away but chemically engineered seemed like a good thing: fewer trees felled; to last. By offering the false promise of polluting debris in the Pacific’s junkyard is no more ivory knick-knacks or tortoiseshell disposability, of consumption without cost, it not visible; broken down but not eliminated, combs, endangering their source species; and has helped create a culture of wasteful make- it’s distributed throughout the depths, plenty of accessible convenience. Despite believe, an economy of forgetting.” creating deathtraps for wildlife. Plastic bags the reservations of Ben Braddock in the One of many burgeoning attempts are among the worst threats to sea turtles, 1967 movie The Graduate—remember when to regain our collective memory while seals, and fish. After six years of advocacy Mr. McGuire drew him aside to counsel simultaneously looking into the future to ban the bags throughout California, a a future in “one word…plastics”?—we bit without blinking is the strategy of Parley for bill was signed into law in 2014. But, as hard and now live with Texas-size flotillas of the Oceans, based on the curiously consoling noted by the Surfrider Foundation, state unintended consequences. Today about 50 premise that the persistence of plastics in the legislatures in New York, Florida, Wisconsin, percent of what goes into the construction environment is a “design failure, one that can Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Idaho, and of new cars is, according to the American only be [re]solved if we reinvent the material Arizona have prevented cities from passing Chemistry Council, plastic. And now itself.” In other words we invented our way bag-limiting regulations, whether outright for the bad news: in 38 of our 50 states into this colorful, durable, malleable mess, bans or 5-cent fees. Globally the top five manufacturers are not required to disclose and now we must invent our way out of it. plastics polluters are China, Indonesia, the use of BPA, an additive linked to Henry Ford was once a champion of soy- Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. The US hormonal disruption, in clear-plastic baby based plastics in his cars, and Ford Motors occupies the #20 spot, just after North Korea bottles. is taking another hard look at bioplastics, as and before any other nation in the West. Nancy Wayne, a reproductive neuro- are Coca-Cola and other industries hunting Graham Hawkes, an English marine endocrinologist at UCLA, calls plastics for renewable sources as fossil fuels become engineer and designer who for decades held “the devil that we made a deal with,” and more difficult to access. Perhaps a truly the solo dive record for submarines, has this her cardinal rule is “never heat plastic.” But “green” plastic will one day save marine to say about us and the oceans: “We’re the that’s the tail end of the problem. What life, and us, if we focus on enticing more big-brained animals on this planet, and we’re about the front end, with the production of students into the fields of engineering, putting everything in danger...through our new plastics doubling every decade? George industrial design, and oceanography. Which consumption and our waste.” Bittner, a professor of neurobiology and brings us to the oceans themselves. While How did this happen? The timeline pharmacology at the University of Texas scientists worldwide are tackling the problem on our plastics dependence begins with the at Austin, agrees with Wayne that after of plastics—how to measure micro-plastics, 1838 discovery, in France, of cellulose, a consumers have lobbied their grocery stores how to improve recycling—the new science natural plant fiber derived from wood and (no more Styrofoam egg cartons, please) and of marine debris management has barely cotton. By 1870 celluloid (the first man- municipal councils to upgrade recycling started. How long are we willing to wait?

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Waste Management

You’re thirsty, so you buy a drink that comes with a straw or stirrer. You use it and innocently throw it away. Would you order that drink with a straw again if you knew it is typically not recyclable and would end up in a landfill or, worse yet, the ocean? Single-use plastics are a hot ticket item in the lexicon of waste management these days. “Single-use” typically refers to plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, and cups that are quickly discarded. It’s not that they can’t be recycled, it’s that the protocols and systems of many recycling facilities lack the ability to sufficiently process them. They’re often too small or awkward, sometimes clogging the machines. Straws, particularly egregious, are one of the top-ten items picked up on beach cleanup days worldwide. According to ecocycle.org the US alone uses 500 million disposable straws daily—a number that would fill about 125 school buses. In a year, the straws would fill Yankee Stadium nine times, and the bus count would soar to 46,400! Additionally, littering remains Single-use straws and bottles a major culprit worldwide. bound for a recycling center. Photo The problem, clearly, is enormous. Sometimes that creates inertia, by Gay Legg Such a but taking steps on the local level is the GCA way. Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club members did just that and appeared in front of Carmel’s city council last October to support an ordinance to eliminate the use of to-go plastic foodware, including plastic straws and utensils, by 2018. Thanks to unprecedented community support, which included Carmel River Elementary School fifth graders, who were the first to approach Small the mayor and city council, the ordinance was passed unanimously. Nearly 2,000 miles away, in August 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rain on Southeast Texas, causing devastating flooding and a compromised potable water supply. “Drinking water became a hot commodity,” explains Elizabeth Waddill from the Magnolia Garden Club in Beaumont. “But once Thing, the shortage was broadcast, help began arriving.” Palettes of lifesaving water showed up by the truckload and, while gratitude was enormous, club members soon realized that with the water came a plethora of empty plastic bottles. At first there was no alternative but to regard them as single-use plastics; there simply was nothing in place to Starting in 2018 single-use plastic straws will be available only upon handle the enormity of the situation. But MGC brainstormed to find Such request in Carmel-by-the-Sea. a solution. “Opportunities for action and change come in unexpected Photo by Diana Fish ways,” Waddill says. “We got to work and created a coalition, CRUSH and COLLECT, which jump-started a renewed recycling awareness in our city.” This grassroots campaign started with receptacles for the bottle waste at a local grocery store and area restaurants and was a Big spurred on by social media. Eventually recycling receptacles were installed at 25 locations throughout the city. While CRUSH and COLLECT was born out of the ravages of Hurricane Harvey, it is alive and well and continues to promote the city’s recycling program and a broader awareness of waste. Both the Carmel-by-the-Sea and Magnolia garden clubs’ actions Problem illustrate what purposeful community activism can accomplish. —Pamela Hirsch, Garden Club of Morristown, Zone IV; Susan Uydess, Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club, Zone XII; Elizabeth Waddill, Magnolia Garden Club, Zone IX

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Waste Management SUCCESS WITH INTERCEPTION...

Mr. Trash Wheel. Photo by Gay Legg

Reduce, reuse, compost, recycle construction of the trash wheel and manages operations, is tasked with the are common environmental parlance, but another term should be on that Healthy Harbor Initiative, working with multiple city agencies. Director Adam list: intercept. This is what John Kellett, a longtime waterman, thought when Lindquist recommends the public-private partnership model, which helped he looked at the Baltimore harbor after every rainstorm. He saw bottles with the permit process and raised $800,000 for the first trash wheel. and Styrofoam debris bobbing down a major stream that leads into the The cost has come down as solar panels have become more affordable; harbor, and asked, “How can we intercept this and collect the trash before a successful crowdfunding campaign raised over $550,000 for additional it gets into the harbor?” His engineering brain kicked into gear, and he put wheels. Baltimore is also trying other intercepting methods, including together the idea of a stationary waterwheel turned by the hydropower of skimmer boats and over 1,000 inlet screens, which are being tested in the stream current, which would scoop the trash. Booms funnel the trash storm drains. Currently the collected trash is transported for incineration onto a conveyor belt, which gets deposited right into a dumpster. But how at the city’s clean-power plant, but new recycling methods are being tried. else to power it? Solar panels are mounted on a hood above the dumpster. Cigarette butts, for example, are being sent to the recycling firm TerraCycle, In 2014 the first “trash wheel” was born. There are now three in Baltimore which is able to convert them to other products including bricks and collecting, literally, tons of trash. Waterfowl and fish are able to go right over benches. the booms. It can be turned on and off by an operator using a smart phone, Cities are encouraging convenience stores to change packaging. The and it even has a camera on it! Baltimore City Council recently reintroduced a bill to ban Styrofoam within Branding it with a name—Mr. Trash Wheel—and personalizing it city limits. This “non-point source” pollution going down gutters and streams with giant googly eyes got 1.5 million views on YouTube. That helped is not always purposeful litter—animals scattering trash and ineffective generate worldwide interest, and several US cities are exploring their own street cleaning contribute. In the past, cities were able to let it all drift out to installations—Honolulu, Milwaukee, Newport Beach, and multiple sites in sea, turning a blind eye to the havoc trash wreaked in oceans. But now they New York including the Hudson River, the Bronx River, and the Gowanus are being asked to “own it” and take responsibility for intercepting it at its Canal and Coney Island Creek in Brooklyn. most concentrated point close to shore before it enters open water. Baltimore’s Waterfront Partnership, the nonprofit that backed the —Gay Legg, St. George’s Garden Club, Zone VI

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Waste Management THE OCEAN CLEANUP

The Ocean Cleanup’s North Sea prototypes. Photo courtesy of The Ocean Cleanup

A 23-year-old Dutch inventor just may have below the ocean’s surface to ensure the floating screens move slower than a solution to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is roughly the size of the plastic and hold the system in the spots where they can collect garbage Texas and spans the west coast of North America to Japan. Also known most efficiently. as the Pacific Trash Vortex, it is so far from any coastline that no nation will The initial design began as a 65-mile floating V-shaped array, but prototype agree to fund its cleanup. But Boyan Slat, the CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, testing in the North Sea determined a smaller version had the potential to has devised a passive plastic-capturing system that uses the ocean’s currents be more effective. Nevertheless, there are skeptics. Oceans are notoriously to herd and catch plastic debris. He originally conceived of this idea in his strong, and there’s no real-world evidence that the systems will hold up when high school science class. Slat’s plastic collecting traps—“arrays”—are giant subjected to their intense power. Furthermore scientists worry that marine floating devises, one-half mile to a mile in length, that let the oceans do life may ingest the plastic being corralled. And much of what gets trapped most of the work. The design, which has undergone numerous revisions, is well below the ocean’s surface—again prompting skeptics who say the is currently in production. It’s two garbage is much deeper than the arrays are capable of collecting. years ahead of schedule and set Despite critics Slat and The Ocean Cleanup have brought further attention to debut sometime this year in the to this massive problem. With increased awareness may come prevention— Pacific. and more thoughtful consumption habits so yet another plastic bag or straw The Ocean Cleanup’s design doesn’t end up on a beach somewhere or in one of the ocean’s garbage uses mobile floaters with solid, patches. Other proposed solutions—involving vessels and nets—would U-shaped screens that collect likely require billions of dollars and time we don’t have. If the arrays work debris and channel it to a central they have the potential to reduce the cleanup time from millennia to years— point, where it can then be maybe eradicating as much as 50 percent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The extracted and sent to recycling in just five years. “The cleanup of the world’s oceans is right around the Ocean Cleanup. Photo courtesy of facilities. The system employs sea corner,” remarked Slat. “I am confident we will succeed in our mission.” Stay The Ocean Cleanup anchors that drift about 2,000 feet tuned.…

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  GCA Profile Nathaniel Reed: A GCA Medalist’s Life in Conservation

issues—from saving the redwood forests to halting the killing of Russian polar bears. He was instrumental in the passage of both the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. Reed has been an officer or board member of the Everglades Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, and the National Audubon Society. He currently serves as an Honorary Trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Tell us about your life’s work in conservation. How Nathaniel Reed. Photo courtesy of did it start? Reed worked to protect the Alaska wilderness. Photo by Debbie Laverell Nathaniel Reed I joined Florida Governor Kirk’s administration in the late In 1971 I was appointed parks, refuges, preserves, Nathaniel Pryor Reed received 1960s. He taught me about Assistant Secretary of the forests, and recreation areas. the GCA’s Elizabeth Craig the Florida legislature—how Interior by President Nixon. At The GCA deserves incredible Weaver Proctor Medal in 2010 bills are passed, how inside that time the most important thanks for its consistent, nine- “in recognition of his lifelong groups gain control—and person in The Garden Club year support for one of the commitment to conservation about the developers, polluters, of America was the famous great environmental triumphs. and preservation of our natural and agriculturists. There were Wilhelmina Waller. Willie was This could not have been done resources and his tireless efforts to extraordinary sewage problems in my office frequently and was without the support of the promote environmental issues.” in southeast and southwest an extraordinary force in my environmental groups, and I He also received the GCA’s Florida. I investigated why life. include the GCA, which never Francis K. Hutchinson Medal the counties and cities were Right before he went out wavered. [The Act’s] great in 1976, which recognized absolutely disregarding the of office, President Carter historical value is second only him as a “true conservationist, first Clean Water Act of the signed into law the Alaska to Teddy Roosevelt’s creation of knowledgeable, dedicated, ’60s. Recognizing that there National Interest Lands the national park system. courageous, and staunch.” He is was a need to form plans for Conservation Act, which is one a businessman, conservationist, regional treatment plants, I of the great triumphs of the What do you think is and author. He served as an met with mayors, who disliked GCA. Willie had said that this the most important environmental advisor to six each other and argued—it was the last great chance for environmental law? Florida governors. As Assistant taught me about patience a major land withdrawal. She The Clean Water Act without Secretary of the US Department and how to persuade them to said, “Let’s do it right.” I had a doubt—the controlling of of the Interior for National acquire land for future sewage been given the job of selecting noxious human sewage and Parks, Fish and Wildlife, he treatment plants. Because of the lands in Alaska to be saved industrial waste, which is still succeeded in convincing President my persistence the land was in as national parks and national going on. The era of burning Nixon to ban the pesticide 1080 place for these plants when the wildlife refuges. The act rivers and irresponsible and DDT. He has been deeply Clean Water Act (1972) was established 104.3 million acres discharges of highly dangerous involved in environmental passed. of new or expanded national and carcinogenic chemicals

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 GCA Profile

Morning light at Lake Okeechobee. Protection of the Everglades has been a Roseate spoonbills forage in Eco Pond. Photo by Mac Stone lifetime goal of Reed’s. Photo by Mac Stone is basically coming to an I have gone up against many more good science, more was a horticulturist and a great end, although there always of them and won. Politically positive response by the leading lover of peonies. My mother will be exceptions that have it is an issue. There is hardly environmental organizations— and father taught us what earth to be rigorously battled. The a person running for the slowly but surely recognition stewardship is all about. immensity of the volume of legislature who doesn’t proclaim is occurring in business. We My book Travels on the undertreated chemical waste a strong environmental are such an inventive society. Green Highway is not intended that was being discharged into interest—although they don’t Properly led and motivated, to be read all at one time—it lakes, rivers, estuaries was so always vote that way. We have all kinds of good changes can is a series of short stories and colossal that it is still hard to come a long way but we have and will take place even over essays. The reader will gain believe. There is not a river a long way to go. The power of determined opposition. It will a tremendous amount of that wasn’t used as a sewer. the GCA from a standpoint of happen. knowledge about where we Now the offending company ethics/stewardship remains a have been and where we will has to clean up following EPA very potent force. What else do you go. The most important thing mandates. Today it is critically want people to know is that change can take place important that we face the What do you see about you? if we rally around the need, fact that agricultural pollution as the next world The GCA has been accept the challenges, and make from fertilizers and pesticides is crisis regarding the extraordinarily generous to the most out of opportunities. dangerous. environment? me. My mother, Permelia It can happen. It must happen. Global warming. The Pryor Reed, received a high —Julie Badger, Sand Hills Does the power overwhelming evidence shows honor [the 1991 Achievement Garden Club, Zone VIII structure often win in that we have got to take major Award] from the GCA. Her environmental issues? steps to control SO2 (sulfur five children were there, and it The ‘good old boys’ are a dioxide) discharges into the was one of the great days of our combination of the developers atmosphere. I think it will lives. My mother-in-law was a and their allies in government. take a more unified front, passionate member as well. She

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Conservation

Mt. Cuba Center’s vistas unfold with woodland The sculptural gates, depicting native species, at A variety of echinacea tested in the research paths leading to meadows. Photos by Gay Legg the entrance to Mt. Cuba. trial garden attracts a butterfly, exemplifying the interdependence of species.

The landscape of the Brandywine Valley Now the gates at the steep, wooded Pamela and Lammot du Pont Copeland is known for its natural abundance— entrance to Mt. Cuba are wide open. These first purchased 126 acres of land in 1935 and hardwoods, fertile land, streams, and native are not antique gates, but fabricated by built their large Colonial Revival residence, species—and its gardens are admired around a local sculptor out of burnished iron to Mt. Cuba, whose name is not a reference to the world. For the last century the area has resemble the dense trees and leaves and the island but to a nearby early 18th-century been a focus of extraordinary landowners the shape of the actual Mt. Cuba hillside. settlement. With the help of landscape Twho have protected some 63,000 acres in Symbolic because Mt. Cuba is not an historic designers Thomas Sears and Marian Cruger the Brandywine Conservancy. Many were house museum like many of the other Du Coffin, they transformed bare fields into lush connected to one family of early 19th- Pont estates—although there is a handsome woods and gardens and acquired additional century immigrants—the Du Ponts, who mansion—but like the gates, the focus is acreage. The Copelands—he was president owed their early fortune to the gunpowder on the grounds and plants. “Many people and chairman of E.I. du Pont de Nemours mills they built along the Brandywine River. think of conservation as only open space and Company, she was deeply engaged in They not only valued the land but sought preservation or saving a species,” observes community and cultural organizations—were to enhance it by creating extraordinary Executive Director Jeff Downing. “At committed conservationists after a changing showplaces: Longwood, Winterthur, Mt. Cuba it’s about inspiring a legacy of ethic began to threaten the Brandywine Nemours, and Hagley have opened their conservation of the plant life itself.” Valley landscape. Native plants were a buildings and gardens to the public for many particular passion and, with the help of years, attracting millions of visitors. But a landscape architect Seth Kelsey, developing few miles down the road, Mt. Cuba Center, Conservation naturalistic areas became a focus throughout the relative newcomer in the Du Pont legacy, the ’60s and ’70s. The Copelands’ vision led has only been fully open to the public since in the to the establishment of the Mt. Cuba Center 2013. Brandywinea a Foundation in 1989. Valley: Mt. Cuba

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Conservation

George Coombs, horticultural research manager at Water is recycled through specially created ponds The canopy of giant tulip poplars provides natural the trial garden. that showcase native plants and wildflowers for habitat for birds and insects. bog climates.

Now there is a staff of horticulturists Although her husband died in 1983, The South Garden, close to the main overseeing 583 acres of managed natural Pamela Copeland lived until 2001, nurturing house, was recently renovated and provides lands, 20 acres of gardens, and an active the gardens long after the foundation was more traditional beds to showcase the docent program. Mt. Cuba uses the established. After her death the board and cultivars and species that have been most descriptive phrase “gardening on a higher staff decided that her vision of research successful in the trial garden. “We want level” appropriate to its hilltop location, but and learning could best be accomplished visitors to see that a home landscape can also to Pamela Copeland’s stated mission: by replacing the large cutting garden be beautiful, but also that what you choose “I want this to be a place where people will with an extensive trial garden, including to plant can be beneficial for the birds, learn to appreciate our native plants and to a screened section for shade plants, where butterflies, and pollinators,” says Coombs. see how these plants can enrich their lives so they could try varieties of perennials every “These plants are more than just pretty. that they, in turn, will become conservators season and determine the differences for the They interact on a much deeper level of of our natural habitats.” Piedmont grower—both the home gardener conservation. We have a chance to really Today a canopy of huge tulip poplars and and professional nursery trade. George affect the footprint.” Executive Director other native trees covers the hilltop. Shaded Coombs, manager of horticultural research, Jeff Downing remarks that when Mt. Cuba paths bordered by ferns lead to the meadow, describes the trial garden as the “Consumer closes for the winter, the staff starts working which is covered with native grasses, and to Reports” for the best native species of the on another trial garden. “You’ve never seen ponds surrounded by wildflowers and moss. Piedmont. He has produced extensive anything like the wildflowers and ephemera The ponds, surprisingly, are not natural but research studies available to the public in the spring!” created to showcase appropriate plants; their on heucheras, monardas, baptisias, asters, water is recycled and pumped back up the echinaceas, coreopsises, and phloxes. In 2002 hill to cascade down in stony streams. Pamela Mt. Cuba began its transition to a public Copeland was said to walk the paths regularly garden; in 2013, after careful strategizing a and note details about weeding or pruning and thoughtful planning, it fully opened by tying colored strings around branches and to the public. Honoring the Copelands’ by Gay Legg, putting notes into actual mailboxes scattered commitment to conservation, Mt. Cuba’s St. George’s Garden throughout the garden—an effective pre-tech educational program is robust. Over 130 method of letting her gardeners know what classes were offered last year, including a Club, Zone VI needed attention. certificate program in ecological gardening.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference 2017

Flyover country and flyoverland are sometimes used to describe the interior regions of the US—Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Kansas, and Nebraska, for example. So many people today fly Flyover.from one coast to the other without stopping to experience these remarkable landscapes. This area of the country is best known as America’s heartland. It is home to prairies, grasslands, and the Great Plains, one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. It is also directly on the seasonal migratory path of sandhill cranes, monarch butterflies, and countless birds, bats, and other pollinators. The 16th annual Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference was held last fall in Omaha, Nebraska. Des Moines Founders Garden Club member and SMHC Chairman Linda Grieve wanted to share the “Jewels of the Plains” with a broader GCA audience. “The prairie is so unique and so special,” says Linda. “It’s old, yet it renews itself year after year. It can inspire us all to see the real yet simple beauty in nature and appreciate each blade of grass as it moves in chorus with the wind.” Staying true to Shirley Meneice’s intent, this year’s conference gave attendees an opportunity to immerse themselves in America’s heartland. The conference kicked off on September 24 with a dinner at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The evening’s featured speaker was Michael Forsberg, a Nebraska native who has spent 20 years as a photographer and conservationist dedicated to chronicling wildlife and conservation stories in North America’s Great Plains. Lectures, workshops, breakout sessions, and panel discussions filled Monday’s schedule. Additionally the Horticulture Committee reviewed its many inspiring initiatives—from those at the club level to those targeted at the GCA audience nationwide. Tuesday’s seminars at Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s botanical garden that happens to be partially built on a landfill, was chock-full of guest speakers and workshops on a plethora of hort-related topics—from beekeeping to tool maintenance, proper pruning to cutting-edge plant design, wreath making to pollinators. The half-day trip to Glacier Creek Prairie Preserve in Bennington, Nebraska, was a chance to explore a tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Dinner at Durham Museum, an Art Deco treasure located in the original Union Pacific Railroad Station, featured a presentation by Spencer Crews, executive director of Lauritzen Gardens. For those who were fortunate enough to spend time at this year’s Meneice, Omaha is so much more than mere flyover country. Thanks to an exceptional conference committee, over 200 delegates were immersed in everything that makes this jewel of the plains such an outstanding backdrop for a GCA conference. As Carl Sandburg, often considered the voice of America, wrote affectionately in “Prairie” (Cornhuskers, 1918): “The prairie sings to me in the forenoon and I know in the night I rest easy in the prairie arms, on the prairie heart.”

Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference 2017 Omaha, Nebraska

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference 2017

by Madeline Mayhood, James River Garden Club, Zone VII

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference 2017

SMHC Featured SMHC Post Trip Speakers If the Meneice conference wasn’t enough, the Michael Forsberg, “Flyover Country: A post trip was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to Photographer’s 20-Year Journey” see the world-class art collection of Karen and Mary Maxwell, “Aging in the Garden” Robert Duncan, who live on a sprawling 40-acre Neil Hamilton, Agricultural Law Center, Drake estate in Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital. Inside and University, Diane Ott Whealy, Seed Savers out the Duncans’ staggering collection—which Exchange, Laura Merrick, Iowa State University, includes works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Louise “A Long Legacy from Saving Seeds to Plant Bourgeois, Bruce Nauman, and Kiki Smith— Breeding” features both emerging artists and those Spencer Crews, Lauritzen Gardens, “From the highly sought-after. The couple collects from all Ground Up” corners of the globe, but they very deliberately Dr. Tom Bragg, Glacier Creek Prairie Preserve, target local artists. They are especially drawn “Prairie History and Restoration” Why Are Conferences to sculpture; living artists are their preference, Ted Burke, PhD, University of Creighton, Important? and women feature prominently in both subject “Butterflies and Other Pollinators: Their Nectar Inspiration…Education…Innovation… matter and as creators. Massive art installations and Flowers at Glacier Creek” Collaboration. Every Garden Club of America throughout their landscape include a huge twig Aimee Hurt, Working Dogs for Conservation conference has at least these four elements. and vine sculpture by Patrick Dougherty and David Sutherland, PhD, University of Nebraska Held all over the country at different times of Sophie Ryder’s giant Lady Hare wire sculpture. Omaha, “The Importance of Herbaria in the year, they are designed to cover important Over 2,000 pieces are included in their Botanical Research” and timely topics. They provide delegates extensive collection, reputed to be among the Bob Cook, Beekeeper, “It’s All the Buzz: Bees and unprecedented access to people who are experts top private contemporary art collections in the Beekeepers” in their field about the most pressing issues and world. Trent Erickson, Lauritzen Gardens, “Botanical challenges pertaining to the GCA’s purpose. Nomenclature” Conferences are about education. And Chris Helzer, Nature Conservancy, “The Beauty by deftly using the trickle-down effect—an and Complexities of Prairie” information-sharing phenomenon the GCA has Bob Hendrickson, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, perfected—the content of any conference is Prairie Flowers Workshop made available to all of the nearly 18,000 club Jennifer Hopwood, Xerces Society, “Plants, members. Those in attendance are charged Pollinators, and People,” “Attracting Beneficial with taking the information back to their clubs, Insects to your Garden” thereby encouraging greater involvement on Phil Kauth, PhD/Diane Ott Whealy, Seed Savers the grassroots level. Conference locations Exchange, “Gathering and Preserving Garden are deliberately chosen to highlight the vast Seeds” geographic diversity of our country, sharing the Kelly Norris, Greater Des Moines Botanical various components that make them unique— Garden, “Planting for the Future” their challenges, history, and culture. Philip Pierce, Omaha Forestry Department, “Right The Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference Plant, Right Place, Right Pruning” is arguably the hottest ticket on the GCA Steve Rodie, University of Nebraska Omaha, conference lineup, typically selling out within a “Resilient Landscapes to Heartland Drought,” week. With three days of nonstop horticulture, “Resilient Landscape Responses to Heartland delegates return home inspired to translate Subodh Gupta, Dada, 2013. Photo by Gina Brandt Storm Water Management” purposeful initiatives to their clubs. Whether Aaron Sedivy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, through impressive speaker presentations, “Uniting Art and Science Through Botanical Partners For Plants, the Freeman Medal Illustration” competition, Pollinators & Native Plants, or the Gus von Roenn, Permaculture Designer, “Growing Horticulture Showcase, the Meneice Conference Food that Grows Communities” showcases the best horticultural information and Jim Locklear, Lauritzen Gardens, “Jewels of the knowledge available to members of the GCA’s Plains Revived” 200 clubs.

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 GCA Profile Luise Strauss: Passion, Commitment, Action

Why were you drawn to with plants. It doesn’t always need to be support the Shirley Meneice that fancy. We also need time in the “wild.” Horticulture Conference? People need hands-on experiences. And In the GCA it’s horticulture that ties we can highlight specific topics—how the everyone together. Years ago through the local climate encourages great gardens, why Plant Exchange, every club was encouraged choose a plant in the first place, and more. to study—propagate from seeds, cuttings, I would love to see horticulture projects bird droppings, whatever—and grow plants. completed at the zone level, where each club Plants were taken to the Annual Meeting has the same theme and then they share and for evaluation, not judging. Virtually all compare what they learned. clubs participated, so it got people involved. There are so many resources around the When that stopped, there needed to be country to draw on. If we go to Louisiana something focused on horticulture to let’s learn about the research that has been replace it. done in storm preparation. Let’s take notice We talked about it in the Horticulture of what’s happening in other places. Luise Strauss. Photo by Linder Suthers Committee and agreed to have an educational conference. I said at that time I’d You’ve described Shirley “I always say I like to play in the dirt,” make a donation. The whole point of the Meneice as a friend and said Luise Strauss, who has loved conference is to bring people together to mentor. Will you tell us a little horticulture throughout her life. She learn about something, whether it’s prun- about her? Shirley had been the head of the is a founding member of the Shirley ing, trials, trees in the landscape, meadows, growth habits, or common landscape plants. Horticulture Committee when I was Meneice Horticulture Conference asked to be on the committee. She was and a former vice chairman of the What elements of a always there and always involved. She has a GCA’s Horticulture Committee. The conference are important to terrific sense of humor, but basically it’s her conference was named in honor of you? curiosity and ability to share that. I went on Shirley Meneice, GCA Horticulture It’s important that there’s time in classrooms a trip to Tasmania with her a couple of years Committee chairman (1995–97), a so people can learn about horticulture, ago. We would walk around the botanic learn how to plant, and learn what to do gardens and argue back and forth over what renowned horticulturist, and mentor a plant was. We’re not talking exotics—we to many in the GCA. Since the first knew just enough to get in trouble. There’s conference in 2002, Luise has quietly no sense of prima donna with her. She’s just contributed an annual stipend to another person who likes plants. I always support its educational component. At say I like to play in the dirt and she does, the 2017 conference in Omaha, GCA too. People give her plants, she puts them in her garden, and she decides if she likes President Dede Petri thanked Luise them or not. She told me (with a smile) for her generosity and announced that occasionally it’s based on the people who Luise had made a major donation, give them to her. She takes her sense of which will be used to fund future humor and plants it in her garden. Humor speakers for the Meneice Conference. may allow all of us to be better gardeners, no Luise will celebrate 40 years as a matter the age! member of the Newport Garden Club —Helen Wagner, West Chester Garden Club, Zone V this year. We all thank Luise! Photo by Alice Thomas

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Conservation

rasslands are found on every as close as possible to being no have multi-season interest. They colored flowers to attract insects. continent except Antarctica, but maintenance. They are very are especially valuable in fall They release their pollen into Gthe prairie is unique to North adaptable, growing in poorer and winter, when they combine the air to float from flower America. Native grasses are soils than most garden plants beautifully with late-blooming head to flower head on gentle the backbone of the American and, once established, they flowers as well as evergreens breezes. The lack of brightly tallgrass prairie, and many of require very little care beyond and fruiting shrubs. Waving in colored flowers doesn’t mean them also make wonderful annual cutting back. They rarely the slightest breeze, they bring grasses aren’t showy, however. garden plants. need watering or fertilizing and movement and sound to the The inconspicuous flowers are Native grasses bring are seldom bothered by insects landscape, two elements lacking arranged in tight, vertical clusters both practical and aesthetic or diseases. On the aesthetic side, in most plants. called spikes or branched clusters benefits to the landscape. On grasses come in a wide range of Being wind-pollinated, called panicles. Flowers can the practical side, they come heights, colors, and textures and grasses don’t need brightly be lacy panicles, stiff brushes,

by Lynn M. Steiner, Saint Paul Garden Club, Zone XI

Left: The clumping, upright Left: Tufted hairgrass Jewels of formsthe of many prairie Plains:(Deschampsia caespitosa) Native Grasses grasses are a nice contrast grows 3 to 4 feet tall in to looser-growing, flowering flower. plants. Below: Switchgrass Below: Sideoats grama (Panicum virgatum) grows (Bouteloua curtipendula) 4 to 8 feet tall. Fall color is grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Its golden to deep burgundy. distinguishing feature is the orange and purple oatlike flower spikelets that dangle uniformly from one side of the stem rising above the gray-green foliage. Right: Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grows 4 to 8 feet tall. The blue-green leaves turn bronzy red-orange in late fall. Silvery white flowers appear in midsummer and drooping seed heads follow in late summer. All photos by Lynn M. Steiner unless otherwise noted

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Conservation

or waving plumes, often with of these forms. Most are clump- especially those with delicate, create entire gardens of grasses. beautiful fall color. Most grasses forming, growing in nice, neat airy seed heads, look best against Beyond their landscape value, flower from late summer into mounds, increasing in width a dark background and placed native grasses provide cover, fall, but some flower earlier. In slowly over time and rarely where they can catch morning or nesting material, and seed for late summer their seed heads become invasive. They have evening light. birds and small mammals. Many turn a multitude of subtle but many functions in the landscape. Grasses have a pure, abstract are larval hosts of butterflies. The rich shades ranging from bronze Taller types can be used similarly quality that blends well with mature seed heads are prized to gold to crimson, and many to shrubs, as background plants, modern architectures, and their for dried floral arrangements. have colorful fall foliage as well. as specimens, or even as a shapes, colors, and textures And, maybe best of all, deer and Native grasses can be hedge. Smaller types work well contrast nicely with wood, rabbits avoid them! mounded, upright, arching, with annuals and perennials in stone, and other hard structural open, irregular, or combinations herbaceous borders. Most grasses, surfaces. Some people choose to

by Lynn M. Steiner, Saint Paul Garden Club, Zone XI

Left: Pink muhly grass Jewels of the Plains: Native Grasses (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grows 2 to 3 feet tall. The spectacular clouds of fall flowers make it worth growing. Photo by Gay Legg

Below: Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Plants expand to form a fountain-like mound.

Above: Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) in winter.

Left: Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grows 2 to 4 feet tall. Flowering begins in late summer but the thin Above: Indiangrass flower heads really aren’t (Sorghastrum nutans) noticeable until they turn grows 3 to 5 feet tall and to attractive silvery-white produces showy, copper- seed heads. colored flowers in late summer.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  The Monarch Migration, the Prairie, and Milkweed

Most of the reporters who call me don’t have a background in science or even basic natural history. Some are puzzled by the concern about a butterfly. They’ll ask, “Why should we care about losing the migration?” One reporter framed the question more bluntly: “Why do you environmentalists protect animals rather than people?” Implicit in these questions is the notion that by protecting wildlife we are expending resources that could be better spent on people. The best answer is that this is about the world we want to live in. But first let’s start with the monarch migration. The numbers of this iconic insect have been declining for over a decade. It’s clear that the migration could disappear altogether in our lifetime. This decline raises many questions: How did this come about? What can we do about it? And why should we care?

by Orley “Chip” Taylor, Professor Emeritus, University of Kansas Photo by Linder Suthers

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Conservation

Habitat Loss. What can we Why should we Population declines of most do to restore care? The bottom line is that species are associated with a and sustain it is in our self-interest to save the loss of habitat. Land use across the monarch monarch migration and all the life the monarchs’ breeding range, migration? Number- forms that share the same habitats. especially in the Upper Midwest crunching experts tell us that we It’s not just about the monarchs. and the grasslands that were need to restore milkweed and It’s about us. It is about our world originally home to this species, pollinator habitat by at least 20 and the world we want to leave for has changed dramatically over the million acres. This means that future generations. And if you think last two decades. The adoption of we have to use nearly all of the about all that is implied by such herbicide-tolerant (HT) soybeans “available acreage,” which brings actions, it means that we have to and corn, which allowed the crops to mind the phrase “all hands address the even larger issues—the to be sprayed by glyphosate to on deck.” Available acreage is increasing emissions of greenhouse eliminate weeds rather than using envisioned as marginal lands, rights gasses, acidic oceans, rising sea tillage, all but eliminated milkweed of way, old fields, parks, and urban levels, and other threats to life from row crops by 2005. This loss and suburban landscapes including as we know it. It’s all connected. of milkweed was significant since gardens as well as business and There are no separate parts. As a substantial proportion of the corporate properties. In short those monarchs go, so go many, many adult monarch population each of us who have some role in the other things. There are 7.6 billion of summer originated from larvae management of landscapes need us (with a population that is likely to

Chip Taylor among milkweed plugs. that had fed on milkweed in these to be involved. But can we really do reach 9.7 billion by 2050), and we Photo courtesy of Chip Taylor fields. The renewable fuel standard it? The answer is yes. Fortunately are having massive impacts on a (RFS), which was signed into law common milkweed (Asclepias relatively small planet. The pace of Monarch in 2007 with the idea of producing syriaca), the major host for monarch change is exceeding expectations. Numbers and ethanol from corn to reduce our caterpillars, is easy to establish The monarch decline—among many Resources. The number dependency on foreign oil, had from seeds and plugs, and the other signals—is telling us we need of monarchs counted in Mexico the effect of placing a premium species produces clones. The most to slow down and put the brakes each winter is largely determined on lands used to grow grains that beneficial locations for restoration on the processes that are leading by three factors: the number and could be used to grow corn. The are likely to be those that fill the to degradation of the systems reproductive success of monarchs unintended consequence of this gaps in milkweed distribution and that support life. Saving wildlife reaching Texas and Oklahoma the policy was to drive grain production are able to produce monarchs that is all about saving ourselves from previous spring; the number and into grassland areas while also reach the overwintering sites at the ourselves. It’s about the future. timing for the first-generation converting marginal lands to crops. end of the fall migration. Plant milkweed! monarchs reaching their northern Nearly 24 million acres were breeding areas; and summer altered from 2008–11. Much of temperatures. The milkweed and this habitat contained milkweed nectar plant habitat supporting the and nectar sources needed to major portion of this population is sustain monarchs and pollinators. a funnel-shaped area that widens In addition land development from Texas to the Canadian border increases the annual rate of habitat in the Upper Midwest. The vast loss for monarchs by 1–1.5 million prairies and grasslands that were acres a year. Thus, for every year once the home for monarchs (and we don’t offset the loss of at least many other migratory species) have a million acres of habitat, we can been replaced by farms, rangeland, expect the monarch population to and cities. While there are abundant decline further. Other factors that resources for monarchs in some have contributed to the loss of areas, there are also very large habitat include excessive mowing, gaps, or empty fragments, with no the use of herbicides along our resources—and these gap areas are roadsides, and the widespread use One of the many Monarch Waystations in the grasslands of Nebraska. Photo expanding. of insecticides/pesticides. by Peter Berthelsen, courtesy of Conservation Blueprint LLC

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Annual Meeting 2018 “…A Most Beautiful City…”

elcome to Heaven! All of the GGNRA winds to Land’s End, a cliff-side clubs in Zone XII are excited One day, if I go to Heaven— area with restored trails above the ocean, Wto host the GCA’s 2018 Annual I’ll look around and say, where Pacific gray whales spout and sea Meeting showcasing “How the West is lions lounge on the rocks below. The seaside One!” in the heavenly city of San Francisco! ‘It ain’t bad, but it ain’t San boulevard continues on to the base of the Although California didn’t become a Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Point, a state until 1850, a year after the discovery Francisco.’ precautionary fortification built during the of gold sparked the 1849 Gold Rush, San Civil War. Francisco has a much older history. In —Herb Caen, legendary The Presidio, dating from 1776, consists 1776 while the colonists were declaring San Francisco Chronicle columnist of 1,400 acres transferred in 1994 from the independence from England, this peninsula military to the National Park Service in a on the Pacific was coveted by the Spanish unique public/private partnership. The vast and the Catholic Church as a strategic site area includes groves of trees, a restored salt for a fort and a mission. Both the fort, “The marsh, a beach, and Crissy Field—a former Presidio,” and the mission were named for airplane runway today used by soccer teams, St. Francis—San Francisco de Asís. Herb runners, dog walkers, even groups practicing Caen would have appreciated the prescient tai chi. Now another transformation is thoughts expressed by Father Pedro Font in ongoing by the designers of the High Line his 1776 diary: in NYC, converting land over two tunnels along the waterfront roadway into a usable …from this tableland one enjoys a public park—the “Tunnel Tops.” most delicious view…. In fact I have The adjacent Marina District features seen beautiful lands…but none that the ornate 1915 Palace of Fine Arts. Nearby, pleased me so much…. I do believe tourists cluster at Ghirardelli Square and if we could be well populated, as in Fisherman’s Wharf looking up at San Europe, there would be nothing more Francisco’s 43 hills—including Twin Peaks, pretty in the world; for this place has Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, and Russian Hill, the best accommodations for founding where Lombard Street, famously steep, on it a most beautiful city… makes eight hairpin turns around beautifully The most “delicious” view from the planted gardens. Up the slopes of Telegraph tableland is now the Golden Gate Bridge, The garden at Filoli. Photo by Gail Morey Hill, crowned by Coit Tower, many of San stretching from San Francisco to the Marin Facing page, clockwise from top left: Francisco’s early immigrant populations headlands and Sausalito. It links both sides The Bay Bridge at sunrise. Photo by Gail Morey settled North Beach, the city’s Italian of the Golden Gate National Recreation The GCA Grove. Photo by Jim Johnson neighborhood and, famously, Chinatown. Area (GGNRA), which straddles the Bay The wetlands at the Palo Alto Baylands, a P4P To climb these hills, cable cars are a and includes the giant redwoods at Muir project of the Woodside-Atherton GC. Photo by mainstay and, in fact, a National Historic Woods National Monument. Northward Gay Legg Landmark—the only one that moves (at is the famed wine country of Napa and The Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park. a rate of 9.5 miles per hour!). There are Sonoma. Often shrouded in the area’s Photo courtesy of Wikimedia several routes uphill, one of which climbs California Street right outside the front door notorious fog, this view takes in Alcatraz The skyline at sunrise. Photo by Gail Morey Island—“The Rock”—where the infamous of the Annual Meeting hotel in the Financial The city and bay in the background. Photo by District. The Embarcadero runs along the former prison is open for tours, including Susan Fraser gardens once planted by inmates and guards’ waterfront with a beautiful promenade Lombard Street. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia families. Starting at the historic saltwater leading to the Ferry Building at the foot swimming pools at the Sutro Baths, the Center: Filoli’s foxgloves. Photo by Gail Morey of Market Street. It harkens back to early

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  days of food stalls and includes a wonderful the heart of the hippie movement and the market filled with cool eateries and shops. summer of love in 1967. If you follow Just beyond is the city’s other bridge, the Haight Street a few blocks west you will Bay Bridge, that crosses to Oakland and reach Golden Gate Park—over 1,000 Berkeley. The Bay Lights, a dramatic light extraordinary acres including the California installation evoking flowing fog when lit at Academy of Sciences built in 1853; the night, commemorates its 75th anniversary. Conservatory of Flowers; a polo field; the North of Market Street and up the hill is DeYoung Museum of Fine Arts; the 55- palm-filled Union Square. It’s the city’s acre San Francisco Botanic Garden; and historic posh shopping district and home the Japanese Tea Garden built for the 1894 to the venerated Gump’s, founded in 1861. International Exposition, with bonsai, a Today it’s a reminder of the city’s first boom moon bridge, and teahouse where fortune after the Gold Rush, when demand for high- cookies were first created. end goods prompted Solomon and Gustave What this travelogue cannot convey are Gump to travel to Asia to import fine art the intangible things about San Francisco: and decorative objects. the quality of the light, the colors, or the The changing area south of Market surprising temperature—warmth and Street, once the warehouse district, is now coolness all at the same time. Many of these filled with tech startups. Close by the qualities noted by Father Font and later waterfront is AT&T Park, where fans wait Herb Caen have attracted artists, writers, in kayaks to catch the Giants’ fly balls. Just and entrepreneurs to San Francisco. You’ll beyond is the Mission District, the oldest have to come see for yourself. Those hills put part of San Francisco. Mission Dolores was it pretty close to heaven. You may very well founded in 1776 by the Catholic fathers Far West Fungi, a market stall specializing in leave your heart here—while sitting by the as the sixth mission in “Upper California.” mushrooms, in The Ferry Building. Photo by dock of the bay! The nearby Castro District has long been Susan Fraser —Karen Gilhuly, Sandy Scott, the vibrant center of gay culture in San Top: The iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Photo by Gail Woodside-Atherton Garden Club, Zone XII; Francisco, and farther on is Haight-Ashbury, Morey Gay Legg, St. George’s Garden Club, Zone VI

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 2018 Founders Fund Committee at Work

was established The Founders Fundin 1934 in honor of the GCA’s first president, Elizabeth Price Martin. The first award in 1936 was $700, while today a winning entry receives $30,000, with $10,000 going to each of two runners-up. The GCA has come a long way! ¶ The Founders Fund Committee’s landing page on the GCA website contains a wealth of information about past finalists as well as the proposal process. It also includes an online publication of all Founders Fund winners from 1936 to 2017, In Celebration of the Founders Fund: A Centennial Commemoration;

The Founders Fund Committee an interactive map of the United States showing winners across the toured the High Line in New York, country; and a link to winning submissions over the past three years. a renovation of an abandoned elevated railroad track, featuring Each zone representative is an ambassador to clubs for proposal sculpture, horticulture, and fascinating architecture. It ends advice! ¶ The 2018 Founders Fund Committee met in October with the largest mixed-use development in New York City to choose three finalists from impressive submissions proposed in and is a prototype for inner- partnership with community programs from across the country. city renovations throughout the country. Photo by Ann Franzen Each proposal was excellent and represented the hard work, dedication, and commitment on behalf of the proposing clubs. In choosing finalists, the committee uses the GCA purpose statement as criteria for selecting projects that exemplify “actions in the fields of conservation and civic improvement,” as well as those that educate and “stimulate knowledge and love of gardening.” ¶ We are proud to announce this year’s finalists: Zone I’sRoots Rising, proposed by The Lenox Garden Club and seconded by Worcester Garden Club; Zone IX’s Energy Efficient Outdoor Kitchen Classroom for Dunbar Garden in Little Rock, Arkansas, proposed by Little Rock Garden Club and seconded by Memphis Garden Club; and Zone XI’s A Therapeutic Garden: Nurturing Plants and Enriching Minds, proposed by Kenilworth Garden Club and seconded by Garden Club of Evanston. ¶ Every member of a GCA garden club has an opportunity to vote for a winning proposal. Club presidents register their club’s choice on the GCA website by April 1. Over the last two years, all 200 clubs have registered their votes by the The 2017-18 Founders Fund Committee, from left (seated) Marite Robinson, deadline. The announcement of this year’s Zone IV; Anne French, vice chairman, Zone IX; Betsy Huffman, chairman, Zone VII; Denise DuFour, Zone V; (standing) Janet Zovickian, Zone XII; Holly winner and runners-up will be made at the Blake, Zone XI; Nancy Montgomery, Zone IX; Linda Holden, Executive Board liaison, Zone IX; Marie Thomas, Zone VII; Mary Reynolds, Zone X; 2018 Annual Meeting in San Francisco in Anne Endler, Zone III; Ann Franzen, Zone II; Helen Cohen, Zone I; Karen late April. Hull, Zone VIII; Beverley Young, Zone VI. Photo courtesy of Ann Franzen

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  2018 Founders Fund: Roots Rising

“The city and the farm belong to each with small grants, has financed our first other,” says Ward Cheney, The Food Project year of operation. We now seek support in founder. This is the founding belief of achieving long-term financial sustainability. Roots Rising, an agriculture-based youth Our plan is to launch a nonprofit, teen- development program that hires at-risk teens run food truck. With ingredients sourced to work on farms, in community gardens, and from local farms, our crew will prepare in food pantries in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. nutritious food and sell it to community Roots Rising is not just a job. It’s an members. The purpose of the food truck will opportunity for teens to engage in meaningful be threefold: work—work that needs to be done and that contributes to a larger social good. We believe • to enable youth to gain entrepreneurial that meaningful work is transformational. It and culinary skills leaves youth feeling purposeful, capable, and • to increase community access to healthy connected. food

Hunter shares a look of triumphant At Roots Rising our chosen path of • to generate income to pay youth salaries pride as she takes stock of the meaningful work is farming. Teenagers day’s harvest of garlic scapes. That and farms need each other. Growing food The food truck will be both a mobile feeling is captured best by a fellow cultivates essential life skills, like how to classroom and a work site. Williams College crew member: “It amazes me what persevere when the going gets tough. And students are conducting a feasibility study five weeks under the beating sun farms need teens as well. They need their and developing a business plan for the truck. can do to a person. I went from polished nails to a permanent energy, their stamina, and their enthusiasm. In addition local architects and engineers dirt manicure. I have learned to Teens and farms—they’re a perfect fit. are building a mobile greenhouse that will embrace the earth, instead of The need for opportunities is high in be pulled by the truck, where our youth will shying away from all its wonders.” Pittsfield: half of the population is low- gain horticultural skills while also providing Photo by Christine Rahr Lane income and 70 percent of high school us with fresh ingredients. A Founders Fund students are high-need. We hire 24 teens award will enable us to purchase the food annually for our farm crew, though the truck and get this enterprise off the ground. impact goes well beyond these individuals. It is a vital element in our plan to achieve The teens’ families are engaged through farm- financial security and ensure that our farm related events. Our local food system benefits: crew will be happily at work for the long haul. small farms are in real need of our labor. Our farm crew plants, weeds, and harvests crops in a fraction of the time required by an individual farmer. We work in a food pantry, where we serve city residents in need, and in local community gardens, where we build raised beds and harvest crops that are donated to the pantry. Ultimately we aim to be a model of farm-based youth development

Roots Rising and employment that can be replicated throughout the region. Roots Rising is a collaboration between Berkshire Botanical Garden and Alchemy The crew diligently transplants lettuce seedlings on a Initiative. It has also become a true summer afternoon. Farming cultivates important life Proposed by The Lenox Garden Club, Zone I Club, Garden The Lenox by Proposed

Seconded by Worcester Garden Club, Zone I Club, Garden Worcester Seconded by lessons for these youth: how to pay attention, how to community endeavor. Our crowdfunding work together as a team, how to persist in the face of campaign brought in $30,000—three times difficulties, and how to have fun while doing so! Photo what we had anticipated. This, combined by Jaime Samovitz

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 2018 Founders Fund

Sumowo smiles while carrying his share of the garlic scape harvest. Even an ordinary day at Roots Rising is extraordinary! Two crew members Sumowo is a recent immigrant from Liberia who farmed when he was weed a row of beets while the farm’s team of draft horses cultivates a growing up. He taught the crew weeding techniques from Liberia and how nearby row. As one crew member put it: “There are so many moments that to prepare a traditional Liberian dish using sweet potato leaves from the will remain with me forever, moments when I realized what I wanted my farm. Photo by Christine Rahr Lane future to look like—full of nature and farming.” Photo by Jaime Samovitz

Our farm crew at work out in the fields. Our crew works in the sun, in the The farm crew shares a sweet moment of support during their morning rain, in the heat, and in the cold. They work when they’d rather be done for meeting. We begin each day by sharing how we are feeling, both physically the day. They work while laughing and singing. They work (mostly) without and emotionally. Sometimes someone asks for a hug. Many crew members complaint. As one crew member put it: “Being away from your cell phone say that they feel they are part of a family. Photo by Jaime Samovitz and getting your hands in the dirt is one of the best feelings in the world. And I’m no longer afraid of hard work.” Photo by Christine Rahr Lane

At Roots Rising youth from all walks of life come together as a farm crew, working side by side towards a common goal. We believe in the power of diversity and seek to put together a crew that reflects the diversity of the city where we work. Working together in the fields fosters strong bonds and close friendships among teens who might not otherwise have crossed paths. Photo by Jaime Samovitz

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  2018 Founders Fund: Energy Efficient Outdoor Kitchen Classroom for Dunbar Garden

For over 25 years Dunbar Garden community by offering access to fruits and has realized its mission of preserving the vegetables grown on-site with an on-farm relationship between education and the market and programs that focus on nutrition, natural world by offering programs engaging health, food preservation, and growing your people of all ages and backgrounds. Dunbar own food. Garden offers programming focused This kitchen classroom project is designed on nutritional gardening with planned for community engagement. With planned workshops and classes in food preparation community workshops, the kitchen will be A handsome Type-A rooster struts and food storage, using produce straight from used to bring life lessons to students and in the chicken coop. Caring for its on-site garden. families visiting the garden. animals and growing vegetables Dunbar Garden is a two-acre site in urban Over the last two years Dunbar Garden give participants useful life skills Little Rock with ongoing community efforts raised funds to build a covered teaching and a greater understanding of to revive an area between Dunbar Middle and space with an office and workshop. The plans nature. Gibbs Elementary schools with organically include a future kitchen—a final piece in maintained flower, herb, medicinal, and this teaching-space project. In August 2017

vegetable gardens; chicken and bat houses; the teaching-office was completed, so now bee hives; an arbor of hops entered via mosaic we want to move forward with the kitchen columns of student art; a free community classroom so the project can be fully realized pantry box; a market house; and even edible- for the next school year. fruit trees. With the elimination of outdoor With the help of the GCA, through its recess from many schools, Dunbar Garden purpose to “improve and protect the quality offers sunshine and fresh air. Since 1990 the of the environment through educational Little Rock Garden Club has assisted with programs and action in the fields of Dunbar Garden’s funding and served on its conservation and civic improvement,” Dunbar board. Garden will make a difference in many lives The current facilities at Dunbar Garden for generations to come. are primitive at best. Having no sink with All photos by Mary Millsap running water or a cooktop, participants cook over an open fire, which limits the foods that can be prepared and the ability to host canning workshops on-site. This proposed kitchen classroom would give new life to Dunbar Garden’s valiant efforts to positively Seconded by Memphis Garden Club, Zone IX Club, Memphis Garden Seconded by

Proposed by Little Rock Garden Club, Zone IX Club, Little Rock Garden by Proposed impact this community. Learning the skills to grow, harvest, and store your own food and prepare inexpensive, nutritious meals are crucial for a productive and healthy life. The results are conclusive: eating food produced from your own garden encourages environmental stewardship and

Energy Efficient Outdoor Energy Efficient Outdoor improves one’s quality of life. While the national food insecurity rate is at 16 percent, over 21 percent of households near Dunbar Garden do not have access to adequately nutritious food to support a healthy lifestyle. Dunbar Garden is working This Dunbar-grown eggplant is a hearty and educational

Garden, Little Rock, Arkansas treat for the mind, eye, and body! Kitchen Classroom for Dunbar Kitchen Classroom for Dunbar to address the food insecurity that afflicts this

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 2018 Founders Fund

Dunbar Garden’s outdoor classroom is designed for student interaction and The Market House, where herbs, eggs, honey, and more are managed by community engagement within the garden. students during a cross-curriculum fun day of art and soul. Everything grown and produced at Dunbar is enjoyed by students or sold to local vendors or the community.

Fresh eggs are sold through this gated arbor, The whimsical yet highly functional mosaic A vintage tractor viewed through Dunbar which was gifted to Dunbar Garden by the Little columns designed by Dunbar students give them Garden’s hops arbor. Hops grown at Dunbar are Rock Garden Club. a sense of ownership and pride of the hops arbor. sold to local craft breweries.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  2018 Founders Fund: A Therapeutic Garden: Nurturing Plants and Enriching Minds

One of the first conditions of happiness is that some by working in it, some by drawing and the link between Man and Nature shall not be painting the flowers, and some by just getting broken. outside to enjoy nature. —Leo Tolstoy Vegetables and herbs from the garden The opportunity to create an engaging will be used to make healthy snacks for the outdoor experience for society’s most residents. Select produce will also be used in vulnerable children and adults has inspired bakery goods that are sold in the community. the Kenilworth Garden Club to propose Homemade salsa and cut flowers grown in the a therapeutic garden on the campus of garden will be sold at market days on campus. Misericordia Home. Located on 31 acres Residents will conclude the fall season with a on Chicago’s north side, Misericordia is reflective discussion of their work, where they one of the nation’s leading communities will have a voice and choice about what will serving individuals with intellectual and be planted in the upcoming season. Misericordia’s master gardener developmental disabilities. For the past Kenilworth Garden Club is the catalyst provides residents with hands- on training at an off-campus 40 years, its mission has been to offer a for turning this concrete area into an community garden. Misericordia continuum of care and broad spectrum of impactful two-phase project. Phase I, the has established strong bonds with services to 600 residents from diverse racial, west courtyard, will become the therapeutic both the immediate surrounding religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. garden. Phase II will comprise the building neighborhoods and the broader Outreach programs provide over 200 families entry and the east courtyard, which will Chicagoland area. with counseling, social, and recreational include a padded walking path for physical services. therapy and a space for residential dining. Our project will transform a concrete The benefits of the sustainable urban courtyard into an easily accessible garden to Misericordia’s residents are horticultural therapy garden that invites immeasurable: increasing awareness and learning, pleasure, and community. Regular enjoyment of the outdoor world; promoting meetings with Misericordia’s leadership communication and socialization; improving team and staff, in conjunction with the focus; and reducing stress and anxiety. landscape design expertise of Craig Bergmann Perhaps this garden’s most important benefit Landscape Design, have produced a site- is lifting the human spirit as it connects specific garden plan. It includes wide, smooth residents, caregivers and aides, volunteers, pathways; raised beds to accommodate visitors, families, and friends in a purposeful both ambulatory and wheelchair-bound and beautiful environment. residents; tool storage; garden art; and plants All photos by Mary Lois Hakewill that provide fragrance, texture, and visual appeal, as well as those that attract birds and pollinators. Activities will include interactive classes with a Master Gardener, hands-on learning experiences, programs designed to provide Enriching Minds life skills, vocational training, and meaningful Proposed by Kenilworth Garden Club, Zone XI Club, Garden Kenilworth by Proposed

Seconded by Garden Club of Evanston, Zone XI Club of Evanston, Garden Seconded by involvement with community and school groups. Residents will learn how to enrich soil, plant seeds, tend and thin seedlings,

Nurturing Plants and Nurturing Plants and water, weed, and harvest produce. A sensory

garden area will allow the more profoundly Kenilworth Garden Club has an annual tradition of A Therapeutic Garden: A Therapeutic Garden: disabled residents to enjoy the garden in decorating Misericordia’s Mother McAuley Skilled whatever way that they can experience it— Nursing Residence for Christmas.

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 2018 Founders Fund

These twin brothers have lived full and meaningful lives at Misericordia. The Misericordia main entrance. Misericordia also maintains 11 Community Residents, ranging from infants to adults, are thankful to call Misericordia Integrated Living Arrangements in nearby neighborhoods. their home.

A preliminary model of the handicapped-accessible raised beds that will be Neighbors and Misericordia residents work together in a community installed in the new garden. garden in the Edgewood neighborhood. The new garden on campus will be accessible to those residents who cannot realistically go on a field trip or work in the community.

Elevated Rendering of the Proposed Garden: Architectural rendering of the proposed garden. Rendering courtesy of Misericordia

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Zone Meetings ZoneMeetings

show. Stormy weather did not keep them from touring the area—bus rides were narrated by LCGC members, who shared details of Little Compton’s history, structures, and gardens. Nature Conservancy representatives spoke about local conservation efforts. The elegant awards luncheon at Sakonnet Point Golf Club had flower show entries Club President Randi von Steinwehr repurposed as centerpieces. Delegates (center) joins Zone Meeting Co- left the meeting inspired, better chairs Libby Moore and Widgie informed about the work of the Aldrich. Photo by Sally Swart GCA, and united in their resolve to create a more beautiful and verdant Kevin Gardner signs books for Tanny Clark, Lorill Haynes, Linda Holden, Pam Zone I world. Mehlman, and Fleur Rueckert. Photo by Sally Swart Speakers 18 clubs in Maine, Awards Catherine Beattie Medal: Massachusetts, Vermont, Kevin Gardner, author/ Creative Leadership Award: Libby Moore, LCGC Rhode Island, and New tradesman, “Stone Walls” Marguerite Borden Hampshire , Cohasset GC Rosie Jones Horticulture Award: Amy Trice, associate director, Barbara Spaulding Cramer Zone Bonnie Trowbridge, LCGC Ocean Conservancy’s Ocean Floral Design Education Award: Corliss Knapp Engle Horticulture Where Stone Walls Meet the Sea Planning Program, “Ocean Policy Kim Cutler, Katharine Michie, Sweepstakes Award: LCGC September 19-20, 2017 Issues: Preparing for Climate Sarah Ribeiro, Worcester GC Clarissa Willemsen Horticulture Change” St. Andrew’s-by-the-Sea Zone Horticulture Award: Libby Propagation Award: Carrie Samantha Apgar, GCA scholar, Hosted by Little Compton Moore, LCGC Waterman, Noanett GC PhD candidate, University of Garden Club, Little Compton, RI Zone Horticulture Commendation: Best in Show–Horticulture: Connecticut, “Mechanisms of Chaired by Widgie Aldrich, The Massachusetts Master Susan Termyn Tidal Marsh Bird Persistence or , Noanett GC Libby Moore Gardener Association, proposed Extinction as Sea Level Rises” GCA Novice Award in Flower Show chaired by Libby by Milton GC Photography: Sally Swart, LCGC Moore, Heather Steers Zone Garden History and Design Photography Creativity Award: Situated along the Rhode Island Award: The Lenox Garden Club Danna Dearborn, Piscataqua GC coast, Little Compton is noted 2016 Zone Civic Improvement Best in Show–Photography: for breathtaking water views and Award: Elise Wellington, Helen Glaenzer, North Shore GC charming country roads dotted with Worcester GC historic stone walls dating back to Highlights Flower Show the 17th century. The zone meeting • Stone wall presentation and Awards was hosted by Little Compton demonstration Marion Thompson Fuller Brown Garden Club. Delegates were • Creative flower show highlighted Award in Conservation: LCGC introduced to the conservation issues by spectacular horticulture entries Dorothy Vietor Munger Award: unique to the area: ocean policy • Keynote presentation on the value Ginna Thoma, Piscataqua GC and planning, tidal marsh habitat of ocean planning for economic protection, and historic stone wall The Zone I Creative Leadership Best in Show–Floral Design: and ecosystem resilience. preservation. They were treated to Kimberly Devlin-Brytz, Award was presented to Marguerite • Quaint village and meeting lovely harvest dinners at seaside Piscataqua GC Borden. Photo by Sally Swart venues of Little Compton homes, overnight hospitality, and GCA Novice Award in • LCGC’s warm and gracious a particularly magnificent flower Horticulture: Randi von hospitality Steinwehr, LCGC

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Zone Meetings

Museum of American Art and its special exhibit, Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern.The meeting concluded with tours of spectacular gardens.Winston-Salem is steeped in history and lasting legacies. Speakers Chip Callaway, landscape The conservatory at Reynolda, architect,“Prisons have Yards, the 1917 home of Katharine and Homes have Gardens” R.J. Reynolds. Photo by Kimberly Jay Leutze, president, Southern Eight awards were presented at the awards banquet at the Forsyth Country DeCamp Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, “Stand Up That Club. Photo courtesy of Laurie and George Whitaker Mountain” Zone VII Zone VII Horticultural Arts Award Clarissa Willemsen Horticulture Allison Perkins, director, 18 clubs in Kentucky, North Given in Memory of William C. Propagation Award: Dede Reynolda House Museum of and Roberta T. Seipp: Christine Hamilton, The Augusta GC Carolina, Virginia, and West America Art, “Reynolda’s Lasting Perdue-Smith, Fauquier and GCA Novice Award in Photography: Virginia Legacy” Loudoun GC Jennie Ferretti, Kanawha GC Franklin Vagnone, president, Old Photography Creativity Award, Cultivating a Lasting Legacy Salem Museums and Gardens, Flower Show Best in Show–Photography: Elsie October 23-26, 2017 “One Night Stand in Old Salem” Awards Bemiss, James River GC The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel Mike Leonard, partner, Womble, Botanical Arts Creativity Award: Hosted by Twin City Garden Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, Twig Murray, GC of Alexandria Highlights Club, Winston-Salem, NC “Protecting North Carolina’s Novice Award in Botanical Arts: • Tour of Moravian settlement of Chaired by Louise Wells, Natural and Historic Resources” Dee Ferguson, The Tuckahoe GC Old Salem of Westhampton Courtney Douglas, Ashley Awards • Tour of Reynolda Village, its Wimmer Best in Show–Botanical Arts: Fox gardens, and Reynolda House Zone Civic Improvement Ritchay, Glenview GC Museum of American Art Flower Show chaired by Commendation: Capital Trees, Dorothy Vietor Munger Award: Ashby Hopkins, Susan Elster proposed by James River GC, The • Luncheon at The Barn at Sarah Belle Parrott, Mill Twin City Garden Club members Tuckahoe GC of Westhampton Reynolda Village Mountain GC welcomed 80 delegates to Winston- Zone Civic Improvement Award: • Tours of private gardens Sandra Baylor Novice Floral Design Salem, where their club and Margaret Norfleet Neff, proposed Award: Dianne Pfizenmayer, The community are “cultivating a lasting by TCGC legacy.” The venue of the flower Augusta GC Zone Conservation Commendation: show was the Kimpton Cardinal Harriet DeWaele Puckett Creativity Jay Leutze, proposed by TCGC Hotel, former headquarters of R.J. Award: Marion S. Jones, Kanawha Reynolds Tobacco Company and the Zone Historic Preservation GC Commendation: Old Salem design inspiration for the Empire Best in Show–Floral Design: Pam Museums and Gardens, proposed State Building. A special tour of the Keim, Winchester-Clarke GC by TCGC Moravian settlement of Old Salem, GCA Novice Award in Horticulture: Zone Horticulture Commendation: which just celebrated its 250-year Cindy Peaseley, James River GC anniversary, took place prior to Saunders Brothers, Inc., proposed Catherine Beattie Medal: Donna the business meeting at the Old by Dolley Madison GC Eure, The Virginia Beach GC Salem Visitor Center. A highlight Zone Horticulture Award: Caroline From left: Louise Wells, Courtney Rosie Jones Horticulture Award: of the meeting was a visit to the Borgman, Glenview GC Douglas, and Ashley Wimmer. Susan Gentry, The Virginia Beach country estate of Katharine and R.J. Zone VII Appreciation Award: Kay Photo by Kimberly DeCamp GC Reynolds, now the Reynolda House Shiflett, The Virginia Beach GC

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Zone Meetings

Margaret Coleman, Lake Forest GC; GC of Evanston Zone Judging Award: Gail Hodges, GGW Zone Appreciation Awards: Colleen FitzPatrick, Saint Paul GC; Betsy Massie, The Lake Minnetonka GC Zone XI Director’s Awards: Ginny Noyes, GC of Evanston; Carole Zone XI awards dinner at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Photo by Sandner, Lake Geneva GC Chris Zoubris Flower Show Anne Ferrell, recipient of the only one located entirely in the US. Awards Zone XI Creative Leadership Award, with Today 12 million people live along Marion Thompson Fuller Brown GCA President Dede Petri. Photo by 18 clubs in Illinois, Iowa, the shores of Lake Michigan and 10 Conservation Award: GGW Chris Zoubris Minnesota, Missouri, million people rely on it as the source Ann Lyon Crammond Award: Nebraska, and Wisconsin of their drinking water. It is truly a Barbara Kehoe, GGW Best in Show–Photography: Mary Midwestern treasure. Elizabeth Smith, The GC of Dorothy Vietor Munger Award: Glaciers to Gardens Jackson Speakers Cheryl Miller, GC of Santa October 10-12, 2017 Maria Smithburg, Artemisia Barbara Ina Edens Award: Kathleen Carbonara, GGW Renaissance Chicago North Landscape Architecture, Sandra Baylor Novice Floral Design Shore Hotel “Perspectives in Landscapes” Award: Elizabeth Phillips- Highlights Hosted by Garden Guild of Jordan Wood, GCA Scholar, Sorich, GGW • Zone flower show Winnetka, Northbrook, IL Northwestern University and Harriet DeWaele Puckett Creativity • Dinners in private homes and Chaired by Glo Rolighed, Anne Chicago Botanic Garden, Award: Shelley Galloway, garden tours Frank “Research on North American Kenilworth GC • Immersion tours at Chicago Oaks” Flower Show chaired by Gail Best in Show–Floral Design: Anne Botanic Garden Hodges, Cindy Dillon Awards Jameson, GGW • Mettawa Manor tour and lecture This zone meeting truly lived up Creative Leadership Award: Anne GCA Novice Award in • Awards banquet in Nichols Hall to its name. Northern Illinois owes Ferrell, Saint Paul GC Horticulture: Mary Holtze, Des at Chicago Botanic Garden much of its scenic beauty to the Moines Founders GC glaciers that advanced and retreated Zone Civic Improvement Commendation: Gateway Arch Catherine Beattie Medal; Clarissa several times over the last five Willemsen Horticulture Propagation million years. The meeting co-chairs Park Foundation, proposed by The GC of St. Louis Award: Ray Rogers, Town and ensured that attendees got to fully Country GC experience the native landscape and Zone Conservation Award: Dan visit spectacular gardens. Speakers Burkhardt, The GC of St. Louis Rosie Jones Horticulture Award; Pam Benz Award: Pam Benz, emphasized the beauty of the Zone Floral Design Achievement GGW Midwest, with Maria Smithburg Award: Weezie Monroe, Molly dazzling us with her inspirational Stephan, GGW Best in Show Horticulture: Celine Lillie, Lake Geneva GC photos of Lake Michigan-influenced Zone Horticulture Commendations: landscapes and Jordan Wood talking Roy Diblik, Northwind Perennial GCA Novice Award in about oaks, the quintessential native Farm, proposed by Lake Geneva Photography: Dody Gates Everist, From left: Zone Meeting Co-chairs tree in this area. Lake Michigan was GC; Jeanne Nolan, The Organic The Westport GC Anne Frank and Glo Rolighed, a definite focal point of the meeting. Gardener, proposed by GGW Photography Creativity Award: Flower Show Co-chair Gail Hodges, Of all the Great Lakes, it is the third Zone Historic Preservation Awards: Laura Simpson, Lake Geneva GC and GGW President Janet Wyman. largest by water surface and the Photo by Chris Zoubris

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Milestones ClubMilestones: Celebrations

Enjoying the festivities, from left, are GCW members Evie Scott, Susan Easton Mayor Robert Willey and Town Manager Don Richardson joined club Parker, and Gina Bissell, GCA president (1975-77). Photo by Sally DeWees members at the planting of 13,000 daffodil bulbs. Photo by Laura Carney Zone V Zone VI presentation was inspiring and In 1917 ten men and women The Garden Club of entertaining, reminding us of the Talbot County founded TCGC with the initial Wilmington value of good design in everyday Garden Club focus on developing new gardens Wilmington, DE life. Easton, MD in the community, restoring old Founded in 1917 GCW’s centennial celebration Founded in 1917 ones, and protecting the beauty of Joined the GCA in 1920 was exciting, educational, and Joined the GCA in 2004 Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Over fun. It truly symbolized GCW’s the years the mission has been A festive celebration took place first 100 years and the friendships Talbot County Garden Club is broadened to incorporate the on October 3, 2017, to mark The and shared interests that have celebrating its 100th anniversary. changing needs of the commu- Garden Club of Wilmington’s made it a dynamic and rewarding Through its civic initiatives and nity—including participating first 100 years and its tradition of organization. thousands of volunteer hours the in flower shows and encourag- —Wendy Russell horticultural education, design club has remained an integral part ing the conservation of natural excellence, and community of Maryland’s history. resources—but the original goals involvement. The multifaceted event at Longwood Gardens included a cocktail party, light dinner, and presentation by nationally known designer Bunny Williams, who spoke about the challenges and rewards of creating inviting gardens and interiors that can enrich lives and communities. Williams is widely known for her design flair, unerring attention to detail, and use of layered textures and colors. She has applied these design principles to large gardens, intimate green Centennial Co-chairs Laura du Pont TCGC presidents at the centennial luncheon (from left): Peggy Hegwood, spaces, and interiors ranging from and Elizabeth Mellon flank featured Bobbie Brittingham, Trish Reynolds, Mary Griffin, Joan Kittredge, Mary restrained to magnificent—always speaker Bunny Williams. Photo by Frances Packard, Pat Lewers, Virginia Sappington, Caroline Benson, Nancy achieving a sense of welcome. Her Sally DeWees Hickey, and Mary Louise Maechling. Photo by Laura Carney

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Milestones

of water six weeks before the Bulb are still present in the heart and Thomas, GCA president (1991- & Plant Mart, GCH’s members soul of each member. Zone IX 93), recalled driving the late continued to improvise and To commemorate the centen- Odette McMurrey’s new Buick on The Garden Club of carry on. Chair Margaret Rotan nial TCGC members planted a lengthy buying spree, filling the Houston escaped her flooded bayou home 13,000 daffodil bulbs along a trunk to overflowing and breaking Houston, TX in a boat with the Mart’s hard local bypass, designed a custom the springs! Anne Cochran Founded in 1924 drive and records safely tucked cachepot as a memento for club Frischkorn remembered filling Joined the GCA in 1932 into her bag. She and Assistant members, and displayed banners empty horse pill capsules with Chairs Susan Cravens and Mary around town with photos of the wildflower seeds to toss out of Jornayvaz checked on booth chairs club’s various civic projects. The car windows onto the roadside. (some of whom suffered serious club celebrated the year with a Louisiana irises have always flood damage) and suppliers, and gala luncheon for all its members. held great interest at the Bulb & prepared for the upcoming Bulb Local and state government lead- Plant Mart. Josephine Shanks, & Plant Mart. For three days in ers attended as did GCA repre- a leading expert, who organized October the Houston commu- sentatives. TCGC was honored the iris booth for many years, has nity bought bulbs and plants to to receive citations from various two Louisiana irises named for begin again in their soggy gardens. dignitaries recognizing its work in her—“Empress Josephine” and Members shared knowledge and the community including a cita- “Josephine Shanks.” Today her encouragement. Strong sales will tion from GCA President Anne daughter, Carol Price, chairs the fund our seven projects and a Copenhaver (2015-17). booth and hosts iris-wrapping variety of grants to nonprofits. We TCGC also published a book gatherings beforehand. celebrated 75 years of resilience! detailing the club’s history. A Mimi Kerr plants succulents with 2017: When Hurricane Harvey —Sue White little-known fact, referenced in her grandson, assisted by Sheila flooded Houston with 51 inches the book, describes the club’s first Mayfield, at the 75th Bulb & Plant Mart. Photo by Sue White major civic initiative, which was New Orleans Town Gardeners a campaign for the elimination of 1942: America was at war New Orleans, LA billboards along a major highway. and gasoline rationing soared. Founded in 1952 The effort spanned 14 years but Houston’s men and women joined Joined the GCA in 1952 ultimately resulted in the removal the military. The Garden Club of of 21,000 signs. Today people Houston’s resourceful members continue to enjoy the scenic improvised and carried on— beauty along the roads of the instead of a home and garden county thanks to the club’s early pilgrimage requiring gasoline efforts. and manpower, members held a With over 100 active and bulb and plant sale on the steps associate members, the club is well of the Museum of Fine Arts, prepared to continue its tradition offering specimens from their of partnering with the commu- own gardens to continue funding nity to enhance the beauty of the the maintenance of the museum landscape around Talbot County, grounds. Maryland, for years to come. Through the years members —Dede Hoopes traveled throughout the Gulf Coast and South searching for plant material to introduce Jean Chappell, Noel Williams, Adelaide Benjamin, Suey Barousse, and to Houston gardeners. Nancy Priscilla Jordan at the 65th anniversary party. Photo by Sara Gaines

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Milestones

New Orleans Town Gardeners In vintage hats and gloves, celebrated the club’s 65th Saint Paul Garden Club members anniversary at the October celebrated 90 years of sharing meeting. A humorous song was friendships, beautifying Saint composed and performed by Paul, and protecting the envi- three of our musical members, ronment. Founded in 1927 by a paying tribute to our club and group of amateur flower painters, longstanding members. Old SPGC got off to an energetic start scrapbooks were on display and by planting 1,700 tulips in Rice the history of our club’s origin Park in downtown Saint Paul and accomplishments were read. and creating new gardens at Saint A delicious lunch, mimosas, and The Wildflower Trail Garden. Photo courtesy of the Garden Club of Evanston Paul Children’s Hospital and the a beautiful topiary birthday cake Minnesota State Capitol. were enjoyed by all. Potawatomi, and oak, birch, Luminaria lined the pathways and After joining the GCA in 1933 —Pamela Bryan witch hazel, crab apple, and cherry Japanese lanterns lit the trees, all the club continued its community trees. Perennials included many leading to the gorgeous backdrop leadership role. Following the varieties of violets and ferns, of the shimmering waters of Lake GCA’s lead, members supported Zone XI hundreds of wildflowers, and Michigan. We are honored to be the victory garden effort in the plants from garden club members’ stewards of this special historic 1940s and lobbied to eliminate Garden Club of gardens. The majority of these piece of land and look forward to highway billboards in the ’50s. As Evanston plants exist in the garden to providing for its care in the future. the 1960s began, members funded Evanston, IL this day. Many thanks go to Linda Eggers the expansion of the fledgling Founded in 1915 In September GCE members and Marti Lannert, 2017 co-chairs Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Joined the GCA in 1921 gathered on a warm evening to of the Wildflower Trail Garden. in Chanhassen. Member Olivia toast the garden’s 80th birthday. —Marge Gambow Dodge rallied the club and com- What do the Potawatomi munity in the 1970s to support Indians, French fur traders the new Dodge Nature Center Marquette and Joliet, Jens Jensen, Saint Paul Garden Club Saint Paul, MN in West Saint Paul and establish botanist Margery Carlson, and a nature park in an abandoned, the Garden Club of Evanston Founded in 1927 Joined the GCA in 1933 polluted valley known as Swede have in common? They all love Hollow, which received a GCA native plants and, at some point Founders Fund grant in 1977. In in time, were physically on or the 1980s our club cared for the near the small strip of land that Governor’s Residence gardens, runs between the Grosse Point and initiated two innovative and Lighthouse and the shores of Lake enduring programs: Minnesota Michigan. Green with the Minnesota State Eighty years ago, in 1937, the Horticultural Society and the park board of Evanston gave GCE Children’s Hospital Green Plant permission to plant the Wildflower Therapy Program. In 1992 SPGC Trail Garden. The club hired began improving the Rice Park landscape architect Jens Jensen to gardens, which continues today draw plans using plants native to as we complete a $1.35 million the region. These included herbs campaign to revitalize the park. used for medicinal purposes by the Pam Nuffort, Penny Rendall, Catherine Nicholson, and Colles Larkin at SPGC’s 90th anniversary party. Photo by Jay Rendall —Marge Hols

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  NewsWorthy NewsWorthy

England Water Innovation Zone I Network (NEWIN), and Stephen Noanett Estes-Smargiassi, director of Garden Club planning and sustainability for Dedham, MA the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA), addressed a standing-room-only audience on the importance of innovation in water management. The MWRA provides water and sewer services to 2.5 million people in the Greater Boston area, and NEWIN is a nonprofit working to solve global water resource challenges. Also in October NGC members learned about the drawbacks AIR teens work collaboratively with PGC members to create floral designs. Photo courtesy of Arts In Reach of dyed bark mulches and the benefits of compost and leaf In September five members of mulch for soil enrichment and Zone II Conservation Co-chair Christy Millet Piscataqua Garden Club partnered water retention in a hands-on filling her watering can with water with eight AIR teens to produce workshop. While heavy rains Greenwich collected in a 60-gallon rain barrel. large interpretive floral designs for in the spring of 2017 helped Garden Club Photo by David Millet an AIR fundraiser. Other PGC Greenwich, CT improve conditions, an unusually members provided containers, June 2016 ranked as the 12th dry fall season has pushed parts clippers, mechanics, and plant driest month on record for Greenwich Garden Club held a of the region back into moderate material—much of it sourced Massachusetts, putting the issue floral sweepstakes challenge called drought and reminded us to from members’ gardens—and of water conservation front and Spirit in Flight at its September continue our efforts. demonstrated basic floral tech- center. Noanett Garden Club’s meeting. Four teams comprised —Kimberly Hatfield niques. The girls and the PGC Conservation Committee, led by of experienced flower arrangers members produced four beautiful Christy Millet and Amy Beckwith, and new members were given designs that were raffled off at the organized three programs to Piscataqua 90 minutes to complete modern fundraiser the following evening. encourage thoughtful water use in Garden Club abstract designs that evoked the This program was made possible homes and gardens. In April NGC York Harbor, ME movement of a plane in flight through a bequest from the hus- hosted a rain barrel workshop while incorporating beauty, band of the late Judy McKelvey, a with provisional club member Arts In Reach (AIR) is a non- humor, and wild perfection. The former PGC president and GCA Suzanne Gebelein, owner of profit in New Hampshire provid- project celebrated the 100th floral design judge. Club members The Great American Rain Barrel ing mentoring through the arts to birthday of Molly Cook, a GGC are currently brainstorming future Company. She demonstrated how teenage girls. Programs in dance, member for 67 years. Molly is programs and activities with the to collect and reuse rainwater theater, songwriting, singing, and a Renaissance woman who has visual arts are offered after school AIR teens. diverted from house downspouts —Meghan Harris enjoyed her life, so far, as an into 60-gallon barrels, which were and during breaks. AIR’s mission aerial stunt pilot, floral designer, repurposed containers from her is to inspire and empower girls horticulturalist, conversationalist, import business. in a safe setting with strong and painter, rancher, photographer, In October Bruce Walton, healthy role models. The programs teacher, hostess, world traveler, a representative from the New are accessible regardless of income. and interior designer. She also

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 NewsWorthy

All the gardens highlighted the YWCA as the beneficiary of its owners’ creativity through the use Zone III annual 2017 civic project. The of decorative stone, fountains, Ulster Garden Club club wanted to help create a pools, pergolas, pavilions, and Kingston, NY beautiful and welcoming place for sculpture. all who live in and visit Princeton Artists in the Garden, newly and to show its appreciation for introduced this year, featured the organizations. plein air artists in select gardens. The project features a new Visitors had the unique pathway that provides access opportunity to experience each to the playground and front painter’s inspiration as they viewed entrance. The first phase of the The design class niche entries. the works in progress. SGC also project included the installation Photo by Mary Shaw Marks hosted a new celebrity luncheon of a native plant garden, where with noted floral designers. A trees and perennials were planted ran the Canada Dry Bottling tented marketplace on the village in late summer. The second Company and a division of Coca- square featured 18 vendors phase occurred in the fall, when Cola, served as GGC’s president, showcasing garden accessories, members planted bulbs. The held many club positions, and was Gail Edson and Jackie Petro, flower plants, crafts, clothing, jewelry, show co-chairs. Photo by Anne garden will serve as an educational a GCA treasurer (1982-84). Molly and gift items. The net proceeds Shultz tool for the YWCA preschoolers, was recognized for her enthusiasm will provide SGC with funds for who participated in the fall and many talents by winning education, conservation, grants, The Ulster Garden Club held bulb planting. This project was nearly all of our club awards and and community projects for the a club flower show, A Garden financed by funds raised from the several national ones. The talented next three years. Party, in June at the historic Bevier club’s French Market event and GGC members’ sweepstakes Surrounded by water on three House Museum, headquarters YMCA/YWCA board members. arrangements hit all the high sides, Stonington was founded in of the Ulster County Historical —Jennifer DelVecchio notes. Society. The Bevier family donated —Anne Getz the 18th century. Today Stoning- ton is the home of Connecticut’s the house in 1935 to serve as a last surviving fishing fleet; its lobs- community meeting space. It also Stonington Garden termen, fishermen, and yachtsmen houses collections of local artifacts Club can be seen all year long in its stewarded by the museum. The Stonington, CT protected harbor. club’s flower show chairs, along —Deborah Kotchen with club members, put together Gardens by the Sea, a walking an extraordinary exhibition with tour of private gardens in divisions in floral design and Stonington, was held last June. horticulture. Hosted every three years by the —Debra Silverman Stonington Garden Club, this popular event attracted nearly 2,000 visitors. The Lighthouse Zone IV Garden and Children’s Garden The Garden Club of Phase I of the club’s YMCA/YWCA plus eight properties showcased Princeton project is underway. Photo by a range of small, hidden gardens Princeton, NJ Jennifer DelVecchio and professionally designed Plein air artists were at select outdoor spaces, offering expansive gardens for the tour. Photo by The Garden Club of Princeton views of Stonington Harbor. Deborah Kotchen selected Princeton’s YMCA/

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  NewsWorthy

SBGC invited the Princeton Most of the novices who joined look forward to more workshops Stony Brook community to a free screen- our workshop did not have digital and entering other shows. Next Garden Club ing of the film Nature Play, an cameras and were working from step, working with cameras! Princeton, NJ award-winning documentary that their phones. After discussing —Barbara Geltosky “shows the incredible ways that basic photo composition nature, play, and education can principles, we introduced some Village Garden Club work together in harmony to raise of the various features on their of Sewickley smarter, happier, healthier, and devices. The group then spent stronger children—children who a few hours shooting various Sewickley, PA are more self-confident, motivated, layouts. and empathetic.” Following the Some months later, we had an The Village Garden Club screening, Jim Waltman, executive editing, manipulating, and mat- of Sewickley members were director of the Watershed, pre- ting workshop. We talked about captivated by the landscape sented the preliminary designs for other apps that work on an iPhone and architecture of the Frick Environmental Center, even Connecting children to nature is part the nature play area the Watershed or iPad, including Photoshop of SBGC’s mission. Photo courtesy will call “Tree Frog Trail.” The Express, Photoshop Touch, Adobe before entering. Since the LEED of Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed 180-seat theater was nearly filled, Sketch, Enlight, and Filterstorm certified project opened in and we were thrilled. Neue. Everyone was amazed how September 2016, the educational Are our children suffering from —Sue Plambeck the edit function on their devices facility in Pittsburgh has “nature deficit disorder”? This could straighten compositions. welcomed more than 170,000 is the question author Richard No more crooked trees! We also people and served more than Louv tackled in his book Last Zone V explored the magic wand, how to 5,000 students. Child in the Woods. He argues crop and adjust color, and make a Host Susan Rademacher, parks that “direct exposure to nature is The Gardeners monochromatic image. Finally we curator for Pittsburgh Parks essential for healthy childhood Villanova, PA did a quick demonstration of how Conservancy and GCA honorary development and for the physical to mount photos. member, greeted us as we entered and emotional health of children As The Gardeners were finishing The day of our photography through restored gatehouses and adults.” He also reports that our annual photography show, we show we had most of our new designed by famed architect the growing trend in American were struck by the fact that very group of novices entering multiple John Russell Pope. We followed schools of reducing recess is few of our members had entered. images. They were thrilled to a curving pathway to a ravine having a negative impact on the The GCA judges gave suggestions receive awards at the end of the capturing rainwater splashing overall health of children. to help broaden interest. Our day, including several blues! We down the curves of the spillway. Stony Brook Garden Club president endorsed starting a focus An amphitheater provides a members wondered what we group for members wanting to gathering space for programs and could do. When the Stony become involved in photography. lectures in a natural setting. The Brook-Millstone Watershed That was the first step of a very landscape includes a meadow, asked us to help develop a play rewarding journey. We started by open woodland, dense woodland, area where children could safely making precut mats and backing and wetland planting areas. In explore the wonders of the natural available to our members at a the first year nearly 7,000 plants world, we got right to work. We low cost. We then implemented (including 200 trees) were planted began by bringing awareness of another suggestion by offering a to absorb storm water and reduce “nature deficit disorder” to the novice class. The next step was to From left: Sarah Collier, Liz atmospheric carbon dioxide. greater Princeton community and educate participants so everyone Mercogliano, and Cathy Decker The building, designed to blend connecting them to the Water- felt competent enough to enter from The Gardeners show their indoors and outdoors, is compact shed. our show. winning photographs. Photo by since most educational activities Barbara Geltosky

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 NewsWorthy

Zone VI Georgetown Garden Club Washington, DC

Club members at the Frick Environmental Center. Photo by Tanya Bass

take place outdoors. Rademacher classrooms; a balcony overlooking and Director of Education Camila vistas through the forest and into In September Georgetown Garden Club members toured a portion of the Rivera-Tinsley spoke about the the valley, where students were C&O Canal with Georgetown Heritage (GH) representatives. GH has teamed center’s mission and programs, enjoying their lunches; the living up with the National Park Service, DC Office of Planning, and Georgetown which include programs for the room; and hallways filled with Business Improvement District to revitalize the one-mile section of the canal community, families, and school- art and benches made from site- that runs through Georgetown. GGC has long been involved with the canal. age children. Our tour took us to harvested wood. In the 1970s GGC created an attractive terraced area on the towpath west of —Tanya Bass 31st Street. Text by Alison Alten Jia; photo by Liz Shriver

West Chester Garden Club Halten Garden Club West Chester, PA Timonium, MD

West Chester Garden Club had a workshop where members created succulent pumpkin centerpieces. From left: Peggy Wright, Heidi Militana, Club members visited Halten Farm, the club’s namesake and the former Ann Hemphill, and Josie Parman. Text and photo by Nancy VanOrman home of its founder, Bessie Fahnestock. Photo by Natalie Hamilton

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  NewsWorthy

Last spring Virginia Kerley, then- benches in the garden. Recently faith-based emergency shelter president of Halten Garden Club, St. George’s refurbished and freshly painted, provides approximately 30,000 spied a treasure trove of interesting Garden Club the benches now offer a welcome meals monthly to its homeless plant material in the back of her Baltimore, MD place to rest. In October SGGC residents—men, women, and landscaper’s truck. When she volunteers gathered with clippers children alike. discovered that the plants were and shovels at the ready—even As part of the Garden Club of destined for Halten Farm, she bringing their own water truck to Norfolk’s community outreach composed a letter of introduction the site. Beds were weeded, new program, the club funded eight on the spot for the landscaper to bushes planted, and containers planting beds that the Union present to the current owners of refilled with trees and seasonal Mission Ministry’s residents built, the property. flowers to cheer the residents of planted, and tended with the goal The homeowners discovered The House of Ruth Maryland. of producing organic vegetables references about HGC among —Gay Legg to help feed about 380 residents documents left from the first every day. The main objective of owner of the property, Bessie the shelter is to provide housing, Fahnestock (1877-1948), who Zone VII clothing, and support to success- founded our club at Halten Farm Along with their tools, members fully rehabilitate residents into brought their own water truck to Garden Club in 1916. They allowed HGC to of Norfolk society as productive self-sufficient hold its October meeting there. work on the garden at The House of citizens. Ruth Maryland, a Baltimore shelter Norfolk, VA The program and history GCN is delighted to see that for battered women and children. committees planned the meeting, the vegetable garden is helping Photo by Gay Legg This summer a bumper crop of which included information about the Union Mission Ministry vegetables was harvested from HGC’s early history and a descrip- achieve its goals. The planting The members of St. George’s raised beds along a busy roadway tion of life during that time. beds not only provide delicious Garden Club are active volunteers on the front lawn of the new The homeowners chronicled the fresh vegetables for its residents, at several public gardens, but their Union Mission Ministry. Set purchase of the property and its but help them learn the basics of favorite may well be the one at amidst commercial sprawl, the yearlong, painstaking restoration. year-round gardening and obtain The House of Ruth Maryland. Union Mission Ministry sits During lunch, small groups employable skills. The Baltimore shelter provides on a 17-acre campus outside were given guided tours of the —Gillian Cady emergency housing for women of Norfolk. This nonprofit, house. The floor plan, with the and their children who are exception of the kitchen area, victims of abuse and domestic remained largely unchanged since violence. For over a decade, its original construction 100 SGGC’s “Dragon Ladies” have years ago. The floors, doors, and gathered twice a year to weed, doorknobs are also original to prune, and plant at The House the house. The club presented a of Ruth Maryland, where they reproduction of Bessie’s portrait have worked to create a garden of to Halten Farm’s newest owners respite and natural beauty. Club as a keepsake to honor our club’s members faced certain challenges founder. We hope Bessie would be for the garden: screening and pleased. privacy for the residents while —Pat Parker utilizing shade-tolerant, low- maintenance plantings. A major fundraising goal of the club has GCN members at the dedication of the Union Mission Ministry’s garden. been to restore several cast-iron Photo by Gillian Cady

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 NewsWorthy

was David Wicks, a well-known Zone VIII Glenview environmental educator and pad- Garden Club dler. Wicks shared his knowledge Louisville, KY Late Bloomers Garden Club of Beargrass Creek and passion for Jacksonville, FL the environment. Through him The Conservation Committee we obtained a deeper understand- of the Glenview Garden Club ing and appreciation of our water- organized an educational ways, our storm waste manage- expedition for club members with ment techniques, and their direct River Fields, Inc., the ninth oldest impact on the unique wildlife river conservation group in the US and plant life along the creek. We and the oldest in Kentucky. also learned about the expanded On a beautiful, crisp fall morn- recreational and cultural uses that ing, we were taken up the Ohio a cleaned-up water system could River to the confluence of Bear- provide for our community. grass Creek in two 15' Voyageur The GCA encourages all its canoes. Beargrass Creek is a water- clubs to identify and pursue shed in the Louisville area. In one conservation work locally. Collab- mile of paddling upstream, we saw orating with River Fields on this not only the degradation that has outing was an effective and fun Members of the Late Bloomers Garden Club held a bulb workshop to learn occurred on this urban waterway way to do just that. which bulbs will grow in northern Florida. Freesia, narcissus, and hyacinths but also the toll it is having on the —Louise Gardner were given out along with forcing glasses for the hyacinths. From left: Anne surrounding habitat. Our guide Mann, Linda Alexander, Renate Hixon, Robin Patton, Carol Platt, Leslie Pierpont, and Dottie Nutant. Text by Leslie Pierpont; photo by Dick Pierpont

Zone IX The Garden Club of Houston The Garden Club was formed in 1924 when of Houston seven friends met for tea to Houston, TX discuss a mutual interest in horticulture, conservation, and civic beautification. That same year GCH member Eleanor Hutcheson commissioned architect John Staub to design a stately New England-style home on a bald prairie, where a single huisache tree grew. Eleanor served as GCH’s president (1931-33), GGC members learn about Beargrass Creek, Louisville’s most important Hull Award winners Renee Paris a GCA director, and also chaired watershed, on an outing with guides from River Fields, Inc. Photo by Blair Wright, Jaime Gonzales, and Mary the 1939 GCA Annual Meeting Louis Anne Weber join GCH members in Houston. to welcome the herons. Photo by Skip forward 93 years to March Doris Heard 2017, when GCH members,

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  NewsWorthy

family, and friends gathered for a well-known fine art and iPhone conservation family night at the photographer, was unable to same 1924 home, now owned by travel to Memphis because of GCH member Ellen Simmons. a recent surgery. This did not Spreading old live oaks replace stop her. Through Google Docs the lone huisache and offer shade and the IT department at the to the elegant houses along the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, her boulevard. presentation was shown on a huge We grouped under the trees to screen with Clarke connected in observe night herons and egrets, RB Monument gets a hug from LRGC member Barbara Hoover’s through Skype. We were able to which arrive each spring to build granddaughter during the dedication ceremony. Photo by Mitchell Masilun, interact as if she were in the room. nests. At last count there were over courtesy of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Clarke captured our attention 120 nests built by herons, egrets, for over an hour and successfully and a pair of snowy egrets. determined that the donation guided us through three iPhone Three Elizabeth Abernathy Hull of a major sculpture would have Memphis photography apps! We are ready Award winners, all proposed by the most impact. The member- Garden Club to enter photographs at our GCH, joined in as a delightful ship agreed, and a public art Memphis, TN upcoming April flower show, bonus: Jaime Gonzales, Katy committee was appointed. The Headlines. Prairie Conservancy community committee wanted the sculpture Our October general meeting —Nancy Miller conservation director and to be enjoyed by all ages, be was new and different—it was a honorary GCH member; Mary pedestrian-friendly, and reflect virtual meeting! Ryn Clarke, the Anne Weber, Houston Audubon LRGC’s connection with nature. Society education director; Since the piece would be deeded Shreveport Garden Study Club and Renee Paris Wright, GCH to the city, the committee worked member and teacher. We all with city officials to choose the Shreveport, LA enjoyed the historic setting, the location. Applications were sent to leisurely walk among beautiful sculptors across the country and trees with nesting herons, and from the responses the commit- information shared by Weber. tee selected three very different The evening with “History, pieces. In May members reviewed Herons, and Hull Award Winners” the proposals and selected RB was, indeed, a happy affair. Monument by Colorado sculptor —Sue White Dan Ostermiller. LRGC presented the bronze sculpture to the city in September at a well-attended Little Rock reception, and expressed grati- Garden Club tude to the committee: Co-chairs Little Rock, AR Barbara Hoover and Jane Rogers, Inspired by one of the GCA’s national initiatives, Planting for Pollinators, Projects Chair Cindy Simpson, the Shreveport Garden Study Club broke ground on its 4,000-square-foot This robust bronze bunny made Susan Brainard, Helen Porter, pollinator garden at the historic Greenwood Cemetery. The new garden his journey home by means of and Lisenne Rockefeller. Come will serve as an outdoor classroom for Caddo Parish schoolchildren and the the Little Rock Garden Club. In visit the bunny and watch our gift larger community. SGSC plans to implement a speaker program, science fall 2016 LRGC’s Civic Con- bring enjoyment to so many from curriculum, and activities to promote and attract pollinators. Standing at the site are SGSC members (from left): Sara France; Pollinator Garden Chair Patti tributions Committee reviewed far and wide! proposals from members and —Becky Scott Brannan; Susan Hardtner; and Celeste Wedgeworth. Text by Linda Knicely; photo by Donald Bounds

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 NewsWorthy

cal yet perfectly balanced. During divided into five classes: Rapids, Zone X the workshop that followed, Garden Club Sparkles, River Banks, Ripples, Duarte taught participants to cre- of Michigan and Waterfalls. Following the Akron Garden Club Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Akron, OH ate the flexi grass baskets, which water theme were botanical arts they quickly learned were not easy. entries—new to the show. Classes Duarte grew up surrounded included jewelry, embellishment, by flowers on his family’s farm and needle arts. in Madeira, an island paradise Conservation exhibits were off the coast of Morocco. Like available to educate the public his Belgian contemporaries, about invasive plants and the Duarte’s approach to floral design importance of clean water. is both sculptural and emotional, Michigan has one of the largest blending organic materials and fresh water supplies in the world. found objects to create works Attendees enjoyed shopping at of art. His floral studio is often the boutique, which featured local mistaken for an art gallery. His honey, regional artists’ works, and exceptional craftsmanship and unique topiaries. Twenty-nine innovative design techniques judges from Zone X and afar have captured international Botanical arts were featured for traveled to the show. GCM was Created by floral designer Bruno attention. Local design firms have the first time. Photo by Patsy thrilled to be awarded with more Duarte. Photo by Tracie Rose Gotfredson Duarte on speed dial and call commendations than ever received Standing at the worktable him to create large structures for The Garden Club of Michigan’s in the club’s history. surrounded by an array of galleries, restaurants, hotels, and flower show, A River Runs…, was —Mary Farley and floral design elements, Toronto private homes. He is also a regular held at The Rivers Grosse Pointe, Patsy Gotfredson floral designer Bruno Duarte contributor to magazines, where an extraordinary continuing care demonstrated his artistry at the his seasonal decor and wedding retirement community on 15 Zone XI Akron Garden Club’s October designs are prominently featured. acres in Grosse Pointe Woods. —Tracie Rose meeting with more than 100 in The residents and the public Ladue Garden Club, attendance. Members from the were invited to attend the event, The Garden Club of Village Garden Club of Sewickley, which featured many award– St. Louis Garden Club of Cleveland, Shaker winning displays in floral design, St. Louis, MO Lakes Garden Club, and many horticulture, photography, and guests joined us for an inspira- botanical arts. It also served as part On October 18, 2017, the Ladue of GCM’s community outreach tional morning made possible Garden Club and The Garden program to educate the public through the Frank Fund. of Club of St. Louis combined about gardening and horticulture. Duarte mesmerized us with with the Center of Creative A River Runs… included his easy manipulation of plant Arts (COCA) for the biannual seven classes of floral design material. Within minutes he COCA in Bloom, a celebration exhibits following themes of turned aspidistra and anthurium of art, flowers, and music. This various rivers from the Thames leaves into beautiful woven and exhibition of artistic works created to the Amazon. Horticultural folded creations. Using flexi Bruno Duarte teaching Colleen by students at nearby Hamilton grass (Schoenus melanostachys), he Wernig and others at the afternoon classes included cut specimens of Elementary School inspired demonstrated how to artistically workshop. Photo by Tracie Rose annuals, perennials, vegetables floral arrangements designed by bind the grass to create a basket. and fruits, and container-grown members of the two GCA clubs. Each arrangement was asymmetri- plants. Photography entries were

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  NewsWorthy

To prepare children, they and exposure—community is a get our members enthused about were taken on a field trip to the feeling of fellowship with others as opening their gardens for viewing Missouri Botanical Garden, where a result of sharing common atti- by other members with little fuss, they received basic botany lessons. tudes, interests, and goals. Expo- lead-time, or preparation. Hosts They then created their individ- sure makes something visible. just pick a morning, afternoon, or ual masterpieces, complete with The words community exposure evening of their choice, and with a set of written instructions to describe Hamilton’s partnership the magic of email invitations go the floral arrangers. Garden club with COCA in Bloom perfectly.” out. Iced tea or a glass of wine members received their drawings —Diane Wyse Jackson might be provided, but that’s it. and instructions about two weeks Otherwise, it’s just a stroll through before the celebration and were the garden at peak viewing time. charged with representing the Two pop-up garden parties images with plants and child- were thrown by our members this friendly accessories. summer. Both got great reviews. On the day of the event arrang- Low-stress planning, beautiful Kathy Howard and Chichi Steiner ers set up their floral creations flowers, friendship (and wine) turn at an LMGC pop-up party. Photo by and then met with the children out to be a winning combination! Alison Humphrey to view how the arrangements —Samantha Muldoon interpreted their art. It was lovely to see the excitement of the school Town and Country Garden Club children as they inspected every A student working on his COCA Sheboygan, WI flower arrangement. They also questionnaire. Photo by Diane completed a floral scavenger hunt Wyse Jackson and snacked on hydrangea and sunflower cookies. The Lake Minnetonka Evening was for the adults, Garden Club who enjoyed cocktails and hors Wayzata, MN d’oeuvres with music. The prin- cipal of Hamilton Elementary Have you ever thought “Oh, my School succinctly summed up peonies are perfect—I should the collaboration, “Community have people over!” But then you realized by the time you send out invitations your blooms will have faded or been brought down by a rainstorm? The Lake Minnetonka Garden Club has a solution to this typical gardener’s dilemma: Pop-Up Garden Parties! During a club visit Town and Country Garden Club members made festive hanging ornaments last spring, then Zone XI Visit- from large grapevine balls for the club’s Greens, Glitz, and Bows holiday ing Gardens Rep, Debbie Ross, fundraiser. They also sold fresh wreaths and swags, floral arrangements, Sunflower and hydrangea cookies introduced us to this concept, and troughs, garden spheres, and a large selection of holiday gifts. Proceeds for the schoolchildren in keeping by July we had started our own from this event support the club’s civic projects, including the Eighth Street with the theme of COCA in Bloom. trial program. These quick and Planters, Maywood Park, Indian Mound Park, and Bookworm Gardens. Text Photo by Diane Wyse Jackson casual garden visits are designed to and photo by Pat Schutt

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 NewsWorthy

most underserved communities. The Westport Garden Club Zone XII Native plants are once again taking Kansas City, MO Hillsborough hold, and over 100 species of birds Garden Club have been identified there, making Hillsborough, CA it a premier local bird-watching area. Bay Visions is dedicated to the In September Northern California health, protection, and restoration Bay Visions representatives from of Northern California’s bays the six Northern California GCA and estuaries. Each of the six clubs toured the Eco Center at partnership clubs—Marin, Heron’s Head Park. Heron’s Head Orinda, Piedmont, Hillsborough, is an unlikely but thriving salt Woodside-Atherton, and Carmel- marsh in a 22-acre park located in by-the-Sea—has an ongoing, southeast San Francisco. The site site-specific wetlands restoration was landfilled in the early 1970s project in its community. to develop a shipping terminal, Representatives of the six clubs but the project was halted when also meet together to strategize Oakland, across the bay, became and plan outings to support their The Loose Park Monarch Garden. Photo by Jill Bunting the primary shipping site. Heron’s collective efforts. Consistent Head, so named because of its with the purpose of the GCA, The Loose Park Monarch Garden Monarch Migration Celebration at shape extending into the Bay, is Bay Visions works with and was the centerpiece of two the Loose Park Monarch Garden. now one of the few wetlands on educates club members and their important events in September. The sidewalk, from the colonnade the San Francisco Bay shoreline. communities about the critical The Westport Garden Club to the Rose Garden, represented Mother Nature has been steadily importance of these waterways to and the Kansas City Native the monarchs’ migratory pathway reclaiming the area thanks to the Plant Initiative (KCNPI) held a from Minneapolis to Mexico with the environment. hard work by many local residents, celebration party with appetizers Kansas City at the epicenter. City —Jane Scribner including members of the area’s and drinks. The purpose was signs with monarch facts lined to reveal WGC’s $45,000 the route. Activities included contribution to KCNPI, made face painting, monarch tattoos, possible by proceeds from the native nectar plant and milkweed successful event, Entertaining giveaways, a giant postcard Gardens 2017. Tschanz, director wishing the monarchs godspeed emeritus of Powell Gardens, along their way, and a collection of spoke about the native plants in caterpillars, monarch butterflies, the garden and the maintenance and monarch chrysalises. One of both the new Jean Mary Love chrysalis even eclosed to the Blackman Native Plant Gardens delight of those watching. As the and the Monarch Garden. The butterfly emerged, they saw the club has been an instrumental fat, swollen body pump fluid into partner in both gardens, with the wings to spread them out. The members putting in hundreds wonder of it all! of hours planting, weeding, and —Laura Sutherland Bay Visions representatives, from left: Nancy McKlveen, Cailean Sherman, maintaining the beds. The next Jane Scribner, Mary McGee, Mary Hufty, Faith Brown, Julia Burke, Fidela Schneider, Flip Caldwell, Laurie Smith, Susan Uydess, Patty Reed, Bonnie day KCNPI partners presented a Brooks, Janet Buncke, and Joni Amaroli. Photo courtesy of Joni Amaroli

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Indianapolis Garden Club Visiting Gardens chairs Katie Kruse and Gay Dwyer created a holiday trip with quite a twist. Forty club members flew to Washington DC to experience the White House Christmas Tour in early December. Volunteers from across the country transform the East Wing with 53 trees, 12,000 ornaments, and 71 wreaths creating a stunning holiday masterpiece. Hedieh Ghaffarian, chief floral designer at the White House, welcomed the group. Each lavish tree, garland, wreath, and centerpiece was brimming with sumptuous ornamentation. The tradition of holiday decorating goes back to the first White House Christmas party with President and Mrs. John Adams in 1800. Hillwood, Marjorie Merriweather Post’s estate in DC, delighted the group on their second day as they toured her magnificent home, lush gardens, and special jewelry exhibition. Heiress to the Post cereal fortune, she amassed the largest collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia. Post’s gardens and green houses showcased beautiful specimen plants and her extensive exotic orchid collection. —Betsy Bosway, Indianapolis Garden Club, Zone X

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Late Bloomers

Late Bloomers and Sage Advice —Betsy Bosway, Indianapolis Garden Club, Zone X

Bloomers asked for conservation suggestions from our clubs. Can your club pick up two or three suggestions? Let us know!

The Ridgefield Garden Club A relationship with nonprofit Educating their communities Little Rock Garden Club (Zone II) and Hardy Garden Random Acts of Flowers about keeping water sources (Zone IX) and Perennial Club (Zone VI) have both prompts the Indianapolis free from pharmaceuticals Garden Club (Zone VI) started using eco-friendly Garden Club (Zone X) sparked action by the Garden advocate recycling electronics alternatives to plastics at members to recycle old glass Club of East Hampton and such as cell phones, laptop their meetings. Compostable vases. The vases are reused and Millbrook GC (both Zone III). computers, batteries, and ink dinnerware, natural starch filled with recycled flowers and The clubs collect unwanted or cartridges at club meetings. disposable plates, as well as given to individuals in health outdated medications for safe Not only is this an easy and sugarcane fiber compostable care facilities, who struggle disposal thereby keeping them convenient way for club plates have received high marks with injuries, illness, and the out of aquifers and waterways. members to recycle their over Styrofoam and plastics. aging process. electronics but Perennial The Garden Club of New Garden Club also uses the The Garden Club of Dayton The Garden Club of Jackson Haven (Zone II) created a revenue from this undertaking (Zone X) Conservation (Zone IX) hosted a “NOasis” brochure called Homeowner’s to help fund its community Committee presents monthly workshop to teach members Help for Managing Rain Water projects. challenges to its members such how to arrange flowers using with illustrations and ideas as carpooling, walking, or chicken wire, pin holders, about using porous pavers, rain The GCA staff found Bee’s taking public transportation frogs, or creating a grid of barrels, and planting trees as Wrap Seconds. Instead of using rather than driving alone. floral tape across the top of ways to retain storm water and plastic wrap you can use this At their monthly meetings, containers rather than using decrease toxic overflow. coated fabric to store food. You members report that they floral foam. Mill Mountain use the warmth of your hands are more conscious of their Garden Club (Zone VII) Is water wasted in your shower? to press the fabric around a carpooling/walking since this conducted an in-club flower Follow the lead of Hancock container or food item so that challenge. show without the use of floral Park Garden Club (Zone XII) a seal is created. The wrap will foam in several classes. A by passing out buckets to retain its shape and is reusable. workshop the previous day recycle shower water for use in helped club members explore the garden. alternative methods.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Head to the Web www.gcamerica.org Head to the web to learn, discover, and connect

ConWatch: Waste Management Keep an eye out for the March 2018 edition of ConWatch, the online publication produced by the Conservation Committee. On the heels of the GCA’s ninth and newest position paper on waste management, this issue of ConWatch will include in-depth information about this critical subject. It will feature articles about community initiatives to support waste reduction; how to properly dispose of pharmaceuticals; and what we can do to encourage responsible waste management practices at the local, state, and federal levels. Everyday actions we can take to reuse, reduce, and recycle also will be covered. Tips can also be found on the Conservation Committee’s landing page. The September 2017 Vice Chairmen Report Compilation contains the report by Catherine Nicholson, Vice Chairman for Waste Management, detailing the reasons why waste management is an important issue for the GCA and identifying how we, as individuals and as members of GCA clubs, can constructively work toward solutions. Log on to the Conservation Committee’s landing page on the GCA website to learn more.

Susie Ganch, from the Pile Series: Triangle Trade, 2015. Mixed media, collected detritus (discarded coffee cup lids, close-up image). Quirk Hotel, Richmond Virginia

Kansas monarchs. Photo courtesy of Louie Schwartzberg

Endangered Pollinators We know that monarch butterflies and honeybees are among the pollinators most at risk today. But do we know what to do? In her September 2017 report on the Conservation Committee’s landing page, Vice Chairman Elizabeth Lamar shares her research about endangered pollinators and the steps we can take to protect them. One group recommends a simple pledge: Stop poisoning pollinators, stop destroying their food, and plant more food. Among the measures Elizabeth suggests we take are these: (1) avoid purchasing or using neonicotinoids; check labels for acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, or thiamethoxam; (2) shop with retailers who have a clear and educated policy on neonics, and ask for pollinator-friendly products; (3) share your concerns about the increased use of neonics with your elected representatives, and let them know that pollinator health is an important issue to you; and (4) plant native, pollinator- friendly plants, especially milkweed species native to your locale.

The Xerces Society’s Milkweed Seed Finder (www.xerces.org) is a comprehensive national database that lists milkweed seed vendors by state, enabling you to locate the right species for your area.

HortusTV_US_QuarterPageBulletin.indd The Bulletin :: Winter 1 2018 2017-01-09 3:17 PM Dig Deeper In Memoriam

DigDeeper: Resources InMemoriam

From the Committee • Sea2see, a Barcelona-based Nathaniel Reed: A GCA page 10 company, has made it economically Medalist’s Life in Conservation Nancy Iles Berger page 28 viable for local fisherman to bring in (Mrs. Robert Berger) Research regarding plastic biodeg- Syracuse Garden Club, radation is ongoing. A team of plastic waste along with their daily Nathaniel Reed’s recent book is Travels on the Green Highway: An Zone III European scientists led by biologist catch; the recovered plastic (over 90 Environmentalist’s Journey Federica Bertocchini recently percent of it is recyclable) is then (2017). nathanielpreed.blogspot. It’s with great sadness that Zone discovered that wax worms have the used to make designer sunglasses. His blog ( com) has his 2015 acceptance III and the Syracuse Garden Club capacity to degrade polyethylene. The Problem of Plastics note the passing on September 15, Research in 2014 by Stanford page 22 speech when he received the GCA’s 2017, of our very dear friend and bioengineer Wei-Min Wu and his Elizabeth Craig Weaver Proctor long-time member, Nan Berger. team found that gut bacterium in Medal. All are recommended reading. Nan was accessible to everyone in a different species of wax worm need of encouragement and help— Conservation in the Brandywine could break down polyethylene, always offered with a large measure and a 2016 study identified the Valley: Mt. Cuba page 30 of humor and humility. Most enzymes. While it is unlikely that recently Nan was delighted to be worms alone can solve the problem Mt. Cuba Center is located in The 2016 documentary, A Plastic the first Zone III recipient of the of plastic waste, these discoveries Hockessin, DE, with easy access Ocean, chronicles journalist Craig Zone Appreciation Award. She also are described as research milestones. from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Leeson’s journey to 20 locations received two Club Appreciation The best solution at present lies in Washington, DC, and New York. around the world investigating the Awards and a Medal of Merit. one singular message: produce less Although presently closed for the plastic pollution proliferation in the Nan held almost every position and recycle more. winter, it reopens on April 4, 2018. oceans and exploring solutions. in the Syracuse Garden Club, chairing every committee at some Artist/photographer Chris The Monarch Migration, the Jordan’s documentary, Albatross, Prairie, and Milkweed point during her tenure. She was screened at the Telluride Mountain page 38 the driving force for the 2016 Film Festival in May 2017, tells Zone III meeting, a past co-pres- the story of the thousands of dead ident, the club’s official technical albatross chicks found on Midway computer guru, and for years the club’s administrator. Nan also Ocean Optimism’s website Island in the Pacific, their stomachs held multiple zone and national (www.oceanoptimism.org) contains filled with ingested plastic particles. leadership positions. She was the information about positive efforts Patricia Newman’s book Plastic, Zone III, chairman and before that Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific throughout the world to combat the vice chairman. She also served Garbage Patch (2014), winner of the many challenges facing our on the GCA’s Bulletin, Founders the Green Earth Book Award, will oceans. Its theory is that focusing on Orley “Chip” Taylor, a 2017 Fund, Program, Communications, help the next generation become successes in conservation motivates GCA honorary member and and Nominating committees. ocean stewards. action. For example: professor emeritus in ecology Nan’s dedication to her club and • Mexico created a 57,000- The Ocean Cleanup and evolutionary biology at the to The Garden Club of America sq.-mile reserve to protect the page 17 University of Kansas, is the founder is legendary in Zone III, and her Revillagigdeo Archipelago, south Updated information about Boyan of Monarch Watch. To learn more leadership style has been emulated west of Baja California, prohibiting Slat’s project is available at www. about this organization and its by many and appreciated by all. mining, hotels, and fishing. theoceancleanup.com/updates. Monarch Waystation program, go We will miss her dearly. She is • the small island country of Niue The North Sea prototype testing to www.monarchwatch.org. This survived by her husband, Robert; created a protected marine area has been successful, and the first site’s Milkweed Market will ship their children, John and Katie, and encompassing almost 50,000 square cleanup system is scheduled to be native milkweed plugs to you. their families. miles. deployed in mid-2018.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  Book Review BookReview

extraordinary philanthropist— course is reflected in her enormous who lived in a hospital room embodied the upper-class life in a collection of horticultural books, a for 20 years, essentially leaving country that claims not to have a library of 10,000 books. Even feel- her mansions empty and class system.TheBulletin had the ing so unloved, she developed her abandoned—I felt so sad for her. opportunity to speak with author own amazing sense of style and Turning to Bunny was like the Meryl Gordon. artistic vision that led to designing scene in The Wizard of Oz when so many exceptional gardens. Dorothy arrives in Oz. You have written a trifecta of For this book, I spent three biographies of three of America’s Your book’s structure is linear, years surrounded by beautiful wealthiest women—Brooke just as a life is lived, but you things. I began to redecorate my Astor, Huguette Clark, and open the book with President apartment. I bought a painting Bunny Mellon. Tell us about Kennedy asking her to design from one of her dealers. Her love Bunny Mellon. the White House Rose Garden. of nature had a great effect on me; All these women were fascinating Why? I began noticing when the sun in their own way. But I was so That’s a wonderful question! Every was setting and started going up fascinated by the arc of Bunny author agonizes over how to begin on my roof to see it set. It felt like Mellon’s life—from her friendship a book. It struck me that this was Bunny’s little gift to me. with the Kennedys all the way to the one thing almost everyone Bunny Mellon: The When I talked with her her patronage of John Edwards. I knew about her. Even her own Life of an American gardener, George Shaffer, he was fortunate to get such excellent memoir notes emphasize this Style Legend spoke of how she would get off access to her files, which were event in her life. by Meryl Gordon the plane and go right to the voluminous. And there were Grand Central Publishing, What would you most like to greenhouse. She was an intense living people—from Givenchy 2017 tell our readers that isn’t in your gardener, who really focused to Lee Radziwill to close family book? on what was thriving and what members—who were willing to be If there is one thing most people When you do a biography, it wasn’t. Gardening brought her interviewed! This book represents know about Bunny Mellon, it’s changes you. Writing about great pleasure and solace. interviews with 175 people who that she designed the White House Brooke Astor I learned about —Jane Harris, GCA Library knew Bunny well. Rose Garden. Not so many realize aging and elder abuse; writing Committee Chairman, What struck me throughout she also designed the East Garden, about Huguette Clark [heiress Middletown Garden Club, Zone II the process was that Bunny could named for her dear friend and First and philanthropist and youngest be wonderful and she could be Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy. Even daughter of US Senator and hurtful, and I sought to under- fewer are aware she was inspired industrialist William A. Clark], stand her contradictions. I found at the age of seven by observing in my research that she had such members of the Olmsted Brothers a painful childhood; the oldest of firm working at her childhood home three children, she always felt like in Princeton. the odd person out. Her mother It may be an obituary writer’s adored Bunny’s brother, while her cliché to claim that the death of any father worshipped her younger one person represents “the end of an sister. era,” but that phrase aptly sums up The benefit of her childhood the life of Rachel (Bunny) Lambert was that she developed such a Mellon. Born into considerable close relationship to nature, which wealth in 1910, and living largely influenced so much in her life. in the public eye for 103 fabulously She educated herself, which of stylish years, Bunny Mellon—an

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 Bulletin Board BulletinBoard: Cuttings from the Calendar

February 19 On the Road with the GCA, 9-15 GCA Major Flower Show 4-30 Board of Associates 2018 to 4-10 Photography Study Group “A Capital Good Time,” (VII), Headlines, Dixon 5-3 Trip: St. Louis, MO. Info: May Workshop, Photographer Washington, DC. Info: gca@ Gallery and Gardens, Reay ([email protected]) Doug Steakley, Yosemite gcamerica.org Memphis GC, Memphis, May Valley, CA. Info: Eloise Carson 20-22 GCA Flower Show (VIII), TN. Info: Julie Spear (juliewspear@ gmail.com) 1 GCA Flower Show (VIII), ([email protected]) The Halifax Country, City Color, Birmingham 2-26 NAL Conference, Washing- Oceanside Country Club, 18 Zone Judging Workshop Botanical Gardens, Little to The GC of the Halifax (V), Winterthur Museum, 3-1 ton, DC. Info: Hollidae Morrison GC of Birmingham, Red ([email protected]) Country, Ormond Gardens & Library, Mountain GC, Birmingham, Beach, FL. Info: Amy Nowell Winterthur, DE. Info: Jane March AL. Info: Kathy Park ([email protected]) Moore ([email protected]) ([email protected]) 1-3 GCA Major Flower Show 22 Judging Workshop (I), Floral 18-19 Zone Meeting & Flower 7-10 Zone Meeting & Flower (II), Preview of Spring: The Design, Horticulture, & Show (VIII), Parks, Pines, Show (IX), Lumination, Color of Light, Green Fingers Photography, Tower Hill and Preservation, Charles Knoxville Museum of Art, GC, Greenwich, CT. Info: Botanic Garden, Boylston, H. Morris Center, Trustees’ Knoxville GC, Knoxville, Sarah Morena (sams40@optonline. MA. Info: Katharine Michie GC, Savannah, GA. Info: Polly TN. Info: Kathryn Callaway net) ([email protected]) Webster (polly.webster@hotmail. ([email protected]) 3-11 Non-GCA Major Flower com) April 10 GCA Major Flower Show Show (V), 2018 Philadelphia 4 On the Road with the GCA, 19 Educational Program (XII), Rooted in Paradise, Flower Show, Wonders “Lady Bird’s Legacy,” Lady (XI), “C-Change: Climate Honolulu Museum of Art, of Water, Philadelphia Bird Johnson Wildflower Conversations Continue,” GC of Honolulu, Honolulu, Convention Center. Info: Fleur Center, Austin, TX. Rotary International, GC of HI. Info: Priscilla Growney Rueckert ([email protected]) Info: [email protected] Evanston, Evanston, IL. Info: ([email protected]) 8 On the Road with the Barbara Putta (barbaraputta@gmail. 9 Zone Judging Workshop 12 Garden Tour (VI), 90th GCA, “A Visit to Longwood com) (III), GCA HQ. Info: Cathy Annual Georgetown Garden Gardens,” Philadelphia, PA. 20-21 Westerfeld ([email protected]) Spring Garden & Home Tour, Georgetown GC, Info: [email protected] Tour (IX), The GC Jackson, 9-11 GCA Flower Show (VIII), Washington, DC. Info: www. 14-18 Non-GCA Major Flower Jackson, MS. Info: Dolly Goings Old Florida in New georgetowngardenclubdc.org Show (I), Boston Flower & ([email protected]) Sarasota, Founders GC of 30-31 Zone Meeting & Flower Garden Show, Savor Spring! Sarasota,Inc., Sarasota, FL. 27-30 2018 GCA Annual Meeting Show (IV), Greetings from Seaport World Trade Center, Info: Gina Gregoria, (gmg331@aol. & Flower Show (XII), the Jersey Shore, Navesink Boston, MA. Info: Christine com) How the West is One, San Country Club, Middletown, Paxhia ([email protected]) Francisco, San Francisco, CA. 9-13 Visiting Gardens Trip: Dallas. NJ, Rumson GC, Rumson, Info: Info: Betty Snellings (bettysnellings@ NJ. Elizabeth Lilleston gmail.com) ([email protected]

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The Bulletin :: Winter 2018  New England’s Premier Flower Show The Newport Flower Show cottages Smart & Small Rosecliff, Newport, RI June 22, 23 & 24, 2018 Exclusive itineraries available for visiting garden club groups. [email protected]

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 The Bulletin :: Winter 2018 ART

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NOW AVAILABLE

Listen to the Land is an engaging, informative, and poignant memoir of a life spent tending one particular property, a woodland oasis in Alabama. Louise Agee Wrinkle grew up on this land, returned to it in mid-life, and has, for the last 30 years, tended it with care and creativity, according to her philosophy of allowing the land to speak for itself. Louise Agee Wrinkle

This book speaks of soul and heart of what gardening is all about. I think that family, friends, garden club members, master gardeners, and other serious gardeners will ﬁnd this book inspiring and informative.

—Neil Odenwald, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Former Director, Robert S. Reich School of Landscape Architecture, Louisiana State University

The Plant Proﬁles will be valuable to any gardener. This is not just a list of plants with descriptions, but rather examples that Wrinkle has or had in her garden, and her personal experiences with them. —John Alex Floyd, Jr., Ph.D., Retired Editor-in-Chief, Southern Living

This is a coming-of-age story that spans a lifetime and is a must-read for any avid gardener today. —Fred Spicer, Executive Vice President & Director, Chicago Botanic Garden To order: www.louisewrinkle.com Published by Birmingham Home and Garden birminghamhomeandgarden.com