Earth Founders Fund Talking with Shirley Meneice

The Garden Club of America Winter 2016 12503 - GCA Winter 2016_Layout 1 11/18/15 11:17 AM Page 1

GCA Bulletin Winter 2016

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, conferences, correspondence Dig deeper... and publications, and to restore, be ENCHANTED. be DELIGHTED. be INSPIRED. improve, and protect the quality of

BANK TO BEND WITH LADY CAROLYN ELWES the environment through educational Saturday, March 12, 2016 programs and action in the fields Join featured speaker Lady Carolyn Elwes of Colesbourne Park, England’s greatest snowdrop garden, for her lecture, of conservation and civic improvement. “Snowdrops at Colesbourne, Gloucestershire.” Enjoy an afternoon workshop on the bulbs of Winterthur’s renowned March Bank, a sale of rare and unusual snowdrops and other Submissions and Advertising plants, and tours of the Winterthur Garden. Lecture: $10 per Member. $20 per nonmember. Registration encouraged. The Bulletin welcomes letters, articles with photographs, story ideas, and original artwork from members of GCA clubs. WHAT’S IN BLOOM? Email: [email protected] for more information or visit the Spring is the perfect time to stroll Henry Francis du Pont’s Bulletin Committee page in the members area of the GCA masterful 60-acre garden and enjoy a succession of website: www.gcamerica.org for the submission form. showstopping blooms. Spring festivals celebrate the March Bank, Sundial Garden, Azalea Woods, and Peony Garden. Submission deadlines are February 15 (Spring), May 15 Narrated tram tours available. To discover what’s in bloom, (Summer), August 15 (Fall). visit gardenblog.winterthur.org. ‡† Interested in advertising? Email [email protected] or call (917) 854-1637. DAFFODIL DAY • Saturday, April 16, 2016 The Garden Club of America is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Discover the beauty of the daffodil and enjoy Winterthur’s amazing daffodil display! ‡† GCA Bulletin is published four times a year for club members by The Garden Club of America, 14 East 60th Street, New York, AZALEAS AND BLUEBELLS • Saturday, May 7, 2016 NY 10022. Enjoy the spectacle of thousands of azalea blossoms and acres of wildflowers! ‡† On the Cover Lower Antelope Canyon, located near Page, AZ. Photo by Debbie PEONIES AND PRIMROSES • Sunday, May 15, 2016 Laverell, The Garden Workers, Zove V. Called Hazdistazí by Winterthur’s peonies and Quarry Garden primroses will be in the Navajo (meaning “spiral rock arches”), these sandstone slot full bloom as we celebrate this spectacular spring display in the canyons were formed by erosion. Winterthur Garden. ‡† “Light from above bouncing off the canyon walls below the ‡Included with admission †Members free earth’s surface creates the magnificent colors.” For a complete list of programs, call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org.

Photograph ©John Grimshaw/Colesbourne Gardens LLP

Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, midway between New York City and Washington, D.C. Features winter 2016

The Science Garden Sharing the 28 of Soil 32 Cemeteries 44Earth What exactly is soil? By Madeline Mayhood A Focus on the Wildlife By Lorraine Alexander Including: Kokosing Nature in Yellowstone Preserve By Karen Arsenault Winterville Mounds

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016   The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 From President Anne Copenhaver Executive Board If You Like Tomatoes…

Cycles. As gardeners, we recognize that GCA Executive Board cycles are central to our lives, whether those 2015-16 cycles are governed by nature’s seasons or by Anne Copenhaver, GCA President The Garden Club of America’s July 1- Twin City Garden Club, Zone VII June 30 calendar. With January’s arrival, we Dede Petri, First Vice President are at the midpoint of our organization’s Georgetown Garden Club, Zone VI year. Committees are leading, meetings are ongoing, publications are being sent to Diana Boyce, Vice President press, budgets are being submitted, policies St. George’s Garden Club, Zone VI are being referenced, the Executive Board Debbie Edwards, Vice President is studying and acting, Headquarters is GC of New Haven, Zone II approaching renovation, the Twin Cities are Laura Haley, Vice President anticipating our arrival...and we have put The Little GC of Rye, Zone III GCA President Anne Copenhaver our gardens to bed for the winter, earth on our hands. Mary Kent, Vice President Earth, the theme determined by the Bulletin Committee for this Winter issue. May I Plainfield Garden Club, Zone IV share a paragraph from an article that appeared in our neighborhood magazine last spring, Phyllis Lee, Vice President written by a local ten-year-old boy? The GC of Honolulu, Zone XII Imagine this: If everyone started making their own little, green, clean, effective, SaSa Panarese, Vice President renewable, and efficient garden, then where do you think this community would Milton Garden Club, Zone I be? If you like tomatoes and I like potatoes, we could have fries and ketchup, if Lloyd Brown, Corresponding Secretary we share and trade our produce. Maybe there would be less sickness, for all we The Weeders, Zone V know. Maybe there would be less hunger around the world. Debby Melnyk, Recording Secretary From a different perspective, Wendell Berry brings into focus the despoiling of the Late Bloomers GC, Zone VIII earth. In an op-ed by Wes Jackson and Wendell Berry published in the New York Times, Hilary Salatich, Treasurer January 4, 2009, the issues cited then included soil loss, industrialization of agriculture, Indianapolis GC, Zone X unsustainable food supply, toxic pollution. And the issues now? Who amongst you recall Katie Downes, Director Serving the powerful poem Berry wrote and read when he accepted the Cynthia Pratt Laughlin on the Executive Board Medal in 2008? (The poem is reprinted on page 76.) GC of Englewood, Zone IV Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall—these are the Bulletin editions we eagerly await. Like you, I turn the pages with wonder at the accomplishments reflected, and with awe at the Jennifer Barnette, Chief Operating Officer challenges presented. Earth. I think of the National Park System, of nature conservancies, of the 1700 land trusts across the country. I have renewed hope and commitment that we can make important things happen in the fertile environment provided by The Garden Club of America. As my little ten-year-old neighbor wrote: “If we all do it, we can do it.” My warm January wish for each of you embodies traditional New Year’s optimism: “Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring!”—Lilly Pulitzer

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 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 From the Editor Ann Price Davis Bulletin Committee

Last week (early December) I raced outside when I Bulletin Committee 2015–16 heard a distant squawking. Looking up, way up, I spied Ann Price Davis, Chairman a herd of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) on their way Glenview Garden Club, Zone VII south—Louisville happens to be on a major flyway. Louise Wells, Vice Chairman Today, however, I was driven from home entirely by Twin City GC, Zone VII the cacophony of mowers, blowers, and those huge leaf vacuums. If any cranes happened to be flying Amy Dilatush, Advertising Manager overhead, I would never have known. So when I think Nantucket GC, Zone I about Earth, this issue’s theme, I vacillate between two Penelope Ross, Copy Editor extremes—awe and vexation. Fairfield GC, Zone II I hope this edition of the Bulletin elicits a more moderate reaction. Lorraine Alexander’s soil article zone representatives: Eliza and Emmy Bird with me brought to mind a recipe for making the perfect Ruthie Barker, compost (you know: no meat left-overs or greasy Fox Hill GC, Zone I anything, not too many grass cuttings or pine needles, etc.—everything in moderation). Laura Case, Graphic Design We follow our own recipe in putting the magazine together: the must-haves, input from New Canaan GC, Zone II committees, regular contributors, club reports of all stripes—even the “small news,”—then our own take on the theme. Lorraine Alexander, Editor-at-large, Soil was a given. Burials came about after a chance conversation with Julie Johnson, Millbrook GC, Zone III Little GC of Columbus (Zone X), an involved alumna of Kenyon College who told me Pamela Hirsch, GC of Morristown, about the Kokosing Nature Preserve. We already had the Winterville Mounds piece in Zone IV hand. Two talented writers on the committee, Gay Legg and Madeline Mayhood, took Debbie Laverell, The Garden Workers, over that subject. A third member, Beth Kibler, called me with her “how to save the earth” Zone V idea, inspired by Pope Francis’s visit to the US. I’ve stolen the contribution (below) from Jane Moore, The Gardeners (Zone V). My own suggestion? From Crosby, Stills, and Nash: Gay Legg, St. George’s GC, Zone VI “Teach your children well.” I think my woodland fairies get it. Madeline Mayhood, James River GC,

Plant trees Zone VII Save bees Beth Kibler, Palmetto GC, Collect seeds Zone VIII Pull weeds Sandy Dansby, The Monroe Garden Enjoy the rain Study League, Zone IX Ride the train Lanie Grever, Cincinnati Town & Organic crops Country GC, Zone X Cotton mops Grow your food Julianne Taylor, Cedar Rapids GC, Improve your mood Zone XI Reduce trash Gina Brandt, Hancock Park GC, Save cash Zone XII Feed birds Paige Trubatch, GCA Staff Administrator Write words Love the Earth Increase her worth

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  2016–2017 GCA Nominating Slate 2016–2017 GCA Nominating Slate

his slate of officers and zone directors Executive Board Corresponding Secretary has been prepared by the GCA 2016-2017 Nominating Committee and approved Lloyd Brown T President by the Corporate Board. The slate will be The Weeders, Zone V voted on by the member clubs at the 2016 Anne Copenhaver Bryn Mawr, PA Annual Meeting in Twin Cities, MN. Twin City Garden Club, Zone VII 2015-2017 Corresponding Secretary Fleur Rueckert, Winston-Salem, NC 2013-2015 Director nominating chairman Georgetown Garden Club, Zone VI 2011-2013 Zone Rep, Founders Fund Fairfield Garden Club, Zone II Washington, DC 2009-2011 First Vice Chairman, Conservation 2007-2009 Wickie Plant, Vice Chairman, Conservation 2015-2017 2005-2007 vice chairman President Vice Chairman, Conservation 2013-2015 First Vice President 2003-2005 Zone Rep, Conservation and NAL Green Spring Valley Garden Club, Zone VI 2010-2012 Vice President 2008-2009 Tanny Clark, Zone I Zone Rep, Strategic Planning Recording Secretary Garden Club of Mount Desert 2007-2009 Zone Rep, Nominating 2005-2007 Zone Rep, Awards Fleur Rueckert, Zone II Lorill Haynes 2005-2006 Co-chairman, Board of Associates Fairfield Garden Club 2005 Creative Leadership Award Garden Guild of Winnetka, Nan Berger, Zone III 2003-2005 Director Zone XI Syracuse Garden Club 1999-2001 Vice Chairman, Founders Fund Chicago, IL 1997-1999 Zone Chairman Anne Gates, Zone IV 1996-1997 Zone Rep, Public Relations Stony Brook Garden Club 1991-1993 Club President 2013-2015 Chairman, Scholarship Jane Moore, Zone V 2011-2013 Vice Chairman, Scholarship 2009-2011 Zone Rep, Scholarship The Gardeners First Vice President 2005-2007 Club President Wickie Plant, Zone VI Green Spring Valley Garden Club Dede Petri Treasurer Kay Spindle Shiflett, Zone VII Georgetown Garden Club, Zone VI The Virginia Beach Garden Club Washington, DC. Cindy Hilson Sara Bagley, Zone VIII Hancock Park Garden Club, Zone XII Founders Garden Club of Sarasota, Inc. 2015-2017 First Vice President 2013-2015 Los Angeles, CA Mary Haggerty, Zone IX Chairman, Policy Research 2010-2012 Vice President Founders Garden Club of Dallas 2011 Creative Leadership Award 2014-2016 Member, Finance Sherran Blair, Zone X 2010 Club Medal of Merit Little Garden Club of Columbus 2009-2010 Director Serving on Executive

Gail O’Gorman, Zone XI Committee 2008-2010 Director Garden Club of Barrington 2009 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting Pamela Green, Zone XII 2006-2008 Zone Rep, Awards Seattle Garden Club 2004 Co-chairman, Annual Meeting 2002-2006 Vice Chairman, NAL 2000-2002 Club President 2001 Zone Conservation Award 1998-2000 Zone Rep, Conservation

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 2016–2017 GCA Nominating Slate

Vice Presidents

Diana Boyce Crissy Cherry Wendy Serrell

St. George’s Garden Club, Zone VI Lake Forest Garden Club, Zone XI Hortulus, Zone II Baltimore, MD Lake Forest, IL Greenwich, CT

2015-2017 Vice President 2014-2016 Chairman, Photography 2014-2016 Chairman, Flower Show 2012-2014 Zone Rep, Nominating 2015-2016 Schedule Reader, Flower Show 2013 Creative Leadership Award 2013 Creative Leadership Award 2013-2014 Area Vice Chairman, Photography, 2013-2014 Vice Chairman, Nominating 2013 Photography Judge Sub-Committee Flower Show 2012-2014 Zone Rep, Nominating 2010-2012 Director 2012-2014 Editor, focus 2010-2012 Director 2008-2010 Zone Chairman 2011 Photography Judge 2008-2010 Zone Rep, Flower Show 2004 Co-chairman, Annual Meeting 2011 Photography Award 2007 Floral Design Judge 1998-2000 Club President 2010-2012 Chairman, Communications 2006-2008 Zone Chairman 1999 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2009 Creative Leadership Award 2004-2006 Zone Vice Chairman 2009-2010 Zone Rep, Public Relations 2001-2003 Club President 2008-2010 Member, Audit SaSa Panarese 2008-2009 Zone Rep, Strategic Planning 2007 Club Medal of Merit Zone Directors (2016-2017) Milton Garden Club, Zone I 2004-2008 Treasurer Milton, MA 2002-2004 Club President Elizabeth Meyer 2001 Zone Historic Preservation Award 2015-2017 Vice President 2000-2004 Member, Finance Committee Cambridge Plant & Garden Club, 2019 Co-Chairman, Annual Meeting Zone I 2013-2015 Chairman, Awards Cambridge, MA 2014 Creative Leadership Award Gretchen Downs 2011-2013 Vice Chairman, Awards 2015-2017 Zone Director 2008-2009 Vice Chairman, Nominating Country Garden Club, Zone X 2019 Co-chairman, Annual Meeting 2007-2009 Zone Rep, Nominating Perrysburg, OH 2015 Creative Leadership Award 2007 Club Medal of Merit 2013 Club Medal of Merit 2005-2007 Chairman, Founders Fund 2015 Zone Conservation Award 2012-2013 Chairman, Nominating 2003-2005 Zone Chairman 2013-2015 Coordinator, Conservation 2011-2013 Zone Rep, Nominating 2001-2003 Club President 2012-2014 Zone Rep, Nominating 2009-2011 Zone Chairman 2011-2013 Coordinator, Conservation 2007-2009 Zone Rep, Awards 2007-2011 Vice Chairman, Conservation Marguerite Borden 2005-2007 Zone Rep, Bulletin 2006-2008 Club President 2002-2004 Club President 2004-2006 Zone Rep, Conservation & NAL Cohasset Garden Club, Zone I 2002-2004 Zone Rep, Program Cohasset, MA 1999 Club Medal of Merit Julie Peet 1998-2000 Zone Rep, Bulletin 2015 Zone I Kitty Ferguson Award Fairfield Garden Club, Zone II 2014-2015 Chairman, Nominating Fairfield, CT 2013-2015 Zone Rep, Nominating 2011-2013 Director 2014-2016 Chairman, Visiting Gardens 2009-2011 Zone Vice Chairman 2012-2014 Vice Chairman, Visiting Gardens 2008 Club Medal of Merit 2010-2012 Zone Rep, Visiting Gardens 2007-2009 Zone Rep, Scholarship 2004-2006 Club President 2003-2004 Vice Chairman, Visiting Gardens 2001-2003 Zone Rep, Visiting Gardens

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  2016–2017 GCA Nominating Slate

Suzanne Perry Margaret Costan Mary Harman

Fort Orange Garden Club, Zone III Georgetown Garden Club, Zone VI Country Garden Club, Zone X Loudonville, NY Washington, D.C. Perrysburg, OH Secondary Club, Garden Club of 2015-2017 Zone Director Mount Desert, Zone I 2019 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2013-2015 Vice Chairman, Horticulture Northeast Harbor, ME 2015-2017 Member, Audit 2010-2013 Area Vice Chairman, Judging 2014-2016 Chairman, Program 2011-2013 Club President 2014-2016 Zone Rep, Awards 2014 Club Medal of Merit 2009 Club Medal of Merit 2012-2014 Zone Rep, Program 2012-2014 Zone Rep, Program 2007-2009 Zone Rep, Flower Show 2010-2012 Club President 2010-2012 Club President 2007 Horticulture Judge

Marie Thomas Lulu Lubbers Margo Dana The Augusta Garden Club, Town and Country Garden Club, Garden Club of Somerset Hills, Zone VII Zone XI Zone IV Staunton, VA Sheboygan, WI Bernardsville, NJ 2015-2017 Zone Director 2015-2017 Zone Director 2014-2016 Zone Rep, Garden History & Design 2013-2015 Zone Rep, Flower Show 2013-2015 Zone Rep, Admissions 2012-2014 Zone Rep, Scholarship 2014 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2014 Zone Horticulture Award 2012 Club Medal of Merit 2011-2013 Zone Chairman 2014 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2010-2012 Vice Chairman, Program 2012 Club Medal of Merit 2011-2013 Vice Chairman, Horticulture 2010 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2009-2011 Zone Rep, Bulletin 2012 Club Medal of Merit 2008-2010 Zone Rep, Admissions 2005-2007 Club President 2009-2011 Zone Chairman 2006-2008 Club President 2007-2009 Zone Rep, Horticulture 2004-2006 Club President Malinda Bergen Alice Farley Trustees’ Garden Club, Zone VIII Annette Serrurier Wissahickon Garden Club, Zone V Savannah, GA Philadelphia, PA Diggers Garden Club, Zone XII 2014-2016 Zone Rep, Photography Pasadena, CA 2015-2017 Zone Director 2012-2014 Zone Rep, Communications 2012-2014 Chairman, Judging 2010-2012 Zone Vice Chairman 2014-2016 Zone Chairman 2010-2012 Chairman, Flower Show 2012-2014 Vice Chairman, Garden History & 2008-2009 Zone Rep, Horticulture Design 2006-2008 Club President Camilla Burbank 2010-2012 Zone Rep, Garden History & Design 2007 Photography Judge 2008 Co-chairman, Zone Meeting 2005-2007 Zone Rep, Awards Garden Club of Lookout Mountain, 2001-2003 Club President 2003-2005 Zone Rep, Judging Zone IX 2003 Zone Horticulture Award Lookout Mountain, TN 2001-2003 Zone Rep, Program 1993 Horticulture Judge 2015-2017 Zone Director 2015 Club Medal of Merit 2013-2015 Zone Rep, Program 2011-2013 Zone Rep, Scholarship 2005-2007 Club President 2003-2005 Zone Rep, Conservation and NAL

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 The Newport Flower Show

Artful Living

Save The Date! On Walnut Hill: The Evolution of a Garden Featuring the garden of A.C. and Penney Hubbard June 24-26, 2016 By Kathy Hudson, Foreword by Allen Bush, Photography by Roger Foley Rosecliff • Newport, RI Available now at onwalnuthill.com and amazon.com

MEMPHIS FLOWER SHOW MEMPHIS GARDEN CLUB A GCA Major Flower Show | April 15-17, 2016 | Free Admission

2016 LECTURE SERIES, Saturday, April 16th CAROLYNE ROEHM, 10:00 a.m. | JEFF LEATHAM, 2:00 p.m. Please refer to dixon.org for information about ticketed events.

A JOYOUS FESTIVAL

Gaston La Touche (French, 1854-1913) The Joyous Festival, ca. 1906 Oil on canvas 82 ½ x 113 ½ inches Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens Gift of Mrs. James D. Robinson in memory of James D. Robinson, 1986.3

4339 Park Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee | dixon.org

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Annual Meeting 2016 Destination: Minneapolis–St. Paul

The friendly clerk at a Minneapolis boutique mobility, according to a recent article in major American cities where “people don’t put it best. “Around here, everyone gardens,” The Atlantic. Many groups of immigrants look their age,” according to a recent poll. she said, when I told her I was in town for have thrived since Swedes, Norwegians, and the GCA Annual Meeting planning session Germans arrived there in the l9th century. Shop ’til you drop last May. “There’s a special luminosity in Today, Hmong and Somali communities are Clothing and shoes are exempt of sales tax design here,” she continued, “that reflects the working to achieve their American dream. in Minnesota. Perhaps that’s why the Mall love for summer, when everyone’s outdoors.” of America is just south of the Twin Cities, Then she added that, although she was from Falling water in nearby Bloomington. In town, try the southern Illinois, she couldn’t imagine living St. Anthony Falls, the only major waterfall neighborhoods of Linden Hills, Uptown, anywhere but the Twin Cities because “it’s so on the Upper Mississippi River, is the heart and the North Loop. Or head to the new clean and pretty, and that’s not a cliché!” of Minneapolis. Its hydropower fueled the downtown Meet Minneapolis Visitors Center Luminosity, design, garden, summer, sawmills and flourmills (Pillsbury, Gold on the corner of 5th and Nicollet for a great clean, and pretty. It would be difficult to Medal) that generated phenomenal economic selection of tasteful, locally made gifts. imagine a better place for The Garden growth for the Twin Cities from the mid- —Ceil Miller-Bouchet, GC of Evanston, Club of America Annual Meeting, May 1800s until the early 1900s. From the Zone XI 19-23, 2016. But there are many more Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel (the reasons to love the easygoing, vibrant, and headquarters hotel for the Annual Meeting) Top, left to right: cosmopolitan Twin Cities of Minneapolis it’s a short walk to the stunning Stone Arch Bike or stroll into downtown across the historic and St. Paul. Bridge—a pedestrian and bike path atop the Stone Arch Bridge which spans the Mississippi former railroad bridge next to St. Anthony River. Nature meets culture Falls—and the Mill District, where the old The American Swedish Institute, in the carefully Ranked number two in Travel and Leisure’s flourmills along the Mississippi have been restored 1908 home of newspaperman Swan 2015 readers’ poll of America’s greenest converted into loft apartments. The Mill Turnblad, is also a lovely place for lunch or coffee, with traditional cardamom cinnamon rolls baked cities for its hundreds of miles of bike trails, City Museum, an informative, interactive daily. Photo from the American Swedish Institute 147 public parks, and excellent NiceRide city history museum built on the ruins of bike share system, Minneapolis also has the what was the largest flourmill in the world The riverfront path in front of Mill City Museum, part of the National Park’s Mississippi National most theaters of any American city outside at the end of the 19th century, is also well River and Recreation Area. of the Big Apple. The most well-known, worth visiting for baking lore (remember the perhaps, is the magnificent Jean Nouvel- Pillsbury Dough Boy?) and the ride up the Middle, left to right: designed Guthrie National Theater, on the grain elevator to the top of the mill. The original Mill City District banks of the Mississippi River. But even the Lake Minnetonka GC member Carole Hunter reads Children’s Theatre Company (located in Centennial celebration one of the interpretive panels on the Stone Arch the wonderful Minneapolis Institute of Art) Festivities and fun are in store for the Bridge. has won a regional Tony Award—the only centennial celebration of the National Shop for all your Vikings apparel in the Meet children’s theater to have received this honor. Park Service in 2016 along 72 miles of Minneapolis Visitors Center. Twin City riverfront, an urban national Philanthropy and park on the Mississippi River, with biking, Bottom, left to right: opportunity hiking, birdwatching, visitors centers, and Minnehaha Falls Thanks to established philanthropic interpretive signage. The Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge. Photo: Kristen scions like the Daytons (Target) and the Montag 18 Fortune 500 companies based in the Fountain of youth An event held at the Mill City Museum brings a area, Minneapolis has a strong economic With myriad opportunities to keep active crowd downtown. base supporting the arts and community and cultured in the company of other nice Photos, unless noted, are from Meet Minneapolis, development. In fact, the Twin Cities are the people, it should come as no surprise that Convention and Visitor Association best place in America for upward economic the Twin Cities also ranked first among

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Zone Directors What’s the Buzz about...?

Suzanne Perry How would you describe [Philadephia, PA]. In the Fort Orange your time in your My office overlooked GC, Joanne Lenden garden? is zone director of the park in the 1980s, and Audrey Hawkins. My real world garden is Zone III—23 clubs in when it was a sad, Joanne shares years of a work in progress—I unloved staging area for ideas and projects, with New York, representing carry plants around, some fine monuments. unbridled enthusiasm. looking for new places about 1,800 members. Now it sings as a She was my mentor to put them. I weed marvel of intensely used as a new Hort judge. She is the liaison to the and weed (usually when green space. Audrey is kind and I have no gloves on). I knowledgeable, Archives and National always need a tool Let’s talk GCA for a and a consummate I haven’t got at hand. moment... Affairs and Legislation dirt gardener. She Somehow it all gets As a Horticulture conducted our Committees. done and our gardens judge, I have followed propagation workshops increase in size every educational trails into for years. A ‘“worker bee” in the year. My husband plant societies where Fort Orange Garden rejoices—he mows the there are many madly Do you have a motto? remaining lawn. obsessed plant lovers “Start as you mean to Club, Suzanne has held The gardens in my to meet and much to go on.” mind are all better learn. almost every club job. planned, perfectly She lives and gardens in groomed, and I’m Influences? never tired. In both Two! Loudonville, New York. worlds the trees look lovely in the landscape, and I can walk around aimlessly—and that’s everything.

What gardens do you admire? I like any personal, eccentric garden—if its trees are special, I’m in love. I’m still talking about the enormous katsura tree I saw at the Morris Arboretum

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 GCA Scholarships Liz and Sally The Legacies of Two Life-Changing Visionaries

Photo by Laura Lee Brown

Liz Putnam, Student Conservation Association Founder Sally Brown

lizabeth “Liz” Putnam, a member of of America thus became one of the earliest o commemorate the 100th Zone I’s Bennington Garden Club, sponsors of the new program. birthday of the late Sara “Sally” is widely known as a visionary. As A year later Liz Putnam officially founded Shallenberger Brown and pay a college student in Vassar’s class of the Student Conservation Association, and tribute to a life lived in service E1955, Liz was impressed by the work of the today she continues to be the SCA’s premier Tto conservation and the environment, Zone Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the ambassador. The impact of more than 75,000 VII’s Glenview Garden Club along with the 1930s. Wondering if a similar concept could SCA participants over the past 58 years has Brown family and friends bridged the age gap. help our struggling national parks, she laid been described as “a tsunami of stewardship.” The SCA Apprentice Crew Leader program out her idea in her senior paper, “Thesis on Liz has been recognized with many was launched as the Sara Shallenberger Brown a Proposed Student Conservation Corps.” awards, most notably the Presidential Garden Club of America National Parks Conservation Scholarship in 2010. Students Championed by Liz’s college advisor, the Citizens Medal, presented by President concept took off with leaders of conservation are selected by the SCA in conjunction with Barack Obama during a ceremony at the and the national park system. Liz, along with the GCA Scholarship Committee. White House in 2010. She is the first Vassar colleague Martha Hayne (Talbot), was Sally joined the Glenview Garden conservationist to receive the award, the asked to visit Olympic National Park and Club in 1939 and later served the GCA nation’s second-highest civilian honor. Grand Teton National Park to pitch the idea as Conservation Chairman (1972-73) and A signature program of the Student as a trial project. Both park superintendents National Affairs and Legislation Chairman enthusiastically accepted the offer, and the Conservation Association is for youth aged (1973-74). Sally received the Frances K. nascent Student Conservation Program of the 15 to 19 who join “crews” working as teams Hutchinson Medal in 1978, with the citation National Parks Association was born. in national parks and forests as well as “Few are her equal in the vigorous pursuit of In the fall of 1956, when Liz and Marty wildlife refuges. The crews, working under conservation measures and practices to insure (Martha Hayne) gave a talk to the Bennington the guidance of leaders aged 21+, build trails, the continued natural beauty of America.” Garden Club about their idea, there was so restore habitat, and take on myriad park Sally’s influence has been felt around the much excitement that they were introduced maintenance projects. What happens to our world. Her efforts led to the restoration of to Mrs. LeRoy Clark, then head of the GCA’s committed student conservationists from age the home of George Rogers Clark, founder National Parks Committee. The Garden Club 19 to 21? Enter “force of nature” Sally Brown. of Louisville, KY, and its designation as a

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016   The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 GCA Scholarships GCA Scholar Julia Schock : A Journey through our National Parks

National Historic Landmark and “Life-shaping” is how Julia museum. Her foundation saved Schock describes her experiences the impressive limestone cliffs working in the national parks of the Kentucky River Palisades, with the Student Conservation creating the Sally Brown Nature Association. Julia was influenced Preserve. Sally was also a founding by her older brother’s positive member of the Kentucky chapter experience one summer as a SCA of The Nature Conservancy. Her crew member and she could not regard for Alaska prompted her wait to join in. to push long and hard for the When Julia was awarded expansion of the Arctic National a Brown scholarship in 2012, Wildlife Refuge; she was present she had already served on when former President Jimmy three national high school Carter signed the bill making the crews, in Ouachita National expansion official. She served as Forest, Olympic National Crew leader Julia Schock (center front) with her 2014 SCA crew, including a delegate to the 1974 and 1984 Park, and Great Sand Dunes 2014 Brown Scholar Colin Keating (left rear). Their efforts were focused United Nations conferences on National Park. Julia headed on maintaining the historic structures throughout the Cumberland Island world population, and she worked to SCA Headquarters in New National Seashore in Georgia. during that same period on the Hampshire for Crew Leader International Council for Game Training. Networking with like- a whole new world for me. more meaningful because I was and Wildlife Conservation, which minded people from all over the I started to think about the a mentor crew leader to Colin encourages good stewardship of country was invaluable. At the environment, which created a Keating, a 2014 GCA Brown habitat. Sally has served on the training session, Julia learned special connection. Working in Scholar. Like me, Colin served national boards of the Natural Wilderness First Aid, risk a crew is much more than a field on three SCA crews and was Resources Defense Council, the management, and leadership trip, it creates a solid connection ready to bridge the gap from Trust for Public Land, and the and environmental skills. to the area and makes you student to leader. I guided Environmental Defense Fund. Her favorite was “work skills” understand conservation. Each Colin through the process of Her work on the board of the training, where she practiced park comes alive.” The Student planning the crew, overcoming Woods Hole Research Center different types of trail work. She Conservation Association’s challenges, creating an inclusive on Cape Cod, MA, contributed was also able to reconnect with a mission is to build the next environment, and safely leading to the realization of the work leader from her first SCA crew. generation of conservation the students through daily work scientists there did leading up to On-site at Harpers Ferry leaders and inspire lifelong projects,” Julia explains. “It the Kyoto Protocol. National Historic Park, West stewardship of the environment was interesting to be a mentor With increasing demand Virginia, Julia continued to learn by engaging young people in to Colin because it brought outstripping available endowment valuable leadership skills from hands-on service to the land. my experience full circle. The resources, The Garden Club of her crew leaders. She learned Julia became a 2014 Crew apprentice/mentor program America’s Scholarship Committee firsthand about the planning Leader for the Cumberland helped me to reflect on what it is grateful for the many annual and preparation that goes into Island National Seashore in means to be a conservationist gifts it receives in support of running a crew at the work Georgia. Their project focused and eased me step by step into the Sara Shallenberger Brown site. Julia credits the excellent on maintaining historic becoming a conservation leader.” Scholarship. These gifts enable training at SCA Headquarters structures throughout the island. —Kathy Keller, Akron GC, Zone X, us to further the dreams of Liz and states, “The SCA introduced “I was proud and excited to GCA Scholarship Committee Putnam and Sally Brown by conservation and the National finally be a crew leader,” says Vice Chairman reaching more young people Park Service, and opened up Julia. “The experience was even each year.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Profile A Conversation with Shirley Meneice by Gina Brandt, Hancock Park Garden Club, Zone XII Shirley Meneice has been an Please tell me a little about yourself, active member of Carmel- your early years. I grew up in a suburb of Chicago. I was an only child and my parents by-the-Sea GC, Zone thought I was a bookworm, so they shoved me out XII, for almost 35 years. the front door. My favorite birthday present was She served as chairman an encyclopedia from an aunt. I went through all the volumes as fast as my parents would let me. I of the GCA Horticulture absolutely loved it. I also liked to go outside. We Committee from 1995 to lived a block from a failed real estate deal, and there 1997 and has remained were sidewalks you could ride your bike on, but it involved as a member also had fields with meadowlarks. We used to build forts with neighborhood kids, and we loved chasing and advisor since. In meadowlarks. Their nests were on the ground, 2002 the Shirley Meneice which was common, and to lead us away from Horticulture Conference them they would act like they had a broken wing, was named in her honor. which was very clever. She also is a Judge Emeritus, Do you have an early garden memory? Shirley Meneice, member of the Board of Associates, My mother let me have my own little plot where Carmel-by-the-Sea GC, Zone XII and serves as her club’s Bulletin I could grow whatever I wanted to. This sounded ideal, except that my plot turned out to be on the Representative. Shirley, as she prefers north side of the house under a lilac bush, and “ This quiet but mighty to be called, is the recipient of her there was already rhubarb there. So I didn’t get club’s Horticulture Award (1988 and too much space for special things that were easy lady is pure pleasure to grow, like radishes and carrots, which is what I 2011); the Zone XII Horticulture to sit beside at a chose to grow because I always liked to eat. Award (1998); and, in 2013, the Shirley Meneice GCA Achievement Award “for her Did you always like plants? I think so. We Conference. Her unfailing enthusiasm in sharing always had a garden. At Connecticut College, I was an English major, which is a strange way to continuing love of knowledge while constantly inspiring become a gardener, but I loved going down to the members to explore the horticultural greenhouse and the arboretum to help tag the trees. learning is inspiring.” world.” As described by Luise Strauss, A lot of trees in the East were not the same as in the —Anne Copenhaver, Twin Cities GC, Midwest, so that was new. Zone VII, GCA President Newport GC, Zone II, “Shirley’s mentoring covers all grounds, not What was your first garden as an just horticulture. She sees the positive adult? After I married and had children, we moved from the Midwest to Sacramento. Our in everything—encourages, edits, second house there had 2 ½ landscaped acres. We politely discusses, and pushes toward had dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), the truth. All of us who have been which were in the first shipment that came into lucky enough to spend time with her California. We had trees that people said would only grow in San Diego. We had magnificent elms. realize that she represents what the We just had everything, including lots of camellias. GCA was founded to share.” I had bought three for our first house and managed

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 GCA Profile

to kill all three in less than 6 months! So I decided Where do you think GCA it was time to go educate myself, and joined the clubs should put their Camellia Society. I got really hooked on camellias. energy? I think that there are two places: one is not to forget gardens What do you grow now in Pebble and gardening and the other is Beach? Well, camellias, azaleas…. I’m known conservation. Of course, they go hand around here as a person who likes unusual things, in hand, and should probably be so if people see something really odd, they’ll buy it thought of as twins. for me. I love to push the envelope. For instance, we are in [plant hardiness] zone 9, and I can’t tell In 2013, you received the you how many zone 10 plants I’ve tried, some of GCA Achievement Award, which made it and some didn’t. And of course, which cited you for your now, we don’t have any water, and it’s a case of “unfailing enthusiasm.” I am which ones you let survive. I find that awfully enthusiastic, I must say. It’s important difficult. I sawed off a downspout and put garbage to get someone else interested and cans underneath. I find that even fog will drip into wanting to learn more about things, Camellia ‘Shirley Meneice.’ Photo them. but they themselves have to want to go on. by Mark Meneice

How would you describe yourself— How did the Shirley Meneice as a horticulturalist, a gardener? Horticulture Conference come about? A plant NUT! Luise Strauss and Ann Frierson and others came up “Laughter, fun, with the idea of a horticulture conference. Ann was Do you have a favorite garden? Yes, the GCA President then [2001-2003], and she took unparalleled Bodnant Garden in Wales. If I were a little younger the idea to the Board and they passed it. The Hort imagination, and I would ask if I could pitch a tent and stay there for Committee and the Executive Committee both had a couple of weeks. Part of it is walled, part is in a meetings in New York, and Ann said, “Let’s go see eternal enthusiasm glen with shade and moisture. Another part is very the expression on Shirley’s face when we tell them.” formal. So the entire Executive Committee marched in and for learning are the announced the formation of a yearly horticulture essence of Shirley. Why are gardens important? Well, I think workshop for people from all over the country, and they keep the world going. We wouldn’t have a then Ann said, “We decided to name it the Shirley She is drawn to livable environment if we didn’t have gardens. If Meneice Horticulture Conference.” Everyone youngsters are exposed to plants and trees and started laughing because, they said, they had never unusual caudiciforms growing things early on, why, that seems to stay seen me speechless before. and interesting with them. I think it’s a fabulous event. I think so too. plants that defy What is it that you value most about It’s amazing. We wanted to have it in places across traditional notions of being a member of a GCA club? The the country so that people could see what grew here people! I have met more fun people, more bright and there and understand other horticultures. It beauty.” people, more knowledgeable people in this one took off. Next year it’s going to be at the Brooklyn —Diana Fish, Carmel-by-the-Sea GC, organization than I thought existed. You can’t help Botanic Garden. I am thrilled because the man Zone XII, GCA Conservation Committee but learn if you are around people like, say, Barbara who is in charge there used to be at Strybing Vice Chairman Tuffli, Louise Wrinkle, and Phyllis Lee. And I love [Arboretum, in San Francisco]. I accused the people my club! I have a good group of ladies I call my in charge at Brooklyn of stealing him. I think elves, and they are wonderful to me. they’ll really go all out for us, as they all have.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Profile

Just having the conference Do you have a favorite place? I once had named for you creates a a favorite place and that was Bermuda, but as time legacy, but what do you think goes by I find more and more favorite places. Right is your legacy? I am just me. I now that is Tasmania, which is fabulous. The land am not looking for a legacy and can’t is beautiful, the food is great—and most of it is imagine having one. raised within ten miles of where you happen to be. It’s definitely not crowded, and everybody has I don’t know if you realize a garden. We were snapping, snapping, snapping this, but you have quite a with our cameras all of the time. following. You’ve touched so many lives. Well, every so often What’s next? Finland. That’s my thought for somebody comes up to me and says next summer, with maybe a stop in Denmark. something and I am startled by it. One I’ve never been to St. Petersburg, but since it is so Shirley hosted Jinny Atkinson and lady told me, “If I hadn’t judged with close and I have heard so much about it and the Jinny’s daughter Becky Stirn (both you,” at such and such a show, “I would have quit restorations there I thought I would go there too. of Woodside-Atherton GC) for lunch GCA and my garden club.” She said, “You just said in November, 2015. Shirley and so many kind things along the way that I thought What has been the best reward of Jinny met through Sally Cowherd, maybe I was looking at this the wrong way. And so your life so far? My two children! And, well, I former president of Westport GC here I am.” She was president of her garden club at suppose just getting up each morning. (Zone XI) and one of Shirley’s best the time. So that sort of thing makes you feel good. friends at Connecticut College. When Jinny, who knew Sally well in Kansas City, moved to California How do you stay so vital? You’ve and joined Carmel-by-the-Sea just been to Tasmania and you did it Garden Club in 1981, she was immediately after going to the SMHC? delighted to sponsor Shirley for What’s your secret? I think that I am just the garden club. Given Shirley’s curious and I just keep wanting to know things. extraordinary horticultural expertise, We went to Tasmania just because we hadn’t been Jinny often says that sponsoring there. My family must have generated a curiosity in her was the greatest gift she could me. I like to read about new things and try them ever give to her club and to the out, and then I usually pass that information along GCA. Photo by Becky Stirn to someone.

“Shirley is that How do you relax? Well, I’m not sure I do. I think I am lucky to be able to be busy. The only wonderful teacher problem I have is my knee. I’ve probably spent who made learning too much time in the mud, but I can still get along well. such a pleasure I understand that you’re now 92. What and whom you tips do you have for the rest of us who remember for the are coming up in our years? Just don’t look behind. Keep looking at the future—at places you rest of your life.” haven’t been that you want to go to, things you Shirley with one of her succulents, a Haworthia. “I don’t —Ann Frierson, Junior Ladies GC, want to learn about. know what variety, I’ll have to wait until it blooms.” Zone VIII, Former GCA President Photo by Barbara Tuffli

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 2015 Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference

From Mountains to Sound

A TOTAL OF 195 GCA DELEGATES FROM ACROSS THE The Horticulture Committee Front row from left: Tootsie Crutchfield, COUNTRY, many of whom were first-time participants, attended the Editor, The Real Dirt; Lucy Rhame, VC Freeman Medal; Anna Wasden, Zone September 2015 Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference in Seattle. VIII; Mary Odom, Zone V; Barbara Tuffli, Chairman; Sherry Perkins, Zone XII; The theme, “From Mountains to Sound,” spoke to all of us during Sharon Blackburn, VC Partners for Plants; Alice Thomas, VC Awards. Middle those brief three days, as Mt. Rainier, the Olympic and Cascade row: Lulu Lubbers, Director Liaison; Kathy Shepperly, VC Propagation and mountain ranges, and Puget Sound were in constant view. Seed Share; Marilyn Donahue, 1st VC; Catherine Allan, VC 2015 Shirley The first day was, for the most part, spent in meetings at our Meneice Conference; Maya Speelmans, Zone IV. Back row: Sue Thompson, hotel. There were also opportunities for afternoon walks to Olympic Zone VII; Susan Schieffelin, Zone II; Molly Adams, Zone IX; Shirley Meneice; Sculpture Park and Pike Place Market. That evening we enjoyed Donna Ganson, VC 2016 Shirley Meneice Conference; Mary Miller, Zone III; drinks at sunset and dinner at the Seattle Aquarium, where we were Liz Lavezzorio, Zone XI; Lynn Quintrell, Zone X. entertained by octopuses, otters, and other aquatic creatures. Tuesday was a day of concentrated horticultural experiences, park created a century ago in early 1986, which increased the beginning with our visit to the University of Washington’s Botanic the center of Seattle. Delegates region’s need for precious green AGardens and Center for Urban Horticulture (CUH). A panel had a chance to discover some of space. The delegates toured comprised of horticulturists Sarah Richard, Dan Hinkley, and Richie the very large “champion trees” Bellevue’s diverse plantings, Steffen presented “From the World to Our Gardens,” detailing their among the hundred-plus species highlights of which were its seed-collecting expeditions, and their important subsequent work growing there, as well as a 3.5- densely packed perennial growing and testing the seeds to ensure against the introduction of acre Japanese garden established borders, a dahlia display garden, invasives. Morning breakout sessions at CUH included tours of the in 1959, the Rhododendron and the strolling Yao Garden. Miller Rare Plant Seed Vault, Yesler Swamp, and the University of Glen, and more—and no one Sixty-four of our number Washington’s herbarium and horticultural library. In the afternoon we got lost during the 2 ½-hour continued on to Bainbridge visited Washington Park Arboretum, a 210-acre Olmsted-designed tour! Island and the Bloedel Reserve, Our last day began at via the Washington State Ferry. Bellevue Botanical Garden, It was a spectacular afternoon The Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference is held each fall at one on the east side of Lake to see this 150-acre property, of many important arboretums and botanical gardens throughout the Washington. (Guides provided with gardens created by a country. The conference, having grown in scope and popularity since its colorful commentary on the lumber baron who fell under the founding in 2002, continues to be a major initiative of the GCA Horticulture buses we took each day to and influence of the conservation Committee. Each conference features nationally known speakers as well from our destinations.) Iain movement. as dynamic workshops and tours where the approximately 200 invited Robertson, a landscape architect I am deeply grateful to delegates hone their horticulture skills. The knowledge they invariably gain from the university, spoke about our Seattle Garden Club is to be shared with their individual clubs. Next year’s conference will be McVay Courtyard, his first members for their time and held at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, September 19–21, 2016. (1976) garden design there. He resourcefulness, resulting in a The conference receives an annual supporting stipend from founding also gave us a history lesson on hugely successful conference. member Luise Strauss, Newport Garden Club, Zone II, who has provided the local population explosion, —Catherine Allan, Seattle her energy and ideas over the years. Her contributions truly further the due largely to the arrival of Garden Club, GCA Horticulture conference’s mission to educate and stimulate amateur gardeners. Microsoft in Redmond, WA, in Committee Vice Chairman

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Zone Directors What’s the Buzz about...?

Marie Thomas How do you describe GCA influences? Best thing about the your time in your My mother-in-law, GCA? is director of garden? Susan Thomas, was the I grew up with 3 Rejuvenating—I love brothers and now I Zone VII—18 clubs premier floral design to dig in the dirt, away teacher in my club. have all these garden spread across four states: from my cell phone and In her workshops, she club sisters. They computer. My garden wouldn’t intimidate, teach me how to be one in West Virginia, is a place to recharge but encouraged more aware and more two in North Carolina, without distractions. everyone to find their compassionate to creativity through floral everyone’s point of three in Kentucky What is your favorite view. I am in awe of the garden? design. Now I am the Flower Show chairman garden club links that and 12 in Virginia. Longue Vue House in my club. keep cropping up in and Gardens, the Also important to me my life. She is liaison to the historic home of Edith has been my neighbor and Edgar Stern in Bulletin and Flower and boss, Linda Motto? New Orleans, LA, Holden, at The Fashion “Everything will be OK Show Committees. She where I was married. Gallery. She is a positive in the end. If it’s not Ellen Biddle Shipman belongs to The Augusta force—her enthusiasm OK, it’s not the end.” designed the gardens. It was a true source of Garden Club, where for the GCA and our community is comfort while I was Passions? raising five children. she is a Floral Design Twice a year I travel to absolutely contagious. She inspires me to be Judging candidate. Haiti, where our church supports a school and the best person I can Marie grew up in New clinic. possibly be. Orleans, and now lives in Staunton, VA, her husband’s hometown.

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 2016 Founders Fund

The Committee at Work

ach fall, the Founders Fund Committee selects three finalists from civic projects proposed by Eclubs across the country. The 2016 winning entry is awarded $30,000, with $10,000 going to each of the two runners up. Each of the GCA’s 200 clubs casts a single vote. The Founders Fund Award will be announced at the GCA Annual Meeting in May. The Founders Fund was established in 1934 in memory of Elizabeth Price Martin, Standing from left: Tempe Thompson, Chairman: Mary Kent, Executive Board Liaison; Pat Clarke, Zone The Garden Club of America’s first president. III; Mary Ann Burke, Zone VII; Alix Smith, Zone VI; Henrietta Friedholm, Zone X; Anne French, Zone The fund for this prestigious award continues IX; Anne-Marie Woodhouse, Zone I; Mary Anne Paul, Zone V; Betty Snellings, Zone II; Betsy Huffman, to grow through generous gifts from club and Vice Chairman. Seated: Courtenay Wilson, Zone VIII; Iris Wagner, Director Liaison; Ruth Kerkeslager, individuals. Zone IV; and Nancy Lee Kemper, Zone XI. Not pictured: Sharon Dowsett, Zone XII

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The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  2016 Founders Fund The HISTORIC WASHINGTON GARDEN at the OLD NORTH CHURCH Proposed by Beacon Hill Garden Club, Zone I n Seconded by Chestnut Hill Garden Club, Zone I

“Listen, my children, and Club. The first phase of the project, you shall hear.” The Old North repointing of the garden walls, is slated to Church of Paul Revere fame is Boston’s begin in the fall of 2016. A Founders Fund oldest standing church and most visited Award, added to other pending grants, historic site, attracting half a million would help to fund this, as well as the visitors each year. Beacon Hill Garden 18th-century plant materials, shade trees, Club has been a partner of the Old North and garden elements of the proposed Church for over sixty years, caring for the plan. Our goal is to complete the garden Washington Garden and Courtyard to by the end of 2017. the east of the church and coordinating “One, if by land, and two, if by sea” is several major redesigns of the space, the most famous line of the most famous including a special one for the United poem in American history. The creation States Bicentennial in 1976. of the Longfellow Garden on the grounds In anticipation of the church’s 300th of the Old North Church will insure that birthday in 2023, and the nation’s 250th future generations of Americans will in 2026, Beacon Hill Garden Club and continue to treasure this iconic structure Old North Foundation of Boston, Inc., The entry to the Washington Garden and honor the values of freedom and civic are launching a campaign to reconfigure responsibility embodied in Longfellow’s the Washington Garden and adjacent The new garden will be renamed stirring words. Washington Courtyard. This project is part Longfellow Garden and will provide an of a larger $10,000,000 project to repair, outdoor classroom in which students better protect, and restore the church to can learn about the meaning and history its original appearance. of Longfellow’s poem. Plantings will The project is guided by the Old North incorporate 18th-century favorites and Foundation’s desire for additional space themes. The raised planters will provide where the tens of thousands of students seating for the hundreds of thousands who visit the church annually can learn of visitors looking for a place to pause more about their nation’s heritage. The and reflect as they follow the Freedom current Washington Garden is a walled Trail throughout Boston. The adjacent space dominated by a single, overgrown Washington Courtyard will be repaired tree. Only a handful of visitors at a time and reconfigured to blend seamlessly can visit. The proposed design will enlarge with the Longfellow Garden. Together the opening to the garden, move trees they will be able to host large outdoor and plants to the edge of the garden in receptions. The project cost for the garden raised planters, add appropriate plant redesign, restoration, and installation is identification, and erect a large glass-and- $833,500. water feature on which will be etched The initial design has been funded Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem by Citizens Bank, the General Society of View of the historic steeple at the Old “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Colonial Wars, and Beacon Hill Garden North Church and Freedom Trail signage

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 2016 Founders Fund

Outer courtyard at the Old North Church Schoolchildren and visitors at the garden

Signage memorializing the collaboration between the Old North Church and Beacon Hill Garden Club. Photos by Sean Sanger and Anne-Marie Woodhouse

Existing narrow paths around the inner Inside the existing garden garden

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  2016 Founders Fund BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY at HARTFORD’S HISTORIC KENEY PARK Proposed by Garden Club of Hartford, Zone II n Seconded by Connecticut Valley Garden Club, Zone II

Frederick Law Olmsted, of parks, lack a basic knowledge of the “father” of American landscape landscaping beyond mowing. We are architecture, grew up in Hartford, working with Tom Baptist, Hartford’s Connecticut. He learned about land in Superintendent of Public Works, to the nearby woods and meadows, and create a best-practices-in-urban-park-care when his firm was commissioned to program for the City staff and volunteers create a park on 700 acres in this capital who maintain Hartford’s parks. The city, his philosophy—“to preserve and Founders Fund Award would allow us to: to encourage wildness of vegetation, n design and implement the standard- planting only native trees and shrubs...”— setting program, “From the guided its design. Ground Up: Best Practices in Land Opened in 1896, Keney Park today Management Basics.” The course, contains a pool, two cricket pitches, covering such fundamentals as the miles of walking trails—even a golf importance of biodiversity, plant course. Children from nine surrounding identification, pollinator preservation, schools use the playing fields and and invasive plant management, playgrounds. But Keney now borders would be taught in the field and a 3.1-square-mile neighborhood so classroom. disadvantaged it is a federally designated n feature the course online, through Promise Zone. Only 38% of its nearly The Woodland Street entrance to the videos and text, allowing for future 24,000 residents have a high-school Keney Park training and public access. diploma, 49% live in poverty, and the n develop a “link library” of existing average annual per capita income is low maintenance and invasive plant horticulture how-to sites for quick $12,000. Keney is vital to this community management in mind. smartphone access on the job. as a source of employment, health, In April 2015, the judges announced n plant the remaining four park well-being, and educational opportunity. the winner: a team from Harvard’s entrances to illustrate how-to’s in land Its sustainability is at the heart of our Graduate School of Design-Landscape management. Founders Fund application. Architecture. Since then, GCH members, n install signage at all the entrances Garden Club of Hartford began its alongside high school interns from to explain the park’s flora, fauna, commitment to Keney and its partnership The Keney Park Sustainability Project, landmarks, and history. with the City of Hartford in 2014, when community members from the Friends we launched Partners for Plants at Keney of Keney Park and the Keney Park With Founders Fund support, we look Park, a design contest for university Garden Club, and city parks staff have forward to mapping a sustainable landscape architecture students, partially begun implementing the winning future for Keney Park, a vital asset to its funded by the GCA’s Partners for Plants design for the Barbour Street entrance, underserved neighbors and the greater program. The directive? Think “Olmsted” the one deemed most wanting—for Hartford community. while redesigning the park’s five aging implementing the winning design. * For complete contest information entrances, using pollinator-friendly However, many who care for Keney, and to see the winning design, go to native trees and shrubs, and keeping and the rest of Hartford’s 2,200 acres gchartford.org.

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 2016 Founders Fund

In 1896, sheep mowed the meadows in Interns from the Keney Park Sustainability GCH members work with Hartford the Olmsted Brothers-designed Keney Project, a regional program for students DPW staff planting native Allegheny Park. Five entrances heralded its grandeur, interested in land-use and horticulture, serviceberry. Such projects will be part of but today invasives overwhelm the and a GCH member collect soil samples, the standard-setting curriculum, “From original plantings and the design intent is preparing to plant at Barbour Street. the Ground Up: Best Practices in Land diminished. Management Basics.”

Above: Interns and GCH members identify invasives with horticulturalist Mark LaCasse. An educated workforce and community are key to the restoration and ongoing well-being of Hartford’s 2,200 park acres.

Right: GCH challenged regional landscape architecture and design students to redesign the park’s aging entrances. Here, the Barbour Street entrance as envisioned by Stephanie Hsia and Lara Mehling, contest winners from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  2016 Founders Fund The WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER at CATTAIL MARSH Proposed by Magnolia Garden Club, Zone IX n Seconded by The Garden Club of Houston, Zone IX

Wetlands are among the most of conservation, fostering increased biologically diverse and productive stewardship of this vital landform. ecosystems in the world. They are also Our club has formed a team endangered. Since the 1600s, over half comprised of educators from the of our original American wetlands have Audubon Society and biologists from been drained and converted to other the City Water Utilities to create uses. Natural wetland systems have comprehensive educational programs. been described as the “earth’s kidneys.” Topics will include: In consideration of this, engineers and n The functions of wetlands and their scientists have begun to construct value as a dynamic and diverse wetlands as wastewater treatment ecosystem systems. n The role of wetlands in biodiversity In 1993, Beaumont, Texas, was and habitat preservation faced with excess ammonia in the city’s Great Blue Heron snacking on a baby n Water conservation and climate water supply, and sought an innovative Red Slider. Throughout the winter, many change and environmentally positive solution. migratory birds use southern wetlands for food and nutrients to sustain them for n Plant, bird and wildlife adaptations to Consequently, engineers designed and their return trip north and the breeding life in a wetland built a man-made wetland known as season. Bird photos by Kelly Munro Cattail Marsh. Water leaving Beaumont’s Phase I of the project will consist of main sewage treatment facility flows Marsh is a hidden treasure surrounded site preparation, removal of invasive by gravity through the “cells” of Cattail by a six-foot-tall chain link fence with species, and installation of the building Marsh. By the time the water leaves the an uninviting entrance. The Magnolia infrastructure. The Founders Fund wetland, it has been naturally cleansed Garden Club was initially approached grant would be applied to Phase II, of ammonia and other contaminants. to create a garden entrance, but soon the construction of the education This 990-acre site was the largest identified a more pressing need: an center. Phase III will include planting constructed wetland in the nation. Now education center. Prior outreach efforts of an ecologically sensitive garden such facilities exist in every state. The have been limited by a lack of classroom and an improved pedestrian entrance. unexpected bonus was the diverse space or a cohesive educational Completion is expected in May 2018. wildlife habitat the project created. program. Alternative funding plans will focus on Beaumont’s Cattail Marsh is located The Magnolia Garden Club submitting grant requests locally as well at a natural convergence point for seeks to establish The Wetlands as nationally. the North American Central Flyway Education Center at Cattail Marsh. The role of education in sustaining and Mississippi Flyway. As such, it An elevated open classroom, it will wetlands is of utmost importance, provides a protective and biologically accommodate forty people, meet including raising awareness and rich habitat for countless birds, fish, and all ADA requirements, and provide a environmental understanding. Located other wildlife. This diverse habitat is a site for school groups and visitors to just one mile off of Interstate 10, Cattail comprehensive educational resource, explore and discover the ecological Marsh has the potential to become a a conservation textbook for our future value of wetlands. Its mission will dynamic destination and an inspiration generations. Unfortunately, Cattail be to bring wetlands to the forefront for other communities.

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 2016 Founders Fund

There are fewer and fewer opportunities Roseate Spoonbills cruising over the Identifying birds in Wetlands Bingo game. for people to connect with nature. wetlands. Over 240 species of birds have Education focuses on understanding Cattail Marsh is a model for other been identified within Cattail Marsh. the role of wetlands in biodiversity and communities—a marriage of conservation Wetlands occupy less than five percent habitat preservation. Photo by Camille and city management, and a wonderful of the United States, yet over thirty-five Ohmstede outdoor classroom. percent of endangered or threatened birds and plants depend on wetlands during their lifespan.

Cattail Marsh provides students an opportunity to interact with Cattail Marsh is worthy of national attention as an innovation the outside world. Understanding the health and quality of our where the expansion of society is no longer at odds with the water drives conservation, leads future generations towards preservation of nature. Illustration by John Cobb environmental stewardship.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: The Science of Soil

oil is a life-support system. an organizing principle for issues of the I live ten minutes from the office of Cary It is roughly the equivalent Bulletin, our own fifth being people (in Institute senior research fellow, microbial S of earth, which along with summer). ecologist, and regular contributor to the air, fire, and water comprise So in this earth issue a focus on soil journal “Soil” Peter Groffman. Charming what philosophers have called the four was a natural, and the minute I began and straightforward, he began with “soil “elements.” None of them is actually worming my way through a few books and is a real discipline with thick textbooks,” elemental in the sense of something the zillion internet sites with “soil” in their and by the end of our first meeting I was irreducible. Nor are they the chemical title, I realized I needed expert help. What leafing through a soil map-book for Clinton elements that make up the periodic table, exactly is soil? We live on top of it, grow our County, Michigan. (Did you know that which were classified much later in history. food in and on it. Our dogs are convinced every US county has, or had, map-books These four designated elements, if you that their bones are safely hidden 4 inches of its soil, delineating composition and like, are not as science-based as they are beneath its surface—and what would use? Now this data is kept digitally.) People philosophical talking points, and they archaeologists do for a living without soil? have managed soil in practical ways for go back millennia—to the alchemists, to More to the point, our forests are rooted most of recorded history, but academic soil Aristotle (who calculated five, taking into there. Trees not only provide cooling shade, science began in the 1840s, Groffman told account the heavenly stars), to Hinduism soaring beauty, and homes for manifold me, with a series of experiments outside and Taoism (again a fifth was added, this forms of life, they are our planet’s prime London. Even earlier, German chemist time metal), to Babylonia, Egypt, even filter of the nitrogen that makes up most of Justus von Liebig popularized the “law of Sicily. Not necessarily in that order. In the air we breathe. the minimum,” meaning that plant growth more recent times, they have become So much for free association. Luckily is determined not by the most available soil nutrients but by the scarcest. (Think about a chain’s weakest link.) Our soil can contain plenty of the macronutrients nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, but if the micronutrient boron, say, is in short supply, crops fail. After Liebig, people began to understand soil as a natural, living body. Generally speaking, soil is about half solid, half pore space. And half the pore space is filled with water, while most of the solid material is mineral (which led early investigators to conclude that soil was mostly finely shattered rock). Only about 5% is organic matter—but, oh, what a difference that 5% makes. So, what exactly are the components of soil’s organic matter? They are a highly complex mass of bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa; shredders and decomposers called nematodes, e.g., roundworms; arthropods, such as mites and ants; and visible earthworms (a consuming passion Soil sampling at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Photo: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies of Darwin), insects, and plants. “Soil is Facing page: Leaves supplemented with nitrogen make mineral-rich compost. Photo by the author alive,” Groffman emphasized. “If you hold a

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016

The Science of Soil BY Lorraine Alexander, MILLBROOK GC, ZONE III

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: The Science of Soil

Field of soy in Iowa. Photo: Rich Herrmann via Flickr gram of soil, about the size of a thumbnail, creating excess acidity. Herbicides and you are holding a billion living bacteria.” insecticides eradicate their targets while In healthy soil the various organisms are largely sparing soil’s microbial community, in balance, sequestering nitrogen to make but fungicides, which can be extremely it usable by plants and, on a good day, toxic because fungi are harder to kill, are less filtering fertilizers and pesticides, which discriminating. prevents their entry into groundwater. But Soil suffers dramatically from there are problems. these factors, but Groffman noted that “Nitrogen, unlike other minerals, environmentalist-emeritus Lester Brown is not present in rocks; but 80% of the believes the greatest threat to soil we face atmosphere is nitrogen, and it’s very stable is erosion.” As soil disappears, floods there, requiring a lot of energy to break increase, crops and people are uprooted, it up and get it into the soil. Legumes do infrastructure collapses. The cycle of this naturally, which is why farmers used tilling, filling, and fertilizing exacerbates to rotate crops with soybeans and alfalfa: the danger. Groffman, who conducts they fixed nitrogen in the soil and broke up long-term research at the National Science cycles of disease.” Foundation’s Hubbard Brook Experimental But current farming practices have Forest in New Hampshire, narrowed my degraded soil. Rotation of crops is seldom focus to a raindrop. “In the woods there is practiced, farmland is compacted by heavy almost no erosion. Each raindrop possesses A pause in a raindrop’s journey. Photo by Missy machinery, and fertilizers are overused, a lot of energy as it falls, but as the raindrop Janes, Fauquier & Loudoun GC

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: The Science of Soil

hits one leaf after another its energy dissipates, limiting its ability to break up soil.” What then can we do to improve and protect soil? Farmers can adopt “no-tillage” farming, substituting vertical, minimally invasive direct-drill seeding for repeated tilling. As for the rest of us, “There are three possible remedies for poor soil: organic matter, organic matter, and organic matter.” In other words, composting, which is nothing more or less than our sped-up re-creation of soil’s naturally occurring humus—a substance that is surprisingly mysterious. Take, for example, its structure. Everywhere I looked, I read that humus lacks the cellular structure of plants, microorganisms, and animals. So what is the nature of its structure? (Answer: good question.) What then do we know about humus? Humus becomes the “life force of soil,” making nutrients available to plants, through decay. It keeps soil moist while preventing seepage and, though amorphous Table scraps destined for compost. Photo: Kt.Ries via Flickr itself, gives soil structure. Inspired by such paradox, I think of soil now as a universe equivalent to the oceans and the air. But Amy Stewart, in her rich and riveting book “Noanett Gold” on earthworms, The Earth Moved, offers an Noanett Gold is a compost worthy of its name. It is produced by Smith’s Country Cheese in eloquent perspective: Winchendon, MA, where owner Dave Smith has long been committed to sustainable farming. Energy efficiency and zero waste are top priorities on his dairy farm, which is home to 175 milking Eternity can be found in the Holsteins. Their feed, such as wet grain from beer manufacturing, would otherwise be destined minuscule, in the place where for landfills. (Decreasing landfill waste—40% of our own food is dumped into landfills, where it earthworms, along with billions of breaks down without oxygen and contributes to the release of methane—is an important collateral soil-dwelling microorganisms, engage benefit of composting.) Cows, with their compartmental stomachs, can derive nutrition from many in a complex and little understood products, Smith says. Their nitrogen-rich manure is a starting point for his compost. dance with the tangle of plant roots To chemically balance the mixture, Smith incorporates what could be mislabeled waste. that make up their gardens, their Short paper fiber, a byproduct of cardboard recycling, and ash, a byproduct of energy production, cities. provide essential carbon components for the compost. Yard trimmings and sand can also enter the mix. A natural but carefully managed process of heating and aerating to support microbial We are all in some sense archaeologists. activity in seven bays transforms these raw materials into a nutrient-dense soil amendment. The resulting compost has become a golden fund-raising opportunity for Noanett Garden Club and a restorative addition to local gardens. —Kimberly Hatfield, Noanett GC, Zone I

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: Garden Cemeteries

inconsistently maintained and Cambridge, MA, in 1831, the often susceptible to flooding garden cemetery phenomenon could present some serious officially took hold in America. public health challenges. Behind the typically GardenWith the advent of garden elaborate gates that graced Cemeteries cemeteries, leaders of the day, the entrances of these garden under pressure to create more cemeteries, setting them amenities for ever-increasing off from the real world, numbers of city-dwellers, were people congregated in able to offer these attractive peaceful, contained places to perks to residents. commemorate their departed The transition from burial loved ones. They picnicked and plot to garden cemetery was strolled among the majestic also due in part to the 19th- stands of trees, enjoyed the century’s romanticism as picturesque vistas, rode Before Yosemite, Glacier, and English landscape architects carriages through the winding by Madeline Shenandoah; before the Met, derived inspiration from paths, and hunted and fished Mayhood, James the Gardner, and the Getty, classical landscape paintings. in the lakes and meadows, all rural (or “garden”) cemeteries In the 18th century Capability amid the graves and crypts and River GC, Zone VII were important places in Brown and Sir Humphrey tombstones of the dead. America—for contemplation, Repton used vast English After Mount Auburn’s Above: The 1831 founding of Mt. reflection, inspiration, and estates as their canvases, successful debut in Boston, Auburn Cemetery, inB Cambridge, recreation. They bridged the manipulating nature to achieve more so-called rural cemeteries MA, signaled the importance of gap between sacred space picturesque effects—gracefully began cropping up all over landscape design in the plans of the early garden cemetery movement. and pleasure ground for a curving pathways, massing the country: Laurel Hill in Photos by Gay Legg except where burgeoning, enthusiastic new of trees and plants, stands of Philadelphia, Green Mount noted. republic. shrubs, ornamental features, in Baltimore, Cave Hill in A precursor to national lakes and antique statues— Louisville, Mount Hope Below: A scenic drive meanders parks, botanical gardens, and strategically placed throughout in Rochester (NY), and through the landscape at Cave Hill museums, garden cemeteries the landscape. This romantic Hollywood in Richmond. (As Cemetery, Louisville, KY. Photo by were designed to solve the style of landscaping not only urban sprawl began to take Ann Price Davis endemic and growing problem affected perceptions of nature hold, some cemeteries, like Mt. of urban land use as a result of but also, as the idea migrated Auburn, became less rural and overcrowded burial plots. Keith west to America, came to found themselves in the middle Eggener, associate professor permeate the entire culture—in of cities.) of art and architecture at art, national identity, and even the University of Missouri, attitudes toward death. The explains that many cemeteries trend naturally extended to The Movement were “inadequate, dangerous, burial grounds, first in England crowded, expensive to maintain, and France, and later in the Migrates South and carriers of disease” (The United States. Père Lachaise Inspired by their trip to Atlantic, March 16, 2011). in Paris, established in 1804, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Unkempt plots, decomposing is a fine and famous example, prominent citizens of remains, and coffins stacked and then, with the founding of Richmond embarked on their six-deep on property that was Mount Auburn Cemetery in own hometown project, hiring

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: Garden Cemeteries

noted Philadelphia architect generals, and more than and this ”city of the dead” John Notman to design a 18,000 Confederate soldiers, remains a bustling hive of life. cemetery on the banks of who are memorialized by a * * * the James River in what was 90-foot-high granite pyramid In contrast to majestic garden Garden Cemeteriesthen the outskirts of the city. erected in 1869. Hollywood cemeteries, modern cemeteries, Within a year an extensive and is a place where its interred also called memorial parks, complicated system of bridges, residents appear to be in a took hold in the 20th century. culverts, drainage ditches, gentle sleep amid spectacular Their landscapes are simpler, lakes, gutters, roadways, and plantings, stone- and iron- and flat markers replace the Below left: Elaborate sculpture paths had been built around work, mature conifers and artistry of granite and marble and decoration of monuments the property. In 1851 the first deciduous trees alike, and so prolific in the garden-style showcased family affluence. In gravestone was laid. Named unparalleled views of the James cemeteries. Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery, a life-size cast-iron Newfoundland for the abundance of hollies River. Softly swaying willow Whether a reaction dog stands guard over the grave of that still grace the landscape, trees and statues of weeping to the memorial parks or a little girl. Hollywood Cemetery is one of angels and children add to a mere stylistic swing of Richmond’s most famous and its ethereal atmosphere. One the pendulum, the “green” Below, middle: No longer “rural,” historic landmarks. of Hollywood’s most loved cemetery movement has Green Mount Cemetery, in Today, situated on 135 statues is a life-size cast-iron begun to take hold. The idea Baltimore, MD, is bounded by acres in the center of the city, Newfoundland dog, who is that everything returns blocks of townhouses and busy it considered the second most stands guard over the grave of a to nature (dust to dust). streets. visited cemetery in the US, little girl who died in 1862. Instead of preserving the Below: Elaborate entrances set behind Arlington National This popular historic site body with embalming fluid the cemetery off from the real Cemetery. Additionally, it is a regular destination for and hermetically sealing it world. The crenelated towers and is the final resting place of cyclers, walkers, runners, and in an impenetrable vault elaborate, wrought-iron gates of two presidents, six Virginia touring civic groups. Add those or coffin, it’s wrapped in a Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, governors, two Supreme Court to the people who visit the simple cotton shroud and MD, were designed by noted justices, two Confederate graves of family and friends, placed in a plain wooden architect Cary Long, Jr.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: Garden Cemeteries

Well-known Rural Garden Cemeteries Mount Auburn Cemetery, Boston, MA (1831) Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME (1834) Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA (1836) Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Taunton, MA (1836) Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, NY (1838) Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY (1838) Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, MD (1838) Valley Cemetery, Manchester, NH (1840) Lowell Cemetery, Lowell, MA (1841) Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, NY (1841) Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum, Dayton, OH (1841) box. Even Ecopods, which are viable. In contrast, the green Left: Hollywood Cemetery, Wilmington and Brandywine biodegradable, kayak-shaped cemetery movement echoes Richmond, VA. Photo by Kevin J. Kelley Cemetery, Wilmington, DE caskets made of recycled current trends of returning (1843) newspaper, are an option in to nature and respecting the Right: By the 1860s, Brooklyn’s Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, KY this growing marketplace, environment. (The pollution Green-Wood Cemetery was second (1844) and headstones, if they exist and carbon footprint only to Niagara Falls as the largest Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, at all, are often wooden, so associated with cremation is tourist attraction in the country. PA (1844) that they too decompose. For quite contrary to such goals.) Swan Point Cemetery, obvious reasons, green burials Eventually the burial site Providence, RI (1846) usually happen quickly, if begins to look like a forest. The green movement Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, MI not immediately, sometimes Many people who aren’t even in burials looks—and is— (1846) with the use of lavender- committed environmentalists moderate in comparison: no Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, KY filled mattress pads. Relevant prefer this natural approach as embalming fluid, no bronze (1848) websites offer shrouds in an appropriate ending. Other casket, no pasty funeral Forest Hills Cemetery, Roxbury simple cottons, textured burial trends—turning remains makeup which could turn your (now Boston), MA (1848) linens, and luxurious silks, all into diamonds, vinyl records, loved one into a figure out of Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, NY biodegradable fabric. or artificial reefs to aid in the Madame Tussauds. Whether (1848) Many garden cemeteries restoration of coral—may be green or garden, burial options Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, require an extensive network exactly that: trends. The folks are increasing these days, NY (1849) of guardians, volunteers, at Carbon Copies envision options that transcend cultures Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, boards, donors, staff, religious turning ashes into a lifetime and creed. VA (1849) and civic groups, and clubs supply of pencils, each stamped Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, to maintain their elaborate with the name of the deceased, DC (1849) grounds; only enormous with the pencil box becoming a Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, GA resources and stewardship transitory urn each time “your” (1850) allow them to remain pencil is sharpened.

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: Kokosing Nature Preserve

Earth to Earth in the P resent Day conservation is an effort other green (or “natural”) burial sites, Land with which many Garden which now exist in 23 states. Their eco- Club of America club members have certification assures families and zoning experience. But conserving land as a green groups that the location will conform burial site, in the manner of the Philander to its standards of sustainability. In Chase Corporation at Kenyon College, is addition to preserving the land, green an example of “earth to earth”—a present- burial does not allow the use of toxic day return to a very early idea. chemicals, such as the formaldehyde used Kenyon College is often listed as one in embalming. Shrouds and caskets must of the loveliest college campuses in the be biodegradable, with metal or concrete country, and pays particular attention to vaults prohibited. KNP and some other preserving that beauty. Located on the green sites do allow cremation remains. last western crest of the Appalachians in A green burial is usually significantly Gambier, Ohio, its Gothic towers soar less expensive than a traditional burial, above the treeline of a mile-long ridge but generally still uses the services of a that looks over the winding Kokosing The top of a willow casket covered by flowers funeral home. Graves are dug, simply River. Here, in 1824, Philander Chase, the from the deceased’s garden. Photos courtesy marked, and left in rounded mounds, first Episcopal bishop of the state, stood of Kokosing Nature Preserve and used with the which settle into the earth after burial. looking out at the frontier. Protecting that permission of the family. Eventually the land returns to its natural view over Kenyon’s 1,000-acre campus state. Planting trees and shrubs, often now falls to the nonprofit Philander Chase With a green burial, prohibited in conventional cemeteries as an Corporation (PCC), formed to conserve obstruction to maintenance and mowing, the surrounding rolling landscape. graves are dug, simply is encouraged. When a nearby 51.3-acre golf Since the Kokosing Nature Preserve is course came up for sale, the PCC was marked, and left in managed by the Philander Chase Society as able to purchase it—dividing the site in a nonprofit, the plots are reserved through half, leaving a 9-hole course intact. The rounded mounds, a donation to the society. The KNP has remaining 23 acres became a conservation the potential for 2,400 plots. Now in its burial ground, now known as the Kokosing which settle into the second year, there are five with interment Nature Preserve (KNP). While this may rights. The conservation of the land saves seem a strange conjunction of recreation earth after burial. the earth in perpetuity and creates a tract and morbidity, its precedent lies in the of sacred space that memorializes those 19th-century rural garden cemetery who choose to end their days there in movement. perhaps a larger way than grand stone The independent, not-for-profit Green monuments can ever do. Burial Council monitors Kokosing and —Gay Legg, St. George’s GC, Zone VI

The Kokosing Nature Preserve has created trails throughout the restored prairie and woodlands..

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: The Winterville Mounds

The Winterville Mounds a project spearheaded by Mississippi’s approved to develop the area and build a museum. GGC member In 1939 Greenville Garden Club was undertaken Georgie Younger Fisher (Mrs. Robroy Fisher) designed the interior to redeem a long abandoned yet significant part of Mississippi of the museum, which is housed inside a mock mound. She and Delta history. The Winterville Mounds, located five miles north of other members spent many long hours collecting, organizing, Greenville, is a prehistoric Native American ceremonial center that displaying, and cataloging artifacts. Outside, a fifty-foot-wide thrived from approximately 1000 to 1600 AD. watercourse was re-created to flow along its original course. It was The mounds, built by predecessors of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, stocked with fish and native aquatic plants. Only native plants and and Tunica tribes, are considered evidence of what may have been trees were used in the landscape. In 1993 Winterville Mounds was the most materially advanced group in North America at the time. designated as a Historic Landmark and listed on the National Park The original twenty-three earthwork mounds served as a religious, Service’s National Register of Historic Places. In 2000 the property economic, and military was conveyed to the center for the thousands Mississippi Department of farming Indians who of Archives and History lived in the surrounding and today remains one area. These flat-topped, or of the largest and best- plateau, mounds served as preserved archives in the sites for buildings and as southeastern United States. burial grounds for leading Work at the mounds elders, who were interred continues as GGC with pottery vessels, tools, members promote and and other personal effects participate in two projects: deemed necessary to well- Native American Days, being in the afterlife. which features arts and By the time Hernando crafts, dances, stickball de Soto began his historic The site of the Winterville Mounds. “Mound A” (pictured above) is around 55 feet tall, games, and storytelling; expedition in 1539, with a circumference at the base of about 300 meters and about 75 around the flat top. and an annual Easter mound construction was It is one of the tallest mounds in North America, and very steep--well over 45 degrees. Egg Hunt. A community in decline. Epidemic The photo was taken from an airplane in the early 2000s, probably by an off-duty crop delegation, including diseases introduced by duster. Photo courtesy of The Mississippi Department of Archives and History GGC members, was early European explorers instrumental in obtaining decimated native populations across the Southeast, causing monies raised by a state bond bill to restore the mounds site to its catastrophic societal disruption. As a result, by the time sustained pre-Columbian condition appearance. In the spring an opening contact with European colonists began, in about 1700, the long ceremony will be held at Winterville Mounds to celebrate the tradition of mound building had nearly ended. Many mounds newly designed “Mounds Trail,” a self-guided car tour that will have been irreparably damaged or completely destroyed by modern take visitors to designated mound sites along Mississippi Highways development, agriculture, excessive grazing, and looting. 1 and 61. Enter the Greenville Garden Club, in 1939-1940, when club A monument owing much to the vision, perseverance, president (and the author’s grandmother) Mary Elizabeth Gee Lake dedication, and unselfish service of GGC’s members, the (Mrs. Robert H. Lake) was determined to reclaim this important Winterville Mounds ranks among our nation’s most significant vestige of history. Excavations began in the 1940s by the National historic and archaeological landmarks. Park Service and Harvard University Lower Mississippi Survey. —Claire Lake Quittmeyer, Funds were raised to purchase the land on which the mounds are Greenville Garden Club, Zone IX located in order to deed it to the City of Greenville, stipulating its subsequent use for park development. In 1960 a master plan was

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 GCA Zone Directors What’s the Buzz about...?

Lulu Lubbers, How do you describe Favorite garden? supposed to do except your time in your Butchart Gardens show up. Once I was a garden? is a member of in Victoria, BC, is delegate to the annual Satisfying and Town and Country a former limestone meeting in Dallas, I got frustrating, relaxing and quarry turned into an on board. (Now our Garden Club. exhausting, surprising amazing floral display club has a mentoring and maddening. garden. I asked for She serves as director program for new I’m rewarded by the their hanging basket members.) of Zone XI—the 18 little things—seeing “recipe”—which I used a great blue heron, and shared with visitors GCA role models? clubs in Illinois, Iowa, hummingbirds, to a garden walk at my The “go-to” people in monarchs, and Minnesota, Missouri, house. Zone XI: Margaret bees; hearing the Hall, Nancy Bone, Nebraska, and chirping of spring How did you get Colleen Mortonson, peepers; watching my involved in the GCA? Diane McGauran, and Wisconsin. She is liaison grandchildren pick I joined in 1990. For Alice Goltra—they love to the Horticulture and and eat a raspberry; the first year, I was the zone as much as I having a three year old clueless as to what do and willingly guided History Committees. teach me that bees are it was all about and me when I was zone very important: “they wanted to quit. I chairman. A “professional pollinate the flowers had no knowledge of volunteer,” Lulu lives and go back to their what we were really Words to live by? hive to make honey!” “We make a living by in Sheboygan, WI, what we get, and we where she was born make a life by what we give.” and raised, met her husband and raised their family, surrounded by her siblings and their children.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: Clubs Taking Action Partners Plants

been out in the field on a weekly basis to monitor and collect data about population sizes of these orchids. GCEH is working with Jim Ash, retired founding director of SoFo and currently vice president of its board, to update a list he compiled in 1997. Dr. Eric Lamont, author of Native Orchids of the Northeast, is consulting on the overall project, and Dr. Matthew Pace of the New York Botanical Garden has provided important help with plant identifications and advice. In addition, GCEH has established two conservation sites where it is working to revitalize existing populations of terrestrial orchids. At the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, 4 the GC of Westhampton and the Long Zone III Garden Club of East Hampton Island Botanical Society, among others, are East Hampton, NY assisting to clear woody vegetation from GC of Palm Beach member Vickie Denton at a boggy site that is home to rose pogonias work in the orchid lab at Pine Jog Environmental Garden Club of East Hampton (GCEH) is Education Center. Photo by Beth Dowdle leading a multi-year project to monitor and (Pogonia ophioglossoides), the white fringed conserve the native orchids of the South Fork orchid (Platanthera blephariglottis), pink of Long Island. There are 24 native species lady’s slippers (Cypripedium acaule), and orchid societies have been working with a in the area, all of which are terrestrial and all some twayblade orchids (Neottia spp.). team from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in serious decline, with some locally extinct. In Amagansett, GCEH is working with near Miami to develop the specific lab skills In partnership with the South Fork Natural the Town of East Hampton, SoFo, the required to propagate orchids from seed. History Museum (SoFo) and as part of their Long Island Botanical Society, The Nature The lab is now propagating three species of Partners for Plants project, members have Conservancy and others to save New York native Florida orchids: Encyclia tampensis, State’s last known population of the yellow Bletia purpurea, and the critically endangered fringed orchid (Platanthera ciliaris). Tolumnia bahamensis. They are using a Pine —Julie Sakellariadis, GC of East Hampton Jog classroom that has been retrofitted as a working laboratory. OrKids, a curriculum for middle school Zone VIII students, has been developed to introduce Garden Club of Palm Beach students to orchid propagation in addition Palm Beach, FL to botany and environmental restoration. With help from a GCA Partners for Plants Participating schools will keep the orchids grant, Garden Club of Palm Beach (GCPB) they propagate to place in the schools on has begun a collaborative effort to grow their campuses. native orchids from seed. Club volunteers GCPB’s Conservation and Scholarship are working with Pine Jog Environmental Committees have long been involved with Education Center in West Palm Beach to environmental outreach activities at Pine

Searching for orchids at a bog in Quogue Wildlife “Grow and Restore Orchids in the Wild” Jog. The club also funds an annual $7,500 Refuge in June, 2015. Mary Kelberg, president of (GROW). Beginning in the spring of 2015, graduate student scholarship at Florida GC of Westhampton, is in the pink raincoat. Photo club members, along with the Pine Jog staff, Atlantic University, Pine Jog’s parent entity. by Erin Gettler graduate students, and members of local –Betsy Nottingham, GC of Palm Beach

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: Clubs Taking Action

Zone IX In July, a $1 million gift from Houston The Garden Club of Houston philanthropists Mindy and Jeff Hildebrand Houston, TX to the Houston Parks Board to redevelop In June 2014, The Garden Club of Houston the Hogg Bird Sanctuary moved the project (TGCH) began its first Partners for Plants off the back burner. TGCH immediately project in the Hogg Bird Sanctuary of shifted focus from the installation of Memorial Park in Houston. Tucked away microhabitats to promoting the use of our on the edge of the park, the sanctuary is study to guide the Parks Board. We are unknown to most park regulars and is pleased that our report will be used to keep largely undeveloped. The $3000 grant a bird-healthy habitat at the heart of the allowed the club to hire Rice University new Memorial Park Master Plan, and to ornithology professor Cin-Ty Lee and realize the potential of Hogg Bird Sanctuary Houston naturalist Glenn Olsen. Their as a true haven for birds and wildlife in the assignment? To create a native planting heart of Houston. plan to improve bird habitat and eliminate —Carrie Pepi, The GC of Houston invasive species on the site. Upon visiting this unique urban wilderness, the two saw the potential for the Hogg Bird Sanctuary Zone XII Broadmoor Garden Club members on the Seven to become a premier destination for birders. Broadmoor Garden Club Bridges trail after surveying golden columbine Working together, a team of Professor’s Colorado Springs, CO (Aquilegia chrysantha) in July 2015. Lee’s students, assisted by Glenn Olsen and A fern barely thicker than a blade of grass, a multi-year census of local, wintering, and a flower growing vertically in rocks, a carrot the fern. (This habitat has the distinction migratory birds contributed by Houston that exists above 11,000 feet, and a fragile of having the longest record of plants Audubon Society, wrote a comprehensive orchid hidden in a remote box canyon. The being monitored in the world.) report which was delivered in early June Broadmoor Garden Club (BGC) has been • Pikes Peak alpine parsley (Oreoxis 2015. It recommended creating three committed to protecting these four plants humilis) is located in the rarefied air at microhabitats: a forest edge habitat, a prairie since 1995. BGC’s resident expert and P4P 11,000 feet on Pikes Peak. Its range is a wildflower habitat, and a hummingbird champion is Ann Young, who embraced the mere 15 square miles. In 2012 the USFS garden. project in its first days. To date, these are and BGC members braved thin air and our projects: chill to identify and count over 200 of • A box canyon in the Pike National the tiny plants. Forest is home to one of only 18 known • This summer BGC took on its fourth colonies of rare yellow lady slipper project: saving golden columbine orchid (Cypripedium calceolus.) After (Aquilegia chrysantha), on the south side several plant surveys, the US Forest of Pikes Peak along the Seven Bridges Service (USFS) installed a gate across Trail. BGC’s survey aided the USFS the forest road to protect the plants from in preventing two bridge replacements off-road vehicles. from impacting the plant population. • Moonwart (Botrychium lineare) is a Despite extreme locations in this petite species found in only a few sites rugged mountain habitat, BGC continues around the world, with the greatest to monitor all four of its P4P projects. A concentration on the side of Pikes Peak USFS botanist described the commitment at about 9000 feet. Since 1995, some best saying, “The Broadmoor Garden Club Members of The GC of Houston removed invasive BGC members have crawled on the is the voice of the plants.” plants at Hogg Bird Sanctuary in January 2015. ground with magnifying glasses to find —Christy Walsh, Broadmoor GC

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  How Much Do You Know? Test Your Knowledge

By Kathy Shepperly, GC of Morristown, Zone IV and Angela Overy, GC of Denver, Zone XII

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: Precious Pollinators

1. Who are the 2. What are 3. Bees collect 4. What kind of 5. What is this world’s most these bees nectar to…? bee is shown? bee covered important doing? with? pollinators?

a. butterflies a. hiding from predators a. make their hives a. female worker a. dust How Much b. people b. looking for a partner b. feed their young b. male b. nectar Do You Know? c. bees c. collecting pollen c. eat at night c. queen c. pollen Test Your Answer______Answer______Answer______Answer______Answer______Knowledge

By Kathy Shepperly, GC of Morristown, Zone IV and Angela Overy, GC of Denver, Zone XII

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: Precious Pollinators

6. Which of 7. Which 8. Which 9. Which flowers 10. Which of these insects of these of these provide NO these three are pollinators? pollinators eat pollinators feed nectar for flowers attract insects? their young? pollinators? hummingbirds? a. a. a. a. a.

b. b. b. b. b.

c. c. c. c. c.

Answer______Answer______Answer______Answer______Answer______

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: Precious Pollinators

11. What color 12. What food 13. Which of 14. Which of the Answers: do bees see do butterflies these plants is creatures below 1. c. best? get from pollinated by store food for 2. c. flowers? the wind? the winter? 3. b. 4. a. 5. c. a. a. pollen a. a. 6. a., b., and c. 7. b. 8. a. and c. 9. a. and b. 10. a. 11. a. and c. 12. b. 13. c. 14. a., b., and c. b. b. nectar b. b. Scoring: 10-14 You are a Pollinator Aficionado—now help educate the masses.

5-9 You are well on your way to becoming a Pollinator Aficionado. Keep up the c. c. insect protein c. c. observations.

3-4 Add more spring and fall pollinator plants.

1-2 Plant your garden with native pollinator plants.

Answer______Answer______Answer______Answer______

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth

Sharing theA Focus on the Earth: Wildlife in Yellowstone

Wildlife photos by Debbie Laverell, The Garden Workers, Zone V & Mary Wood, Piedmont GC, Zone XII

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: Sharing the Earth

When wetlands are filled in, or rivers are dredged and diverted, We may think that wildlife on our federally designated or forests are cut down and fields turned over for agriculture . . . lands—national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges, among when land is drilled for oil and gas exploration or bulldozed for others—is protected. This is not necessarily the case, and the Wdevelopment, what happens to the plants and the wildlife that reasons vary. have called these places home or been sustained by them during As part of the Department of the Interior, the National Park migration? What happens to ecosystems that have evolved over Service (NPS) oversees 80 million acres, with a dual mission of millennia to support life and balance? How much thought has preserving unique natural, cultural, and ecological resources as well been given to sharing these spaces with our communities of plants as providing recreational opportunities for public enjoyment. But and animals? Has the human need for food, water, and energy here’s the rub. Some of the parks are not large enough to support overtaken the need to protect our waters and manage our lands in a healthy population of certain animals. Yellowstone, the world’s sustainable ways? first national park, established in 1872, covers almost 3,500 There is only one earth, with resources that are not limitless, square miles in three states, mostly in Wyoming. NPS statistics and we all must figure out how to share it. show that the park has the largest concentration of wildlife in the Every wildlife species has its own specific set of self-sustaining lower 48 states, including bears, gray wolves, moose, elks, bison, requirements for habitat and range. They need the basics, otters, and foxes—over 60 different mammals in all. The park also whether shelter from weather and predators, food and water for attracts a large transient population of humans who want to visit, nourishment, or enough space to obtain that sustenance and which creates its own set of environmental issues that can threaten procreate. The larger the animal, the more space needed for survival. biodiversity. Homes and other development built close to park A single black bear, for instance, ideally needs 19,000 acres to boundaries further fragment habitats and can isolate certain plants prosper, including travel corridors. Many animals die of starvation and animals. because their natural habitat has been degraded, fragmented, or In hopes of seeing the famous grizzly bear, people flock to lost. With development comes a whole host of issues that can cause Yellowstone, which contains about a third of the estimated 1,800 harm to the ecosystems critical to wildlife and plants. Pesticides grizzlies that remain in the continental United States. In the used in agriculture and on people’s lawns, untreated sewage, and 1970s only 136 grizzlies were recorded in the Greater Yellowstone nonpoint-source pollution coming from roads and parking lots region. They were brought under the Endangered Species Act, find their way into culverts, waterways, and other bodies of water, and with this protection in place the bears have seen a resurgence creating havoc. in their numbers. But increased numbers mean increased food

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Earth: Sharing the Earth

requirements, and although bears are risk population. Yellowstone is the only a beneficial coexistence between the bison omnivores they rely heavily on the place in the US where bison have lived and the area’s landowners. seeds in white bark pinecones and on continuously since prehistoric times. Just Complicated management issues must army cutworm moths, foods that are think about that fact for a moment. And be faced by our National Parks as they being reduced due to climate change. then realize that in 1902 only 23 wild address their mission to preserve wildlife Consequently, the bears are roaming farther bison remained there; today there are and maintain healthy ecosystems within from Yellowstone in search of these favorite 4,000. The National Parks Conservation their boundaries. Outside the parks, they foods, which brings them up against Association, working with the National must develop working relationships with development activity on private land Park Service and other federal, state, partners to resolve political and social surrounding the park. and tribal agencies, is trying to secure issues. We must seek an equilibrium Dan Thompson, the Wyoming Game additional habitat north of Yellowstone, between preserving our critically important and Fish Department’s large carnivore in Montana, to help bring back and natural resources and expanding our specialist, told National Geographic, “The maintain a healthy herd. Historically, developed world so that we can all thrive. local people have to want the species [to when bison have left the park to forage In the end we can’t expand the survive] on the landscape for real recovery during winter, they have been in danger of boundaries of our earth. There is no to happen. This requires that the public being shot by the Montana Department of formula, and finding solutions isn’t an easy who lives, works, and recreates with the Natural Resources over concerns that these task. We’re all in this together. species believes that we are taking their animals could transmit a disease harmful —Karen Arsenault, Piscataqua Garden Club, needs into account…. That balance of to domestic cattle. Protecting the wild Zone I, GCA Conservation and NAL needs is always tricky, but so important.” bison in this winter range through proper Committees Vice Chairman Bison are another example of an at- management and policies will help ensure

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Our GCA History

From Crypts to Pollinators: Our Historical Commitment to Seeds What do an ancient Egyptian tomb, pollinator protection, and war have in common? Since 1913 The Garden Club of America, member clubs, and individual members have championed impactful seed initiatives—increasing wartime food supplies, preserving threatened species, beautifying landscapes, and protecting pollinators. The sampling of stories below reveals exceptional achievement.

In the Beginning: The World Wars In 1913 roots of The Great War were evident. Members were heavily involved in the Women’s Land Army—planting, harvesting, and canning food. Every GCA club in the country participated in this effort. The program was so important that our first president, Elizabeth Martin (The GC of Philadelphia, Zone V), reported complaints about commercial seed quality directly to her friends at the Labor Department, prompting them to issue warnings to seed companies if they were not fulfilling their wartime obligation to produce high-quality seeds. During WWII the GCA supported “Seeds for Britain,” providing such a significant number of seeds for the Royal Air Force to plant that the Chairman of Friends of the Fighting Forces officially acknowledged the GCA’s efforts. Britain was so war-ravaged that seeds were desperately needed to feed the troops and civilians and to beautify the landscape.

Sharing Seeds within the GCA In our very busy lives, growing plants from seeds can be overlooked. As Shirley Meneice (Carmel-by-the-Sea GC, Zone XII) explains, when the popular PX (plant exchange) became more difficult for clubs due to restrictions imposed on interstate plant flow, seed sharing grew steadily among our members. Seed propagation for some species can be very difficult and require emulating nature, such as freezing or burning the seeds. According to GCA Horticulture Committee Chairman Barbara Tuffli (Woodside-Atherton GC, Zone XII), climate change causes some species to migrate or evolve in order to survive—and so seed sharing may protect threatened plants. She suggests, however, that seeds new to an area be researched on publicly available websites and apps to avoid introducing invasives.

Protecting Our Future Through Plant Selection Several GCA committees have undertaken initiatives to address the crisis pollinators face as their natural habitats are threatened due to development, pesticides, and other factors. In fact, all 18,000 club members are urged to plant pollinator-friendly gardens. Many plants themselves depend on pollinators to produce seeds. Clubs throughout the country are Top: The GCA received this official letter of planting pollinator gardens to support the insects, bats, and other species critical to our food thanks in 1943 for our collective participation in production as well as our natural environment. For example, The West Chester Garden Club “Seeds for Britain.” In the RHS’s 1942 produce (Zone V) formed a committee that envisioned, designed, obtained official approvals for, and show, the Royal Airforce exhibit occupied the planted the Pat King Pollinator Garden in East Goshen Park, West Chester, PA. The garden “place of honor.” successfully attracted bees, butterflies, and birds, largely due to selecting larval host and Bottom: Allied airmen of 310 Sq establishing a nectar plants. Committee members photographed pollinators, including the monarch, in its garden in front of their HQ building, RAF Exeter, first year and hope monarchs will propagate on the milkweed next summer, when they will 1942. www.southwestairfields.com be more established.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Our GCA History

Seeds Blossom Mary Jo Beck (GC of Cincinnati, Zone X) uncovered an intriguing story about her club’s founder, Mabel Beach Taft, and an ancient seed. In 1922 Mrs. Taft was given a seed purportedly found in a mummy’s hand in a royal tomb. Mrs. Taft successfully grew the seed, producing pink-blue “delicate blossoms” from an unknown species, likely related to Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea). While the seed’s origin has been neither proven nor disproven, the Cincinnati Times-Star (September 5, 1922) reported the newly named “’Cynthia Robertson Egyptian Mummy Flower’…brought joy to many” and helped the Cincinnati Art Museum acquire a mummy for its Egyptian collection.

A Crypt Garden After moving into Tuckahoe Plantation, boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson in Virginia, Sue Thompson (The Tuckahoe GC of Westhampton, Zone Above: The “Cynthia Robertson VII) has re-created many of its gardens at this National Historic Landmark with remarkable Egyptian Mummy Flower” in bloom results. During the rebuilding of the neglected garden surrounding the burial place of the historically prominent Randolph family, a shovel unexpectedly hit a hard object. Ground- Right: The garden surrounding the penetrating radar revealed an intact crypt. Partially using seeds, Sue subsequently returned Randolph crypt at Tuckahoe Plantation, the crypt garden to reflect more of its historic roots while also ensuring her choices included Richmond, VA, reflects garden designs of the times. The original plans for the plants that attract pollinators. gardens were destroyed by fire when the county courthouse burned in the Looking Ahead Every element of the GCA’s purpose is addressed by our collective late 18th century. commitment to seeds and pollinators. Given the world’s environmental challenges and widespread hunger, these efforts will remain critically important going forward. —Becky Stirn, Woodside-Atherton GC, Zone XII, GCA Historian Assistant

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Earth: Where are the Pollinators in Winter? Where are the pollinators in winter?

By Kathy Shepperly, GC of Morristown, Zone IV All of our important native pollinators and insects have instinctive and Angela Overy, GC of Denver, Zone XII coping skills to survive cold winters, whether they are migrating, hibernating, or ensuring the next generation via egg, larva, or pupa. Maintain a winter habitat in your garden to keep them safe so the next generation can survive. Provide plenty of early-flowering plants to feed hungry pollinators when they emerge in the spring. Come spring, look inside a crocus to see worker bees busy seeking nectar and pollen to replenish their depleted winter supplies. Look for miniature nurseries under tree bark, beneath a pile of leaves, or in natural cavities. You’ll be amazed.

Beetles Butterflies and Many species of adult Moths Ants beetles go dormant in a Most adult butterflies and protected, out-of-the-way Ants live in organized moths, like fritillaries and spot in a structure or wall colonies. They survive the hummingbird moths, die crevice. Warm weather will cold by huddling together at the end of the summer, reactivate them. in the deepest sections with future generations of their underground Bumblebees wintering over as eggs, Hummingbirds colonies—below the frost Native Bees The 50 species of caterpillars, larvae, or All of the approximately line. They munch on food bumblebees are social, pupae. A few, such as 300 species of they stored during the There are 4,000 native bee living and working in monarchs and lesser-known hummingbirds originated in summer months. species in the US. Of all colonies through spring, species like the painted shapes and sizes, most are South and Central America. summer, and fall. Only the lady, red admiral, and solitary--they live alone, Only a handful migrate fertilized queen survives cloudless sulfur, migrate to nesting in existing holes north in spring to breed to hibernate through the warmer climates. or burrowing tunnels with and feed in the US, with winter. Her nest is in the Adult mourning cloak their powerful jaws. They the noisy, flashy males ground, often a hole made and comma butterflies lay their eggs underground, arriving first, followed by a mouse or vole. In the benefit from their natural provisioning each with by the camouflaged early spring she collects camouflaging colorations, nectar and pollen. The next females a week or so food for the eggs she has allowing them to hibernate Bats generation emerges in later. Climate change is laid. The female workers by merely hunkering down spring. altering migration patterns, Bats hibernate, roosting hatch and work together in a safe and quiet place. prompting revisions in alone or in small groups in to feed and care for the planting schedules in some quiet places like disused colony. Toward summer’s gardens: Washington’s buildings or old trees or end, a new queen will Bellevue Botanical Garden caves. emerge, mate, and has planted winter- hibernate—starting the flowering trees that cycle over again. encourage hummingbirds to stay year-round.

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Judging Committee Who are those smiling faces across GCA Land? Who is seen and heard the most in all areas of our country? Could it be GCA judges?

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 GCA Judging Committee

he story of judging in The Garden Club of America is steeped in history. Flower Shows, Flower Arranging, and Horticulture judges are mentioned as early as “It’s T 1927. There were 700 judges referenced in the 1963-1988 edition of Winds of Change, the GCA’s 75th anniversary book. Photography judges joined the ranks in the past decade. Today, there are more than 1,000 GCA judges nationwide. Judges, who receive the impossible,” only lifetime appointments in The Garden Club of America, strive to maintain the highest standards for each discipline and to broaden knowledge of floral design, conservation, and photography among members. said Pride. There is a clear mission for GCA judges. Demonstrating a passion for whatever discipline they pursue, they are dedicated to the mentoring of all members, whether it is for a small “It’s risky,” said club show, a GCA Flower Show, or one of the Major Shows held around the country. Such commitment offers many rewards. Wonderful stories abound regarding lasting friendships, stewardship, and service. However, the true rewards are realized by encouraging those who Experience. are engaged in personal growth and understanding. A successful GCA judge is one who joins hands with exhibitors in the true spirit of sharing and caring. Good judges are understanding “It’s pointless,” and supportive. We ask judges to exhibit, and most will tell you exhibiting keeps one humble. None of us said Reason. wins all the time. There are “bad hair days” in exhibiting for us all. We cannot control the gifts of nature. Still, many stories that were once thought painful for a frequent exhibitor are later recounted with humor. GCA judges learn much from gathering all ribbons, not just blue ones. “Give it a try,” As Picasso said, “I am always doing what I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” That statement takes us to the ultimate importance of exhibiting. Would there be flower whispered shows without exhibitors? Judges have the utmost respect for exhibitors—who are, after all, the most important part of any show. After independent and in-depth study of the schedule, judges evaluate the level of every show before they assemble in panels. Panels collaborate on the Heart. the merits of each entry, and judges learn from each other. Within the panels they formulate carefully constructed comments about the merits of each entry that educate the exhibitor and the public. Judging, exhibiting, and mentoring others is a joyful lifetime journey. There are so many benefits to GCA club membership. Have you found your way in the GCA? Judging and exhibiting may be your avenue, allowing you to learn, stretch, and grow. We know that we have to pursue many types of experiences to find our creative and joyful souls. Yes, it takes time, study, practice, and sometimes disappointment to keep us humbly in pursuit of success. GCA judges stand ready to mentor you with selfless dedication and big smiles. Think of exhibiting as mentored practice! The joy of the judging program may be the path for you. Ask a judge to be your mentor. Ask a friend to exhibit with you as you get started. Take time to read the Flower Show and Judging Guide, fondly referred to as The Yellow Book. Learn about the procedures for becoming a judge by reading the Judging Committee pages on the GCA website. These are your first steps, and they are not giant ones. Be assured that you will receive encouragement and valuable instruction as you move along. Perhaps the following quote will propel you forward: “It’s impossible,” said Pride. “It’s risky,” said Experience. “It’s pointless,” said Reason. “Give it a try,” whispered the Heart. Opportunity awaits you in the GCA. Find your own style and watch it blossom. Linda Holden does her job with a smile. Photo by —Linda Holden, The Augusta Garden Club, Zone VII, GCA Judging Committee Chairman Weezie Monroe

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Program Committee

Fundraisingacross the GCA How are we doing? In January 2013 Getting Filthy Distinctive Entertaining Rich Plants for Sale with Style the Program Committee sent an Who: Noanett GC Who: GC of Wilmington Who: GC of Lexington online survey to all 200 GCA clubs. Dedham, MA, Zone I Wilmington, DE, Lexington, KY, Zone VII Zone V How (and when?) do you plan your What: Sales of “Noanett What: Sales of Bluegrass programs? What do you seek in quality Gold” premium What: In club, small Winners and Entertaining programming? More importantly, how compost, a product of inventory sales with Bluegrass Winners Smith’s Country Cheese, cookbooks and the Tags: 6x a year; raises can the GCA Program Committee help Winchendon, MA. exclusive Garden Gate $4k; pansies, herbs, Collection of distinctive you? SellTags: Annual since the specialty pumpkins, table and kitchen 1990s; 1,150 bags sold in bulbs, dried bouquets, What did we learn? A significant linens, in collaboration 2015; benefits Dedham orchids; pre-ordering with Angela Beck’s number of clubs wanted innovative Community House, encouraged; benefits Pomegranate Inc. fundraising ideas. Perkins School for the community activities Blind, children’s garden Tags: Seasonal recipes Members of the Program Committee at Elm Bank and menus; of regional took up the challenge to create a horse farms highlighted; Social supports the upkeep of resource—scouring GCA calendar the garden at Ashland, submissions and individual club websites maintained by the for inventive solutions to the question club for 66 years and counting “How can we raise funds in support of our causes?” Thus the Fundraiser Idea Bobbie Harvey and List for GCA Clubs was born. Organized Betsy Scott roam the Dave Smith’s Holstein countryside in search of by fundraiser type, they are tried and cattle provide the basis for specialty growers and “Noanett Gold” compost. unusual sources for GC of tested money makers. Do you want to [See sidebar to The Science Wilmington’s periodic plant sell something? Would you like to of Soil, page 31]. Photo by sales. Here Bobbie and Susan Termyn Ashlin Bray survey pansies plan a fabulous social event? sold in April 2015. Photo by The design of the Garden Sally DeWees Is providing a service what you Gate Collection of table have in mind? Or do you simply linens was inspired by the unique wrought-iron gates wish to raise funds in a low-cost, low- at Ashland, the home of effort manner? Whether starting fresh or Henry Clay, Lexington, KY. Service seeking to reinvigorate an existing Simple event, there is something for everyone. So, set a goal and be inspired! —Mary Harman, Country Garden Club, Zone X, GCA Program Committee Chairman

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 GCA Program Committee

A Downton Save the First 10 Perfect Pots Peek Behind Just Ask Abbey Affair Sunday in from dig-in-the- Adobe Walls in March dirt gardeners Santa Fe Who: The GC of Who: Stony Brook GC St. Louis Princeton, NJ, Zone IV Who: GC of Palm Beach Who: Diggers GC Who: Santa Fe GC St. Louis, MO, Zone XI Palm Beach, FL, Pasadena, CA, Zone XII Santa Fe, NM, Zone XII What: Uniquely themed What: Traditional Zone VIII dinner party, from a What: Auction and What: House and garden fundraising campaign welcoming Pimm’s to a What: Annual Palm plant sale tours, plus Pequeño for The GC of St. Louis’s final brandy Beach House and Tours Centennial gift to the Tags: Annual luncheon Garden Day CityArchRiver project— Tags: Authentic 1920s and auction; each Tags: Since 1940; last two an entrance to the Sell menu and drinks recipes; Tags: Since 1941; coveted member creates ten pots Tuesdays of July; 440+ grounds surrounding the dashing tuxedos and tour tickets; everybody to sell; to benefit upkeep visitors to four houses; Gateway Arch next to period dress; benefits works; funds help the and improvements to the courtyard gardens and the Mississippi River. Stony Brook-Millstone Town of Palm Beach garden at The Old Mill water features; to benefit Watershed and club manage and sustain a the 3-year-old Santa Fe Tags: Challenge grant operations sensible plan for growth Botanical Garden from Ulrike and Tom and change, a 61-year Schlafly; the club raised Socialpartnership. $250k in a year; success by email

The Old Mill, San Marino, CA, was originally a grist Sandra and Paul Allen mill for Mission San Santa Fe GC member and Olive and David Gabriel. Former Diggers Beverly Clark and her Coghlan hosted a night to The GC of Palm Beach GC members Carol Cornell, husband, Don, opened the Harriet Huntington Doerr, doors of their Territorial remember for 14 Stony boutique held on the lawn The Patty Bush Society, and Elizabeth Washburn Revival adobe house. Brook GC members. of The Society of the Four recognizing donations over were fortunate to live here Gardens in Santa Fe make Arts. Its popularity adds to $1,000, was the brainchild when it was a residence. the most of the 14-inch the bottom line. Photo by of longtime club member average annual rainfall. Joanie Van der Grift and civic leader Kimmy Brauer. [Mrs. Bush’s obituary is on page 75.] Simple ServicePhoto by Charles Barnes

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  GCA Program Committee

Cruise to Going Once, Set to Make Orinda a Celebrity Floral Success Going Twice... Celebrate Destination Designer Sold for a good Who: Lake Geneva GC Who: Connecticut Who: Orinda GC Who: Monroe Garden cause! Lake Geneva,Sell WI, Valley GC Orinda, CA, Zone XII Study League Zone XI Who: The Garden West Hartford, CT, Monroe, LA, Zone IX What: Orinda in Bloom Workers Zone II What: House and Garden Tour What: Floral designs by Bryn Mawr, PA, Zone V Garden Cruise What: Annual display of Bruno Duarté Tags: Five distinctly What: Annual Benefit themed table designs and Tags: Every other July different gardens; Tags: Cutting-edge Party floral arrangments since 1970; sell-out; luncheon, boutique and designs; arrangements LGGC preview party; Tags: 25 years+; end Tags: $100kSocial raised since evening garden party; raffled; $21k raised for boutique; 17 tours of May; everything 2011; November; 35 500 guests; proceeds for community projects in one day; $40k donated: food, tables; for the rose garden community projects and donated annually to decorations, drink, in Hartford’s Elizabeth scholarships Fun and benefit community tableware, live and Park Flavorful organizations silent auction items, Harvest bartending skills; $5k Celebration for club projects and Who: Lake Minnetonka to subsidize member GC attendance at GCA Wayzata, MN, Zone XI meetings and workshops What: End of the garden season appetizer party Orinda GC members DD Tags: 8 teams compete Flowers bedeck the Eiffel Felton and Shari Bashin- to create best appetizer Lake Geneva Cruise Line Tower in Carle Mowell’s Sullivan attended last from a frost-tolerant fruit spring’s tour. Photo by vintage yachts Polaris and 2014 Set to Celebrate or vegetable; Gold Spoon Matriark pass on their way tablescape “Souvenirs de Barbara Boster Award to three lakefront homes. Paris.” Photo by Deb Key Photo by Laura Simpson

Auctioneer Bill Gross (club member Jan Clarke’s Service husband) drums up interest in an auction item from The Garden Workers. Photo by Patsy Walls Simple

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Zone Meetings ZoneMeetings

Highlights Zone V • West Chester GC’s pollinator 14 clubs in DE and PA exhibit • Alice Doering’s “Rares”—a “Water Matters: Wings, Wildlife selection of unusual plants for and Waterways” Mini Meeting sale October 14, 2015 The Springhaven Club Hosted by: Providence GC of Zone VI Pennsylvania, 13 clubs in MD and DC Wallingford, PA “b’more blue & green” Chaired by: Wendie Russell, Jan Frisch, and Susie Leonard October 2015 Green Spring Valley Hunt Club Speakers Hosted by: Catonsville Garden In the front row, Anne Copenhaver is flanked by Zone VI Meeting Co- Steve Saffier, Audubon Club, Green Spring Valley chairmen Kathi Shea and Lucy McKean. Back row from left: Suzie Bissell, Pennsylvania Zone VI chairman, Martha Gardner, Zone VI vice chairman, and Abby Gray, Garden Club, Owings Mills, Zone VI director. Photo by Loan Tran “Water Matters: Wings, Wildlife Maryland and Waterways” Chaired by: Lucy McKean and Spring Valley Garden Club Best in Show—Floral Design: Awards Kathi Shea Zone Horticulture Award: Olivia Kathy Phillips, Green Spring Zone Conservation Award: Speakers Welbourn, Green Spring Valley Valley Garden Club Suzanne Roth, The Garden Club Panel Discussion with Garden Club GCA Novice Award in of Philadelphia Jenny Guillaume, Baltimore Zone Historic Preservation Horticulture: Olivia Welbourn, Zone Floral Design Achievement Office of Sustainability; Dan Commendation: Beverly and Green Spring Valley Garden Club Award: Kelly Asplundh, Millender, Baltimore Tree Trust; Richard Carmichael Tilghman, Catherine Beattie Medal: Pam Huntingdon Valley Garden Club Halle Van Der Gaag, Blue Water Proposed by: Talbot County Meier, St. George’s Garden Club Zone V Director’s Award: Ginnie Baltimore Garden Club Rosie Jones Horticulture Award: Tietjens, Huntingdon Valley Dede Petri, GCA First Vice Sarah Dale Balfour, Green Spring Garden Club Zone Photography Award: President, Georgetown GC Hood Salomon, Perennial Valley Garden Club “Is GCA Policy Making You Garden Club Corliss Knapp Engle Horticulture Blue?” Flower Show Sweepstakes Award: Green Spring Lindsay Hardesty, GCA Awards Valley Garden Club Communications Committee Dorothy Vietor Munger Award: Best in Show—Horticulture: Lyn Chairman, Amateur Gardeners Kathy Phillips, Green Spring Ingram, Amateur Gardeners Club Club Valley Garden Club GCA Novice Award in “The GCA Website, A Valuable Sandra Baylor Novice Floral Design Photography: Jean Mellott, Resource for Zone VI” Award: Barbara Stone, Hardy Guilford Garden Club Awards Zone V Director Alice Farley with Garden Club Photography Creativity Award: Ginnie Tietjens, winner of the Zone Civic Improvement Award: Gail Harriet DeWaele Puckett Creativity Dorcas Hutton, Guilford GC Zone V Director’s Award, and Zone Riepe, St. George’s Garden Club Award: Bobbie Brittingham, Best in Show—Photography: Chairman Jorie Nailor. Zone Floral Design Achievement Talbot County Garden Club Sarah Hood Salomon, Perennial Photo by Lin Floyd Award: Kathy Phillips, Green Garden Club

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Zone Meetings

Zone VII 18 clubs in KY, NC, VA, and WV

“Going Coastal” Sept. 29-Oct. 1 2015 Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel Hosted by: The Virginia Beach GC, Virginia Beach, VA Chaired by: Mary Denny and Martha Goodman Meeting co-chairs Mary Denny and Martha Goodman join a contingent of Flower Show Chaired by: Cathy Virginia Beach GC members to congratulate Susan Hathaway Gentry (center in orange) on her Zone Horticulture Award. Cockrell and Audrey Parrott

At Cylburn Arboretum, Zone Speakers Zone Conservation Award: The Peyton Wells, The Tuckahoe GC VI delegates learned about the Ann Swanson, Chesapeake Bay Virginia Beach GC of Westhampton aquaponics project developed by Foundation Proposed by: Dolley Madison Ann Lyonn Crammond Award: the Johns Hopkins Center for a GC Demaris Yearick, The Virginia Livable Future. “Chesapeake Bay 101” Zone Horticulture Award: Susan Beach GC Photo by Loan Tran Lisa Zeigler, The Gardener’s Workshop Hathaway Gentry, The Virginia Dorothy Vietor Munger Award: Beach GC Meredith Lauter, GC of Norfolk Highlights “Growing Great Spring Flowers” Zone Horticulture Commendation: • Dinners in Private Homes Julie Moir Messervy, Julie Moir Frank L. Robinson, Lewis • 3 Division GCA Flower Show Messervy Design Studio Ginter Botanical Garden • Touring the rain garden and “Landscaping Ideas That Work” Proposed by: The Tuckahoe GC aquaponics projects at Cylburn Rachel Guy, GCA Scholar, of Westhampton Arboretum University of Georgia • 77 registrants, 90 luncheon Zone Historic Preservation Award: “Impact of Sea Rise on Fish in Salt attendees Daphne Cheatham, Fauquier- Marshes” • All 13 clubs participating in the Loudoun GC Awards plant exchange Zone Judging Award: Helen Scott • b’more blue & green Creative Leadership Award: Hylah Reed, James River GC Conservation Panel Haile Boyd, The Tuckahoe Zone VII Director’s Award: Celie • Garden History and Design Garden Club of Westhampton Harris, Winchester-Clarke GC Exhibit Zone Civic Improvement Flower Show • 3 GCA Presidents in attendance: Commendation: Joan P. and Awards Macon F. Brock, community Anne Copenhaver and former GCA Botanical Arts Creativity philanthropists Presidents Bobbie Hansen and Award: Barbara Bandyke, Joan George Proposed by: The Virginia Beach Winchester-Clarke GC Dee Oliver and The Virginia Beach • An early morning walk at the GC GCA Novice Award in Botanical GC crew are all smiles during Irvine Nature Center Arts: Helen Couch, Guilford GC Flower Show registration. Photos by Karen Woodard Best in Show—Botanical Arts:

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Zone Meetings

Sandra Baylor Novice Floral Design Award: Harriet Condon, Fauquier-Loudoun GC Harriet DeWaele Puckett Creativity Award: Peyton Wells, The Tuckahoe GC of Westhampton Best in Show—Floral Design: Carolyn Perry, Paducah GC GCA Novice Award in Horticulture: Jane Booth, The Virginia Beach GC Catherine Beattie Medal: Martha Moore, The Tuckahoe GC of Westhampton Rosie Jones Horticulture Award: On this spectacular September day, meeting attendees from the 18 Zone XI Clubs gathered on the shore of Lake Diane Pfizenmayer , Michigan to celebrate stewardship, leadership, and friendship. Photo by Stacey De Luca The Augusta GC Corliss Knapp Engle Horticulture Awards Best in Show—Photography: Gayle Zone XI Sweepstakes Award: The Virginia Zone Civic Improvement Award: Meves, Town & Country GC Beach GC 18 clubs in IL, IA, NE, MO, Joan DePree, Jane O’Neil, Karen Photography Best Interpretation of MN, and WI Best in Show—Horticulture: Jude Stensrud, Lake Forest GC Schedule: Susan Esslinger, Kettle Kelly, The Virginia Beach GC Zone Civic Improvement Moraine Garden Club “DIG IN” Mini Meeting GCA Novice Award in Commendation: J.C. Brenton, The Judges’ Commendation for September 21, 2015 Photography: Connie Owen, The Brenton Arboretum Class 4: Elements of Design in its Virginia Beach GC The Kenilworth Club Proposed by: Des Moines entirety Photography Creativity Award: Hosted by: Kenilworth Garden Founders Garden Club Highlights Club, Kenilworth, Illinois Claire Mellinger, Albemarle GC Zone Floral Design Achievement • Tours of Rick Bayless’s organic Best in Show—Photography: Chaired by: Kathy Elmer and Award: Margot Bean, Ladue garden, The 606, Charles Ware Claire Mellinger, Albemarle GC Mary Lois Hakewill Garden Club Memorial Garden Faulconer-Minor Award: Cathy Photography Show Chairmen: Zone Horticulture Commendation: • Cocktails and dinner at Indian Cockrell, The Virginia Beach GC Stacey De Luca and Shelley Mary McLaughlin, Trees That Hill Club, Winnetka, IL Galloway Feed Foundation Highlights • Photography Show Speaker Proposed by: Kenilworth Garden • Trees That Feed exhibit • Two great days of education and Club inspiration at the beach Dr. William Sullivan, Professor • Unveiling of the updated • Tour of the Brock Environmental of Landscape Architecture, Flower Show Zone XI map Awards Center University of Illinois at Urbana- • Awards Tea on the lake Champaign Zone Judging Award: Elaine • Elegant, locally-sourced dinners in Burke, Green Tree Garden Club VBGC member homes “Creating Healthier, More • Forsythe pot propagation class in Sustainable Communities” Photography Creativity Award: the beautiful Flower Show Lyndon Chamberlain, The • Hurricane warning last day of the Westport Garden Club meeting

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Milestones ClubMilestones: Celebrations

stunning photographs, and a Zone I plethora of robust and colorful Zone III North Shore horticulture entries filled the Rochester Garden Club historic Willowdale Estate’s Garden Club Manchester, MA gracious rooms and garden patio. Rochester, NY Founded in 1915 The celebration continued into Founded in 1915 Joined the GCA in 1917 the night with a festive cocktail Joined the GCA in 1925 party held under the stars. Elegant tree-costumed mimes The first meeting of the North Last September Rochester mingled with members and Shore Garden Club was hosted Garden Club, in full centenary spouses, adding a stylish stroke to by Mrs. Philip Dexter of celebration mode, filled yet the party canvas. President Didi Manchester, MA, on July 14, another important page in our Blau praised the vision, wisdom, 1915. Members then took turns centennial history book, Let’s and dedication of members— as hostesses, each showing her Grow, when members took a field “club treasures,”—who have garden and presenting a short trip to Harriet Hollister Spencer served over the last century. paper. From the club’s inception, Recreation Area. The outing to While today’s club emphasizes the focus has been to support Robin and Dan Sears complement what is now a New York State Park Robin’s spectacular pink dahlia, was RGC’s way of remembering which won the Best in Show, the this founding member’s legacy as Rosie Jones Horticulture Award, a talented gardener, patriot, and and the GCA Novice Award in preservationist. Horticulture. Photo by Gail Beinecke Harriet Hollister Spencer Garden, which was designed designed a veritable bouquet of by the Olmsted brothers and thematic gardens at her 1867 is located behind the Essex Italianate home in Rochester, NY. Institute, a literary and historical She and her husband, Thomas G. society in Salem. In the early Spencer, welcomed the public to 1970s the Beverly Hospital her Tudor Herb Garden, in the Memorial Garden was installed, period’s knot design, as well as designed by Boston landscape her Bee Garden, Scented Garden, architect Vincent Merrill. It was Nosegay Garden, Primrose funded and overseen by the club Garden, and a Garden of Violets. until 2004. Harriet also designed gardens for “Apple Trees,” Mrs. V.R. Crosby’s Manchester, MA, garden, circa 1920. the George Eastman Museum, The garden now belongs to NSGC member Kris Moroney. Today, we continue to present horticultural and holiday Genesee Hospital, and the and contribute to horticulture, the cultivation and arranging programs at Herrick House, an Rochester Museum and Science conservation, and preservation in of plants and flowers, during assisted-living residence that is Center. the state’s North Shore region. the era of the two world wars, part of Beverly Hospital. Our During WWII, Harriet’s A century later, NSGC it encouraged Victory Gardens primary conservation activity is horticultural interests extended continues this mission. To mark and donated thousands of jars of the funding and care of Beverly’s to fruits and vegetables, with the its 100th anniversary, we staged vegetables and fruits to Beverly Sedgwick Gardens at Long Hill, planting of Victory Gardens. She a GCA Flower Show, A Century Hospital. 5 acres of cultivated grounds with wrote weekly bulletins for radio to Celebrate, on September 17, From 1945 to 1958 NSGC more than 500 plant species. programs and represented RGC 2015. Glorious floral designs, funded and restored Pingree —Heather Robb and the GCA as a delegate to the

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Milestones

Zone V Carrie T. Watson Garden Club Erie, PA Founded in 1925 Joined the GCA in 2008

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Carrie T. Watson Garden Club, members and guests gathered on September 9, 2015, under the towering, century-old gingko trees on the The anniversary reception was held at the Watson-Curtze Mansion—Carrie T. Harriet Hollister Spencer, from grounds of the Watson-Curtze Watson’s home. the collections of the Rochester Mansion in Erie, PA. Carrie T. Museum & Science Center, Watson, recognized as Erie’s first commemorative stone laid. While Rochester, NY true horticulturalist, lived and dinner was enjoyed in the archives Garden Club of gardened here until 1923. Her Allegheny County New York State Victory Garden building, a streaming slide show design skills and beautiful gardens Pittsburgh, PA Council. An ongoing passion was highlighted the club’s many so impressed the original members Founded in 1915 the cultivation of an encyclopedic decades of achievement. of the garden club that they Joined the GCA in 1916 array of hybrid roses. Her work —Peggy Hetz and Susan Strayer named their club in her honor. and writings prompted the GCA The mansion, with a stone tower, In October 2015 the Garden Club to award her the Jane Righter stained glass, and 12 fireplaces, of Allegheny County celebrated Medal in l959. is listed on the National Register the completion of a major, club- The Spencers’ ultimate gift of Historic Places. It houses the funded environmental project at was preserving their property, Regional History Museum, while Point State Park in downtown consisting of 679 wooded acres the property’s Carriage House Pittsburgh. The most ambitious in the hills of the western Finger holds the Historic Research in GCAC’s history, this $100,000 Lakes region, just 35 miles south Library. A recent addition to the project, which draws attention to of Rochester. In time the Harriet complex is the 10,000-square-foot native plant species, was our way Hollister Spencer Recreation Area King-Mertens Archive Building, of commemorating our 100th became a favorite destination adjacent to the museum. anniversary. for hikers, birders, picnickers, Co-chairs Nedra Lehrian and Wanting the project to have bikers, and cross-country skiers; Nan Dolan organized the garden a visible and lasting impact its groomed trails culminate in a club’s celebration at the mansion. on the region, club members vista of Honeoye Lake, looking The renovation of the courtyard, Carrie T. Watson members at the selected Point State Park for northward to Rochester’s skyline including new stone pavers, four ribbon-cutting. From left: Nedra its dramatic location, at the and, on a clear day, even farther to new large urns, and plantings Lehrian, Nan Dolan, club President point where the Allegheny and Lake Ontario. of evergreens and flowers, was Kathy Orlando and immediate past Monongahela rivers converge —Melissa Corcoran Hopkins and underwritten by the garden president Bonnie Bestoso. Photos to form the Ohio River. One of Lynda McCurdy Hotra by Michael Orlando club as its anniversary project. the most recognizable landmarks Cocktails were served and a in Pennsylvania and a defining feature of Pittsburgh, this strategic

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Milestones

Zone VII Fauquier & Loudoun Garden Club Middleburg, VA Founded in 1915 Joined the GCA in 1918

The Fauquier & Loudoun Garden Club’s 100th anniversary was celebrated throughout 2015.

GC of Allegheny County members from left: club President Maureen Young; Our monthly meetings were held Nancy Fales; Allegheny County Parks Foundation Executive Director Caren in historic houses, many where Glotfelty; and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy CEO Tom Saunders at the founding members had lived. ribbon-cutting ceremony at Point State Park on Oct. 22, 2015 The flower arrangements for each meeting followed the anniversary area helped shape the course of trees, a bioswale captures, slows, theme, including a figurative or American history during the 18th and filters rainwater runoff—an literal diamond—“A Diamond Hetty Harrison (Mrs. Fairfax century, from Revolutionary War increasingly urgent challenge for for Mrs. Lemmon” at Welbourne, Harrison), one of the founders of times to the country’s westward Pittsburgh and urban centers across “A Diamond for Mrs. Fairfax Fauquier & Loudoun Garden Club. expansion and settlement. Today the nation. An interpretive panel Harrison” at Belvoir, “A Diamond Photo courtesy of Garden Club more than 2.5 million people visit educates visitors about stormwater for Mrs. Eustis” at Oatlands. of Virginia the 36-acre park annually. issues such as flooding and erosion, On our actual birthday, Novem- the finishing touch for our special water-treatment function, and ber 23, 2015, we held a special diamond jubilee year. the need for green infrastructure meeting, “Relive an Historic —Daphne Cheatham and in our cities. Additional panels Moment,” at Confederate Hall, the Harriett Condon throughout the park describe the very place the club’s first meeting role of preserving native plants and was held. This historic house was habitat in a healthy ecosystem. purchased in 1972 by Mr. and The project would not have Mrs. James Mills and moved to been possible without community their farm outside Middleburg. We partners as well as the energy and shared photos and tidbits from the dedication of GCAC’s Centennial past. The Mills’ daughter, Mimi A flower arrangement at PIZZAZZ Committee club members, who Mills Abel-Smith, was hostess for celebrates GCAC’s Centennial. planted hundreds of native plants the occasion. Wearing period hats Photos by Sally Foster at the park. Funding came from and dresses was encouraged. the club’s signature fundraising Our Centennial year ended GCAC’s centennial project event, PIZZAZZ, a 30-vendor with our Christmas meeting involved two initiatives: shopping benefit. In the last 20 and lunch, “A Diamond for repopulating the park with years, PIZZAZZ has raised over Mrs. Harris,” at Stoke Farm, in native plant species that existed $1 million for environmental and Aldie,VA. Arrangements in the during the Colonial era, and conservation projects. Art Nouveau style provided constructing a demonstration —Lisa Auel bioswale. A trench made of soil, sand, rocks, native plants, and

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Milestones Gems at the GCA

Holly-By- Golly A bust of Kathleen Kellogg Meserve (1906-1999) resides in the Executive Room at GCA Headquarters. It was given by her family to honor her extraordinary contribution to horticulture. A winner of the Eloise Payne Luquer Medal, she was an active member of the North Suffolk Garden Club, Setauket, NY, Zone III.

James River Garden Club celebrated their May meeting at the Richard Neutra-designed Rice House, on Lock Island in the James River. Photo by Sarah Wiley

hosted the club’s Centennial Richmond’s c. 1814 Monumental James River cocktail party in their beautiful Church, A Taste of Virginia Garden Club home, Robin Hill. The site of cookbook sales, the Capital Trees Richmond, VA the first JRGC meeting and project, and the club’s Centennial Founded in 1915 former Patterson home, Robin gift to Hollywood Cemetery. Mrs. Meserve was Joined the GCA in 1920 Hill was documented by James President Liz Talley ended the frustrated that hollies grown River GC’s Garden History and meeting with these remarks: “Our in the Pacific Northwest for Thanks to the vision of Mrs. Design Committee, chaired by greatest strength is our members, holiday decorating in the East Malvern C. Patterson, the James Meg Turner, and submitted for their vision, determination, and could not survive the harsh River Garden Club was founded inclusion in the Smithsonian’s hard work. We are proud of our winters of the Northeast. She in 1915—the first garden club Archives of American Gardens to past, our club’s multi-generational manually cross-pollinated Ilex in Richmond and the third in help commemorate this important heritage, and our commitment rugosa with Ilex aquifolium. the state of Virginia. The club anniversary. to protecting natural resources. The result was a blue holly, a began with a group of fifteen JRGC’s 2015 annual meeting This legacy will pave the way for hybrid with exceptionally dark volunteers who had a keen interest was held at the Rice House, a the next generation of garden and blue-green, spine-tipped foliage, in the design and management Richard Neutra design, with nature enthusiasts.” and excellent cold hardiness. of gardens; the protection of spectacular views of the James —Kathleen Reid Her holly hybrids—Meserve wildflowers, trees, and native River. Club historian Kathleen hollies—were patented and plants; and the encouragement of Reid gave a presentation are widely sold throughout the civic planting. of JRGC’s rich and long country. As part of the club’s Centennial history. Among the club’s Thank you Mrs. Meserve celebration, Lilliboo and Jack accomplishments are the wartime for helping to make our season Cronly graciously opened their planting of Victory Gardens, bright...and holly-filled! garden for Historic Garden conservation efforts, restoration —Edie Loening, Week in the spring of 2015 and of the gardens at Historic Anne Butler, and Barb Kaytes

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  NewsWorthy NewsWorthy

farmers have neglected to address the facility to start seeds of edible Zone I this fundamental issue. plants plants. With time, the Garden Club of Loaded with harmful addi- seedlings will be transplanted to Dublin tives to boost yield, our soil has four-season greenhouse beds and, Dublin, NH been poisoned. We are seeing an in warmer weather, outside beds. increase in degenerative diseases The beneficial results: year-round and know there are correlations learning for children in grades Last summer the Garden Club between poor nutrition and poor K–8, a nearby source of greens of Dublin hosted Dan Kittredge, soil. While research has been and other vegetables for the founder and executive director of conducted for many years and has school’s cafeteria, and the creation the Bionutrient Food Association lead to a greater understanding of The greenhouse at Mount Desrt of a summer camp experience. (BFA), a nonprofit organization soil science, often the information Elementary School. Photo by Erin The project supports multi-dis- dedicated to the development of is slow to filter to the mainstream Donovan ciplinary studies in science, art, sustainable agriculture and raising public in meaningful, practical math, health, and environmental the quality of soil. Dan grew up School in Northeast Harbor. ways. We once thought the levels studies. And at the summer camp, in central Massachusetts, living Recent past President Elly of Phosphorous, Nitrogen, and the schoolchildren will learn how off the grid on his parents’ organic Andrews stated, “It is a perfect fit Potassium indicated on fertilizer to oversee the greenhouse and gar- for our mission.” bags were enough; we now know den. GCMD is proud to support The greenhouse project, called that soils are much more com- this worthwhile project, which Growing Gardens, Growing plicated and need to be tested in provides a year-round benefit for Minds, allows students, under more sophisticated ways. the community of Mount Desert. the supervision of two garden/ Dan and his associates at BFA —Kita Reece and greenhouse coordinators, to use are working hard to create similar Meredith Moriarty organizations throughout the United States and the world, Zone II connecting with farmers in Cen- tral America, Russia, and India. Hortulus Through outreach and education Greenwich, CT Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient they hope to fulfill their mission Food Association. Photo by Liz of improving soils in order to Joseph produce the most nutritious foods possible. “The goal,” Dan says, “is farm. He still lives on the farm, that we eat as well as our grand- pursuing his passion of growing parents did.” really nutritious food. GCD —Sara Timmons members were shocked to hear that much of our soil is no longer fertile—that over the past 85 years Garden Club of soil has been depleted of essential Mount Desert nutrients. There are many reasons Northeast Harbor, ME for this plight, most coming down to limited understanding of what The Garden Club of Mount Hortulus members maintain gardens and run resident workshops to keeps soil vital. As the dominant pot flowering plants at the Mews, a senior living community in historic Desert has provided significant incentive in farming is yield—the downtown Greenwich, CT. Early November crew Marsha Mifflin, Meredith funding for a new greenhouse at bushels and pounds produced— Feurtado, and Sally Polak arrive prepared to plant daffodil bulbs. Photo by the Mount Desert Elementary Anne Friday

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 NewsWorthy

weeding, pruning, and repairing the garden so that this magnificent Zone IV public garden can be enjoyed Garden Club of by all. Englewood First designed as a rose garden, Englewood, NJ the Walled Garden was redesigned in 1955 by members of the After reading a Founders Fund New Canaan Garden Club to follow-up in the Spring 2015 become a “wedding garden,” in Bulletin, members of the Garden the traditional English style with Club of Englewood made a brick pathways, a center lawn, and September field trip across the a teahouse. Waveny is well worth George Washington Bridge to a visit by anyone who wants to Untermyer Park and Gardens in see a fine old garden enjoying its Yonkers, New York. Although the new life. garden’s 16-acre core, designed —Taylor Tait by William Bosworth a century before our visit, is just north of Manhattan, it felt a world away. NCGC members at Waveny Walled Garden. From left: Gill Foster, Fran O’Neil, New Canaan A knowledgeable docent led Ellen Zumbach, Chezzie Wendin, Mary Tanzi, and Jane Gamber with Susan Garden Club us through the Walled Garden, Bergen in front. Photo by Taylor Tait New Canaan, CT its design based on Christian and a vibrant floral backdrop to Islamic visions of Paradise. New Canaan a beautiful wedding just two Divided into quadrants by Garden Club weeks before. “After the first waterways and bordered by New Canaan, CT frost, dahlias should be removed crenellated walls, the garden from the ground for their winter is decorated with fine mosaics Members of the New Canaan sleep,” says Fran O’Neil, the club’s and, on the day we visited, was Garden Club ended another Programs chair, who organized brimming with the varied colors eventful season this past fall the effort with co-chair Mary and textures of hollies, evergreens, in the awe-inspiring Waveny Tanzi. “These hearty tubers will and late summer plantings. One Walled Garden. Originally the winter in a cool, airy storage space spectacular waterway, a canal private estate of the Lewis Henry of a volunteer’s basement. With punctuated with intermittent, Lapham family, the gardens a little luck they can be divided low fountains, ends in an and surrounding grounds were and planted again next spring Helen Bonsal, a member of The amphitheater, its entrance flanked designed by Frederick Law to flourish and bring beauty to Garden Club of Twenty, Zone VI, by two sets of double columns Olmsted’s firm, and the house, more weddings and other events,” joined her daughter Polly Goodyear, that are topped with sphinxes by built in 1912, was named Waveny commented Tanzi. a New Canaan GC provisional American sculptor Paul Manship. [sic] by Mrs. Lapham, after For three seasons of the year member, at a recent floral design The group then descended 135 the River Waveney that is the Waveny’s Walled Garden is workshop. Megan Kelly, Sasqua steps, lined with more than 100 boundary of Suffolk and Norfolk lovingly tended by club members. GC, Zone II, an award-winning recently planted Japanese cedars, floral designer and art consultant counties in England, home to Every Friday morning from to the Vista, a feature intended by (and prospective in GCA’s judging Lapham ancestors. 8:30 to 10:00, May 1 through Bosworth to pay homage to Villa Volunteers gathered in October program), led the hands-on d’Este’s descent to Lake Como. November 1, members can workshop, working with the vibrant to remove the dahlias that were We were rewarded with splendid be found planning, planting, colors of New England’s fall foliage. views of the Hudson River and

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  NewsWorthy

Zone IV Garden Club of Morristown Morristown, NJ

On November 5, 2015, the Garden Club of Morristown sponsored a “Monarch Morning in Morristown” with a screening of the award-winning Canadian film,Flight of the Butterflies, shown in 3D at the Morristown AMC Theatres. Our goals were to cast a spotlight on the current Persian-style waterway in the status of the threatened monarch, Walled Garden at Untermyer Park to understand the factors leading and Gardens. Photo by Adrienne to their dramatic decline, and to Anderson learn how we can all help. From left, GC of Morristown members Adrienne Kirby, Katie Porter, Pat the dramatic cliffs of the New The film traces the decades- Lazor, Patti Pierson, and Leslie Pye, who volunteered at “Monarch Morning Jersey Palisades. long work of scientists Fred and in Morristown.” Photo by Carolyn Simpson The last stop on our tour Norah Urquhart on the migration The film was advertised on our Drumthwacket, the historic was the Temple of Love, the patterns of the species. The club’s website, where ticket sales Princeton mansion that serves centerpiece of a magnificent audience experienced a sense of were also handled—a new and as the official residence of the rock outcropping offering more soaring on monarch wings as they successful use of technology for us. Governor of New Jersey. fine views of the Hudson. It followed the Urquharts’ odyssey. How exciting that we were “sold The Garden Club of Somerset was designed by Carlo Davite, We discovered a viable means of out” a week prior to the event! Hills celebrated the GCA- a stonemason from Genoa, tagging butterflies and journeyed Ticket and boutique sales garnered supported “pollinator movement” Italy, who was familiar with the alongside two amateur naturalists a sound profit, which we will use in its entry hall design. famously rocky terrain of central who, in 1975, discovered the to fund new pollinator initiatives Ornamental honey bees, monarch Liguria. The Founders Fund monarch’s wintering grounds, in 2016. butterflies, cardinals, and downy award has aided the ongoing high in the mountains west of —Meryl Carmel woodpeckers alighted on garlands restoration of elaborate pools Mexico City. covering stair bannisters and and waterfalls surrounding the Planning the project was lintels; they nestled in a Christmas Temple, as well as other parts of a collaborative effort by our Garden Club of tree; and provided dashes of color this extraordinary garden park. Horticulture, Conservation, and Morristown and to a simple schema of green, —Adrienne Anderson Civic committees, and began in Garden Club of white, and brown. White orchids earnest in January 2014. We met Somerset Hills and amaryllis massed in graceful regularly to develop plans that Far Hills, NJ containers, along with fresh resulted in three showings of the evergreens strewn with pinecones film, an educational exhibit, the The garden clubs of Somerset and fruit, white poinsettias, and distribution of milkweed seeds Hills and Morristown shared a touches of brown satin ribbon, collected by members, and a particular honor for the December lent plenty of WOW to the monarch boutique of gift items holidays. We were invited to elegant design. showcasing members’ artistry. decorate two public spaces at

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 NewsWorthy

ceilings, skylights, and a spacious greenhouse. In the course of our The Garden Club of visit members learned how lives Philadelphia can be enhanced by Horticultural Philadelphia, PA Therapy, an innovative treatment method whereby plants and At the instigation of The plant-related activities assist in Garden Club of Philadelphia the rehabilitation of patients with member Ellen Goodwin, ten physical impairments. Working in member GCA garden clubs in this calm, light-filled setting helps the Philadelphia region, which patients achieve individual clinical comprise The Philadelphia goals such as improved mobility, Committee of the Garden Club The Drumthwacket decorating team. Front row from left: Pam Hirsch, Julie balance, endurance, memory, of America, have committed to Aronson, Pat Lazor, and Alison Villa. In back: Darby Scott, Adrienne Kirby, and socialization. Among the raise funds to restore the Magnolia Sally Walsh, Pat Byrnes, Tracy Biedron, and Susan Doherty. Photo courtesy Tribute Garden. Located on of the Supervisor of the New Jersey Office of Information Technology Thayer Center’s other amenities are “sensory tables” covered with the south side of Locust Street in the heart of Society Hill, The Garden Club of Morristown aromatic cuttings, raised beds for Philadelphia’s most historic created festive floral decorations Zone V planting, containers with adaptive district, this garden was given for the mansion’s double parlors tools, and six-foot-wide aisles with Four Counties by The Garden Club of America using a variety of natural non-skid surfaces to accommodate Garden Club in 1959 to the Independence materials. A palette of green, wheelchairs. Therapeutic activities Gladwyne, PA National Historic Park as a tribute white, and gold complemented include starting seeds, watering to the founders of our country. the period antiques, oriental or repotting plants, transplanting In September 2015 Four Counties Thirteen magnolias and a central carpets, and historic colors used cuttings, and drying and pressing Garden Club met at the Bryn fountain are set on a grassy throughout this c.1835 mansion. flowers. Patients also grow Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital in rectangle that is rimmed in brick. The two mantels were adorned vegetables, which are then planted Malvern, PA, where they toured Loved by many, the garden was with white orchids, greens, outdoors, yielding seasonal the impressive Sydney Thayer III praised by one admirer, saying, and lemon cypress topiaries. harvests that are donated to local Horticultural Center, a state-of- “There is no more quiet or restful Enormous arrangements filled food banks. the-art facility featuring cathedral spot in Philadelphia than this large spaces, which echoed the In the past FCGC members beautifully balanced park.” materials on the mantels, and have decorated the hospital’s Fifty-six years have passed since also included white amaryllis, Christmas trees, but this year we the creation of the Magnolia hydrangea and cyclamen. were able to be more involved Tribute Garden, and during that Talented floral designers had to be in the rehabilitation activities; half-century, volunteers have forever-cognizant of the realities some members are now regular restored the central fountain and of creating arrangements for volunteers in the Horticultural replaced plant material. It has public spaces and allow room for Therapy Program. recently been determined that the holiday visitors and partygoers. —Katherine Bennett garden is now in need of serious Smaller arrangements enhanced restoration, and, to that end, the side tables. Both clubs enjoyed Philadelphia clubs have been in the privilege and excitement of communication with the National participating. Horticulture Therapy volunteers Park Service. The scope of the — Darby Scott and Allison Villa from Four Counties GC: Ann Marshall, Julie Sadtler, and Rachel ensuing refurbishment project is Gaffney. Photo by Hally Steif broad, including the replacement

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  NewsWorthy

The Planters Bryn Mawr, PA

In October, several members of The Planters garden club volunteered for a tree planting at the 33-acre Piszek Preserve on Sandy Run, a tributary of Wissahickon Creek at Fort Washington, PA. The event was organized by the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, A mighty crew of PCGCA members was needed to plant 1800 heirloom spring bulbs at the Magnolia Tribute Garden. Photo by Cindy Archer which mowed the location, laid out stakes, and placed 100 trees Tree planting at Piszek Preserve. of magnolia trees as well as many culmination of the Magnolia ahead of the volunteers’ arrival. A From left: George Reath, The shrubs and the expansion and Tribute Garden Restoration Preserve intern demonstrated how Planters club Secretary Naomi repair of the irrigation systems. Project will be celebrated in the to dig the holes, shake dirt off Breman, a Preserve intern, club The estimated cost of this project summer and fall of 2016, when the roots, rough off the bottoms, President Ann Reath, and Stephen Breman. Photo by Pamela Sulewski is $20,000, most of which will our nation marks the 100th position the trees a little above be realized through generous anniversary of the founding of the the surface of the ground, and contributions of the Philadelphia National Park Service. put pie plate-collars around them. West Chester Committee garden clubs. The —Wendy Foulke The volunteers then wrapped Garden Club protective chicken wire around West Chester, PA The Gardeners each collar and stapled it to a stake to keep deer from eating the lower The West Chester Garden Club Villanova, PA leaves. It was a great learning was honored as the Volunteer experience for all. of the Year by the Brandywine Volunteers also enjoyed being Red Clay Alliance (BRCA), on the grounds of the colonial-era an organization dedicated Emlen House, a stone farmhouse to promoting restoration, that gained fame as General preservation, conservation, and George Washington’s headquarters enjoyment of natural resources, during the winter of 1777. Beau- with particular focus on watershed tifully restored, this historical site, areas. GCA Medal of Merit formerly owned by philanthropist recipient Josie Parman leads the Edward Piszek, has received many club’s support of the BRCA. Many notable visitors, including human club members work along with rights activists and Nobel Peace Josie to maintain the grounds We must have done something right! (see Newsworthy article in the Fall Prize recipients Lech Walesa and at the BRCA headquarters and 2015 issue). All who worked on Devon Elementary School’s pollinator Pope John Paul II. support BRCA projects. garden, now certified by the Xerces Society, held an official ceremony in —Pamela Sulewski —Helen Wagner October. Here, club member Cathy Decker holds a small butterfly box to show students the larvae stage of eastern black swallowtail butterflies. Photo by Connie Stelzenmuller

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 NewsWorthy

“Fun was definitely had by all,” says an enthusiastic Meg Carter, Zone VIII “especially Alex and Vampa and Carolina Foothills me!” Garden Club —Meg Carter Greenville, SC

Falls Park, a 20-acre garden complex in Greenville, SC, came about as the result of a partnership between the Carolina Foothills Garden Club and the City of Marty Moore, aka Alex Trebeck, and Betsy Huffman, aka Vampa White, lead Greenville. Three decades in the a hilarious round of Jeopardy!. Photo by Anne Cobb making, the complex saw its first step toward realization in the Glenview mid-1980s, with the adoption of Garden Club Zone VII a master plan designed to restore White, played by Betsy Huffman, Louisville, KY the beauty of the area and provide Garden Club of sporting a sparkly, black evening a safe and welcoming public Alexandria gown and flowing platinum Glenview Garden Club plans gathering spot. Alexandria, VA locks, to co-host. “We broke to be Up, Up, and Away in The vision for the gardens the club down into four teams,” 2016. Captain Cachepot (Amy was further secured when the Garden clubs have horticulture explains club President Meg Spears, center) read the preflight Camperdown Bridge over the committees and flower show Carter. The “Constances” faced announcement of the upcoming Reedy River was removed in committees. They have off against the “Sprys,” followed Visiting Gardens itineraries. 2002. That August, Mayor Knox garden history committees by the “Penelopes” vs. the Serving in the cabin were White announced a $13 million and always the favorite, ways “Hobhouses.” Jeopardy categories 1st Officer Rosemary Thyme initiative called “In Full Bloom & means. Some clubs have of the day included GCA, GCV, (Nancy Bush) and Senior Flight in 2003” to help fund the park’s social media committees and Horticulture, Flower Arranging, Attendant Old Rose (Margie transformation. Using revenue others committees dedicated to Conservation, da Club, da Schubert). generated by a local hospitality tax communications, finance and Members and Pot Pourri. —Amy Spears conservation. But the Garden Jeopardy! rules were stretched Club of Alexandria has taken a bit, as categories featured their commitment to committees questions (not answers) in to a whole new level. Their “Fun multiple choice format or true/ Committee” is dedicated to false. To keep track of points, promoting and encouraging the the team with the correct answer culture of fun in their club. received a flower in their vase. The The Fun Committee staged GCA category covered geography a Jeopardy! tournament last (“GCA Headquarters in New spring, casting club member York is located closest to which of Marty Moore as Alex Trebek, the following…”) and easy flower complete with the game show arranging questions because all host’s signature salt and pepper the answers were false. The da mane. They invited game show Member category dished inside rival “Vampa” (not “Vanna”) scoop on the club membership. Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy River, Greenville, SC

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  NewsWorthy

and building on a revised master conservatory was designed and plan from 1999 by landscape built with meticulous care by The Gertrude architect Andrea Mains, the Rena Munger Aldredge, a past Windsor Falls Park project was developed president of Founders Garden Garden Club to showcase Reedy River Falls Club of Dallas. In the 1950s she Tyler, TX and provide renewed interest in planted a Philodendron selloum, Greenville’s historic west end. which produced an offspring that Members of the Gertrude Included in the rejuvenation we named Baby. Windsor Garden Club were plan was construction of Liberty Baby’s saga began at a workshop treated to a lively presentation by Bridge, a 355-foot-long curved on propagation by air layering Tony Delia, “The Butterfly Guy,” suspension bridge designed led by Deirdre Glober for new this past fall. Tony is a recognized by renowned architect Miguel members in January 2010. The authority on all things “butterfly,” Rosales to provide dramatic views reference used was the GCA’s especially the beloved monarch. of the upper falls and the gardens Basic Plant Propagation Handbook. His passion from early childhood below. By February the Sphagnum moss Jeanne Aldredge, Founders GC has grown into a thriving business Falls Park was honored with a surrounding the cut was found president (1987-89) and GCA giving lectures and raising and Rudy Bruner Award for Urban to be dry, and a new attempt was Horticulture Judge Emeritus, selling butterflies from his East Excellence silver medal, worth made. A year later, viable roots with the remarkable mother plant Dallas backyard butterfly farm. $10,000, on October 16, 2015. were detected and Baby was Philodendron selloum in Rena He brought along attractively Aldredge’s conservatory. Photo by This national award seeks to on her way. In April 2011 the packaged live monarch chrysalises, Kay Hyland promote innovative thinking rootball with one leaf was severed about the built environment, to from the stem and planted in a advance physical improvements blend of potting soil, orchid mix, Garden Club of Lookout Mountain realized in metropolitan areas, cedar mulch, and expanded shale. Lookout Mountain, TN and to single out urban places Baby was deemed to require distinguished by quality design consistent care and feeding, in addition to their social and and thus began an odyssey economic programs. from a Dallas house to an —Marian St. Claire and apartment (where she lived in Brice Hipp a bathtub under plant lights), to the Texas Hill Country, and in due time to FGCD’s GCA Zone IX Flower Show, Jubilee. On that happy occasion, Baby, was Founders Garden awarded the Clarissa Willemsen Club of Dallas Horticulture Propogation Dallas, TX Award which recognized her distinguished origin and, along Dallas’s Swiss Avenue Historic with her caregiver Deirdre, for District is the location of a her tenacious and successful glasshouse conservatory built mastery of varied and sometimes in 1954, the city’s first to be challenging growing conditions. attached to a private home. The —Deirdre Glober Members of the Garden Club of Lookout Mountain in Cashiers, NC, in the heart of the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains—one of their most enjoyable field trips of the year. Photo by Ann Caldwell

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 NewsWorthy

a novel way–and amazed us all! The Monroe Garden During the Steve Trash shows, Study League kids (and adults!) learn: Monroe, LA • how to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; • that trash is a natural resource The Monroe Garden Study that someone has simply and League’s Conservation Committee arbitrarily decided isn’t valuable has been working very hard to anymore; bring curbside recycling and • which items are and are not environmental awareness to recyclable. northeastern Louisiana. With So successful was this program the support of CenturyLink, that plans are under way to bring the American worldwide this spectacular performer back to Tony Delia holds up a monarch communications company Steve Trash with Monroe Garden Monroe to a larger audience. chrysalis as it hatches during the headquartered in Monroe, LA, Study League members Cathy —Sue Sartor meeting. Photo by Cathy Hard MGSL members Cathy Cheek Cheek and Sandy Dansby. Photo by and Kathy Van Veckhoven, their Mare Brennan for observation and for sale families, and the Conservation to club members. During his Committee brought the highly Zone X fascinating slide presentation and original comedian/magician/ talk, several chrysalises hatched for performer Steve Trash to the Akron Garden Club all to see, and newborn butterflies region. In January 2015 Steve, a Akron, OH began fluttering around the room! lifetime member of the Alabama Inspired in part by Tony’s Association for Environmental presentation, this coming spring Education, presented his message the club will install a Monarch of recycling to our youngest Way Station. A new milkweed citizens at four area elementary garden is intended to attract the schools: Sallie Humble, Lenwil, endangered butterfly and provide Jack Hayes, and Grace Episcopal. food for its larvae. Milkweek MGSL members were in (Asclepias ssp.) is the only food attendance to lend a hand and monarch caterpillars will eat. support the shows. The installation will complement Steve Trash, who hails from the park’s existing Native Plant the hamlet of Frog Pond, AL, has Learning Garden. This important entertained over 25 million peo- and timely club project will be ple, traveling all over the world, accomplished in partnership with from Japan to Australia, Canada, the Tyler Parks and Recreation and Greenland. His performances Department. revolve around magic tricks with —Cynthia Riter garbage and teaching kids about ecology. What better time to learn about environmental principles than while you are having fun? Akron Garden Club provisionals Laura Milo and Kathryn Wiggam planted No ordinary school magic show, 1400 bulbs (including Narcissus ‘Garden Club of America’) along the Steve has engaged the children in perimeter of Stan Hywet’s English Garden. Photo by Beth Brumbaugh

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  NewsWorthy

For almost 60 years, Akron and funded an endowment. Garden Club members have Stan Hywet is a National Zone XI volunteered a dozen or more Historic Landmark. Its English Lake Forest Garden Club hours weekly, May through Garden is one of only a few extant Lake Forest, IL October, to maintain the English Shipman gardens. Garden at a magnificent country —Elizabeth Brumbaugh estate, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, in Akron. Built between 1912 and 1915 Garden Club of by Gertrude Seiberling, Akron Cincinnati Garden Club’s founder, and her Cincinnati, OH husband, Frank, co-founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Com- The Garden Club of Cincinnati pany, the property was named was excited to finish our club Stan Hywet, which is Old English project! The Freeman Medalist for “stone quarry,” to reflect the Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), site’s earlier use. The 70-acre estate proposed by club member Nancy includes a 65-room Tudor Revival Linz, was the 2015 GCA Plant A large contingent from Lake Forest Garden Club, Lake Forest, IL, on a Manor House as well as eight of the Year. Last spring GCC Visiting Gardens trip to Fairfield County, CT. Photo by Cathie Denckla gardens. The grounds, originally members planted bur oak acorns, 3,000 acres, were shaped by influ- then nurtured 36 seedlings ential Boston landscape architect through the summer months. In Warren H. Manning. The English October 2015 we met in a large Garden itself was redesigned in open field at Rowe Woods, part 1929 by Ellen Biddle Shipman, of Cincinnati Nature Center in another force in landscape design. Milford, OH, to plant them and Shipman reputedly only hired other native tree saplings. woman as apprentices. In her day, —Pamela Terp women were routinely passed over in favor of their male counterparts. Her archives are housed at Cornell University. Akron GC has contributed nearly $250,000 in support of the estate grounds over the past 25 years. Recently the club gave $22,000 for improvements to the English Garden, specifically for restoration of the overgrown perimeter and replacement of statues representing the four seasons, Graham Schoeny, son of GC recast from the original molds. In of Cincinnati member Whitley addition the club has established a Schoeny, with a bur oak sapling, wildflower preserve, provided irri- ready to be planted. Photo by Mary gation and nomenclature systems, Jo Beck

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Bulletin Board

BulletinBoard: Cuttings from the Calendar

February Inc. Spring Training, Phillippi 30- GCA Flower Show (V) May 21, 11-5:30pm. May 1 Deadline for Hull Award Estate Park, Sarasota, FL. 5/1 Wissahickon GC, Visions- 22, 11-2pm. Contact: Applications April 13, 9-2pm. Look Both Ways, The Chateau Patricia Fernandez Deadline for Letter of Intent Contact: Karen Crete at Sugarloaf Campus, [email protected] to propose a candidate for a [email protected] or Chestnut Hill, PA. April 30, June 2017 National Award Sue Benjamin 10-4pm. May 1, 11-3pm. 2-4 GCA Flower Show (II) 22-25 National Affairs & Legislative [email protected] Contact: Alice Farley Hortulus, Fantasia, Christ Conference, Washington, DC 15-17 [email protected] GCA Major Flower Show Church Parish Hall, March (IX) Memphis GC, A Joyous May Greenwich, CT. June 3, Festival, 2016 Memphis 5-13 Non-GCA Major Flower 4-5 GCA Zone Flower Show 10-4pm, June 4, 10-2pm. Flower Show, Dixon Gallery Show–PHS, Philadelphia (IV) Stony Brook GC & The Contact: Bridget Bucknall and Gardens, Memphis, TN. Flower Show Contact: GC of Princeton, Return of [email protected] Contact: Elizabeth Coors Johanna Schoeller the Natives! Chauncey Hotel 13-14 [email protected] GCA Zone Flower Show [email protected] and Conference Center, (II) Sasqua GC, Summer 20 GCA Flower Show (VIII) Princeton, NJ. May 4, 4-5 14-16 GCA Flower Show (VIII) on the Sound, Southport Late Bloomers GC, A pm. May 5, 9-2pm. Contact: Gloriosa ‘Trustees’ Garden’, Congregational Church, River Runs Through It, The Anne Gates [email protected] The Charles H. Morris Southport, CT. June 14, Garden Club of Jacksonville, Center at Trustees’ Garden, 5 GCA Flower Show (X) GC 10-2pm. Contact: Jacksonville, FL. 2-6pm. Savannah, GA. Mar. 16, of Cincinnati, The Merry Jennifer Downing Contact: Debby Melnyk 9-3pm. Contact: Corinne Month of May, Barrington [email protected] [email protected] Reeves [email protected] of Oakley, Cincinnati, OH. 20-23 GCA Flower Show (X) 23-24 GCA Flower Show (XII) May 5, 10-3pm. Contact: 16-20 Non-GCA Major Flower Shaker Lakes GC, Perennial Pasadena GC, Reflections: Mary Jo Beck Show–Mass Hort Society Centennial, Cleveland, OH. a Centennial Celebration, [email protected] Nurtured by Nature, Contact: Contact: Elizabeth Boles Pasadena Public Library, Christina Wood 10 GCA Flower Show (X) [email protected] Pasadena, CA. Apr. 23, [email protected] GC of Dayton, Sedimental 24 GCA Garden Tour (III) 9-6pm. Apr. 24, 1-5pm. Journey, The Gifts of the April Contact: Susan Seidel Millbrook GC, A Country Glacier, Carillon Historical Ramble, Contact: Betsey Ely 5-6 GCA Flower Show (IX) [email protected] Park, Dayton, OH. May 10, [email protected] or Magnolia GC, Birds & 25-28 GCA Zone Flower Show (IX) 9:30-5pm. Contact: Ellen Petersen Blooms, Art Museum of Little Rock GC, Migrate. Cynthia Garner [email protected] Southeast Texas, Beaumont, Cultivate. Pollinate. Little [email protected] TX. Apr. 5, 1-4pm. Apr. 24-26 Non-GCA Major Flower Rock Marriott, Little Rock, 11-12 GCA Flower Show (III) The 6, 9-3pm. Contact: Karen Show (II) Newport AK. Apr. 27, 2:30-5:30pm. Little GC of Rye, It’s the real McCormick [email protected] Contact: Polly Glotzbach Preservation Society, Gilded- thing, Whitby Castle, The Artful Living, Newport, RI. 7 GCA Lecture (XI) Loveland [email protected] Rye Golf Club, Rye, NY. Contact: Patricia Fernandez GC, The Brother Gardeners: 28-30 GCA Flower Show (III) GC May 11, 2-4pm. May 12, [email protected] Botany, Empire and the Birth of Irvington-on-Hudson, 10-13pm. Contact: Chris 27-29 of an Obsession, Lauritzen On The Sunny Side of the Murray [email protected] GCA Zone Flower Show Gardens, Omaha, NE. (III) Syracuse GC, Contact: Hudson, Washington Irving’s 21-22 GCA Annual Meeting April 7, 7pm. Contact: Gail Nan Berger Sunnyside, Irvington, NY. Flower Show (XI) Journey Klauschie [email protected] [email protected] Apr. 28, 2-4pm. Apr 29 and to the Heartland, The Depot 13 GCA Flower Show (VIII) Apr 30, 10-3pm. Contact: Renaissance Minneapolis Founders GC of Sarasota, Barbara Defino Hotel, Minneapolis, MN. [email protected]

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Book Review BookReview

for cutting her own flowers Onward and Upward daily, while dressed in a tailored The Reason for in the Garden tweed suit and Ferragamo Flowers by Katharine S. White pumps, in mud season or by Stephen Buchmann with an introduction by otherwise. Scribner, 2015 E.B. White Among the many charms Farrar, Straus and Giroux, of this book are the black- Imagine touching on all the roles 1979 and-white illustrations placed that flowers have ever played at the beginning and end of in the natural and man-made Revered by readers and writers each chapter. Most of them are world and you’ll understand the alike, Katharine White earned reprints from classic seed or vast scope of information that her literary stardom through her nursery catalogues, and reflect Stephen Buchmann incorporates twenty-five years as an editor at the long history of Katharine into this book. The New Yorker, though without White’s love of gardens and Bees got him started, while ever writing a book of her own. flowers. She kept gardens all her wasps, beetles, flies, butterflies, But surprisingly—even to her strong views on everything life, with the minor exception and 59 species of nonflying husband—White launched into from scentless roses (terrible) of her years in New York City, mammals and pollinating an entirely new career upon to triploid plants (worse) to when she consoled herself with rodents carried him forward retiring from the magazine she the best way to illustrate a houseplants. Indeed, she grew in his study of blooms and had helped build into a power- wildflower guide (with color up in Brookline, just down blossoms. A super-curious house: writing the first garden- illustrations, not photos, with the road from Charles Sprague pollination ecology scientist, he ing columns ever published by the illustrations next to the text, Sargent’s estate, Holm Lea. (She chased questions raised by his The New Yorker. not on separate pages.) writes that her father, Charles subjects, which, it turned out, With the first essay published Although she was born S. Sergeant, often received C.S. had co-evolved with flowers, as in 1958, and following at in 1894, White’s opinions Sargent’s mail in error.) did his knowledge. intervals until ill health seem perfectly current today, The above-mentioned edition Buchmann engages the reader overtook her in 1970, the including her doubts about of Onward and Upward in the by using “anthropomorphic columns covered aspects the virtues of endless swaths Garden is in the GCA Library shorthand” that helps us dear to the writer’s heart: of thirsty lawn turf, the and was recently reprinted in understand flower biology, garden catalogues (especially maddening contortions of plant a handsome, new paperback genetics, the chemistry of scent, seed catalogues), trends in taxonomy, or the superiority edition. A later compilation and more. He describes one horticulture, houseplants, and of British garden writing to of White’s correspondence floral evolutionary strategy as flower arranging, as well as American. with gardener/garden writer “an eerie foray into the mind reviews of dozens of garden At the same time, her extraordinaire, Elizabeth of an animal by a plant.” He books. expansive orders of seeds, Lawrence, was published in explains the color changes of As an editor who guided bulbs, and plants from all over 2002, under the title Two flowers as “their way of shouting Vladimir Nabokov, Mary were handily accommodated Gardeners: Katharine S. White out their new status as they McCarthy, and Jean Stafford by a full-time gardener at and Elizabeth Lawrence—A move from floral adolescence – and who had a long, happy her Maine farm. Perhaps not Friendship in Letters. into maturity, senility, and marriage to E.B. White— having to double-dig her own —by Jane Harris, finally death.” Some of his Katharine White was often beds freed her to keep up Middletown GC, Zone II, descriptions of pollination are described by her colleagues spirited correspondences with GCA Library Committee Chairman positively X-rated. as “formidable.” Onward and nurserymen, seed purveyors, Chapters cover mythology, Upward is written with skill and tulip experts, and other garden history, the economics and grace, spiced with delightfully writers. Still, she was known technology of commercial vase-

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Book Review In Memoriam InMemoriam

and oak trees, many azaleas and Mary McPherson Ann Lacy Crain flowering dogwoods surrounded Patterson (Mrs. B. W. Crain, Jr.) a sparkling fresh water lake. The (Mrs. Alexander Evans GCA Honorary Member garden was designed with an eye Patterson, Jr.) (since 1978) to preserving and enhancing the Hortulus, Zone II Longview, TX natural beauty of the terrain. A member and founder Mary McPherson Patterson Ann Lacy Crain passed of many local organizations passed away June 21, 2015. Born peacefully away on May 28, 2015. and a recipient of many in Elizabeth, New Jersey and Mrs. Crain was dedicated to distinguished awards, Mrs. graduating from Vassar College, preserving the East Texas woods Crain was committed to historic she was married to Alex Patterson and beautifying the landscape of preservation and a champion of for 60 years. Mary became well her home and community. She civic beautification. She was the known for her uncanny ability frequently opened her garden to epitome of a true Southern lady— readiness, edibility and toxicity and affinity with the plant world, the public where visitors were compassionate, elegant, of blooms and buds, symbolism and under her care, all things immediately impressed by the and determined. in religion and art—answering green flourished to their full relationship of the house to questions that you might never magnificence. its setting. The Crain garden’s think to ask. You’ll learn such Mary served as president of sweeping lawns, towering pine little-known facts as the age of Hortulus, chairman and director the oldest known flower (99 of Zone II, and as a GCA vice million years); the name of the president. Well-deserved honors world’s largest flower, which included receiving the Creative attracts pollinating flies with Leadership Award and being the odor of decay and a blotchy named a GCA Judge Emeritus appearance that mimics the in Horticulture after judging look of dried blood (Rafflesia flower shows around the country arnoldii, the corpse flower), for many years. She received the and the toxicity of beauties; Hortulus Horticulture Award including buttercups, iris, and “…in recognition of her long- daffodils. standing love of horticulture and gracious willingness to share that • Is it a challenge kneeling and getting While entertaining chapter back on your feet? extensive knowledge with others.” heads organize facts and their • Do you look for support to get up? implications, you will find that Mary leaves behind scores of • Do you regularly walk over things dropped on the floor? reading them is like traveling beautiful gardens she designed through a bazaar crowded with with her business, Patterson TAKE A STAND WITH EZ-RIZER: things to see and hear. By the Landscape Design, in Greenwich, end of this book you will, at the CT, and surrounding towns. Her very least, have armed yourself love, knowledge, and dedication with knowledge to spice up to horticulture were remarkable. GET DOWN. GET UP. EASY. conversation at every GCA Available at Garden Centres and gathering you will ever attend. Department Stores Everywhere —by Anne O’Brien, Web: easyrisertools.net Canadian Trade Services Ltd. Columbine GC, Zone XII *Patent pending

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  In Memoriam

Board of Associates. She received of the Jupiter Island GC and Hor- Mary Louise Shields numerous awards throughout her Patricia Redfearn tulus Garden Club, of which her Pilgrimage Garden Club, life, particularly for historic preser- Bush mother-in-law Dorothy Walker Zone IX vation and civic improvement. (Mrs. William H. T. Bush) Bush was a member, and her Active well into her 100s, Mary The Garden Club of St. Louis, daughter Louisa is now a member. Mary Louise Kendall Goodrich Louise was the classic doyenne of Zone XI Patty was happiest when in a Shields, long one of the GCA’s Southern hospitality, graciously garden wearing leather gloves, most dedicated members, passed entertaining visitors at her beloved Patricia Redfearn Bush passed trowel in hand, with mulch up to away at the age of 109. Monteigne. She gently guided and away on November 10, 2015, her ankles. She prided herself on Mary Louise was the last living stimulated others to action with at the age of 77. She served as knowing the Latin plant names founder of the Natchez Spring her charm, wit, and keen intellect. president of The Garden Club for both genus and species. A Pilgrimage and a founding Her legacy truly is a long life lived of St. Louis, as both chairman mentor to many, Patty is survived member of the Pilgrimage Garden with a young and vibrant heart, and director of Zone XI, and as by her husband William H. T. Club. She was also a member of inspiring us never to lose sight of a GCA vice president. Among other Bush and her extended family. the Southampton Garden Club, purposeful vision. honors, Patty was the recipient of serving both clubs as president. the Creative Leadership Award. Additionally, she served as GCA She was a board member of the vice president, director of Zone Center for Plant Conservation in IX, and was a member of the St. Louis. Patty was also a member

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Repeat Bloomers and Sage Advice... How to Save the Earth

vegetables can thrive on decks, rooftops, and even windmills as Suggestions from our GCA well as home, school, and community. Moving to a culture where nutritious food is grown at or near home, not shipped from other Horticulture Committee states and countries, could rekindle respect for Mother Earth and —assembled by Beth Kibler, Palmetto GC, Zone VIII reduce the carbon footprint of food production and distribution. —Donna Ganson, GC of Lawrence, Zone III onservation begins at home! GCA committees might Cconsider looking inward and eliminating one meeting per year that requires travel. Just think of the savings: in jet fuel, in water for hotel laundry, in waste from packaging, etc. That meeting could be easily held via teleconferencing, along with email and Skype or FaceTime. —Anna Wasden, Trustees GC, Zone VIII egin on your own property by setting aside an untouched B“ecologically designated” area that is completely dedicated to natural habitat. Left to its own devices, this patch will eventually revert to its natural flora, self-sowing and attracting pollinators and providing a place of refuge for local wildlife. —Sherry Perkins, Woodside-Atherton GC, Zone XII y personal mission is to encourage everyone to grow food. MStarting in elementary school, children should be taught how to grow some of what they eat. In this way they will learn to appreciate the beauty of seeing something grow, as well as the taste of food when it is truly fresh. Herbs can be grown anywhere, and

Photos by Debbie Laverell, The Garden Workers, and Crissy Cherry, Lake Forest GC

The Bulletin :: Winter 2016  Dig Deeper: Resources A Speech to The Garden Club of America DigDeeper: Resources by Wendell Berry

Thank you. I’m glad to know we’re friends, of course; Wendell Berry • Cary Institute of Ecosystem There are so many outcomes that are worse. and Wes Studies research and events: Jackson But I must add I’m sorry for getting here www.caryinstitute.org Wendell Berry is a farmer and By a sustained explosion through the air, writer in Port Royal, KY. Wes Seeds Burning the world in fact to rise much higher Jackson is a plant geneticist and • Visit Tuckahoe Plantation’s Than we should go. The world may end in fire president of The Land Institute website: www.tuckahoeplanta- As prophesied—our world! We speak of it in Salina, KS. Google their tion.com/ for further back- As “fuel” while we burn it in our fit editorial: “A 50-Year Farm Bill,” ground. which appeared on the Opinion • Shirley Meneice offers per- Of temporary progress, digging up Pages of the New York Times spectives, practical advice, and An antique dark-held luster to corrupt January 4, 2009. insights about seed propaga- The present light with smokes and smudges, poison Berry’s acceptance speech tion, including the camellia To outlast time and shatter comprehension. was printed in the January 28, bearing her name, on the Burning the world to live in it is wrong, 2009, issue of The New Yorker. GCA website: www.gcamer- (The original is included in ica.org/index.cfm/members/ As wrong as to make war to get along the minutes of the 2008 GCA historian And be at peace, to falsify the land Annual Meeting.) • Many clubs offer seed propa- By sciences of greed, or by demand gation workshops. Nearly 200 For food that’s fast or cheap to falsify Soil members have posted their The body’s health and pleasure—don’t ask why. • Smith’s compost: www.black- seed propagation stories on But why not play it cool? Why not survive goldcompost.net/ the GCA website. By Nature’s laws that still keep us alive? Let us enlighten, then, our earthly burdens By going back to school, this time in gardens That burn no hotter than the summer day. By birth and growth, ripeness, death and decay, PartingShot: By goods that bind us to all living things, Life of our life, the garden lives and sings. “Poplars in Autumn” The Wheel of Life, delight, the fact of wonder, Contemporary light, work, sweat, and hunger Poplar (Populas), Boardman, Oregon Bring food to table, food to cellar shelves. by Ann Waldman, Portland Garden Club, Zone XII A creature of the surface, like ourselves, Show: Shangri La The garden lives by the immortal Wheel Garden Club of Honolulu, Zone XII That turns in place, year after year, to heal The Honolulu Museum of Art It whole. Unlike our economic pyre May, 2015 That draws from ancient rock a fossil fire, Awards: First Place and Certificate of Excellence An anti-life of radiance and fume Class: Vision—Color. A serene landscape Citation: Exquisite use of technical skills with stunning depth That burns as power and remains as doom, th Technical Info: 70-200mm lens. 1/80 of a second at f/18, ISO 125, The garden delves no deeper than its roots on a tripod And lifts no higher than its leaves and fruits. Originally published in focus, Fall 2015

 The Bulletin :: Winter 2016 Best in Show: Journey: Grand Vistas, the 2014 Newport Flower Show “The rogue storm wave of ominous clouds threatens the glorious sunset.” 14 East 60th Street New York, NY 10022 (212) 753-8287 [email protected] www.gcamerica.org

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