Centennial Tree Project TRD 3/17

The Real Dirt

Centennial Tree Project Updates Special Issue March 2017

The Garden Club of America Page 1 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Table of Contents

Message from the Chairman 3 Message from the Editors 5 Zone I 6 Zone II 14 Zone III 29 Zone IV 29 Zone V 33 Zone VI 33 Zone VII 35 Zone VIII 41 Zone IX 52 Zone X 57 Zone XI 61 Zone XII 70

Cover Drawing: Centennial Map by Angela Overy

The Garden Club of America Horticulture Committee does not endorse any of the products, resources or sources mentioned in this newsletter. We offer simple recommendations based on the experiences of individual writers.

The Garden Club of America Page 2 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Message from the Chairman

Centennial Tree Project Updates

Preserving the Past, Growing our Future: Trees, our Living Legacy

Barbara Tufﬂi Chairman

The Centennial Tree Project was a five-year-long project undertaken by all 200 GCA member clubs in celebration of The Garden Club of America Centennial. Spanning the terms of three Horticulture Chairmen, it started under Linda Paine, continued under Ellen Petersen, and culminated in 2013 under the leadership of Phyllis Lee, with numerous fascinating projects and over 23,000 trees planted across the United States. In early 2013, inspired by what the members of all of those clubs were doing, Angela Overy, an English-trained botanical artist serving as her Garden Club of Denver’s Centennial Tree Project Chairman, offered to create a painting of those trees. The result, her magnificent watercolor map of the United States, with a tree, leaf, flower or fruit from each of the species of trees planted, was her centennial gift to The Garden Club of America. It hangs at GCA Headquarters in celebration of what our clubs accomplished, planting thousands of trees, and educating our communities. In addition, Horticulture Committee members created a commemorative leather-bound book, containing the reports of all 200 projects, spreadsheets listing the genus and species of each of the trees, and a reproduction of the Centennial Tree Map. For each GCA Zone, it printed copies of the Zone’s projects and created beautiful Centennial Tree note cards to share with members of clubs across the country what GCA as an organization had accomplished. It was an honor to join the Horticulture Committee as the Zone XII Horticulture Representative just as these projects were reaching their conclusion and documentation was in its final stages. Today the Horticulture Committee page of the GCA website contains all of the project details. Click here to read the full history of this extraordinary GCA project and Click here to read the original reports from all of the clubs, including yours! These reports contain a treasure trove of ideas for community projects. In the spring of 2016, the Horticulture Committee, through its Zone Representatives, reached out to the Horticulture Chairs of all 200 GCA clubs asking for updates on their projects. We were thrilled by the magnitude of the response. Some sent pictures of trees that are growing strong, some projects were learning experiences, and some have inspired further action by clubs that want to make a difference in their community. To date we have received updates from over 100 clubs! This special issue of The Real Dirt contains those we have received so far, but it is not too late for every club to participate. We will happily add updates to each project on the website. To add your club’s update, please email it to [email protected].

As Horticulture Committee Chairman, I have had the opportunity to visit some of the projects. One of my favorite moments was when, in conjunction with our Zone XII meeting in Colorado Springs, I unexpectedly had the chance to visit the Broadmoor Garden Club’s Rock Ledge Ranch project, meet Vicki Kipp, who had been in charge of it, and actually see “Old Rosy”, the apple tree with a hole all the way through the trunk that was memorialized by watercolorist Shirley Kircher. The image, featured below, is one I could never forget.

The Garden Club of America Page 3 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Malus ‘Old Rosy’ painted by Shirley Kirsher

From left to right: Betty Irvine, Karen Gilhuly, Vicky Kipp, Phyllis Lee and Barbara Tufﬂi

The Garden Club of America Page 4 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Message from the Editors

Catherine Allan Jenny Wyatt Editor Assistant Editor

Requesting updated reports on the Centennial Tree Projects actually began a year ago, under the direction of Editor, Tootsie Crutchﬁeld. A few reports trickled in last May with a few more over the summer. However, once a deadline was in place last fall, we were bombarded! The response was so overwhelming that we decided to create a special edition for the updated Centennial Tree Projects, ﬁve years after the original reports in 2013. Phyllis Lee, Horticulture Committee Chairman at that time along with her Horticulture Committee compiled a leather-bound book that remains at Headquarters with reports from all two hundred clubs. It has been an interesting study reading each one, to see the incredible growth in some, tornado damage in one, death by neglect in others, deer demolished trees in several areas; yet the positive impact on human involvement as well as the return of pollinators resulted in many cases. Updates were even submitted as Hurricane Mathew wreaked havoc in the Southeast last fall! Mother Nature prevails!

The significance of the Centennial Tree Project has undoubtedly made an enormous impact throughout the country since its inception. This successful effort fulfilled the mission of the Garden Club of America: to preserve America’s beauty and natural heritage for future generations through environmental education; to protect endangered species; to promote biodiversity and to encourage the responsible use of our public lands for the benefit of all citizens through civic improvement. We are proud to be part of this all-encompassing project, one club at a time.

Angela Overy’s work continues to inspire us in this special edition. Her Centennial Map of all the tree projects graces the cover. The images selected for this issue are to give the reader an appreciation of the detail in Angela’s work. We are truly grateful for Barbara’s expertise in adding these special touches throughout this issue.

The Garden Club of America Page 5 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Zone I

Beacon Hill Garden Club

The ﬁrst of the Beacon Hill Garden Club Centennial Tree Projects was to replace aging willow trees planted along the historic Charles River Esplanade in the 1930’s by Arthur Shurcliffe with ten Salix alba, White Willows. This project was undertaken in partnership with The Esplanade Association. Since the planting in April 2011, the trees have thrived and true to their reputation, are steadily growing toward stately size. Generous yearly donations to The Esplanade Association contribute to the ongoing maintenance of these trees.

Salix alba

Beacon Hill Garden Club Remembrance Grove Secondly, the 11 Homestead Elms, Ulmus ‘Homestead,’ that our club paid for and helped to plant around the Brewer Fountain along the Liberty Mall and the Freedom Trail in the Boston Common in partnership with The Friends of the Public Garden have adapted very well and are thriving in this prominent location. The Friends of the Public Garden are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of this park, including “our” Beacon Hill Remembrance Grove trees. The Beacon Hill Garden Club has committed to a sizable yearly contribution to the carefully planned and executed program.

BHGC plaque in Boston Common Ulmus in Boston Common

by Trudy Fondren, Civic Beautiﬁcation Chair

The Garden Club of America Page 6 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Bennington Garden Club

Our Sugar Maples have grown considerably since their picture was taken in 2013 with Co-Presidents Ann Jackson and Nancy Edwards. They are well rooted in their Bennington Museum location, are healthy and about 4' tall. We will continue to watch their growth. by Polly S. Jones, President

Cambridge Garden Club

Update: I am happy to report that the living legacy of the Longfellow Linden not only lives on, it is growing. In 2014 two of the clonal cuttings that had been in a nursery at Laura Nash’s house were successfully transplanted to two historic sites in Cambridge: a newly planned landscape area at the Cooper-Frost Austin house (the oldest surviving house in Cambridge, owned by Historic New England) and on a sloping area at the foot of Indian Ridge in Mount Auburn Cemetery, just beneath Longfellow’s grave.

On May 22, 2014, CPGC members and the directors of these sites participated in a sequential dedication at each site to celebrate the gifts and mark the establishment of a metaphorical “green necklace” between historic sites in Cambridge through the common linage of these Lindens.The new trees “took,” and the one at Mt. Auburn begins to take on the same eccentric branching of its original This spring a tree plaque will be added, thanks to a gift of a new label maker to the cemetery, to join seven other historic trees on the 174 acres including three Jefferson Elms, the Prince-of-Wales Beech, Newton’s Apple Tree, Asa Gray’s Yellowwood. by Laura Nash, former President and Chairman of the Centennial Tree Project.

Tilia cordata

The Garden Club of America Page 7 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Chestnut Hill Garden Club chose the American Chestnut tree, Castanea dentata, as its Centennial Tree Project in 2013. In cooperation with The American Chestnut Foundation and the Town of Brookline’s Department of Parks and Open Spaces, we planted three American Chestnut seedlings on the grounds of historic Larz Anderson Park. These seedlings were planted by Brookline’s Tree Warden and have been under his care since they were planted.

After the ﬁrst winter, we discovered that one of the three seedlings did not make it, but that the other two seemed to be in good shape. Since that time, the two saplings have continued to grow and are now close to seven or eight feet tall. We are working with Brookline to re-plant the trees next year as they will certainly need more space as they continue to grow.

This past summer, our area experienced extreme drought conditions, but a recent check of the trees thankfully showed little sign of stress.

As of yet, the trees have not borne fruit, but when they do, we will collect the seeds and deliver them to The American Chestnut Foundation to assist in their research efforts to create a completely disease resistant American Chestnut tree. by Stacey McCarthy

Castanea dentata April 28, 2016 Castanea dentate October 27, 2016

The Garden Club of Dublin and Monadnock Garden Club Restoration of the Cutter Cemetery Maple Allée, Jaffrey, NH

The sixteen Acer saccharum are all thriving. MGC Member Margaret Pokorny has overseen pruning, fertilization, and watering program for the trees that were planted in late May 2012. We had no idea that we would have the need to continue to water these established maples this past summer but the drought forced the issue. Fortunately we still had money left in our maple account to pay for weekly watering. The Garden Club of Dublin also contributed $600 from their "leftover" Zone meeting funds so now we will have the funds to fertilize and prune this spring, 2017. by Laurel McKenzie, Horticulture Chair of Monadnock Garden Club and Jane Keough, Horticulture Chair of Garden Club of Dublin Acer saccharum

The Garden Club of America Page 8 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Buzzard’s Bay

Our Centennial Tree Project began in 2013 with the re-creation of an 1880’s urban orchard at the Rotch Jones Duff (RJD) historic house and garden in New Bedford, Massachusetts, with the planting of six fruit trees representing 19th century apple varieties appropriate to the site. The Rotch Jones Duff House (RJD) organized a day long program presented by John Bunker an orchardist and apple historian. The attendees were treated to a lively session on the history of apples, followed by a hands on grafting session and from which everyone took home 1-3 grafted apples. John selected the heirloom apple cultivars for the RJD and brought the whips along to the session and even planted them out for us. There were two each of Baldwin, Roxbury Russet and Porter which John said would be suitable for New Bedford. These two photos were taken recently of the thriving apples. No fruit yet! The mini orchard was incorporated into the Backyard Botany program the GCBB produces for the 4th graders in the New Bedford School system. The Garden Club of Buzzards Bay has been conducting a Backyard Botany program for the 4th graders of the New Bedford schools for over a decade. There are approx. 400 children who come to the Rotch Jones Duff(RJD) over a four day period at the end of April for a botany lesson, a guided walk through the RJD’s gardens including the mini orchard and through a greenhouse where the club propagates plants for its annual sale in May. The orchard is an instructional focus, as apple trees produce fruit (eventually these will!) and will attract pollinators, all part of the botany lesson. by Ruth Furman, President

Young apple trees

The Garden Club of America Page 9 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Mount Desert’s Centennial Tree Project revolved around several different varieties of trees were planted during the last 10+ years in memory of club members who have died. A current club member was assigned to a speciﬁc tree and researched its horticultural requirements, photographed it at different times of the year and wrote up a report. Nine informational reports were assembled in a notebook that is now located in the Garden Room at the Northeast Harbor Library, and available to anyone who wants to learn about trees that can grow well on Mount Desert Island, what their cultural needs are, and what they look like.

Since the time of the GCA’s Centennial, we have continued our Memorial Tree program but have moved to a model where we are planting Memorial Trees in places where they can be looked after. This includes public gardens like Thuya Garden, Asticou Azalea Garden, or Charlotte Rhoades Butterﬂy Park. We have also expanded our Memorial program to include commemorative planting containers and “benches”. One of the trees in the Centennial Notebook was a Magnolia, and that tree is in need of attention, and will get it this summer. We also have two Sugar Maples that were part of Centennial Project group that are ailing due to an overdose of sodium chloride due to various people doing work on this public property. This is being addressed, and is under our Civic Project Chairman’s watchful eye. These last two specimens were not planted in places where they received regular attention, an important lesson for us, as Mount Desert Island is a big place and it’s difﬁcult for us to be driving from tree to tree for check-ups. We’ve learned valuable lessons about several tree varieties during this process, and also about where and where not to plant them! by Kita Reece, President, GC of Mount Desert (Centennial Project Coordinator)

The goal of The Lenox Garden Club was to perpetuate a living legacy, the Prunus persica (Heirloom Peach) which was grown for more than 100 years at High Lawn, a Berkshire “cottage” built in 1909. We decided to propagate trees by seed, grafting, and cuttings. Propagation by seed pits yielded spotty germination, and today we have no successes to point to. Often squirrels got to them. The cuttings also did not succeed. Scions from High Lawn trees were grafted onto 3 year old “Reliance” root stock which had been grafted onto “Halford” stock. These produced six successful grafts. One of our members reported that 2015 was a stellar year for this delicious fruit. In 2016 the tree bore no fruit because the Berkshires had an unusual warm spell in February followed by severe frost. She has also had one incident of peach canker, and one necessity to cut off a diseased limb. Another member had her ﬁrst crop of fruit in 2011, but lost a crop to critters in 2014. She suggests that to get a full crop the tree needs to be netted to prevent raccoons and squirrels from stealing the fruit. 2016 was a loss because of the weather. However, the memory of a great crop in 2015 keeps expectations high for next year. by Anna Smith

Prunus persica

The Garden Club of America Page 10 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Little Compton Garden Club

One of our members who was involved in planting the three or four American Holly trees, Ilex opaca, that others in the club had propagated, checked recently to see if they were still alive, but unfortunately there was no sign of them. They were planted in Wilbur Woods, a town-owned property. by Heather Steers, Horticulture Chair, LCGC

Nantucket Garden Club

None of our baby trees are alive at this point and we did not create the stationery or calendars as intended because of online competition. The successful part of our project is the ongoing tour of the downtown trees that includes several old surviving American elms, Ulmus americana, and a disease- resistant tree, Zelkova serrata. The tour we supported originally is still popular with the public and is offered regularly during the summer season from the Nantucket Land Council ofﬁce. by Paulette Boling, Zone I Horticulture Representative

Zelkova serrata

Ulmus americana

The Garden Club of America Page 11 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Noanett Garden Club

The staff member we worked with on our Sassafras project at the New England Wild Flower Society is no longer there, but the organization did reintroduce the Sassafras to the garden. This photo is of the one we planted near the Horticulture Ofﬁces of NEWFS in Framingham, MA. by Carrie Waterman

Sassafras albidum

North Shore Garden Club

The Magnolias are doing very well. TTOR(The Trustees of Ravenswood) have put up a new double fence to keep the deer out and they have volunteers that regularly check the fence and check and clear invasive plants. They also tagged all the plants last year. All but one of the transplants have survived - there are 94 seedlings less than 1 meter tall, 93 immature plants and 15 mature plants that they expect to ﬂower in the next few years. Also Smith College which has an arboretum has taken some cuttings and seeds to plant in Western Mass to spread the Magnolias. by Judy Gore

Here’s a quick update from The Piscataqua Garden Club. It was lovely to see the photo from our original project at the dedication at Strawberry Banke. Unfortunately two of the participants have since passed away and the two others have moved away. Beth Hume, our president at the time has moved to California. We do not have an ongoing tree project but our club still supports the museum and its work. I can only speak for one of the pagoda dogwoods, which is planted in my backyard. Unfortunately the deer are quite fond of it so I cannot report that it is living. by Karen Arsenault

The Garden Club of America Page 12 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Worcester Garden Club

Our club is enjoying a seventeen-year creative relationship with the Worcester Parks Department. Worcester Garden Club had only to call the Assistant Commissioner of Parks & Recreation this fall to receive approval of another planting project in the Pavilion area of Green Hill Park. With just verbal descriptions of an elegant granite cobblestone edging to contain drought resistant perennials and shrubs attractive to pollinators, the latest planting project was launched.

Fortunate as well as the donation of funds in memory of a garden club member by her family a few months ago. The very timely donation paid for the entire cobblestone edging, while the Parks Department absorbed the labor costs of the talented city gardener.

Thus, the Worcester Garden Club’s ﬁrst planting in 2000 of 20 crab apples and 3 small gardens, nestled in the brick terrace beside the 1911 Pavilion, expanded to “A Tree Called Diversity,” because we couldn’t select just one tree. Diversity is the main message, due to the monoculture planting in Worcester several decades ago, which encouraged the infestation of the voracious beetle. We decided to create an arboretum of trees resistant to the Asian Longhorn Beetle. It developed into the 2011 Founders Fund Award Arboretum with trees resistant to the Asian Longhorn Beetle.

Next spring the Pavilion area will blossom into a beautiful garden ﬂoor-to-tree canopy scene with newly planted perennials and shrubs.

Other new developments:

The Parks Department has added the Green Hill Park Arboretum to its Green Hill Park/City of Worcester, MA website: www.worcesterma.gov/dpw/parks-rec/city-parks/green-hill-park. Scroll to the end.

It has also added our sign at the entrance to Green Hill Park from Belmont Street, Route 9, announcing the location of the Arboretum, with the WGC logo Three Trees.

See the attached photograph of the cobblestone edging installation; the historic Pavilion with newly restored roof; and Sugar Maples, a preferred host to the ALB, planted prior to awareness of the beetle’s destructive existence in Worcester. by Kim Cutler

The Garden Club of America Page 13 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Zone II

The Fairﬁeld Garden Club’s American Chestnut Planting Update

Report prepared by: Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis, Emeritus Scientist Barbara G. Wooten Department of Plant Pathology Fairfield Garden Club and Ecology GCA Tree Centennial Project Chair (2009-current) The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station P.O. Box 1020 P.O. Box 1106 Southport, CT. 06890 New Haven, CT 06504 203-820-3493 (cell) 203-974-8498 203-256-8700 ext 103 (Office) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Summary: Our grand American Chestnut restoration project continues. Started in a committee meeting in 2009 as our tree project for the GCA Centennial in 2013, their project was called Preserving the Past-Growing the Future. Trees: Our Living Legacy. Our project was called The American Chestnut: Beginning Again.

The Garden Club of America Page 14 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 To remind us, the American Chestnut once comprised one-fourth of our forests of the eastern United States from Georgia to Maine. It saw its entire demise from 1904-1950 when three to four billion trees perished by a devastating blight from China. With leadership from a distinguished plant pathologist and national American Chestnut research leader, Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis and help from the tree warden and the Town’s conservation department’s open spaces resources, we planted 100 trees in April 2012 on 8 sites. Our blight resistant American Chestnut hybrid seeds were two feet tall at planting. Those that have survived are ﬁve years old. As of May 2016’s fourth annual visit along with town ofﬁcials, 42 of the 100 remain. This is considered a major success. Threats have been encircling invasives which outrun the small trees, and deer who breach the tall fences and rub against the bark. This year, we accomplished three notable new initiatives: we added 26 baby trees with tree protectors, we took soil samples and leaf samples. We expect plant pathologists and scientists to ultimately be able to report on why the two more successful sites are happily thriving. Witnesses to enlightened, gentle human intervention while we plant, watch and learn, we non-scientists have learned from Dr. Sandy to be patient, observant. So now there are 68. Long may they live. by Barbara Geddes Wooten

January 18, 2017 It is four years since The Fairfield Garden Club worked with Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis (pictured below on site in 2012 at the installations) as well as the town of Fairfield’s Conservation Department and the Town’s Tree Warden on the installation. The collaboration initially installed 100 American Chestnut hybrids in eight open spaces in the town. We have made an annual survey every spring since then. This is our field report of May 2016.

This important beginning to return of timber chestnuts to New England forest areas will continue to be monitored by members of The Fairﬁeld Garden Club, and the State Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station with the ongoing support of the Town of Fairﬁeld’s Conservation Department.

As we have noted every year, in public open spaces, Chestnut blight disease has reduced the American chestnuts of the eastern U.S. to understory shrubs that repeatedly die and sprout and die again. The chestnut breeding program at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), is focused on producing blight resistant chestnuts for both timber and orchards for nut production. In 2012, 100 Dr Sandra Anagnostakis chestnut trees from four hybrid combinations that were the result of several generations of back-crossing to American chestnut (Castanea dentata) were planted on Town of Fairﬁeld Conservation property by the Fairﬁeld Garden Club.

Our expectation for a ﬁve year prediction was that if 40-50 percent survived without any giant interventions from us or the town, that would be a considerable success. That will be judged in May 2017, which will be our ﬁfth anniversary.

The Garden Club of America Page 15 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 As we have noted every year, in public open spaces, Chestnut blight disease has reduced the American chestnuts of the eastern U.S. to understory shrubs that repeatedly die and sprout and die again. The chestnut breeding program at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), is focused on producing blight resistant chestnuts for both timber and orchards for nut production. In 2012, 100 chestnut trees from four hybrid combinations that were the result of several generations of back- crossing to American chestnut (Castanea dentata) were planted on Town of Fairﬁeld Conservation property by the Fairﬁeld Garden Club.

After our survey of May, 2015, we decided we ought to eventually add more seedlings at the sites where the conditions were better for survival. The chestnut breeding program at CAES (illustrated above) continues and new orchard and timber trees are planted each year for evaluation. With that intention, we procured with Dr. Anagnostakis’ essential help 26 new seedlings that are of the next generation from those planted in Fairﬁeld in 2012.

On Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Dr. Sandra Anagnostakis, the new tree Warden Jeff Minton, Conservation Open Space Manager Ed Jones and several members of the Fairﬁeld Garden club, including the civic committee, conducted our annual count of our eight sites. The good news of 2016 is that the 42 trees (of the original 100) seem to be surviving. With our additional 26 more trees (planted in 2016), the latest generation of hybrids, on the best of the eight sites, we have 68 trees alive and well.

There are three important differences this time. 1. Dr. Sandra brought tree protectors to surround the small trees in their early years. This is to prevent deer (who have breached the 8 foot tall fences on at least two sites!) rubbing against them. 2. The protectors are intended to also help deter the wide variety of invasives on every one of these site which encircle the young trees, outpace them and threaten them. Once the trees become taller than the invasive and outlast the deer, their prospects increase all of the time. 3. This time, we helped take soil and leaf samples of each site. Those results, which are surprising, are attached. Dr. Anagnostakis notes that in comparisons with other chestnut plots, boron and manganese are considered important for chestnut nut production and disease resistance. The low zinc levels in the Fairﬁeld soils are a puzzle, considering the high leaf levels on all Fairﬁeld sites.

The Garden Club of America Page 16 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The most remarkable observations are that some trees are truly magniﬁcent and are impressively tall and lustrous and look problem-free. The other observation is that no two sites are the same; even the invasive varieties are distinctly different. Finally, it is hard to describe how exciting these survivors are. Someday, when they actually bear chestnut (fruit), our club and the town should have a celebration.

Castanea dentata above and below

The Garden Club of America Page 17 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 These charts summarize the eight sites in their past and current status: AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE RESTORATION PROJECT, Fairﬁeld Connecticut

Where Total Total trees were SITE FOR PLANTING planted surviving added trees trees Spring 4-20-12 5-2016 2016 Comment Perry's Mill Pond - on street parking: intersection of Partridge Excellent 10 5 5 & Pell Meadows Asian Bittersweet conditions Poison Ivy

Springer Glen Lower Old Field-on street parking at 1400 Stillson or 10 3 5 Extremely dry Old Highway Nothing Tall

Springer Glen Upper Old Field-on Extremely dry street parking at 1400 Stillson or 10 4 5 Old Highway Garlic Mustard but open

Mountain Laurel Open Space-park Rampant by the entrance sign @ 601 Mt. 10 2 bittersweet Laurel Rd. invasives

Lake Mohegan (former dog pound)- Abundant parking entrance next to 320 polyganum 10 5 5 Morehouse Dr. Some Japanese invasives; needs Knotweed and 2 are weak regular mowing

Lake Mohegan, North Lake-parking Impressive entrance at 880 Morehouse Hwy. 15 8 6 growth; needs Some Japanese Knotweed regular mowing

Hoyden's Hill, Shooting Range- Rampant parking entrance 388 Hoydens 10 2 Lane invasives

Lower elevation Ball Field 520 Hoydens Lane 25 13 far superior to dry upper-end

All sites need at least end of TOTAL 100 42 26 season mowing because of invasives

The Garden Club of America Page 18 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Chestnut Fairfi Leaves Old Orchar orch eld mg/kg 2001 forest forest field d ard 2016

Grisw Griswol old Perr Prosp d 2015 Low Up Nort Mt y’s Dog Lockwo Prospec ect Winds 2015 plot Sp. Sp. h Laur Mill Poun eleme element od t South North or plot 1 2 Glen Glen Lake el Pond d nt

Aluminu 279. 191. 152. 420. m 329 715 664 138 354.5 4 185.9 130 4 6 8 62.5 Al

550 470 390 Calcium 12025 3841 4975 10210 7100 8800 4100 0 0 0 4500 4200 Ca

Magnesiu 310 240 330 m 2771 1780 2174 2500 2000 1900 2500 0 0 0 2700 2900 Mag

307 298 284 3090 3180 Nitrogen 22233 21343 20428 26582 29400 00 00 00 0 0 N

Phosphor 240 260 240 ous 2659 1830 1859 3981 1700 1600 2300 0 0 0 2700 3400 Phos

Potassiu 550 550 530 m 6275 8788 8716 9647 6800 7400 4800 0 0 0 6400 6800 Pot

Sulfur 1678 1549 1585 1796 ------Sulf

Boron 64 39 43 51 17.6 17.1 23.2 32.1 25.8 26.9 22.6 25.1 Bo

Copper 665713.6 13.8 9.3 10.4 10.6 10.4 11.2 11.5 Co

231. Iron 59 54 53 64 38.6 36.4 47.8 71.6 43.5 51.4 6 55.6 Iron

Manganes 242. 223. 238. 214. e 255 441 733 418 95.7 117 271 3 7 4 7 76.4 Mang

226. 115. 178. Zinc 28 36 26 62 22.7 53.7 555.3 6 8 90.3 79.3 1 Zn

Lead 0.1 0.6 0.1 0 1.5 0.03 Lead

Levels that are lower or higher than they should be are in red.

Chestnut Leaves Orchard orchard Orchard orchard Orchard Orchard

Griswold Griswold Griswold 2016 Griswold Griswold Griswold mg/kg 2015 2015 Plot E UT 2016 2016 2016 element plot 1 plot 2 Plot E T Plot W UT Plot W T

Aluminum 354.5 279.4 435.5 493.7 406.4 472.1

The Garden Club of America Page 19 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Calcium 7100 8800 6900 6800 6900 7000

Magnesium 2000 1900 2200 2100 2100 2000

Nitrogen 16400 16500 15300 16200

Phosphorous 1700 1600 1400 1400 1300 1300

Potassium 6800 7400 5400 5400 500 4700

Sulfur

Boron 17.6 17.1 20.6 30.7 21.2 29.2

Copper 13.6 13.8 8.1 8.4 8.5 8

Iron 38.6 36.4 33.6 34.4 30.6 31.2

Manganese 95.7 117 128.9 117.9 132.4 126.3

Zinc 22.7 53.7 94.2 23.1 35.7 87.2

Ffld . 201 Fores Old 6 Chestnut Forest tPros field Griswol Low Element Soils, Lockwo Prosp pect , d Sp. Up Nort Mt Perry’ Dog mg/kg od2001 ect Nort Wind orchar Gle Sp. h Laur s Mill Poun element Hamden South h sor d 2015 n Glen Lake el Pond d

pH 3.6 4.5 5.7 6.2 4.6 5.1 5.1 5.3 4.7 5.4

Aluminu m 329 715 664 138 207 156 189 227 131 325 69 Aluminum

1021 Calcium 12025 3841 4975 0 242.5 719 593 555.5 835.5 222 1257 Calcium

Magnesiu m 2771 1780 2174 2500 27.5 126 685 86.5 169.5 31.5 143.5 Magnesium

2042 2658 Nitrogen 22233 21343 8 2 Nitrogen

Phosphor ous 2659 1830 1859 3981 7 6 7.5 1.5 2.5 4.5 10.5 Phosphorous Potassiu m 6275 8788 8716 9647 33.5 97 91 94.5 108 43 227 Potassium

Sulfur 1678 1549 1585 1796 Sulfur

Boron 64 39 43 51 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 ? 0.2 Boron

Copper 66570.2 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 Copper

Iron 59 54 53 64 9.9 38.9 13.1 11 6.4 17.4 4.1 Iron

Mangane se 255 441 733 418 1.8 17.9 4.7 6.4 9.1 6.6 6.0 Manganese

Zinc 28 36 26 62 1.2 6.1 43.1 4.1 6.7 2.2 35.2 Zinc Elements that seem too high or too low in red.

The Garden Club of America Page 20 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Hartford has been very busy planting trees at a few of the entrances Keney Park, as well as following up on the trees it planted in Hartford as part of the Centennial Tree project. This follow-up report for the Centennial Tree Project, GCH, in close partnership with the Knox Park Foundation, has kept track of the 140 trees planted in Hartford since 2013, in an effort to determine which specimens thrived and which have not. GCH is also working on an addition to the GCH website that will inform others of what we have learned about trees in an urban setting.

GCH members with a GCA Founders Fund Committee member and Hartford Department of Public Works Superintendent,Tom Baptist at Barbour Street, Spring 2016.

The Garden Club of Hartford’s more recent efforts have been devoted to rehabilitating a two of the five the entrances to Keney Park, a historic and very large (700 acres) public park located in the North end of Hartford. The park borders a community challenged by poverty, violence and blight and is a beloved refuge to thousands of people. With a plethora of playgrounds and activities for all to enjoy, including a newly renovated golf course, the park is a testament to renowned landscape architect and Hartford native Frederick Law Olmsted. He believed in the positive effects of scenery that it,“worked by an unconscious process to produce relaxing and ‘unbending’ of faculties made tense by the strain noise and artiﬁcial surroundings of urban life.

Workers and GCH volunteers planting Shadblow trees.

Stemming originally from a Partners 4 Plants effort, the Club raised funds to address the Barbour Street entrance to the park. GCH held a contest that resulted in the submission of plans for this entrance. Using the $3000 GCH devoted to the project, the winning plan, developed by students at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and Landscape Architecture, was implemented in cooperation with the Hartford Department of Public Works, which oversees the parks, and local community groups. Workers from GCH, community groups and the DPW removed invasive plants and planted native species including bulbs, shrubs and trees. Three white pines (Pinus strobus), and nine Shadblows (Amelanchier laevis) were part of the Barbour Street renovation.

The Garden Club of America Page 21 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Spring 2016 planting at the Barbour Street entrance.

This effort successfully demonstrated the effect beautiﬁcation has on the surrounding community and led to the Club’s application to GCA’s Founders Fund to help fund the rejuvenation of other park entrances. Although we didn’t win the Founder’s Fund, as a runner-up we received $10,000 to use toward this project. To date, GCH members and DPW workers have removed invasive plants at the Windsor Avenue park entrance and planted one white oak (Quercus alba) and two red oaks (Quercus rubra), along with native shrubs and perennials.

White Pine being planted White Oak at Windsor in spring 2016 Street Entrance

GCH will continue its commitment to Keney Park and has continued to raise and set funds aside to address other entrances. No doubt this will result in more tree plantings in the future.

For more information go to http://www.olmsted.org by Susan Rathgeber

The Garden Club of America Page 22 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of New Haven

New Haven is the "Elm City". Since its founding, the Garden Club of New Haven has provided elm trees for the New Haven Green; thus, our centennial project focused on the New Haven Green and its elms.

The Garden Club of New Haven planted over 300 elm saplings which were then placed in "foster care" by members of the GCNH as well as many schools and community organizations. As the saplings grew, they were then permanently "adopted" by members of the community.

We are currently working with Yale School of Forestry to GPS and assess the 53 surviving elm trees that were adopted and planted as our Centennial Project.

The New Haven Green is mainly planted with elm trees. We produced a DVD on the history of the New Haven Green and its trees; this is available at the New Haven Museum. We also wrote and now provide both a cell phone walking tour of the trees on the Green (203-672-4384) and a brochure walking tour of the trees on the Green (available at the New Haven Visitors' Center). Both are extremely popular with visitors to New Haven.

A school curriculum, "New Haven Green and Its Trees" was written by the GCNH and has been distributed to all local school districts. Workshops have also been provided to teachers by the GCNH on how to eﬀectively use the curriculum and its accompanying materials.

This is an on-going project as we continue to replace elm trees on the New Haven Green, follow and assess our "adopted" elms, provide tours of the New Haven Green and educate our school children. by Billie Ladd

The Litchﬁeld Garden Club undertook the Centennial Tree Project in 2010 with a propagation workshop. Members potted cuttings of a Colonial Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, planted in 1778 by Oliver Wolcott, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Only one cutting of many took root and was nursed by the grower until it was big enough to plant in 2013 in front of the Tapping Reeve Law School, the First Law School in the United States.

Today the young sycamore is a thriving tree with great potential to match the height and breadth of its parent tree. by Ronnie Schoelzel

The Garden Club of America Page 23 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Middletown Garden Club continues to manage the American Chestnut orchard planted for the 2013 Centennial Tree Project. While over 600 trees were ultimately planted, approximately 375 have survived. Because the trees were planted in yearly phases, each year’s planting is distinct in its size and condition.

The first trees planted in 2009 as a test planting were few in number, and some succumbed to deer damage, the original deer fencing was replaced in 2015 with grants from the American Chestnut Foundation and the City of Middletown. The survivors of the first two years of planting now stand at above 15 feet in height, with diameters at breast height (DBH) of four to five inches. Depending on the species, their canopies spread from four to six feet.

The biggest threats to the trees (after deer were prevented from browsing and rubbing) have been drought and voles. Some improvement in the vole situation occurred when the trees’ root zones were treated annually with a scent-based repellent. Nut production began in 2015, although most all were eaten or buried by squirrels.

When all of the trees have diameters of ﬁve inches or more, the Connecticut Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation will challenge the trees with two injections of Chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica, to see which trees have strong resistance to the disease. By that time, some of the trees are expected to have naturally acquired blight as well. The trees that are not demonstrating immunity or resistance will be cut, chipped and removed.

The remaining trees that have desirable characteristics and blight resistance will be used for seed production. The American Chestnut Foundation continues to explore ways to successfully restore the American chestnut as a forest tree. (See photos below.) by Jane Harris, Centennial Tree Project Chairman

Castanea dentata

The Garden Club of America Page 24 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Newport Garden Club

Our Living Legacy Status report January 2017

6 Ulmus Americana ‘Princeton’ (Princeton Elm) 2 Acer rubrum (Red Maple)1 Fagus sylvatica (European Beech) 1 Fagus sylvatica ‘Tricolor’ (Tricolor European Beech) 6 Zelkova serrata ‘Green Vase’ (Japanese Zelkova 5 Malus tschonoskii (Tschonoski Crabapple)

The twenty-one trees planted by the club are all thriving in spite of their urban environment and drought conditions.

Also, many of the 150 saplings of Quercus cerris (Turkey Oak) propagated by the club have been planted in the city, adding to the inventory of this rare historic specimen. These two projects have contributed to the renovation of Newport’s aging urban forest, one of the major goals of the Newport Garden Club.

The club's other centennial projects, including supporting the tree inventory and tree tours of Newport, selling notecards of the historic European beeches of Newport, and holding meetings dedicated to understanding the status of Newport's urban forest, have raised awareness of and support for Newport's historic arboretum. by Susan Ruf, Newport Garden Club’s Civic Chair

Fagus sylvatica Acer rubrum

The Garden Club of America Page 25 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Perennial Planters Garden Club consulted with the Providence Parks Department to come up with a project for the GCA Centennial Tree Project in 2012. We wanted to design our centennial tree project to be one we could manage start and ﬁnish, and to that end, we worked with the Providence city forester and a city owned cemetery, the North Burial Ground. The concept was to create a small tree farm at the city owned North Burial Ground (NBG) cemetery using a “pot to pot” system which seemed to be a perfect scale project for our garden club.

Our plan was to coordinate with The Grogan Center who support children and adults with autism, and other developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges. Their job was to have their young adults participate in the program by watering and otherwise maintaining the trees. We easily came to an agreement and they were happy to be involved. We supplied the pots, soil, fertilizer and weed barrier. The city workers and NBG staff constructed and ‘dug in’ the tree farm beside the large greenhouse at NBG. We transplanted 68 trees of all different species to a model tree farm funded by our club. The system we used, pot to pot, placed the potted trees in a “socket” pot which is dug into the ground. This system makes for less water use and easier transplanting.

One ﬁne spring day, some 20 Perennial Planter members met at the NBG cemetery and dug up the seedlings and small trees that needed to be moved or removed from cemetery land. The potted trees were dropped into pots that had been placed in the ground at the "farm". The goal was to release more space for burials, save the little trees that needed to be transplanted and create something of use for the community. The area where we dug up the trees is now being sold as grave lots for the city’s beneﬁt. The system worked well until leadership at the Grogan Center changed and interest in the tree farm was lost. This fact was not communicated to our Club.

In revisiting the project in 2016, the farm area has been sodded over and the trees were planted around the NBG. The area we cleared has been sold for graves which is a good thing. While it is disappointing that the city and the Grogan Center did not want to continue nurturing the young seedlings until they were ready for transplanting, we did ﬁnd that the “pot to pot” system worked well and was successful for several years. We are also glad that we were able to give the city more land to develop for burials. by Kathleen Leddy

Perennial Planters Preparing Pots

Centennial Pot to Pot Trees photos by Kay Sheldon

The Garden Club of America Page 26 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Above: Perennial Planters Volunteers with City Workers in green shirts

Below: Perennial Planters Volunteers at the North Burial Ground Photos by Fraser Gilbane

The 4 Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge’ trees that Sasqua Garden Club planted in partnership with the Town of Fairfield are thriving by the train station in downtown Fairfield.

They were a much needed addition to the large parking lot that serves both the train station and the Fairﬁeld Theater Company. They are surviving wonderfully and doing exactly what we hoped they would do;] providing food and shelter for birds, shade for commuters and visitors to the FTC, and a visual break for the long narrow parking lot.

FTC has grown tremendously over the last 6 years since the trees were planted. Today they have over 250 events that bring over 40,000 patrons to Fairﬁeld. The Elm trees add a lovely framework for this important Fairﬁeld institution. Sadly, the three Hawthorne trees that were also planted in conjunction with the Centennial Tree Project were cut down. We are still investigating the reasoning behind this.

Several members of our club grew Ulmus americana ‘American Elm’ from seed and now have them growing in their yards. In a sunny east facing location, two of the four young elm trees planted at the Fairﬁeld Train Station are doing quite well. by Beth Rhame

The Garden Club of America Page 27 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The South County Garden Club

The joint project was started in 2009 with an agreement among the South Kingstown Land Trust, the URI Master Gardener Program and The American Chestnut Foundation, based in Virginia. The ﬁrst orchard, a so-called breeding orchard, was planted in 2009. Two years later a larger (two-acre) seed orchard was started.

The breeding orchard is ﬁlled and some of the trees have succumbed to the bright. In a couple of years, some of these trees will be inoculated with the blight to see which ones have higher resistance. The seed orchard is still expanding by about 600 trees a year. The last expansion is planned for spring 2017 with another 600-800 seeds planted along with controls.

The two orchards are monitored weekly along with maintenance (mowing, fence repairs, soil testing, weeding, fertilization, etc.). Major activities include planting in the spring and an inventory of all trees in the fall. All data is reported to the Foundation. Foundation scientists occasionally visit the orchards and are always available to give advice and instruction to the volunteers who maintain the orchards.

All maintenance is done by volunteers in the URI Master Gardener Program. The South County Garden Club provided a grant for the purchase and installation of the solar powered irrigation system. The Garden Club later made another grant for the purchase of a mowing tractor. Operational costs and materials are provided by the American Chestnut Foundation.

School groups and the public can arrange for guided tours of the two orchards. Several times a year, representatives of the American Chestnut Foundation visit and make recommendations. by Anne Richardson, President

The Stamford Garden Club planted 10 Princeton Elms in the Mill River Park in downtown Stamford in September 2006. They commemorated the ten people from Stamford who died on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City. The trees are planted in the area that will be a Contemplation Garden in the development of Mill River Park. It will have a low, sitting wall that will recognize the gift from the Stamford Garden Club. We have been told that it will be part of the reconﬁguration of the area in the spring of 2018. The trees are healthy and thriving. by Miriam Shaw

Stonington Garden Club

The American Chestnut ‘Windsor North’ indeed was planted in 2013 at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic, CT. The tree planting was a group effort between Stonington Garden Club members and Maggie Jones, the Nature Center’s Executive Director. The hope had been this chestnut would ﬂourish as a focal point in a large garden on the slope behind the preschool building. Unfortunately, as Maggie recalls, the deer devastated this garden shortly after its installation. In a few short years all that remains of this planned garden is the Pieris japonica. It seems Sassafras albidum has moved in and may have aided to the demise of our chestnut tree notes Ms. Jones. Although disappointed, SGC will try again! by Michelle Kutz Site where American Chestnuts had been planted

The Garden Club of America Page 28 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Zone III

The Ulster Garden Club and the Memorial Tree Fund of the Ulster Garden Club planted one apple and pear trees at the Forsyth Nature Center, established 1936 in Kingston, NY. The goal was to provide food for the animals that are housed and exhibited at the zoo facility. The mission of the Center is “To foster the exploration of the natural world in and around the community through educational programming and contact with ﬂora and fauna at an interpretive facility”. A stroll through Forsyth Nature Center reveals 24 animal exhibits and over a dozen gardens, many planted with Hudson Valley native ﬂora. It continues to grow and expand within its 18 acres under the direction of Mark DeDea. by RoseMarie Maresca, Horticulture Chair

Zone IV

The Garden Club of Englewood Centennial Tree project celebrated and expanded on an ongoing chestnut restoration program, which we originally initiated at the Tenaﬂy Nature Centre in partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation.

In 2010, we planted five additional advanced seedlings (backcross bred 3 times) provided by The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF): Four more at the Tenafly Nature Center, and one more at Project 2000, our club town beautification plantings along Dean Street in Englewood. Two seedlings died the first year, and as of 2016 only three chestnut saplings of all those planted are still surviving at the Nature Center. Challenges included removing brush from around the trees, protecting from deer browse through the wire cages around them, drought and storms, and possibly the growing conditions themselves. The trees at the Nature Center are situated in a partially shaded area which we originally understood to be appropriate since the chestnut is a forest tree. However, at Project 2000, the centennial seedling and two earlier seedlings, all of which receive full sun, are doing well. In fact, we had to have the wire cages surrounding these Pat Fromm trees removed this fall so as not to damage the expanding trunks

The Tenaﬂy Nature Center still includes the surviving saplings as a teaching tool about the chestnut tree; and uses the Learning Box, a teaching kit from the TACF. We have been in discussion with the center about replacing some items in the Learning Box and are considering donating another kit to the Englewood Library, now that the chestnut trees on town property are well established.

The Garden Club of America Page 29 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 A photographic record of the surviving six trees was made this November, and a photograph of the healthiest tree at Project 2000 is attached. Our club will continue to monitor these trees but is not able to prune, unless for dead wood, under the guidelines of the TACF.

One legacy of the centennial tree project is the newly formed Garden Club of Englewood Tree Committee, which began by planting a sugar maple at a local’s women’s club last spring. In addition to keeping our members abreast about new developments in chestnut research, its present goals are to support further tree plantings and to increase knowledge and appreciation of the trees around us. by Susan Gordon

Garden Club of Madison

GCM’s Centennial Tree Project began in 2009, with a focus on New Jersey native hardwood trees. The tree collection consists of 30 trees contributed to Madison: Acer saccharhum (Sugar Maple); Quercus rubrum (Red Oak), the New Jersey State Tree; Tilia americana (Basswood), and Quercus bicolor (White Swamp Oak). This project was a cooperative effort between the GCM and the Borough of Madison Shade Tree Management Board, the Parks Advisory Committee and the Friends of Madison Shade Trees. The tree collection was installed throughout Madison’s public lands and parks from 2009 to 2013.

This project is unique in its broad collaboration and beneﬁts to a wide range of stakeholders. GCM held a number of workshops and public forums to educate the public, particularly our youth, about the value of trees to our communities. Our programs included seed workshops to start some of the hardwood trees from seed, community education programs, children's programs, and other public relations events.

This project created positive impacts across all parts of the community, illustrated collaboration across public and non-proﬁt organizations, and fulﬁlled a need that had no alternative source of funding. It has been, and continues to be, a meaningful and major GCA Project that brings pride to Madison and GCM. Acer saccharhum by Ruth Kerkeslager and Beth Riley

The Garden Club of America Page 30 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Somerset Hills planted two pairs of Paw Paw, Asima triloba, trees (male and female) at two different schools. Though native to New Jersey, they are at the northern most point of their viability.

The ﬁrst pair are at the Willow School in Bedminster and the second pair are at the Bedminster Elementary School. As you can see from the photos, both sets are doing very well. The male tree looses its leaves before the female tree. Both sets are now at least 11 to 12 feet tall, but they have not yet produced fruit.

Margo Dana and Becky Terry have had the pair at the Bedminster Elementary school surrounded with a wire fence in order to protect them from the deer. The other pair are inside the Willow School deer fence.

The ﬁrst photo shows Margo with the female Paw Paw at the Bedminster School. It gives you an idea of height and scale. The second photo is of the male Paw Paw at the Bedminster School. The third photo is of the female Paw Paw at the Willow School and the fourth photo is of the male Paw Paw tree at the Willow School. by Grania Allport and Kim Mell, Co-Chairs Horticulture Committee

Margo Dana, who was in charge of our GCA Centennial Project, took us on a tour to check up on our trees.

Left: Margo Dana standing by Asima triloba

Right: Male Paw Paw at Bedminster School

Left: Female Paw Paw at the Willow School

Right: Male Paw Paw Tree at the Willow School

The Garden Club of America Page 31 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Stony Brook Garden Club of Princeton and the American Chestnut tree.

This was an essential component of the entire eastern US ecosystem until the mid 1900s, when it was decimated by the lethal Chestnut Blight. An estimated 4 billion trees, one quarter of the hardwood tree population, succumbed to this fungus.

Stony Brook Garden Club established a relationship with The American Chestnut Tree Foundation, Penn State, who were working to develop a blight-resistant American Chestnut tree, by cross-breeding it with a naturally blight-resistant Chinese Chestnut. Our goal was to learn about this process, and to plant a small grove of American Chestnuts to provide seeds for TACF's program.

In May 2010, a committed group of SBGC members, using seeds from TACF, established a grove in Greenway Meadows, a site provided by Princeton Township. However, the summer drought took its toll on the newly planted grove, and by fall, the majority of the seedlings were decimated. Refusing to give up, we obtained new seeds from TACF and planted a second crop of seedlings in May 2011, nurturing them in the protected environment of a member’s garden. Upon transplanting the 20 saplings to Greenway Meadows in May 2012, we discovered three surviving chestnuts.

Hot summers and critters continue to take their toll. As of November 3 2016, only three trees survive, ranging from 5.5 ft. Janet Haring to a healthy 10ft. in height. Let’s hope for their continued survival! by Olive Coghlan

The Garden Club of America Page 32 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Zone V

The Philadelphia Garden Club

The Philadelphia Committee of The Garden Club of America which represents the ten member Clubs in Philadelphia and the Garden Club of Wilmington took on the project of Revitalizing Concourse Lake which is located in Fairmount Park, in the City of Philadelphia. Concourse Lake is part of the Fairmount Park's Centennial District where ten million people celebrated the nation's hundredth anniversary in 1876. Over the years this storm water reservoir had fallen into serious disrepair. In 2013 the park was transformed into a native tree and shrubs park to attract birds, pollinators and insects. In total, 142 native trees and approximately 500 shrubs were planted. Today the Park is thriving with healthy trees, shrubs, Cercis canadensis and thousands of spring bulbs. The outdoor photo by Alice Doering amphitheater which was constructed is used by school groups for outdoor classes. Part of the lake has been transformed from an ugly, muddy mess into a native wetland area where 6000 plants have taken hold and are now thriving. While the City is responsible for the upkeep of the lake and its surroundings, we are working on a more hands on maintenance plan involving the Garden Clubs with workdays to ﬁne tune the beds until they completely ﬁll in. It has been a very successful project and is enjoyed by many. by Ellen Goodwin, Zone V Horticulture Representative

Zone VI

Amateur Garden Club’s members planted six seedlings of Quercus alba, the Wye oak, at different locations. At least ﬁve of them are doing well and growing.The original Wye oak was a famous Maryland tree visited by many tourists.

Catonsville Garden Club also studied and planted oak trees. They wanted to re-forest a wooded area on the Catonsville Historical site. Their choice was Quercus prinus, the Chestnut oak, and they gathered acorns and planted them. Unfortunately the trees did not survive due to deer and other animals.

The Garden Club of Chevy Chase planted 25 Princeton elms, but many have succumbed to deer, weed whackers and other adversities. A few are thriving, and the club has been inﬂuential in getting many more planted professionally in their neighborhood.

Garden Club of Twenty My two gorgeous white oak seedlings from the original Wye oak in Wye Mills Maryland, are thriving and huge now, as they are almost 50 years old!! I got them in the mailbox years ago as tiny little seedlings...... I continue to get acorns from them which I propagate sometimes with great success! by Mandy Mahoney, Past Zone VI Horticulture Representative, 2014-2016

The Garden Club of America Page 33 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Georgetown Garden Club planted a lot of trees in Volta Park and were instrumental in getting Trees for Georgetown to plant more trees along the streets with donations the club made. The professionally planted trees have a better survival rate.

Green Spring Valley Garden Club

I know for a fact that the deer ate all of the Magnolia virginiana that our club, Green Spring Valley, planted at the Forbush School. It was devastating for all of us. by Clare Stewart, Zone VI Horticulture Representative

Guilford Garden Club planted many Chionanthus virginicus at Friends School where they have created a native plant garden. The whole project has been a huge success, and the trees have added new interest.

Hardy Garden Club’s members learned a lot about oaks and propagating them, however the survival rate was not great. It’s possible that a couple of trees are still living. The members felt it was a beneﬁcial experience for all.

Halten Garden Club

When the GCA Horticulture Committee announced its centennial tree planting initiative, “2013 Preserving the Past, Growing the Future”, it seemed only ﬁtting that Halten Garden Club chose its long standing Sparks Service Project as the site for its tree planting program. Halten Garden Club has been sharing “roots” with the Sparks School Community for 96 years and is, to the best of our knowledge, the oldest continuous garden club project in the United States. Halten’s tree project included planting ﬁve native trees at Sparks school, one annually through 2013. In addition, we worked with Sparks teachers to plan educational activities in conjunction with each planting.

Our ﬁrst native tree, a Quercus phellos (Willow Oak), was planted on October 2, 2009 in honor of the school’s own 100 year anniversary! Diana Boyce and Ginny Karr joined Halten club members and the entire Sparks ﬁfth grade class, to dedicate the Centennial Tree. As part of the festivities, Halten member Peggy Miller shared fascinating tree facts with the students, for example, Willow Oaks don’t produce acorns until they are about 20 years old! UPDATE: This Beautiful Willow Oak continues to thrive and welcome Students every day!

Our second native tree, a Cornus ﬂorida ‘Cherokee Princess’ (Dogwood), was planted as a focal point at the school crosswalk on November 17, 2010. As part of a conservation activity in early March 2011, Halten members gathered with ﬁfth graders to hang peanut butter & birdseed pinecones from the new dogwood as winter treats for the birds. UPDATE: This Sweet little Dogwood is still going strong! Our third native tree, an Ulmus Americana ‘Princeton Elm’ came from the Washington GCA Zone meeting 4 years ago. The rooted cutting was planted and grown in the garden of one of our members and transplanted to the schools conservation buffer zone on June 4, 2012. UPDATE: This Princeton Elm was growing and thriving beautifully in the buffer zone until a county maintenance crew hit it with their mowers and destroyed the tree.

In the fall of 2011, Halten Garden Club was invited to participate on a committee of community partners to design, plan and install new entrance gardens at the Sparks school. The new garden plan is designed to be educational and interactive with plenty of shade from native trees, a profusion of native shrubs and perennials, and sitting boulders for small groups of students.

The Garden Club of America Page 34 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Our fourth and fifth GCA Centennial Trees, Chionanthus virginicus (White Fringe trees) will be planted in October of 2012 in the first phase of the new school gardens. UPDATE: The Sparks Elementary School underwent a large renovation project and addition to the school. We are still waiting for permission to plant these two trees. by Muffin McAfee for Halten Garden Club Inc.

Perennial Garden Club planted 10 trees at the Bishop Walker School in conjunction with Casey Trees. They were also propagating Magnolia macrophylla seeds and three had survived.

St George’s Garden Club planted twenty-two Crape myrtles at Cylburn Arboretum. They are spectacular directly in front of the Cylburn mansion, ﬁlling in where a huge Oak had been felled by a storm. by Rebecca Henry

Talbot Country Garden Club

Mary Jo Meyerhoff and I grew on 10 pairs of colors of crepe myrtles for about 4 years. Repotted the large pots three times. Each was well over six feet when I gave them away. I think we lost maybe two. They went to a variety of homes and to my knowledge are all lovingly living the good life. by Nancy Thompson

Trowel Garden Club did not plant trees for the Centennial: instead they created a GCA Zone VI Fellowship and awarded it to a young student, who has beneﬁtted from the experience and keeps them informed of her research.

Zone VII

Albemarle Garden Club has planted 9 more shrubs and 3 trees along a ridge with a rain garden near the poplar from Monticello and the white oak. We will plant small native trees from our members at our November 2016 meeting to augment our grove at the Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center of landscaping preferred by Thomas Jefferson.

The tulip poplar and white oak are thriving as we continue to "build their community" in a difﬁcult soil situation. Thanks to a generous contribution of tree gators from Bartlett Tree Experts our additions will have a ﬁghting chance. by Frances Lee-Vandell

The Garden Club of America Page 35 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Five Years of Growth and Fun with Our GCA Centennial Tree

In honor of the upcoming 2013 GCA Centennial Anniversary, The Dolley Madison Garden Club planted during the fall of 2012 a Liriodendron tulipifera, commonly known as a tulip poplar. Not far from historical downtown Orange, our tree was planted in Hazel Sedwick Community Park, a children’s playground. In a normal growth year, these trees grow 13 to 24 inches per year. Our stately tree, now towering 30 to 40 feet, has more than doubled in size during the past ﬁve years. Whether it has been the rainy springs and dry summers or just the rich Davidson loam where planted, our tree has responded well to the TLC from its caretakers: the DMGC members, who frequently stop during a heat spell to water; Grelen Nursery, who planted, mulched, staked, and helped to maintain throughout the ﬁrst years; and the Town of Orange, who installed a water source for the tree.

During the summer young families can be seen lounging in the tree’s wonderful shade and picnicking in the cool breezes provided Tulip Poplar in fall by this tulip poplar. Fathers and mothers relax under the tree while the young frolic on the gym set, protected from the summer’s elements by our American hardwood. Page Sullenberger, DMGC past president and nearby neighbor, observes, “This tree has been a great addition to the park. Throughout the year young families with their children enjoy visiting and playing under this special tree.”

The spreading oval canopy adds visual interest to this area of Orange, especially in the fall when the leaves are a vibrant yellow. Loving the aromatic stems, the squirrels, rabbits, finches, cardinals, and an occasional white-tailed deer can be seen pursuing life in the understory and within the tree branches. In a little more than five years, this “fiddle- tree,” named because of its leaf shape, will begin to bear spring flowers. Resembling tulips, these orange and yellow flowers produce a nectar- type honey that attracts butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. Animal, fowl, and insect are bountiful amidst this tree. Page Sullenburger with Native of Piedmont Virginia, this stunning tree grows quickly and suffers granddaughter, Avery Deigl from few pests. Less than a mile from this site is located the James hang birdhouse in Tulip Poplar Madison Landmark Forest, showcasing the variety and majesty of Montpelier’s old-growth forest. Some of the largest and oldest Liriodendron tulipifera soar in this tract, many planted during the time of James Madison. It is only fitting that the Dolley Madison Garden Club selected this species to be our GCA Centennial Tree. The Hazel Sedwick Community Park tulip poplar has become a part of our community’s heritage. by DeLane Porter, DMGC Horticulture Chairman

In 2010, The Glenview Garden Club learned of the Parklands of Floyd’s Fork, one of the nation’s largest new public/private park systems that was developing in our back yard. The GCA Centennial Tree Project provided us with the perfect opportunity to be a part of this exciting legacy. Proceeds from several garden tours funded approximately 400 native hardwoods that encircle a recreational path around the 22-acre Egg Lawn. A combination of oak, maple, linden, black gum, American elm and sycamore trees (2-2.5” caliper) was planted in the fall of 2012. The Parklands maintains the plantings and Horticulture Director, Tom Smarr, is pleased with the

The Garden Club of America Page 36 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 continued growth and viability of the trees. He states that all the species are really happy and establishing their root systems. Very few have been replaced and they are currently being assessed following our recent winter. The trees are fertilized on a regular basis and sprayed with deer deterrent. A volunteer event is being planned to freshen the mulch beneath each tree.

With the success and interest generated by the Centennial Tree Project, Glenview has continued its focus on trees. The club used a bequest to pay for a small grove of trees near the Big Four walking bridge by the Louisville waterfront, and also sponsored the watering of downtown trees to help combat our urban heat island. by Lynn Kunau

The James River Garden Club

Hollywood Cemetery is best known as the ﬁnal resting place for President James Monroe and John Tyler as well as many major ﬁgures from the Civil War. What most people do not know is that Hollywood also contains some of the best examples of native trees in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Hollywood Cemetery was designed in 1847 in the “rural” style to escape the grid-like monotony of city cemeteries. Its path wind over 135 acres through valleys, over hills and beneath stately trees, the most outstanding of which are featured in an updated tree map and brochure, donated by the James River Garden Club in 2010. There are over 2,000 trees in the Cemetery today; some have been here since the Cemetery was established.

Some of the outstanding examples include the largest tree in the cemetery, a 78” DBH Tulip Popular, a 140’ tall Bald Cypress and, the most beautiful tree, a 45” DBH Black Gum in the middle of the cemetery, a showstopper in the fall. Hollywood Cemetery is now a recognized arboretum with the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program.

With the arboretum designation, and the development of a tree digitization program slated for 2017, the current interest level in the trees of Hollywood Cemetery will only increase, making the tree and rose tour map even more helpful to visitors. The cemetery is forever grateful for the assistance and support of the James River Garden Club in developing the Notable Trees and Roses brochure. by David Gilliam from the Hollywood Cemetery

The Garden Club of America Page 37 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Lexington

Our project began in 2009 as a way to celebrate Garden Club of America's 2013 Centennial Tree Project. Initially our club planted Coffeetree seeds and then participated in a flower show with the seedlings. In the spring of 2010 we partnered with our first school. We provided all the materials needed (seeds, pots, potting soil, etc) for the students to learn about propagation and specifically the Kentucky Coffeetree. This partnership with schools has grown each year and continues to be enthusiastically received by the teachers. One teacher said that, "It ties in beautifully with our celebration of Earth Day as well as our study of trees in science". Another teacher said, "The kids absolutely loved it and we even did some extra research because they were so engaged". In 2016 we reached nearly 1500 elementary students at thirteen schools. One purpose of our Garden Club is "to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening". We hope by continuing this project with the schools we can get young students interested in their environment and achieve our goal. by Donna Cornish, Horticulture Chair

Mill Mountain Garden Club Roanoke, VA Castanea dentate (American Chestnut Tree) Trees Planted: 5 American chestnut trees once dominated the woodlands of the entire eastern United States, including the canopy of Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia. Eastern rural economies were dependent upon these trees for usable fruit and rapidly growing strong wood. Unfortunately, an early twentieth century pandemic obliterated the entire species. Mill Mountain Garden Club decided that the perfect Centennial Tree Project would be the restoration of the American chestnut tree to Mill Mountain. This project would highlight the significance and need for preservation of the American chestnut tree. “Chestnut Overlook” on Mill Mountain was designed adjacent to our beautiful wildflower garden and outdoor classroom. The American Chestnut Foundation donated five blight-resistant hybrid trees for the project. In collaboration with the City of Roanoke’s Department of Parks and Recreation and The American Chestnut Foundation, Mill Mountain Garden Club held a ceremonial planting of the five chestnut trees on October 21, 2010. Today, in 2017, we have three thriving American Chestnuts trees on the mountain. The interpretative sign, that is placed overlooking the trees, describes the plight of the American Chestnut and is enjoyed by many visitors to Mill Mountain Park and the nearby Mill Mountain Zoo. We are pleased that our project continues to educate the public of the significance of the American Chestnut. Club members, representatives from the City of Roanoke and The American Chestnut Foundation gathered in June 2012 to dedicate the Tree of Hope sign at the “Chestnut Overlook”. Materials developed by The American Chestnut Tree Foundation have been provided to the Department of Parks and Recreation to educate the public on the history, significance and decline of this remarkable tree. Over the years, we have replaced a couple of the trees through our continued partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation, Roanoke City Parks and Recreation Department, and North Cross School, a local independent school. Hybrid chestnut trees have been planted on the East lawn of Monticello, at Poplar Forest and on the White House lawn. We are pleased to add Mill Mountain to the list of notable locations where these trees have been planted. Our trees are thriving and have produced chestnuts. Thanks to this project, The American Chestnut Foundation received The Garden Club of America’s Medal of Honor in May 2013. by Libba Wolfe and Forrest Moore

The Garden Club of America Page 38 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Paducah Garden Club

The Centennial Tree Project has gloriously taken root in Paducah. It is not only for the celebration of the GCA Centennial but also of the Paducah Garden Club’s 100th anniversary. The first committee meeting was in March 2009, right after the historic ice storm that hit our area in February. With mass devastation of our city’s tree canopy, hundreds of broken, disfigured trees had to be taken down. Enter the Centennial Tree Project. PGC chose to concentrate efforts along our lovely Jefferson Street Boulevard, the median of which runs 13 blocks east to west out from mid-city. In four phases, after comprehensive mapping, we planted: first, canopy trees; oaks, maples, hickories, yellow poplar; then, under-story trees; Kousa and Florida dogwoods. With permits from the city, our locally selected nursery has planted and mulched over 100 trees. The city’s parks department maintains with its sprinkler system and careful mowing. We are pleased to report the success of our on-going project (there are still some spaces needing trees). While the large spreading trees provide a quiet, green aesthetic, the dogwoods contribute to a Paducah tradition, the annual lighted dogwood trail. Residents spotlight dogwoods, azaleas, and other spring color in their yards. The city adds up-lights for the dogwoods along the Jefferson median, and the results are indeed spectacular, day or night. Knowing that we have been able to add to the beauty of our city, now and for the future, has been quite rewarding for the Paducah Garden Club by Juliana Harrison

In October 2011, Twin City Garden Club celebrated the upcoming 100th birthday of the Garden Club of America by partnering with the City of Winston Salem and other community groups in a private/public effort. More than 700 trees were planted in a neighborhood which borders downtown called The West End. West End had previously been designated a Preserve America location because of its historical signiﬁcance. Downtown Winston Salem is undergoing an exciting revitalization effort which includes a Research Triangle, renovations to former tobacco manufacturing plants as well as enhancements to the overpass bridges on Business I-40 by turning them into works of art and interest. In many ways it is emulating the successes of Greenville, SC which was a former Founders Fund project. The Centennial Tree Project was a wonderful opportunity to begin the beautiﬁcation of our downtown while honoring the legacy of GCA. by Sherrie Fain

The Garden Club of America Page 39 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton planted three species of magnolia at the Peter Paul Development Center in Richmond. This community center serves children, seniors and neighbors in one of the city's most poverty-stricken, crime-ridden areas. Given the little attention they receive, we are thrilled that the magnolias have not only survived, but thrived, and added some much-needed "green" to this neighborhood! by Dee Ferguson

Magnolia grandiﬂora Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia soulangeana (foreground) Magnolia grandiﬂora (background)

The Warrenton Garden Club had a grant to provide trees for the Journey Through Hallowed Ground project. After this seemed to falter and not really get off the ground, the director resigned. We pulled back with no place to plant our trees (we searched diligently) plus, the grant money was being recalled for non- use. We used the money instead to provide funds for our local master gardeners to purchase quality trees, all natives of Virginia, to place in an arboretum newly created in a local park. It is truly a wonderful area with everything labeled. The point is to encourage all the people moving into the county into new developments to use these plantings and not always use builder stock. The garden is to be dedicated this June with a plaque giving us credit for our part and newspaper coverage. by Ellen Soyars

The Garden Club of America Page 40 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Zone VIII

Carolina Foothills Garden Club and TreesGreenville partnered to launch the Legacy Tree Project in 2008. Through the Legacy Tree, trees are planted in parks, schools, and neighborhoods throughout Greenville County. CFGC was a project partner helping to launch 10,000 trees in 10 Years on Arbor Day, December 2, 2011.

• 1000 Eastern Red Cedar Seedlings were given away to Greenville County residents to promote this countywide initiative where everyone can participate by planting a tree, registering it online, and making it count towards planting 10,000 Trees in 10 Years. • Over 7500 trees have been planted since 10,000 Trees in 10 Years was launched! CFGC partnered with TreesGreenville in 2009 and 2010 to support community tree plantings in Low- Moderate Income neighborhoods through TreesGreenville's NeighborWoods Program. CFGC has been a partner of TreesGreenville since at least 2007. TreesGreeenville was founded in 2005. by Ann Bull, 2016 Horticulture Chair

The Garden Club of America Page 41 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Cherokee Garden Club’s Trees Planted in the Louise G. Howard Park

On March 19, 2009, as part of GCA’s Centennial Tree Project, Henny Clay, Mary Palmer Dargan, Molly Lanier, Julia Newsom, Ellen Beard, Eleanor Ridley, Lili Smith, Virginia Almand, Kay Castelow, Stephanie Howell and Betty Harrison gathered in Virginia’s kitchen to stratify seeds of Cladrastis kentukea (Yellowwood) and Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood). Seeds were placed in baggies ﬁlled with moistened medium and kept in refrigerators for the required 90 days of cold stratiﬁcation for germination.

These trees, which have been repotted many times, have been lining Virginia’s driveway for the past 5 years and so when, on February 19, 2014, the city allowed us to plant these healthy 5 and 6 foot trees around the Louise G. Howard terrace, it was cause for celebration.

Many thanks to all who took part in this project, but special thanks go to Lindsay Marshall, who represented Cherokee on the City’s master plan for the Louise G. Howard Park, and to Mary Palmer Dargan, who has created a beautiful design for the terrace area that is ours. Starting in April, members of the Conservation and Horticulture Committees will be ﬁlling water bags on the trees when needed so that they will be happy in their new home and grow into mature trees. by Virginia Almand

Cherokee Garden members Virginia Almand, Yvonne Pam Elting, Jane Witaker Wade, Mary Palmer Dargan and Betty Harrison toast and Lindsay Marshall the newly planted trees. Balloons mark the locations encourage young trees of the individual trees in the new “grove”.

Cladrastis kentukea Cornus kousa

The Garden Club of America Page 42 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Cherokee and Peachtree Garden Clubs for the Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia It is my pleasure to give you an update on the tree planting you supported in 2011. The trees are doing and have made a significant improvement to that area since 2011. The hickory (Carya glabra) and the black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) have settled in and are growing rapidly. They weathered this past summer and our ongoing drought without any problem and we are eagerly awaiting their fall color. The redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are also doing well. They have easily tripled or more in size and they are large enough now to make a statement in the spring. This year’s bloom was lovely, especially the white flowered ones (‘Alba’) which are silhouetted against a large magnolia, and the three ‘The Rising Sun’ with their yellow and coral new leaves. They are still young and their beauty will only increase with passing time. It’s our pleasure to see them grow and to enjoy their beauty. The current drought after last summer’s heat has been challenging at Oakland, but I believe your trees will weather it well. We planted native, drought tolerant trees and they are well established. It appears that the hickory and black gum have been unaware of the harsh conditions and remain lush and healthy. Two of the redbuds defoliated early, as is their tendency during times of stress, but they will likely be fine next spring. The others look just fine and I look forward to their bloom next spring. Thank you once again for supporting our efforts to make Oakland even more beautiful than it already is. It is continuing support like yours that allows us to move forward and we can’t thank you enough. by Sara Henderson,

Director of Gardens Historic Oakland Foundation

Cercis canadensis

Cornus ﬂorida ‘Cherokee Brave’ Carya glabra

The Garden Club of America Page 43 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Founders Garden Club of Sarasota

I am so happy to report that our 7 trees planted in 2009 have grown to full size and are producing fruit. Each one has ﬁlled out to their best potential, and are attracting the bees and butterﬂies to keep the program growing. The educational signs by each tree provide the necessary information to the guest. I would say that this project continues to be a success. by Linda Houze

The Garden Club of America Page 44 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of the Halifax Country

Several years ago, Live Oak seedlings with planting instructions were distributed to the membership at a general meeting during the week of Florida Arbor Day. A majority of these trees survived and are now providing shade and protection for birds and other wildlife. In addition, a tree propagated from an acorn from the Fairchild Oak is doing nicely in a member’s yard.

Under education, each year a tree in planted on Arbor Day at a local school with a designated grade level involvement. The students learn about the importance of trees in our environment and the proper care of trees. Last year, in addition to planting a tree at the school, each class in the school planted a seedling, cared for it in the classroom with plans to replant them on school property on Earth Day.

This year, Arbor Day will be celebrated by once again distributing trees to club members. Although not a live oak, a Plumeria was selected because of the ongoing fear of the mosquito species that carries the Zika virus. This species is known for attracting bats which primarily feed on mosquitoes. by Judy Monaco

Live Oak above Arbor Day and below

The Garden Club of America Page 45 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Little Garden Club of Birmingham and Red Mountain Garden Club of Birmingham

The Centennial Tree Project has seen much success and progress in Birmingham since our two clubs planted our first trees in 2009. Over the course of five years, our garden clubs, with the assistance of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, planted 1000 trees, which have thrived in George Ward Park, a Birmingham City Park designed by the Olmsted Brothers Landscape Design firm. The Olmsted Brothers also designed Central Park, GCA’s primary project, and Prospect Park in Brooklyn, where the 2016 Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference was recently held. We are happy to report that many of the trees we planted in George Ward Park are now over 20 feet tall!

Upon completion of the 1000 trees our clubs planted, the project continues under the leadership of Henry Hughes, urban forester and Education Director with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The BBG, along with other neighborhood garden clubs and organizations, is currently planting 1000 seedlings a year, in the following Birmingham area locations:

- Homewood Patriot Park (150 trees) - North Smithﬁeld Community Park, which was devastated in the April 2011 tornado (100 trees) - Birmingham Red Mountain Park (150 trees) - Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (400 trees) - Avondale Park, another Olmstead designed park (300 trees) - Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (60 trees) - Shades Creek (300 trees)

In 2014, Little Garden Club presented member Trudy Evans with its Club Horticulture Award for her leadership with the Centennial Tree Project. Also in 2014, BBG’s Henry Hughes was presented the Zone VIII Horticulture Commendation. In 2017, BBG will be working on an educational component of the Centennial Tree Program, exploring ways to make it compatible with Alabama curriculum standards. by Janie Evans

The Garden Club of America Page 46 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Junior Ladies Garden Club Centennial Tree Project “Heritage Trees for Heritage Places” was a great success. Our efforts to plant trees in historic locations have been well received by our community in Atlanta, Ga. making an impact for years to come.

The ﬁrst planting took place in the Fall 2010. We planted 4 Little Gem Magnolia (Magnolia grandiﬂora ‘Little Gem’) and 3 Nellie Stevens Hollies (Ilex ‘Nellie R Stevens’) at historic Oconee Hill Cemetery. These planting provided a much needed screen for the cemetery along their property line. Junior Ladies provided water for the water for the trees until they became established and all seem to be doing well. The Junior Ladies have also recently planted 750 heirloom bulbs to celebrate our 75th anniversary in this beloved historic cemetery.

The second planting took place in Athens’ Memorial Park in January of 2013. Memorial Park is one of our oldest parks with recreational facilities, a lake and numerous walking trails. The park borders on Lumpkin Street, one of our “gateways” into the city. Sections of the park along the Lumpkin Street Corridor are covered with invasive plants including wisteria, kudzu and privet. Junior Ladies helped eradicate these invasive and planted 50 native trees in their place. The list of trees follows:

4 Nutall Oak/Quercus nutallii

3 White Oak/ Q.alba

3 Scarlet Oak/Q. cocinea

3 Bosque Elm/ Ulmus parvifolia

4 Black Gum/ Nyssa sylvatica 'Wildﬁre'

5 Sycamore/ Plantanus X acerifolia 'Bloodgood'

5 Red Maple/Acer rubrum'Red Sunset'

3 Tulip Poplar/ Liriodendron tulipifera

5 Redbud/ Cercis canadensis

5 Dogwood/ CornusXConstellation

5 Serviceberry/ Amelanchier grandifolia 'Autumn Brilliance'

5 Musclewood/ Carpinus caroliniana

The Junior Ladies Garden Club provided water for the trees and has annual workdays on the site mulching the trees with leaves from members’ yards. We have added signage and bulbs on the site, and we continue to ﬁght the invasive plants. The club has also worked with the city to have the well-travelled Birchmore Trail linked to the project site. On recent inspection, it appears we have lost one Scarlet Oak and four other trees appear to be struggling in the drought.The planting at the Library did not take place as the City changed its landscape plans and we could not agree upon and acceptable installation.Total trees planted - 57 by Greta Covington, Junior Ladies President

The Garden Club of America Page 47 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Junior Ladies Garden Club Photos

Lumpkin Street before plantings plantings in October 2016

Oconee Hill Cemetery Screen Oconee Hill Cemetery Plaque

Late Bloomers Garden Club

Sixty-three seven-gallon Longleaf Pines were planted at the Jacksonville Zoological Park and Gardens in 2012. They were planted in a special area at the Zoo where growth can be monitored and periodic burnings are necessary for trees to multiply. A bonus has been the return of the red-cockaded woodpecker which has been an endangered species. by Leslie Pierpont

The Garden Club of America Page 48 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Palm Beach

Bauhinia monandra, (Orchid tree) Ceiba speciosa, (Silk Floss) Koelreuteria elegans, (Golden Rain Tree)

The Garden Club of Palm Beach and third grade students from three local schools celebrate Arbor Day annually in January. Prior to Arbor Day, club members visit the students in their classrooms and present a history of Arbor Day, discuss the importance of trees in our environment and stress why we need to take care of them. In a show and tell format, interesting seeds are displayed. Members read a book about trees and donate a book to each school library.

On Arbor Day, our club partners with the Town of Palm Beach Public Works Department on the installation of the tree in Bradley Park. The Mayor of Palm Beach, town ofﬁcials and staff participate in the ceremony. Staff members plant the tree but there is plenty of dirt in wheelbarrows for the students to shovel at the base. The students are given hard hats and shovels to take home.

Historically, club members have chosen a ﬂowering tree to compliment the grove honoring the Centennial of GCA. Currently under review is a master plan for the park that will include a list of trees to be planted and members will work within the plan each year to select one from the design.

A few trees under consideration are: Amphitecna latifolia, Black Calabash Bulnesia arborea, Verawood Tree Cordia boissieri, White Geiger Tree Jatropha integerrima, White Jatropha Stemmadenia litoralis, Lechoso Tree Tabebuia chrysantha, Guayacan Tree

Two Tabebuia impetiginosa trees (Pink Trumpet), planted on Arbor Day in 2013 to honor the GCA 2013 Centennial Tree Project, are thriving in their location. Notice the vibrant pink blooms that appear in February and March that herald spring to South Florida. Honoring the GCA Centennial with the annual Arbor Day tree planting is a win-win for everyone: the students, our club, the town and the environment!

Student helping on Arbor Day Tebebuia impetiginosa

The Garden Club of America Page 49 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Palmetto Garden Club of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

The 2013 Centennial Tree Project initiated by The Palmetto Garden Club of South Carolina with the Historic Columbia Foundation is continuing. What began with the planting of 18 trees on the grounds of the Hampton Preston Mansion is now expanding to include many more cultivars than initially imagined. The Director of Grounds in 2013 has departed and a new Director was appointed in October 2014. As there is very limited information on the actual plant material in the original Hampton Preston Garden, the current Director of Grounds of the Historic Columbia Foundation uses the term "historically informed" rather than "historically accurate" to describe his selection of plant material going forward.

To expand beyond the limited knowledge of the plant material known to have grown on the property, and knowing that the Hamptons and the Prestons ordered much of their plant material from Pomaria Nursery in upstate South Carolina, the Director has used the Pomaria Nursery catalogs which are archived at the South Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina to expand the collection. The nursery operated between the 1840s and the 1870s and was one of the most important American nurseries of the antebellum period (http:// artsandsciences.sc.edu/mckissickmuseum/taking-root-summer-brothers- and-history-pomaria-nursery).

In our initial report on the Centennial Tree Project the focus of the garden restoration was on the front parterres framing the Hampton Preston Mansion. Of the 18 trees planted in 2013 a few were deemed to be too large for the space in which they were planted and were moved. The pines which were planted became diseased and had to be removed. The front parterres are maturing and host an exotic collection of cultivars known to have been available at the time. Additionally, a charmingly rustic gazebo has been added to one of the parterres increasing the versatility of the garden.

The back two-thirds of the property is now being restored. A series of paths which had become overgrown in the years since the original garden was destroyed are being uncovered and restored. The green space in this area will become an arboretum with trees appropriate to the dates of the garden. Below is a list of trees which have been planted or are to be planted by the end of 2016.

Cornus hongkongensis subsp. melanotricha Hong Kong Dogwood Corylopsis spicata 'Aurea' Winter Hazel Ficus auriculata Roxburg Fig Hibiscus syriacus 'Blueberry Smoothie' Rose of Sharon Magnolia ashei Ashe Magnolia

The Garden Club of America Page 50 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Melia azedarach 'Jade Snowﬂake' Chinaberry, Pride of India Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Ogon' Golden-leaved Dawn Redwood Morus alba 'Nuclear Blast' Thread-leaved Mulberry Persea grijsii Chinese Machilus Quercus suber Cork Oak Sequoia sempervirens 'Simpson Silver' Coast Redwood Taxodium distichum 'Cascade Falls' 'Cascade Falls' Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum x mucronatum 'Banita' Bald Cypress Tsuga canadensis 'Gentsch White' Canadian Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 'Jeddeloh' Dwarf Canadian Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 'West Coast Creeper' Dwarf Prostrate Canadian Hemloc Ulmus alata 'Lace Parasol' Winged elm Xanthocyparis nootkatensis 'Jubilee' Nootka cypress Parrotia persica 'Pendula' Weeping Persian Ironwood Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Pendulum' Weeping Katsura Tree Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' Dwarf Japanese Pine Araucaria auracana Monkey Puzzle Tree Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar Heptacodium miconiodies Seven-son Flower Pseudolarix amabilis Golden Larch Cornus 'Venus' Dogwood by Katherine M. Hopkins (Mrs. Theodore J.), Horticulture Chairman

Sand Hills Garden Club.

The ﬁrst phase, completed in February 2010, included the planting of seven Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) and ten crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) along the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Jones Street. This extended a planting begun in the early 1980’s at this site.

Pistacia chinensis Quercus lyatra

The Garden Club of America Page 51 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The second phase, completed in February 2011, was also in partnership with the Summerville Neighborhood Association. Seven overcup oaks (Quercus lyrata) were planted in Hickman Park and near the intersection of Meigs and Central Avenues.

Acer saccharum ‘Harvest Moon’ with Cornus ﬂorida

Twenty-two “Sandersville” sugar maples (Acer saccharum ‘Harvest Moon’) and twenty-two dogwoods (Cornus ﬂorida) were planted in the Henry Street and Fleming Avenue medians during the third phase. Continuing this project, Sand Hills Garden Club is planting trees at The Hope House of Augusta, (a nonproﬁt agency whose purpose is to help women recovering from addiction to chemical substances in their efforts to re-enter society as productive members). by Patti Goodwin and Cathy Dolan. Zone IX

Founders Garden Club of Dallas

Tree or group of trees (botanical and common name): Crataegus reverchonii The approximate number of trees(s) planted: 3 Reverchon hawthorn trees Partnerships, Fundraising, Historical Significance: Founders Garden club partnered with the Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC) to plant three Reverchon Hawthorns at TRAC’s newly opened facility in 2010. An open meeting was held on October 16, 2009, “Entertaining Celebrations”, presented by Beverly Reese Church. Proceeds from the event were used to pay for the purchase and installation of the trees. We chose the native Reverchon Hawthorn for its historical significance. Julien Reverchon, for whom the trees are names, immigrated to Dallas, and during the last ten years of his life was professor of botany at the Baylor University College of Medicine and Pharmacy at Dallas. At his death, Rose Cottage, Reverchon’s farm, is home to more than 2,600 species and more than 20,000 specimens of Texas plants. Unfortunately, two of the three trees that were planted died in the summer of 2011 due to the severe drought in the region. by Whitney Grogan, Horticulture Co-Chair

The Garden Club of America Page 52 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Garden Club of Houston

Great Small Trees for Houston brochure for use by public entities, developers, and citizens. The Great Small Trees were selected based on three criteria. They must: • be native to our area and likely to thrive with little maintenance • have exceptional beauty and the widest possible range of seasonal interest • provide habitat for wildlife, particularly for birds. We chose to focus on the small trees that are often missing from our public spaces and to emphasize trees that are typically commercially available. They bring extraordinary variety and charm to our landscapes. The Great Small Trees offer a remarkable mix of ornamental interest from early spring through fall. Added: They planted 22 Ilex decidua, Possum Haw, 18 Ilex vomitoria, Yaupon Holly, 17 Pinus taeda, Loblolly Pine, 17 Quercus macrocarpa, Bur Oak, 5 Quercus muhlenbergii, Chinquapin Oak, and 2 Ulmus crassifolia, Cedar Elm. We also created demonstration plantings using these trees along Houston’s signature waterway, Buffalo Bayou, within the boundaries of Buffalo Bayou Park. For the first several years after planting, we continued to maintain the trees and the area around the grove, with help from Trees for Houston and Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Now that the trees are more established, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, who maintains the park, is caring for them. Recently, educational signs have been prepared to inform Houstonians using the trails about these trees. We have provided copies of our brochure to area landscapers, and offered copies at our annual plant sale and at other “green” events sponsored by area non-profits. Additionally, the brochure is accessible to the public online at The Garden Club of Houston’s web site, www.gchouston.org/. by Cindy Wallace, Garden Club of Houston

Garden Club of Jackson

Eight of the nine trees; 6 Lagerstroemia (x. fauriei) ‘Natchez’, 2 Quercus palustris, Pin Oak, and 1 Salix babylonica, Weeping Willow, we planted have survived and are thriving. The six crape myrtles we planted to line the entrance of Greenwood Cemetery are maturing and should eventually create the welcoming arches we were working towards. The two replacement oaks we planted are growing but will take a while to reach the size of the others that line the cemetery fence. To further enhance the project at the cemetery, our club has given an additional $15,000 towards the completion of the wrought iron fencing. Our one disappointment has been the loss of the willow tree we planted. It survived for a couple of years and was lovely to watch when the wind was blowing. Although we thought we had it planted where it would get the water it needed, it apparently succumbed to the droughts we have had in recent summers. We were very diligent about watering the newly planted trees, and for eight of the nine trees that seemed to be enough for them to get established. These are recent photos of the trees we planted at Greenwood Cemetery. Jackson has had less than an inch of rain this fall of 2016, so everything is looking wilted. Hopefully, their roots are deep enough now to survive this drought. Our baby oak has a long way to go before it looks like the originals. The crape myrtles were lovely when blooming. by Elaine Chatham

The Garden Club of America Page 53 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Garden Club of Lookout Mountain

Progress update on the preservation of landmark species: The newest introduction of Cercis canadensis ‘Appalacian Red’ & ‘White’ have thrived. They are far superior in both growth & bloom compared to the original species. Also, their improved performance is partly due to our planting technique. Our research showed that Redbuds require a higher pH of 6.5-7.5. We used hydrated lime to raise the soil pH at each Redbud planting site. The latest introduction of Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’ has also performed very well. It has proven to be the most resistant to the common Dogwood diseases. Our only Dogwood tree losses were the older varieties Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ & ‘Cherokee Chief’. All has worked according to plan! The first photo is the Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’ and the second is the Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’.

Photos by Molly Adams

Cercis canadensis Cornus ﬂorida ‘Appalachian Red’ ‘Cherokee Princess’

The Knoxville Garden Club dedicated a handicap accessible walking trail at Ijams Nature Center in 2013. The Knoxville Garden Club Arboretum Trail links the newer visitor center parking area to the old Ijams home place about a quarter of a mile away. Alice Ijams was the 10th president of our club and her family were renown naturalists in our area. This trail of trees gives a glimpse of the woodland world around us. Added: The trees they planted were Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’ and Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Brave’. by Posey Congleton

The Garden Club of America Page 54 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Magnolia Garden Club in Beaumont,Texas planted Natchez crepe myrtles in the esplanade from 23rd St. to Phelan Blvd. in cooperation with the city of Beaumont. They were absolutely beautiful this spring. For the most part, they have survived and grown! I found a few that are holding on to their blooms during this warm fall! by Kathy Falkenhagen

Laegerstromia indica

In 2010, the Monroe Garden Study League partnered with the City of Monroe to create a green space in the newly revitalized downtown area. Our club planted seven bald cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) in the Henry Bry Park in conjunction with the construction of a new fountain. The park lies adjacent to several ofﬁce buildings and restaurants downtown and is just across the street from the Ouachita River. The trees have obviously fared well in an urban setting. As evidenced by the pictures, the centennial trees planted by the Monroe Garden Study League continue to provide a refreshing green space in an otherwise concrete area! People enjoy the park daily! by Ashley Manning

Taxodium distichum in all photos

The Garden Club of America Page 55 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Nashville began propagating Quercus macrocarpa or Bur Oak back in 2008. Every year they hold workshops on propagating this valuable tree. So far, they have planted 18 of these trees around Nashville. This Bur Oak was planted in Nashville’s Centennial Park in November of 2012. photo by Lise Bohannan

Quercus macrocarpa

The New Orleans Town Gardeners and the Garden Study Club of New Orleans:

The Centennial Tree Project theme demonstrates the purpose of GCA...to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, and to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the ﬁelds of conservation and civic improvement. Our Garden Clubs have chosen Cypress trees as the tree we want to preserve, protect, and promote. Historically, the Cypress tree has survived along the waterfronts in New Orleans and other low lying areas.

These trees were planted in August of 2009 and are under automatic irrigation. When planted, they were fertilized and mulched to drip line circle around each. Quantity and Description: Size 1 Pond Cypress, 14’ Height; four Pond Cypress, 15 gallon; four Montezuma Cypress, 15 gallon; two Montezuma Cypress, 30 gallon; four Bald Cypress, 15 gallon; three Bald cypress, 7 gallon. We are planting a variety of sizes so we can create a naturalistic grove effect along our New Orleans City Park Lagoon. The sizes have been chosen so they can be planted in a public space and guarantee us a good rate of survival.

The purpose of our project is to explore the various cultivars of Cypress Trees on the market today and evaluate their performance and value. The three Cypress varieties are the Bald, Pond, and Montezuma Cypress trees. We will study their rate of growth, whether or not they grow cypress knees, their resistance to disease, and overall aesthetics in our low water table environments.

The River Oaks Garden Club propagated thousands of Native Texas trees including Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora; Star Magnolia, Magnolia stellata; Mexican Plum, Prunus mexicana; Mexican Persimmon, Diospyros texana; Mexican Buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa; Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua; River Birch, Betula nigra; Retama, Parkinsonia aculeate; Redbud, Cercis canadensis; Pecan, Carya illinoinensis; Black Walnut, Juglans nigra; Mexican Sugar Maple, Acer skutchii; Red Maple, Acer rubrum; Goldenball Lead Tree, Leucaena retusa; Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda; Crab Apple, Prunus spp.; Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida, Bitternut Hickory, Carya cordisformis, Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum; and Oaks: [Post, Q. stellata, Bur, Q. macrocarpa; Chinkapin, Q. muehlenbergii; Water, Q. nigra; Mexican White Oak, Q. polymorpha, Coastal Live Oak, Q. virginiana; Mohr, Q. mohriana; White Oak, Q. alba] for the GCA Centennial project. ROGC has continued to propagate specific natives. Our focus now is on the Cornus florida, and the Acer skutchii, a Mexican Sugar Maple, that inhabit Bayou Bend Gardens. Annually, we also propagate numerous Azaleas and Camellias, old varieties essential to our historical garden. In addition, our Provisional program has included the propagation of Bur Oaks from seeds. by Sue Botts, Horticulture Chairman

The Garden Club of America Page 56 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Shreveport Garden Club:

Trees Planted: 28: Acer leucoderme (Chalk Maple) -15 Chionanthus virginicus (Grancy Greybeard/Fringe Tree) – 8 Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar) – 5

Since our last report in 2013, the Shreveport Garden Study Club has planted Chalk Maples and Eastern Red Cedars around a newly erected pavilion and columbarium at Greenwood Cemetery, our club’s major project. The Fringe Trees were recently added to hide an unsightly area just outside the cemetery. Although we are partners with the city of Shreveport and other organizations, our club holds a major fundraiser biennially to raise money to make improvements at the cemetery including planting of these trees. Future plans at Greenwood Cemetery include establishing a pollinator garden filled with native trees, bushes and perennials. SGSC hopes to have the irrigation system to this area in place by the end of the summer. We are already developing a science program for the public schools that focuses on the importance of pollinators. SGSC is very proud of our on-going project at Greenwood Cemetery. We hope that it will continue to provide a park-like setting for our community and unlimited educational experiences for many years to come in this blighted area of our city. by Patti Brannan, The Shreveport Garden Study Club

Zone X

History of the Tree Legacy Committee (TLC)

In 2009, a group of members from The Garden Club of Dayton began research into an appropriate site for such a project. With the assistance of John Gower, Planner for the City of Dayton and long time friend of GCD, the area known as DaVinci, was identiﬁed. This area, which includes Old North Dayton and McCook Field, already had been designated by community stakeholders – Salvation Army, University of Dayton, Children’s Medical Center and the Mathile Foundation – as an area, with both assets and needs, which was worthy of having its potential encouraged and developed.

As a way to beautify the area, TLC , with the help of John Gower, located a vacant lot next to the on-ramp to I75 north and in 2010 planted 35 trees, both ﬂowering and shade, and hundreds of daffodil bulbs through $7500 of project funding from GCD. What a difference when spring came!

In 2011, a $5000 grant from Vail Miller, of Heidelberg Co. enabled GCD to plant an additional 35 crabapple and linden trees on Stanley Avenue. The DaVinci neighborhoods are encircled by Keowee, Stanley and Valley Streets and the GDC tree planting have enhanced this proposed navigational loop.

With an additional gift from GCD in 2012, a small teaching arboretum, including 7 native tree species, was established at Kiser School, a Dayton K-6 school in the DaVinci area. Identiﬁcation tags were donated by Cox Arboretum and GCD members created and distributed teaching guides to the teaching staff of Kiser. In addition, tubs, mulch, planting supplies and encouragement were donated for small gardening projects to interested teachers.

The Garden Club of America Page 57 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Beyond the tree planting, Garden Club of Dayton members have endeavored to become stakeholders in the area’s progress. Members have participated in DaVinci community luncheons at the Amber Rose and attended evening neighborhood meetings to show our ongoing interest and support. In 2011, GCD members planted perennials from their gardens in mini gardens at the base of two existing signs identifying the McCook neighborhood. In order to gain more understanding of the area, TLC members have had several tours, including one bus tour led by John Gower and followed by lunch in a local eatery.

Late in 2012, GCD/TLC was invited by Children’s Medical Center (CMC) to plan and administer the use of a $3000 grant to improve the landscaping at Flood Memorial Park, located at Keowee and Valley Streets. This park commemorates the 1913 Dayton Flood and as 2013 was the 100th anniversary, the upgrade was timely. Professional landscaping material was installed as well as perennials from members’ gardens. A large sculpture located at the site had deteriorated over time and it was discovered that a GCD member, Pam Houk, had been instrumental in the original installation, so TLC made plans for restoration. Additional funding was secured and this work will be completed in the spring of 2014 along with additional signage.

In addition, the TLC committee was invited to participate with the community at several meetings as CMC develops plans for improving Valley Street and constructing a children’s garden.

Beyond the DaVinci neighborhoods, TLC has tried to increase awareness within GCD regarding the topics of trees and native plants. The committee prepared and shared Gardening for Life packets in November 2013 and is collaborating with the Horticulture Committee and Conservation Committee to plan and conduct a workshop in April 2014 to provide guidance and encouragement to members to begin or continue planting with natives.

At the November 2013 TLC meeting, members agreed to continue to work to promote GCD projects which focus on “Trees, Our Living Legacy.” All expressed enthusiasm for contacts made, impact on the community and an overall positive satisfaction with the direction and growth of the TLC. Possibilities for future projects will arise from the friendships and collaborations developed. In addition, TLC has opened doors for GCD’s substantial involvement in the Dayton community in the future.

Written by Carol Powell, Garden Club of Dayton and Kathie Van Devere, Akron Garden Club

Photos by Carol Powell

The Garden Club of America Page 58 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Cincinnati adopted two tree projects for the GCA Centennial Tree Project: 1) an in- club project of planting 25 White Oak trees, Quercus alba, a native tree of Ohio, in club members’ gardens. 2) A civic project of establishing an Urban Orchard at the East End Veterans Memorial Garden(EEVMG), located in a blighted neighborhood of Cincinnati.

The goal of the in-club project was to plant and grow more white oak trees, an important hardwood tree which was widely cut down so that its wood could be used for beams, railroad ties, whiskey barrels, furniture and many other uses. The White Oak is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern and central North America. The tree typically reaches heights of 80-100’ and may live 200-300 years. The tree’s acorns are a valuable though inconsistent source of wildlife food. More than 180 different kinds of birds and mammals use the oak acorns as food; month them are squirrels, blue jays, crows, red-headed woodpeckers, deer, turkey, quail, mice, chipmunks, ducks and raccoons.

In the spring of 2009, several members of the Garden Club of Cincinnati planted White Oak seedlings in their lawns. By May 2012, we counted sixteen White Oak trees which had survived both deer and drought and were growing slowly, but steadily. They will provide much-needed oxygen for the air that we breathe as well as welcome shade and a food source for wildlife in the years to come. Two Bur Oaks planted in 2009 are attached.

The Urban Orchard Project has many goals: to serve as a nursery to provide other community gardens with perennial fruit-bearing plants; to provide the immediate community with fresh fruit and to donate fresh fruit to the Freestore; to be a learning site for growing and maintaining fruit trees in the city, and to provide opportunities for experimental learning for children in the nearby Riverview East Academy after school garden club. It will be an active presence of gardening in the neighborhood, to create a safe and lively visible facility that contributes to the vitality and stability of the neighborhood. Of late, the EEVMG has taken on a new goal of providing interested veterans experiencing joblessness and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a place to learn, participate and enjoy the fruits, peace and shade the orchard provides. by, Pat Hinkley and Alison Zimmerman

The Garden Club of America Page 59 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Indianapolis Garden Club is proud to report that the trees planted in Riverdale, the Jens Jensen created garden at the then Allison Mansion and now Mariam University are thriving and inspiring the further restoration of this famous garden designer’s work. Below is a photo of the planting of the Eastern Red Cedars (in the back row) in 2010 in a design that Jens Jensen called the “Players’ Green.”

Six years later the photo below shows the growth that has taken place.

The Friends of Riverdale said they were so inspired by our restoration that they are now raising money to restore the Colonnade aspect of the garden as shown below.

by Edie Enright, Centennial Tree Chair

The Garden Club of America Page 60 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Zone XI

Garden Club of Barrington

Oak Tree Seedling Report as of Fall 2016 Of seven acorns started in Fall 2014, only two have survived. They are currently planted in my garden. One is directly in the soil. The other is in a red solo plastic cup (hoping to contain the roots for transplanting). The two young oaks have grown leaves each summer and these leaves have fallen off in autumn. My hope is to move the two little trees next spring to a nearby park where they will have plenty of room to grow and spread wide branches. Five other acorns were started at the same time (fall 2014) and did not survive the winter freeze. These were in an above ground planter. Only the “in ground” sprouts survived the snow and cold temps. by Linda Hovde

Both photos of oak tree seedlings

In November 2008 The Des Moines Founders Garden Club voted to make Dutch Elm Disease Resistant Trees our centennial project. Our Mission Statement was to study, grow, educate, evaluate, and promote this worthy tree. We partnered with the Brenton Arboretum and the City of Des Moines Department of Park and Recreation to achieve our goals. Here is a synopsis of our Mission Statement implementation.

STUDY: In 1995 J.C. Brenton and his wife Sue, our Club member began planning and planting their family farm acreage to become the Brenton Arboretum. Among the many experts they consulted was Chicago's Morton Arboretum Dendrologist Dr. George Ware. He became so enthused about the new arboretum that he gave them elm starts to take home in their car. We consulted with Iowa State University plant pathologist Dr. Mark Gleason and his team of scientists conducting the 2005-2015 National Elm Trials of DED resistant elms. With their input, we selected trees to purchase and plant from the study's list of seventeen cultivars. The Clubs horticulture committee formed a Centennial Project Study group with lecturers from Iowa Master Gardeners, county and state arborists, and local nurseries. GROW: Our Club allocated an annual budget of $500 to fund the project for a ﬁve year period. Over the next ﬁve seasons our team established 164 DED resistant elms in Des Moines parks, cemeteries, and public spaces.

The Garden Club of America Page 61 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 We applied for and received almost $10,000 in various community grants to aid with purchasing, planting, transplanting, and maintaining the project trees. The 90 inch tree spade used to transplant two Ulmus 'Morton' Accolades from the Brenton Arboretum to Ewing Park in Des Moines. Funds awarded by Des Moines Streetscape Grant of 2010. EDUCATE:Each pair of trees had a volunteer "Monitor", trained by Club members to observe, document, and act as advocates for each of their trees. Civic groups who aided with volunteer Monitors included Polk and Dallas County Master Gardeners, Central Academy Youth Conservation Corps, Des Moines's Izaak Walton League of America, P.E.O. Chapters of Des Moines, and Men's Garden Clubs of America. Orchard Place for Youth Services utilized our program’s nursery for us to train and aid the youth participants in earning their community service hours. EVALUATE:Each February a committee of Arboretum, Park District, and Club members held a physical evaluation of selected trees to assess their success. Members also made recommendations on maintenance and suggestions for the next years planting and possible locations.

PROMOTE:Every year the list of area nurseries and garden centers requesting more information on our successful DED elms grew. Since we had no losses due to Dutch elm disease, we referred them to the National Elm Tree Study list. Committee members gave power point programs to civic organizations. Needless to say the "word of mouth" was spread with each volunteer's successful participation. At the completion of GCA Centennial a new threat was identiﬁed. The Emerald Ash Borer had invaded Iowa. In response, our club voted to extend the Centennial Tree Project another ﬁve years. The only change was to diversify our tree choices to include native and hardy species. Since then we have been able to plant one hundred additional trees. by Judi Pruchnicki Centennial Tree Chairman 2008-2017

Loading the spade, Judi Pruchnicki New Ewing Park Playground

Garden Club of Evanston Centennial “The Making of an Arboretum” 2008--2015 Evanston Township High School Facilities Engineer, Steve Grbavac: “How can we get the students to take better care of the property?” GCE Member, Victoria Wagner: “Why don’t you make it into an arboretum so they will be proud of it?” Steve Grbavac: “I want you to meet our Chief Financial Ofﬁcer (CFO), Bill Stafford.”

Thus began our Arboretum Committee’s 7-year-journey on these 65 acres in Evanston, IL: mining childhood tree memories; visiting arboreta; imagining landscape tableaux; reviewing Michael Dirr’s tree

The Garden Club of America Page 62 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 books; noting hardiness zones; consulting Google Images; and photographing trees and woody shrubs in different seasons. Our Club’s Centennial Committee sponsored the School’s site survey. But CFO Stafford urged us to “Keep on going,” while contributing $35,000 from the ETHS Foundation toward our ﬁnal goals: editing aging stock; introducing species of distinction; installing signage for 110 trees and shrubs; and printing 160 copies of our illustrated Guidebook. At the end, GCE marked the establishment of the Arboretum and the 100-year relationship of School and Club with a bronze tablet set into a large boulder near the front of the School.

Kathy Hardgrove and Teiko Jordan arranged a student ﬁeld trip to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. Rosborough Partners edited old stock and planted new stock on school grounds and interior courtyards. Nina Donnelley researched nomenclature, ordering metal signage for existing and new trees/shrubs from Nameplate and Panel Technology. Jan Walsh and Mary Ann Grumman photographed trees and shrubs for the Guidebook. Vickie Wagner served as Chairman/Guidebook Editor while Ned Wagner made all data ready for Allegra Printing, Evanston, IL.

In calling this campus an “arboretum,” the School has allied itself with other institutions “collecting trees and woody shrubs for study and display.” Research shows only three arboreta at high school or elementary school levels: Crete High School in Nebraska; Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Connecticut; and M.H. Blackford Arboretum in Wisconsin. In order to use the name is not size or variety of tree/woody shrub collections, but the presence of botanical signage for educational purposes. by Vicki Wagner

Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’

Since The Garden Guild of Winnetka’s collaboration with the Village of Winnetka and Chicago Botanic Garden on our Centennial Tree Project, many changes have occurred at both the Garden and in the village with garden planning, village improvement, and leadership.

We happily have continued our strong relationship with both the Garden and different departments of the village as they make improvements and plan changes for future development.

The tree reference guide continues as a great resource for our membership and community, and the village continues to promote native trees and perennials to new home owners and in their new garden designs.

Members of our club meet regularly with village leaders to promote green space, native trees and pollinators as developers create new spaces in our community. We are conﬁdent our long-standing relationship with both institutions will continue for many years to come. by Dora Aalbregste

The Garden Club of America Page 63 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Green Tree Garden Club of Milwaukee planted native trees and shrubs on the site of a new gift to the Ozaukee-Washington County Land Trust. The land is on a bluff high above Lake Michigan. The trees are on the filled site of the old estate mansion, very close to the bluff. The challenge is to stabilize the bluff, to persuade the native trees to grow in fill, and to choose trees that will someday connect the open site ecologically to the native remnant woods on both sides of the site along the bluff. The trees were nursed through a bad drought the first year they were planted. They have almost all done very well, as pictures below will show. Since that planting, the Conservancy has added similar species to an open lawn below the level of the bluff, a good choice as a lawn is not needed and the woods are a disappearing native Beech-Maple community. The pictures attempt to show the ravine topography and the height above the lake.

by Wendy Walcott and Julie Ross

The Garden Club of America Page 64 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Kenilworth Garden Club and the Ware Garden Restoration Update

Restoration of the woodland area of the Charles Ware Memorial Garden was begun in the spring/summer of 2013. At the time of the Zone XI meeting and tour of the Charles Ware Memorial Garden in September 2015, we had eradicated most of the invasives and planted nearly 1000 native wildflowers. We were amazed at how those plants have thrived; from little plugs to 6 ft. plants in some cases! We have learned that some natives of the Mint family can be especially aggressive! This summer we have continued to weed in preparation for more planting; and we have carefully pruned in some areas to provide the optimum conditions for all the plants to thrive. By the time we are finished this season, there will be 46 species of native wildflowers in the Garden. In addition, in the entire Garden there are 140 trees (45 species).

In addition to our ongoing work described above, we hired a company to replace the deteriorating low walls which enclose our perennial beds surrounding the large fountain in the Garden; and replaced the bluestone chips with permeable bluestone pavers between the beds and the fountain. by Sara Morgan

Kettle Moraine Garden Club

Old World Wisconsin, a historic site in Eagle, WI, was hit by an EF2 tornado on June 21, 2010. A total of 2500 of their majestic Norway Pines were destroyed. The parking lot that was lined with over 200 of their Norway Pines was now bare. Kettle Moraine Garden Club donated over 50 Tilia americana (American Linden), Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen), Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine), and Betula nigra (River Birch) to help replant the devastated areas. Though the 2016 pictures were taken in the fall when all the leaves had fallen, every tree that was planted has been well taken care of. Despite drought conditions a few years ago, not a single tree has been lost and all are thriving! by Vicki Gaynor and Joni Villavicencio

The Garden Club of America Page 65 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 In May, 2013, The Lake Forest Garden Club planted 30 two-year-old saplings of Quercus bicolor and Q. rubra in Forest Park, a twelve-acre plot of tableland and bluffs on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. We attended a workshop on the propagation techniques by Mary Beeson. The acorns were collected locally by our Conservation chairman, Marion Cartwright, and distributed to members who first striated then over- wintered them in refrigerators. The acorns germinated, were potted up in quart-sized milk cartons and were held over for growing on in a member's yard for two years. The saplings were then turned over to the Park for transplanting. The bluff terrain was a challenge to navigate so their first day, the planters did not finish. They returned to find that the little oaks had seemingly disappeared without a trace. The loss was attributed to foraging wildlife. The remaining saplings were planted, but the same thing happened. The saplings were planted on strong rootstocks, so we believe that they are still growing and will outcompete the foragers once their young and tender shoots mature. We are keeping an eye on the areas where they were installed for those trees that adapted and will grow on over time. It was a terrific learning experience and we would do it again. Thanks to the GCA for the encouragement and inspiration. by LouEllen Murray

Lake Geneva Garden Club

Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak) On a crisp November afternoon, Celine Lillie, President of the Lake Geneva Garden Club, and I shufﬂed through the leaves covering the twisting trails of the Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy in search of three bur oak trees that had been planted by the LGGC in 2013 for the Centennial Tree Project. Planting bur oaks in order to create an oak savannah, or oak opening, was only the last part of the project, which began with the Club donating funds to clear six acres of invasive plant material.

The state of Wisconsin, once abundant with oak savannah's, now has only 500 acres left, leaving this plant community in serious danger of disappearing.

Through grants, donations from clubs and individuals, plus a very motivated group of volunteers, the KNC, under the direction of Harold Friestad, continues to clear, cut, plant and burn in a daily effort to help the 230 acre parcel of land reestablish itself. Celine did ﬁnd our trees, all well taken care of and promising to create a beautiful oak savannah! by Patty Birck, Horticulture Chair

The Garden Club of America Page 66 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Lake Minnetonka Garden Club

The Maple-Basswood Forest of Lake Minnetonka: a study of the trees in the native maple-basswood forest of Lake Minnetonka, the importance of maintaining biodiversity, and the impending threats of climate change and invasive species.

To follow our lecture by a hardwood ecology professor from the University of Minnesota, a talk by a local nursery on local trees, our award-winning conservation ﬂower show exhibit, and encouragement to plant more native trees in our landscapes, the Lake Minnetonka Garden Club learned more about the value of native trees through Doug Tallamy’s book, Bringing Home Nature. An entomologist at the University of Delaware, Tallamy has extensively researched the interaction of native trees/plants and insects to determine how they affect the diversity and resiliency of ecological systems. In our area we learned the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) attracts 287 larval insects while the white oak (Quercus alba) and the bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) both attract 518 larval insects. These native trees are not only valuable for sustaining wildlife, they also require less water and maintenance than non-natives and provide a valuable source for sequestering carbon. His research has also shown alien/exotic ornamentals support far less biodiversity than natives. Extensive nursery propagation has produced cultivars that do not always support pollinators.

In cooperation with Audubon MN, Mariette Nowak, a leader from the national organization Wild Ones: Native Plants, Native Landscapes and author of the book, Birdscaping in the Midwest, gave a lecture promoting a diverse, layered landscape with native trees and plants that provide a year-round supply of insects, seeds, and berries. Two other garden clubs were invited as well as Wayzata city ofﬁcials. We continued our Partners for Plants project of pulling invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in Wolsfeld Woods, a 220-acre MN Department of Natural Resources Scientiﬁc and Natural Area (SNA), to promote layered regrowth of the forest. Very few remnants of the “Big Woods” forest remain due to agricultural, urban, and industrial expansion.

In 2015 we planted a public display garden at the Wayzata Depot of Minnesota native plants for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. We also published a trifold brochure, Minnesota Native Plant Resources, that includes a list of native plant nurseries, native plant books, and native plant websites. This year a local tree expert gave a presentation on how to care for our trees. We continue our quest to learn more about the beneﬁts of native landscapes in the Lake Minnetonka area. by Kathy Jones, GCA Conservation & NAL Committee Vice Chair

The Garden Club of America Page 67 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Loveland Garden Club of Omaha, NE has taken up the challenge, and recently one of our acorns is sprouting a few leaves! We used the instructions provided by Nancy Linz, starting the acorn in a plastic cup with potting soil, watering , and placing a plastic bag on the container to hold in the moisture. This acorn was planted November 24, 2016 and started sprouting at the beginning of January, 2017. It is growing quickly, and we will be transplanting in the next few weeks as the tap root of a Bur Oak can grow as much as ﬁve feet the ﬁrst year. This is so cool to see!! Hope it continues its wonderful growth. by Kara Walters, Hort Co-Chair

Town and Country Garden Club,Sheboygan, WI

The 18 Wisconsin Native Birch species that were planted as a part of the 2013 Tree Project have continued to grow and ﬂourish at the four major civic project sites where they were planted.

In the spring of 2016, one of our newest members of the Town and Country Garden Club attended a city meeting where there was discussion about cutting down the six multi-stemmed River Birch we had planted on one of the four sites on the corner of 8th Street in downtown Sheboygan. Not even realizing that the trees had been one of our projects, she decided to bring the city’s plans to our attention. Thanks to her quick action, we were alerted in time to formulate a plan to prune the lowest branches of the trees to address the city’s concerns about visibility on the corner and thereby save the trees from being cut down. by Kayce Reinersten

The Garden Club of America Page 68 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Our small club, Westport Garden Club, rotates Horticulture Chairs every year so, the follow through on this project was not as strong as we’d hoped. I have received updates from all past chairs and from the organizations in Kansas City that supported this project. Sadly, very few, 4 maybe 5 trees survived. As you know we started with 100 Shagbark Hickory seedlings, in 2009. We had 50 specimens 9 months before they were planted and about 25 when we planted. They were divided between our Missouri and Kansas park boards, our botanical garden, Powell Gardens, Linda Hall Library ( a KC science library with a first rate arboretum)and a WGC member’s (Lorelei Gibson) vacant lot. The only survivors are at Powell Gardens and at Lorelei’s. At first blush this seems very discouraging but, the feed back from all organizations has been amazing! Across the board support for the Shagbark Hickory tree has been elevated! All have planted more and are promoting the tree’s usage in our area. Thankfully, all was not lost. Powell Garden who supplied the nuts from the magnificent pre-settlement parent tree in 2009 has a survivor to carry on in the space where the parent Shagbark Hickory once stood. by Doty Gates

Doty Gates with Shagbark Hickory tree

The Garden Club of America Page 69 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Zone XII

The Broadmoor Garden Club's 2013 Centennial Tree Project goal was to restore an old orchard of Malus (apple) and Prunus (cherry) fruit trees at the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In total, 78 trees were planted over a period of eight years. The club gave $12,000 to the Historic Rock Ledge Ranch for the purchase of trees. Eleven grafts that were taken from the heirloom tree "Old Rosey" were also planted.

When the Zone XII meeting was held in Colorado Springs this year, Vicky Kipp, Chairman of our Centennial Tree Project, took several women on a tour of our Centennial Tree Project. As the photographs show, the majority of the trees are thriving. We have lost about ten trees. One thing which has been detrimental to the trees was the weather in the spring. Heavy rain and warm weather followed by very cold weather killed some of them. The gophers have returned and although there have been efforts to trap them, they seem to be thriving and harming the trees. The greatest problem is the city can not afford to have the trees pruned. We are hoping that Rock Ledge Ranch will apply for a grant from the Broadmoor Garden Club in order to have the trees pruned. "Old Rosey" is thriving and the original watercolor of her which was given to the club by a local artist is still hanging in the gift shop and admired by all. by Liz Bevington, Horticulture Chairman

Malus orchard at Rockledge Ranch

The Garden Club of America Page 70 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club

A happy result of the Club’s Centennial Tree Project is that the Coast Live Oak, Querucs agrifolia, habitat is once again a healthy and thriving area in the North Dunes and Del Mar Dunes above Carmel Beach. Framing the view, another notable tree the Monterey Cypress, Cupressus macrocarpa, sprawls sideways across the sand like a reclining giant of the plant world.

After the cleanup of the surrounding invasive plants, the initial planting occurred in the years of little rainfall so the limited number of 800 seedlings was recommended by the botanist. Despite the drought, 500 seedlings survived. These include a dozen species, notably: Artemesia pcynocephala, Carex pansa, Erigeron glaucus, Eschscholzia californica maritima, and Lupinus arboreus. In the following years, more planting occurred.

To encourage public viewing of the restoration, other elements of the project were installed at the busiest corner in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Steel cabling was constructed and has been extended to more areas, benches cut from cypress trees and based with Carmel stone were built on a decomposed granite patio, and a beautiful interpretive sign was posted.

By partnering with the City, the project now continues with strong support and major funding by the City to restore all the dunes. Garden club members supply numerous volunteer hours and take pride in the GCA Centennial Project.

Photos on the following page. by Lori Hightower, Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club Horticulture Chairman

The Garden Club of America Page 71 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of America Page 72 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Columbine Garden Club - Phoenix , AZ

Columbine began nurturing over 20 mesquite tree seedlings; Prosopis (Mesquite), Prosopis glandulosa (Honey Mesquite), Prosopis velutina (Velvet Mesquite) and Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean Mesquite) in 2011.

With the Centennial Tree Project, the club learned to propagate mesquite seeds, studied the rich history of the species to Native Americans for food and shelter and planned to plant the seedlings in a community project when they were viable.

The planting of the seedlings in their originally intended location did not come to fruition, however, the majority of the mesquite seedlings are now thriving desert trees. by Sydney Dye – Horticulture Chair

Three Trees and A River: Garden Club of Denver

Starting in 2009 the Garden Club of Denver partnered with Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatﬁeld Farms (DBG) to design and execute a tree project for the GCA Centennial. We chose to highlight three Colorado native trees that grow along the waterways of the South Platte River, through the Chatﬁeld Reservoir and an adjacent multi-purpose site maintained by DBG.

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca, a distinctive evergreen growing in the foothills west of Denver).The Cottonwood (Populus sargenti is the grandest and most numerous along plains creekbeds). Scrub Oak (Quercus gambelii, an attractive shrubby native).

The aim of our four-year project was threefold: to propagate, photograph and plant these trees at Chatﬁeld; to educate ourselves and the public about these trees and the streams that provide them and us with vital water; and to raise money for the DBG at Chatﬁeld.

We began in fall of 2009 with a club propagation project from seeds collected at Chatfield. We grew douglas fir from pinecones, shrub oaks from acorns and, on a chilly January day, cut cottonwood whips from mature trees. That summer, we partnered with the Cottonwood Institute to bring 6th grade students from an inner city school to plant these flourishing whips directly into riparian habitat at Chatfield. A dry, dry summer and fall doomed these hopeful saplings to failure and we began the process again with the Cottonwood Institute and a new group of schoolchildren in 2011.

Today, Larry Vickerman, head of Chatﬁeld Farms, does not know if any of the Douglas ﬁr or Gamble oak that survived. A few of the cottonwood whips have survived along the upper pond and the creek. His estimate is that 8-10 whips survived. by Suellen White, President of the Garden Club of Denver

The Garden Club of America Page 73 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Garden Club of Honolulu

On January 16, 2010, twenty-ﬁve GCH members and friends planted thirty kukui trees (Aleurites moluccana or Candlenut) at the Peace Garden on Diamond Head. At the time of planting, the trees varied in height from 18 inches to 6 feet. Over the ﬁrst four years TGCH volunteers cared for the trees, and to maintained the native plantings.

In 2014 the The Stephen E. and Isabella H, Stevens World Peace Foundation offered landscape services for the Peace Garden which included our grove of kukui trees. Money has generously poured into the project for modern irrigation; landscaping with more native plants and a major contouring of the adjacent parcel with built-in rest areas and shade. The thirty trees appear to have reached maturity and are about 16 to 20 feet high. by Priscilla Growney, Horticulture Representative Zone XII

Kukui Trees

Garden Club of Santa Barbara

The original project goal was to raise 100 California Sycamore from seed and to plant them over time on the Carpinteria Bluffs, a nature preserve overlooking the Paciﬁc Ocean, allowing for the gradual removal of large, invasive Tamarisk trees without signiﬁcant impact on the bluff’s horizon scenery.

Eventually, our goals broadened and we planted 200 of the 2-3 year old trees in other nature preserves and parks near Santa Barbara. We partnered with the Carpinteria City Parks, and the South Coast Habitat Restoration to plant the young trees in the bioswales by the bluffs and along the length of Carpinteria Creek.

When we embarked on this project we had high hopes for the survival of the majority of the young trees, but unfortunately this was at the very beginning of the 5+ year drought in Southern California.

Recently, members of The Garden Club of Santa Barbara with the assistance of Park volunteers and the Director of the South Coast Restoration, walked the Bluffs and the Carpinteria Creek to check on the status and photograph the surviving sycamores. The trees that were planted higher up the creek, did not survive, but we found some along the bioswales and riparian corridor where additional water was brought in this summer, and in the lower creek beds near the ocean where water and runoff pools. Only a ﬁfth of the sycamore we grew from seed and planted managed to survive the on-going drought. However, the majority of these survivors of drought and gophers have grown to about 15 feet. by Sally Fairbanks and the Horticulture Committee

The Garden Club of America Page 74 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Bioswales near the Carpinteria Creek Garden Club of Santa Barbara

Hancock Park Garden Club The extended drought is causing serious damage to many of Los Angeles's trees, such as the many Magnolia grandiﬂora, which need regular water, and the common street Sycamores and Liquidambars, which have been decimated by the small, imported insect known as the polyphagous shothole borer.

Luckily, most of our Centennial Trees are handling the drought reasonably well. The gingko and the silk ﬂoss tree (Chorizia speciosa) are quite drought tolerant once established. Our particular gingko is showing some signs of its age (at least 75 years old): it is not as fully leafed out as younger trees are and its long, extending branches need external supports, but it is still a remarkable specimen.

The iconic Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis) are in serious trouble, however. Though their problems are not technically due to the drought, the stressful conditions are no doubt exacerbating them. They are suffering from a fungal disease known as Fusarium Wilt, which slowly kills them. The fronds begin to brown, particularly on one side only, and the tree dies a slow death. The fungus is in the soil, and is also spread when pruners do not sterilize their equipment between each tree. So far experts have been unable to treat or eradicate it. Various localities, such as Beverly Hills, have tried to prevent infection of new palms by digging out huge planting holes, 20' by 20', and backﬁlling with new soil, but this has not been successful long-term. Several of Hancock Park's dozens of huge, mature Canary Island palms have died already and signs of fusarium wilt can be seen in many more. Though some people have tried to replace them, very few of the new palms have survived. The question of what to replace the trees with ultimately is hotly debated. Some people recommend using the somewhat similar Mexican Date Palm, which seems to be resistant to the fungus. No consensus has emerged yet, but the HPGC will continue to monitor the situation. by Helen Hartung

The Garden Club of America Page 75 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Hillsborough Garden Club, Hillsborough, California

Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak) Twenty-eight oak seedlings, grown from acorns, were planted in January 2011 on a sunny knoll, with a San Francisco Bay view, in our nearby Coyote Point Park. Nineteen of our members and their families planted the seedlings in a circle to form an “Oak Walk”. By 2013, some of the seedlings had grown to be almost three feet tall.

Nearly ﬁve years after the planting, we are pleased to report that twenty of these oak trees are still growing, and some have reached a height of 6-7 feet. However, our current 4-year-long California drought has “hit them hard”, according to one Park Ranger. To make up for the lack of rain, the Coyote Point Park staff has directed every volunteer event towards hand-watering, which our oaks have received approximately ﬁve times each summer for the past four years. In addition, the Park staff has helped maintain our oaks with light pruning each fall.

Hillsborough Garden Club is proud that our “Oak Walk” can be viewed by the more than 350,000 park visitors each year. We are pleased that this project gave our club a fun and excellent learning experience. We were able to study, propagate and plant this signature tree of our California oak woodlands, so important to wildlife and to our native landscape.

Written by Elizabeth Lewis and KC Vincelette, Co-Presidents

The Garden Club of America Page 76 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Giant Sequoia Redwood that The Marin Garden Club chose for its Centennial Tree, is doing ﬁne where it stands, where it has been standing the last 120 years, in the Marin Art and Garden Center…

by Nena Hart, Horticulture Chair

Sequoia gigantium

Orinda Garden Club's GCACentennial Tree Project was the restoration of shoreline plantings from invasives along Lake Cascade, a privately owned reservoir that is beloved and widely used for recreation by our community. It is a beautiful and serene environment for walkers, runners, cyclists and bird watchers.

The Orinda Garden Club planted NO TREES and instead chose the restoration project due to extreme drought conditions in California. The beautiﬁcation project involved extensive pruning, restoring and protecting 50 plus Cork Oaks (Quercus suber) that were originally planted by OGC in 1940’s.They are California Live oaks (Quercus agirfolia), Valley Oaks (Quercus lobata), California Bay (Umbellularia californica), a Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica), 12 Willows (Salix salicaceae), and one California Walnut (Juglans californica). The project included removal and clearing of weeds and invasive plants from around the trees.

The OGC received the Mayor's 2012 Award of Excellence in Community Beautiﬁcation for this work, and in 2013 a boulder was permanently installed near the Cork Oaks with a plaque from the city memorializing this award. Diana Kennedy and Joan Andrews received the Zone Civic Improvement Award with the collaborative efforts and hard work of many hands over several years to get the job done! OGC has completed its work, and the job of maintaining the landscape around Lake Cascade has been taken over by the City of Orinda. The trees around the lake really stand proudly now, and can be enjoyed for the beautiful specimens that they are. Native shrubs and plants have begun to regenerate and the Lake Cascade environs has prompted much praise and a lasting enjoyment from the greater Orinda community. Come take a stroll, as it is a lovely place for a walk. There is even lots of water in the lake area due to our wonderful amount of rainfall. This project is something the OGC can truly be proud of. by Laura Sawczuk and Margie Murphy, President Orinda Garden Club

The Garden Club of America Page 77 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Pasadena Garden Club joint project with The Diggers Garden Club

The Pasadena/Diggers project was very unique in that I believe it mapped an area. “We are hoping to assist with this project which will include planting, tagging, caging and recording data for ﬁve hundred Engelmann Oaks. We are exploring the possibility of working with the Arboretum to create an interpretive exhibit, exploring the natural history of the Engelmann Oak, its unique ecological context and ongoing efforts to ensure its survival." The ﬁrst report named Bette Cooper as your Club's project chairman. by Kathy LeRoy

Piedmont Garden Club

Our club chose Coast Redwoods (Sequoia Sempervirens) as its project. Part of the project was to increase the awareness of the GCA debt and contribute to paying it down. We made an initial gift of $5,000 as part of the Centennial Project. After the project, GCA took on a campaign which raised more than enough funds to retire the obligation to Save the Redwoods. We couldn't be more pleased about that. Our club made the ﬁnal gift at the end of the campaign of another $5,000.

We took a trip to the GCA Grove in 2015 and saw the new bridge and work on the trails. As part of the project, we planted seven trees - four of them were saplings from Humboldt State Park. We planted the trees in the main park in Piedmont. Six of the seven trees (three of the four from Humbolt, Ca.) are still alive. It has been a tough few years for new plants in California due to four years of drought, so we feel fortunate that we still have these trees. They are growing in the shade of other Redwood trees in the Park. We still have seeds that we brought back from Humboldt in 2011 and will to try to propagate them.

This March, we are visiting Turtle Island Restoration Project in Marin County. They have launched a campaign to plant 100,000 Redwood trees to help restore habitat along streams and rivers to improve habitat for salmon. That is turn will help sea turtles and other marine ﬁsh and mammals. They will show us exactly how to propagate our seeds and then maybe we can grow more redwoods as originally planned in the project.

By Julia Burke

The Garden Club of America Page 78 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Portland Garden Club started the GCA Tree project in 2008 with the intent to grow the Ginkgo biloba tree from seed in our greenhouse, to educate members and to help students at a local Portland grade school plant Ginkgo trees for Arbor Day the following year(s). Members learned about the history of the tree and had success growing seeds that they transplanted. This was a successful endeavor and, in addition to the seedlings that the members transplanted, several more mature trees were purchased and planted with the school children on site at the Powellhurst Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. Currently, the Gingko biloba trees are thriving. In 2010, the PGC started another “Tree project” as a joint Partner for Plants activity done with the Conservation and Horticulture Committees in collaboration with the Hoyt Arboretum/Portland Parks and Recreation. The purpose was to assist in the research of the propagation of the Picea breweriana (Brewer’s Spruce), to ensure its survival as an Oregon native tree species in a changing environment. PGC members traveled to the Siskiyou Mountains, in Southern Oregon (where the Brewer’s Spruce grow) to collect the seeds. Several members planted them in the PGC’s greenhouse and donated the seedlings to the Hoyt Arboretum. Members were educated through greenhouse activities, program education and a Hoyt Arboretum tour to see the Brewer’s spruce rarely grown outside of the Siskiyou Mountains. Both of these “Tree Projects” were an excellent opportunity for the Portland Garden Club members to learn about speciﬁc trees and collaborate with the Portland community. It was a creative project presented by the GCA Horticulture Committee that inspired garden clubs to “take action” and make a difference in our communities.

By Marsha W. Freed

Picea breweriana Ginkgo biloba

The Garden Club of America Page 79 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Santa Fe Garden Club chose the Santa Fe Botanical Garden (SFBG) as the location to plant the trees for the GCA Centennial Tree Project. We donated $25,000 for the purchase of trees, chosen with the particular needs of our environment. We live at an elevation of 7,000 feet (the highest garden club in the GCA), with daunting growing conditions. We experience harsh, desiccating winds, intense sun, and a mere 13 inches of rainfall in a good year. We have cold winters, alkaline soil and low humidity, all of which contribute to difﬁcult growing environment.

The trees planted are established and thriving! They include Malus ‘Radiant”, (Radiant Crabapple) Ulmus ‘Emerald Sunshine’, (Emerald Sunshine Elm) Juniperus ‘Moonglow’, (Moonglow Juniper)

Malus ‘Radiant” (Radiant Crabapple)

These trees were planted in Phase I of the SFBG and are adapting well. The color on the elms’ leaves has turned as fall arrives, and the crabapple sports lovely red-orange fruit. The third variety of tree planted is a hardy juniper, which is well adapted to our environment and growing conditions.

2 Ulmus ‘Emerald Sunshine’

The juniper is situated along a walking path, with the elms in the distance. All of the trees will provide shade and beauty as they evolve, to the many guests who frequent the wonderful Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Each of the trees add to the collaborative effort made around the United States to support the Centennial Year for the GCA.

I hope members make plans to visit this “city different” and enjoy the beauty of Santa Fe. by Cyndie Gullickson, Horticulture Co-Chair

Juniperus,’Moonglow’

The Garden Club of America Page 80 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 The Cedar and the Saskatoon Seattle Garden Club identiﬁed assorted urban restoration sites for planting our two Centennial Trees, Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar) and Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon Berry). Not showy specimens, these diverse Northwest Natives have worked behind the scenes over the last few years to bolster ecological restoration within the city.

Beginning in 2009, our members grew 100 Western Red Cedars, which originated from seeds harvested from the cones of trees growing on the Olympic Peninsula. Approximately 85% of the trees survived to be planted in 2011-12. About a dozen of these cedars were put in public places of members’ own choosing, and we can only cross our ﬁngers that they are still alive. Most of the others, however, appear to be alive and well in two locations. In the 350-acre Magnuson Park, developed on a former Naval Air Station, some of our cedars are part of a forested backdrop for soccer ﬁelds, while others are within a large buffer zone along the park’s entry drive.

Another group of cedars, planted in Yesler Swamp, provides critical habitat for beavers, turtles and over 100 species of birds. Managed by The University of Washington Botanical Gardens, this swampy habitat was formerly a massive city landﬁll. Our fast growing trees (pictured below) are located along a boardwalk for wildlife viewing.

Seattle Garden Club’s second Centennial Tree, our native Amelanchier, is found in East Montlake Park, a pocket park along the shores of a waterway (Montlake Cut) leading from Portage Bay to Lake Washington. Our club joined forces with Seattle Parks and the Army Corps of Engineers to renovate this park, removing vast quantities of English Ivy and other invasives. We planted a variety of natives, including about a dozen Amelanchiers (pictured below) salvaged from different locations. Our club continues to maintain East Montlake Park, where about 6 of our little trees survive, suppressing the weeds and bursting into lovely bloom each spring. by Jenny Wyatt, Centennial Tree Chair

Located in the back of the photo,Amelanchier alnifolia One of several Thuja plicata Saskatoon Berry in Seattle’s East Montlake Park, (Western Red Cedar), now maintained with help from the Seattle Garden Club about 6 feet tall, planted in Seattle’s Yesler Swamp

The Garden Club of America Page 81 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Tacoma Garden Club

It’s difﬁcult to realize that it has been over six years since GCA’s Centennial Tree Project was begun. In late 2009 – early 2010 Tacoma Garden Club had selected the Quercus garryana as “our tree.” Led by member Joanne Titus Thompson, the committee set forth their project plan.

One part of that plan was to carry out a variety of educational projects at a local school. One of the projects was a craft activity of making napkin rings using Quercus garryana acorns. I’ve attached a photo of the proto-types used for the project.

Another portion of the project was to study the Quercus garryana tree, especially those found on the grounds of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. TC&GC is well-known for these oaks. An update -- the Club continues to remove ﬁr trees from the Club grounds to help preserve the habitat needed to maintain the Quercus garryana. Of course, this is a balancing act because golf courses use considerable amounts of water.

Committee members successfully propagated several of these very slow growing trees and planted them in a local park. Joanne planted one of the seedlings at her home. I have attached a photo she took of her Quercus garryana. It is now approximately eight inches tall by eight inches across and looks very healthy.

A relatively new TGC member (post-CTP) has also propagated a stand of Quercus garryana in her yard. Attached is a photo – although not a part of our original project.

Tacoma GC members continue to monitor their Quercus garryana seedlings however they have not carried on with the educational activities at the school. by Christine Anderson, Horticulture Co-Chair

The Garden Club of America Page 82 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022 Woodside Atherton Garden Club

Betty Ann Reinhardt with one of the tallest of the trees ( about 6 ft) planted from acorns or seedlings at Woodside High School in Woodside California Photo # 1

One of ten Valley Oak trees that was planted from an acorn or seedling at Woodside High School by the Woodside Atherton Garden Club Photo # 2

by Sally Fenton

The Garden Club of America Page 83 14 East 60th St., New York, NY 10022