Winter - National Capital Area Garden Clubs

VOLUME 72, ISSUE 3
WINTER 2014
The Capital Gardener
The quarterly publication of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs
73 Garden Clubs ~ 419 Life Members ~ 2,360 Members ~ 18 Affiliated Societies ~ 6 Subscribers
President’s Message
In this issue
Capital Calendar
2
NCAGC Donations
2
NCAGC Awards Report
3
Rally Our Region
3
NCAGC State Flower Show
4
CAR Conference
6
Getting to Know Our Advertisers
7
District I
8
District II
8
District III
9
District IV
9
NCAGC Membership
10
Mt. Airy Clay Beakers GC
10
Judges’ Council
11
Environmental Studies School
12
Gardening Study School
12
Flower Show School
13
Cultivating Friends and Communities
What a fabulous flower show!
Thank you to each of you who worked on, and participated in, SCIENCE
INTO NATURE EQUALS ART. It was a spectacular success. We impressed
the staff of the U.S. National Arboretum, the out of state judges, members of
the public who found us while visiting the arboretum, and even some of our
own garden club members. I am happy that we had broad participation by
each of our four districts. We had 91 persons representing 35 clubs and
affiliates enter 2 invitational exhibits, 4 educational exhibits, 25 photographs,
48 designs and 332 horticultural specimens.
I also wish to acknowledge the hours of hard work by the show chairman
Anne Bucher, the assistant chairman Poss Tarpley and their committee
members. As impressive as the show was, the staging and the registration and
placement of exhibits was a sight to behold.
I know we run very good schools and provide scholarships to college
students, but at the end of the day a public flower show is our broadest
educational effort. BRAVO.
Old Dominion Chrysanthemum
Society
15
Scholarship
16
National Capital Area was well represented at Destination Delaware, the
late October conference of National Garden Club’s Central Atlantic Region.
Chantal Agnew, a National Capital Area scholarship recipient, received one of
two $2,500 CAR scholarships. Tanta-Cove Garden Club received the
American Horticultural Society’s Regional Perennial Award (and $50) for an
outstanding display of herbaceous perennials at a Standard Flower Show and
also received the second place yearbook award for clubs having 30-44
members. Springfield Acres Garden Club received the Youth Award of
Excellence (and $50). Woodmoor Garden Club was acknowledged as the
Rally Our Region state award winner for its community reforestation project
and Mary Lou Semans was recognized as the region’s recipient of the National
Garden Club Award of Honor. In addition, several National Capital Area
members received ribbons for entries in the flower show Bon Voyage,
sponsored by the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs.
NCAGC Approved Budget
17
I wish you all a joyful holiday season and renewed energy in the new year!
Landscape Design Consultants’ 14
Arbor House
14
Friendship Garden
14
Capital Column of Upcoming Events
15
David Healy, President
Page 1
Capital Calendar
December 2014
1 - Award of Honor Deadline
4 - District 2 Bus Tour to Longwood
Gardens
January 2015
15 - AWARD No. 18 DEADLINE
18 - Deadline for NCAGC board
member reports to be emailed
to the NCAGC President
February 2015
April 2015
2 - NCAGC Board of Directors meeting
U.S. National Arboretum
11 - Landscape Consultants’ Council
meeting
13 - District II Board Meeting
22 - Report Deadline for NCAGC Board
of Directors’ SNOW DATE
25 - Joint meeting of Environmental and
Gardening Consultants Councils
1 - Report Deadline for NCAGC Spring
General Meeting
8 - Landscape Design Consultants’
Council luncheon
11 - NCAGC Spring General Meeting Awards and Election
24 - NCAGC Installation Luncheon
27 - Joint meeting of Environmental and
Gardening Consultants councils
28 - 29 - FGCMD Judges’ Symposium,
Bowie, MD
March 2015
WINTER 2014
Volume 72, Issue 3
National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc.
District of Columbia, Maryland & Virginia
Headquarters at Arbor House,
U.S. National Arboretum
3501 New York Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002-1958
202-399-5958
www.ncagardenclubs.org
President: David Healy
1738 A Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-543-5919 [email protected]
Deadline
Issue
Months
July 10
Fall
Sept.-Oct.-Nov.
Oct. 10
Winter
Dec.-Jan.-Feb.
Jan. 10
Spring
Mar.-Apr.-May
Apr. 10
Summer
June-July-Aug.
Send all information, articles and/or
pictures to Editor before the deadline.
Editor reserves the right to edit for space
requirements. Photos with photographer’s
name will receive photo credit.
Editor - Arlene Stewart
12200 Ashley Ct.
Manassas, VA 20112
703-791-4356 [email protected]
Assistant Editor - Poss Tarpley
1705 Belle Haven Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22307
703-660-8661 [email protected]
Exec. Secretary/Circulation Carole Butler
1508 Auburn Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850-1120
301-518-9942
[email protected]
Advertising - Janey Nadler
802 Duke Street
Rockville, Maryland 20850-1012
301-424-3341 [email protected]
Webmaster - Nancy Angelelli
7403 Essex Avenue
Springfield, VA 22150
703-569-8595 [email protected]
3 - (Snow Date for Feb. NCAGC Board
of Directors meeting U.S.
National Arboretum)
13– District II awards/election/installation
meeting
14 - District I awards/election/installation
meeting
16-17 - Gardening Study School,
Course 2
18 - NCAGC Judges' Council General
Meeting & Installation Meeting
20 - District III awards/election/
installation meeting
20 - District IV awards/election/
installation meeting
22 - DEADLINE FOR FINAL 2-YEAR
BOARD REPORTS
23-24 - Environmental Studies School,
Course 4
May 2015
4 - NCAGC Board of Directors’ meeting
13 - 17 - NGC convention, Louisville, KY
June 2015
17 - NCAGC Judges' Council General
Meeting & Picnic
24 - Joint picnic for Environmental and
Gardening Consultants Councils
For calendar updates go to
www.ncagardenclubs.org
Click on Calendar
NCAGC DONATIONS
Clubs may make donations to:
Rain Garden, Community Gardening, Fern Valley,
Friendship Garden, Chesapeake Bay Foundation,
Nature Conservancy and Scholarship
Make checks payable to NCAGC and be sure to indicate which
organization you wish to receive the donation.
Please send your donation to :
Carole Butler, Exec. Sec. NCAGC
1508 Auburn Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850-1120
301-518-9942 [email protected]
The NCAGC Projects are explained in detail on our website
http://ncagardenclubs.org/dues_vol_donations.html
under Donations.
Page 2
Paid Advertising
Paid Advertising
AWARDS
Karen O’Meara, 2nd Vice President
Thank you to all who sent in applications for awards! There are many
wonderful things going on in our garden clubs. We are sending quite a
few on to CAR and NGC.
Next up is the Award of Honor, due to your District Awards Chairman on
December 1st.
Rally Our Region Ellen Dutka, Chairman
The National Capital Area received six wonderful applications for the Central Atlantic
Region “Rally Our Region Award.” This award focused on areas needing restoration,
refurbishment or replanting. All of our projects showed ingenuity, determination, good
planning, funding, and hard work! The projects were diverse in nature and included:
Woodmoor Garden Club spearheaded the replacement of some of their neighborhood’s trees. They instructed
their neighbors on the proper way to plant trees, encouraged the use of native trees, and negotiated with
Behnke’s nursery for a group discount price. This project was our NCAGC winner!
Belvoir Garden Club is assisting the USO with the replanting of various therapy gardens at the Warrior and
Family Pavilion at Fort Belvoir. The front of the pavilion has been replanted and additional work is planned
for other areas. This is a very large project and the garden club is also getting additional help from other
district members and volunteers.
Sumner Garden Club renovated the main entrance to their neighborhood, which included replanting and
refurbishing two large islands. This project enhanced driver visibility!
Tanta-Cove Garden Club renovated a neighborhood roundabout. The members weed, plant annuals and maintain this garden year round!
The Garden Club of College Gardens has been renovating and replanting a steep hillside entrance to their
neighborhood since 1970! A major renovation to this site occurred several years ago with the addition of
several retaining walls and massive replanting of both shrubs and bulbs. The club members maintain this
hillside with annual weeding, raking, mulching, root pruning, bulb planting and watering.
The Potomac Village Garden Club members worked with local leasing agents and members of the Potomac
Chamber of Commerce to revitalize various crossroads and corners in their neighborhood. Club members used
their expertise to educate these agents on how to refurbish and lower the annual maintenance work and
watering required in these areas.
As you can see, all of these projects are winners and hopefully will inspire some of you to
“Replant, Refurbish and Restore!” Ellen Dutka, NCAGC ROR Chairman
Page 3
Science into Nature Equals Art
US National Arboretum
October 18-19, 2014
On a beautiful sunny Saturday and Sunday, National Capital Area Garden Clubs in partnership with the
United States Arboretum, Washington, DC, produced a Standard Flower Show in a Public Building, Science into
Nature Equals Art. Titles for Horticulture and Design sections, as well as Design classes, were drawn from areas
of interest on the Arboretum grounds.
The show, staged in the auditorium, the
front entrance and the atrium of the Administration
Building, featured 332 horticultural exhibits,
48 floral designs, 25 photographic exhibits,
4 Educational Exhibits and 2 Invitational Designs.
The horticulture ranged from needled and broadleaf
evergreens through container grown exhibits to
fabulous chrysanthemums and dahlias. The floral
designs included classes executed with all dried
material as well as classes using fresh plant
material.
Design classes included horizontal and
mono-botanic designs, collages, miniatures and
small designs, armatures, creative line, and a
special class of posters to be interpreted in all dried
The Big Winners
material. A class highlighting chrysanthemums was
also included.
Many exhibitors competed for ribbons and Top Exhibitor awards. Ninety one garden club members,
twenty-six of whom were NGC Flower Show Judges, entered the Flower Show. All four NCAGC districts were
represented. Also represented were the states of Maryland (3) and Virginia (1), and plant societies (Daylily
Society (1), Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society (1) Dahlia Society (1)) and the Chesapeake Chrysanthemum
Society.(1). The Arboretum was also represented by an Educational Exhibit.
The USNA Auditorium filled with Horticulture Exhibits
Page 4
Sixty-four blue ribbons were awarded in the Horticulture Division.
Horticulture Top Exhibitor Awards were offered and placed:
Growers Choice: Anita Brown
Collectors Showcase Award: Shirley Nicolai
Arboreal Awards (2): Bette Lewis, Janet MacFarland
Awards of Merit (4): Paula Knepper, Gordon Riggle, Edward Mascali, Mary Michelle
Award of Horticultural Excellence: Anita Brown
Two special Horticultural awards were offered and placed:
Dr. Colien Hefferan Award (grasses): Babs McClendon
National Capital Area Horticultural Recognition Award: Dorrie MacDonald
Design Top Exhibitor awards were offered and placed:
Award of Distinction (all dried material): Shirley Nicolai
Designer’s Choice: Estelle Woodcock
Petite Award: Dorrie MacDonald
Award of Design Excellence: Shirley Nicolai
In addition two special Design awards were offered and placed:
The Dr. Marc Cathey Award: Ronnie Levay
Harlin G. Turner Award for the Most Innovative Design: Estelle Woodcock
An Educational Award (Cindy Moses) was also offered and placed .
The Photography Award was received by Oliver Smith.
Two Appreciation Awards were given to Invitational Designs by Sachiko Furlan and the Ayr Hill Garden Club.
Two years of planning and publicity preceded the Flower Show. Garden clubs members attending District
meetings were invited to enter the show and a special floral, horticulture and photography demonstration was held at
the Arboretum in order to familiarize garden club members with the exhibits to be entered in the Flower Show.
While the Flower Show was open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, four members of the Arboretum staff
presented lectures free to the public. The topics ranged from plant collecting, native versus exotic plants,
grasses and camellias.
Special brochures, condensed from the flower show schedule, were printed to provide information to the
public as they viewed the exhibits.
National Capital Area Garden Clubs Inc was especially appreciative of the extra lengths taken by the
Arboretum to facilitate the staging and presentation of the Flower Show. The Arboretum not only arranged for space
and help in staging, but produced an Educational Exhibit highlighting the Washington Youth Garden. The
Arboretum was a true partner in the presentation of Science into Nature Equals Art.
Anne M. Bucher, Chairman
Poss Tarpley, Vice Chairman
Members of the Flower Show Committee on Entry Day
l to r: Anne Bucher, Flower Show Chairman; Sylvia Tetrault; Sharon Buchet; David Healy, NCAGC President; Diane
Reba; Poss Tarpley, Flower Show Vice Chairman; Bette Lewis, Staging; Shirley Nicolai, Judges Hospitality; Caroline
Carbaugh, Clerks Chairman; Lydia Barbour, Photography Chairman; Mary Corley, Horticulture Chairman; Paula
Knepper, Horticulture Committee; Arlene Stewart, Signage Chairman
Page 5
NCA President David Healy presents the
CAR Youth Award of Excellence to
Springfield Acres Garden Club President
Barbara Kiker at the CAR Conference,
“Destination Delaware.”
NCA President David Healy delivers the
National Capital Area report at the CAR
Conference “Destination Delaware.”
Shown here is NCA President David
Healy receiving from CAR Director
Mary Warshauer the American
Horticultural Society Regional
Perennial Award. This award went to
Tanta-Cove Garden Club for exhibiting
an outstanding display of herbaceous
perennials at a Standard Flower Show.
Photos by Bill Dean
NCA First Vice President Jo Sellers wins
her table’s butterfly centerpiece on the first
evening of the CAR Conference,
“Destination Delaware.”
Page 6
President’s Tribute for National Capital
Area Garden Clubs, Inc. at the CAR
Conference, “Destination Delaware.”
The design was created by Poss Tarpley of
Tanta-Cove Garden Club
GETTING TO KNOW OUR ADVERTISERS - Janey Nadler
Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season and a special
thank you to our advertisers for their support in 2014.
Also advertise on NCAGC web site.
Tudor Place
Amble On Tours
Stratford Hall
American Plant
NCAGC District I
Country Nursery
All Hallows Guild
Hamma Down Enterprises
Georgetown Garden Tour
The Gardener’s Workshop
Merrifield Garden Center
Robert W. Baird & Company
Virginia Fine Arts & Flowers
The Behnke Nurseries Company
National Capital Orchid Society
Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland
Ikebana International Washington, D.C.
Page 7
DISTRICT I Danielle Brabazon, Director
Enjoyment - in Our Gardens, Our Clubs and Our Environment
It has been so wonderful to see all the District I Club members at our fabulous fall
meeting as well as the recent National Capital Area meeting. I appreciate that so many
make the time to attend our large group meetings. I have learned so much and really
enjoy meeting everyone. The Kettering Garden Club hosted a wonderful fall District I
meeting. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and our speaker, Toni Burnham of the DC
Beekeepers Alliance, kept everyone engaged and the fantastic question and answer
session was so hard to end. Thank you to members of the District I board for providing
refreshments of delicious mocktails and salads. We are looking for some fresh faces on
the District I board.....
District I was honored to recognize
Sparta Reed as our Perennial Bloom
Award recipient. Sparta, a 46 year member of the Woodmoor
garden club came to the US as a young war bride. Sparta leads two
of Woodmoor's annual meetings, Valentines arrangements that are
delivered to neighborhood senior citizens or those needing a little
cheer and Holiday arrangements for our homes as well as the
neighborhood entrances. Congratulations Sparta!
I hope to see everyone at the November 20th Morning of Design!
It will be a fabulous meeting at the brand new White Oak
Community Center! 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring, MD 20904.
Members of Woodmoor Garden Club with the District I
I am looking forward to seeing the innovative designs around
Perennial Bloom Award Recipient, Sparta Reed.
Holiday Expressions theme as I am hosting Thanksgiving this year,
Left to Right: Judy Berglund, Sparta Reed,
yikes! Please stop by and say hello to me as I am taking time off
Elaine Lamirande, Sherry Russel.
from work to attend and would love advice on hosting a holiday.
Photo by Danielle Brabazon
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DISTRICT II Angela Ganey, Director
Thank you to all District II club members that helped with and
participated in our state flower show, Science into Nature = Art.
Nancy Angelelli has planned a wonderful bus trip to Longwood
Gardens on December 4. While at Longwood Gardens there will be a
group lunch, the opportunity to go on the Longwood Story Tour and
time to visit the Conservatory, Gardens and the Light Display.
Registration information is available on the NCAGC Website.
Remember to submit your application for Award No. 18 to Lin
Stauffer, the District II Awards Chairman before January 15, 2015.
Happy Holidays!
Page 8
DISTRICT III Leigh Kitcher, Director
Connecting With Community!
District III clubs are enjoying getting back together after the summer break and learning from their fall programs.
Opening club meetings up to the public has increased attendance for many clubs and stimulated interest in membership. The NCAGC membership brochure has just been reprinted. Please let me know if you would like copies.
Planning continues for the District III June 13, 2015 Garden Tour and Faire fundraiser. We have secured five
gorgeous private gardens for the tour in the Great Falls, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax area. A flower show will be held in
Freeman Store on the Vienna Town Green and the Town of Vienna will co-sponsor garden related educational and
vendor booths on the green. District III garden clubs are invited to have a booth free of charge to exhibit educational
information and/or sell club merchandise. Please contact Nancy Moats ([email protected]) for more information
on the event. Proceeds will be used to help restore the gazebo at Green Spring Gardens.
Leigh Kitcher
District III Director
DISTRICT IV Robin Hammer, Director
Making A Difference In Our Community!
District IV is full of fun & activity all autumn! Our trip to Fallingwater & Kentuck Knob was extraordinary! The
District IV group enjoyed private tours of the grounds and buildings and a delightful, delicious lunch! Kathy
Viessmann planned a great trip that people are still talking about!
Many of our District IV Garden Clubs were recognized by Montgomery County and
the "Keep Montgomery County Beautiful" program, which was started in 1983, and includes a series of initiatives designed to maintain the County's beautiful
environment. A variety of awards were presented to professionals and to nonprofessionals. Awards were presented to many of our District IV Garden Clubs,
including Chevy Chase, Aspen Hill, Seedling, Rockshire, Westmoreland Hills, and Kenwood. Kenwood’s Pocket Park received The Golden Trowel, an award that is given to a
project that has been a three year Award of Excellence winner followed by five years of
sustained maintenance. The Golden Trowel represents ten years of
planning, planting and preserving in Kenwood! Congratulations to all who
participated!
District IV members have been engaged in a number of
other NCAGC activities. The State Flower Show was
tremendously popular and enjoyed by many District IV
gardeners. Congratulations to Anne Bucher and her amazing
team, who put together a marvelous show. Many members of
District IV traveled to Dover and enjoyed this year's C.A.R.
conference. Plans are already being made for Garden Clubs to
travel to Gettysburg in October 2015, when District IV's own
Anne Bucher, will be C.A.R. Director!
Our Annual Strathmore Mansion Decorating takes place on
Members and guests of Monocacy GC on the trip to
Fallingwater & Kentuck Knob.
December 1st, with almost all of District IV clubs coming
Far
back
row:
Kathy
Viessmann; middle row: Robin Hammer,
together at Strathmore to decorate the Mansion for the Holiday
Colleen Brown, guest Susan Daniel and guest Linda Lerch;
Season. See you all at Strathmore on December 1st!
and front row is guest Joan Weller, Sharon Bauer and Vickie
Crawford (dual mbr. of Monocacy and Hoe n' Hope).
Page 9
MEMBERSHIP Jo Sellers, 1st Vice President
HOW TO ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS
Paid Advertising



Advertise- look for free way to get the word out to folks.
Education Days-sponsor speakers and workshops.
Booth at garden and flower shows-participate in local garden shows and
hand out membership information.
 Botanical. Garden Newsletter-often information can be put in local
botanical newsletters or master gardener newsletters.
 Sales-most groups have plant sales and brochures can be handed out and
members available for questions.
ONCE YOU HAVE ATTRACTED NEW MEMBERS,
HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM?



Interesting programs-this is a must.
Involvement-get new members involved in a project right away.
Questionnaire-at the end of the year or at the beginning ask members
what sorts of programs and projects they would like to have.
 Mentor-many groups have a mentor for each new member to help them
feel part of the group. The mentor can offer a ride to meetings, answer
questions.
Mount Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club
The Mt. Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club (District I), with members
in and near the town of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, started off their year
with programs on culinary herbs, weather and gardening. At the
September meeting, Dot Lower and Carol Ober presented a "hands on"
presentation on culinary herbs. Everyone learned something new from
the plant samples being passed around plus from the food samples using
herbs that members brought. "So this is what lemon grass looks like!" A
delicious way to learn! At the October meeting, club member and
meteorologist Lorraine Leonard gave a presentation on weather and
gardening including information on gardening zone charts and local
climatology. Members of the club had great questions that steered the
chat about weather.
The garden club has been busy this past summer maintaining the Holloway Park entry garden on Rosaryville Road in Upper Marlboro,
Mt. Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club keeps the
Maryland.
Civic Development Committee Chairman, Pam Smart, led and
Holloway Park entrance garden in Upper
coordinated work on planting, weeding and keeping the small garden
Marlboro, Maryland, looking great!
looking good for people passing by in cars or on foot. A number of
members pitched in with the watering, weeding and mulching. (Gardens like this one that look "small" from the street,
really do involve a lot of work, as we all know!)
Gilda Allen, president of the garden club, was happy to present the new garden club year's agenda of programs.
This coming year, the club will be making use of the expertise of members, with programs on nutrition, bugs, and
weed identification and control. In March, Gene Sumi from Homestead Gardens will be educating the club on water
conservation issues.
Page 10
JUDGES’ COUNCIL Estelle Woodcock, Chairman
"Beautifying and Educating our Surrounding Community"
"Judging Etiquette and Writing Comments," our program in September, was presented by
Dorthy Yard, NGC Flower Show Schools Chairman. The topic was enthusiastically received by
both experienced and novice judges alike. The general meeting was preceded by a brief Judges'
Council board meeting and followed by a luncheon after the program, a busy morning and
afternoon indeed. Everyone, happily, had the opportunity to visit and share summer stories.
November 19th is the date of our next general meeting. It will be held at the home of Evalee
Ciuca. This will be our annual chili cook-off luncheon. Members are requested to bring chili,
salad or dessert. Susie O'Neal, our Hospitality Chairman, will be receiving RSVP's in the near
future. Our program will be "Creative Wreath Making." Wreaths will be provided and members are to choose a
theme, bringing their own decorations.
Morning of Design, hosted by District I, in conjunction with the Judges' Council,
will be held on November 20th, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the White Oak
Community Center. The program is titled "Jump into the Season with new Holiday
Ideas." Morning of Design is a service of the Judges' Council and open to all National
Capital Area Garden Club members in all districts. A donation of $3 will be collected
at the door to offset the cost of the design flowers. Directions are found on the fliers
that have been distributed online through club presidents.
There will be a Flower Show School this spring in our area. Details to follow. It is
not too late to indicate an interest. Contact [email protected].
Many thanks to all those helping hands that contribute so much of their time and talent
to the Judges' Council.
Appreciatively,
Estelle
Bette Lewis’ design entry in “Bon
Voyage" the flower show at the
C.A.R. Conference, “Destination
Delaware”
Science into Nature = Art
Crossing the Bridge, a Creative Horizontal Design
by Shirley Nicolai
Science into Nature = Art
Crown of Leaves,
a Mono-Botanic Design
by Estelle Woodcock
Science into Nature = Art
Crossing the Bridge, a Creative Horizontal Design
by Bab’s McClendon
Science into Nature = Art
Viewing Stone, a Miniature
Design by Joan Boudreau
Photo’s by Babs McClendon
Page 11
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SCHOOL Lydia Barbour, Chairman
Environmental Studies School (ESS), Course 4, which is about The Water, has been scheduled
for March 23 & 24, 2015.
Here are the reasons you should put these dates on your calendar right now:
1. If you need to Refresh, or you need Course 4, this will be your last opportunity for another year or two in our
state. To help reduce scheduling conflicts, the NCA Board made the decision to alternate scheduling the ESS
and Gardening Studies series of courses so that they do not run concurrently. Course 4 finishes ESS Series VI.
We will not schedule Series VII until Gardening Studies completes Series IX, which they began in November.
2. ESS has wonderful lectures and tours. This year we delivered two courses, both of which got rave reviews
from the students. We heard stellar lectures by Chuck Schuster, Amanda Rockler, Alonso Abugattas, Mark
Charles, Mark Freedman and Pam Hosimer, and had two wonderful tours. Here are few details to whet your
appetite:
a. The lecture by Mark Freedman about the Dickerson Recovery Center provided some very technical
information in an understandable way which helped us see how they won as award from the EPA in
2014 for Clean Air Technology;
b. Pam Hosimer showed us many books, websites and other vehicles for explaining gardening and the
environment to children; and
c. The very entertaining tour of Capitol City Contracting taught us about innovations in gardening and
landscaping techniques, and cost effective techniques for improving the environment.
3. Every gardener I know is an environmentalist at heart. We all care about the soil, the air and the water,
because they all affect our success at producing healthy plants and a beautiful landscape. ESS lectures
provide information about these elements with a slightly different focus, enabling us to become even
better gardeners, as well as stewards of our planet.
Remember: Put Monday and Tuesday, March 23 & 24 on your calendar now, so that when we provide the
details about how wonderful the course will be, you will already have it scheduled!
Questions? Contact me at [email protected].
GARDENING STUDY SCHOOL Joyce Skoglund, Chairman
Gardening Study School, Course II, Series IX will be held March 16th and 17th, 2015
It will be held at the Merrifield Garden Center (Fair Oaks) location.
This course will cover plant diseases and garden pests, container gardening, techniques for growing vegetables, how
new plants are developed and evaluated and techniques for growing lawns and/or lawn alternatives.
As I write this, Course I has just completed. This course covered basic botany for gardeners, soils, houseplant basics,
sustainability and plant propagation. With all the information you have gained through Course I, you will be ready to
enhance this knowledge by taking Course II. You will be growing vegetables in those under used containers and
enjoying the produce by summer. We look forward to seeing you in the spring.
Questions! Please feel free to contact Joyce Skoglund, NCA/State Chairman, at 703-591-4017 or at
[email protected].
Page 12
FLOWER SHOW SCHOOL Sandi Smith Piccirillo, Chairman
BACK TO SCHOOL - Flower Show Judges School
All of our Schools provide such a benefit to the members in National Capital Area Garden Clubs. As Flower Show
School Chairman for NCAGC, Inc., it is a priority for me to ensure everyone has an opportunity, if they so choose, to
take advantage of this wonderful, challenging and interesting course of study.
Many clubs have new and longtime members who have jumped right in to the spirit of garden club and have signed
up. Perhaps you would like to as well. Even if you may not want to become a flower show judge, there is so much
information you can take away on horticulture, design and Flower Show Procedure, plus the how of writing schedules
and planning a club flower show. I believe this is important information and expertise that needs to continually flow
into our memberships as clubs grow and evolve. With enough students, we can provide a wonderful Course I
experience for those who are interested.
Right now we are looking at Spring 2015 for Course 1. The exact date will be announced soon. So far, we have over
40 garden club members from several districts signed up. If you've been sitting on the fence about your
commitment to learn, it's not too late to add your name to our list. Thea McGinnis is tracking this list on my behalf so
if you are interested, please send her an email as soon as possible. Her email is [email protected] . For more
information on Flower Show School and other schools available to you through National Capital Area Garden Clubs,
click this link. http://ncagardenclubs.org/schools.html
I look forward to having as many of our members coming BACK TO SCHOOL.
Thank You!
Sandi Smith Piccirillo,
NCAGC, Inc. Flower Show School Chairman
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LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONSULTANTS’ COUNCIL Jo Sellers, Chairman
Vice President Babs McClendon has planned an extra special bus trip on April 8, 2015 to Annmarie
Sculpture Garden in Solomons, MD to be followed by an installation luncheon. Babs has treated the
membership to two years of awesome programs. It is with regret that I have to announce that she has
resigned due to health issues and will not follow me as President. The nominating committee composed
of Marion Caldwell, Chairman, Carol Carter and Karen O'Meara would appreciate the memberships
help in filling the 2015-2017 slate of officers.
A special thanks to the Donation Committee composed of Caroline Carbaugh chairman, Poss
Tarpley and Babs McClendon for a job well done in researching and recommending the following
donations which were approved at our last meeting. Letters and donations were sent to Wounded
Warrior Healing Gardens at Ft. Belvoir, Shaw Community Ministry, Alice Ferguson Foundation, American
University and Melwood Training Center. The profit from our Refresher trip to Philadelphia was shared with
Gardening Consultant Council. It was generously decided to send our share of the profit to the three non-profit public
gardens we visited. (Ladew Topiary Garden, Wyck Rose Garden & Bartam's Garden.)
Jo Sellers, President
ARBOR HOUSE
Lorraine Leonard, Volunteer Coordinator
Just a few short words about our volunteers over the last few months :
Thank you Tanta-Cove Garden Club! Shirley Nicolai and Norma Merritt were great helpers!
Thank you Barbara Kiker from Springfield Acres Garden Club who once again helped to spruce up the shop.
Bethesda Community Garden Club came through once again--thanks to Betty Cochran for volunteering!
Sandy Birdsong, Joyce Martin, Elise Gillette, and Vicki Campbell volunteered from our newest club to
support us regularly, the Gardeners of the Junior League of Washington, D.C. Thank-you!
Everyone remember, although the U.S. National Arboretum stays open through the winter, the Arbor House Gift
Shop will be closing for the season in mid December. See the NCAGC website for the date. It will reopen for the
spring in March of 2015. And non-regularly volunteering Garden Clubs, please consider coming down to Arbor
House for a day or two in 2015! We'd love to have you! (We're very flexible as far as times go!)
Lorraine Leonard
Arbor House Volunteer Coordinator
FRIENDSHIP GARDEN
Ellen Spencer, Chairman
Donations
July 11 through October 10, 2014
Council of Accredited Flower Show Judges
Quantico Officers Wives’ Garden Club
Oak Hill Garden Club In memory of Pam Berry
Camelot Garden Club
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CAPITAL COLUMN of UPCOMING EVENTS
THE POTOMAC UNIT OF THE HERB SOCIETY
March 25, 2015 - Wednesday - 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
CHEF MARO NALABANDIAN
Agricultural History Farm, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD
OLD DOMINION CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY, NCAGC Affiliate
The Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society held its annual show at Merrifield Garden Center Fair Oaks on
October 25 – 26, 2014. A steady flow of visitors on both days enjoyed the many beautiful blooms entered into
competition. A selection of blooms taken from the show was put on display at the United States Botanic Garden
October 27 to November 3 to show the diversity of colors and floral forms among the chrysanthemums.
David Eigenbrode won the Best Disbudded Cut Bloom Bronze Medal for his King’s Pleasure Irregular Incurve
(center) which was about the size of a volleyball and Galen Goss won the Best Bush or Tree Form Bronze Medal for
his Veritas Yellow (right).
In addition to the cut blooms and container grown mums,
we had a design section that contained 28 imaginative
and creative designs around our theme of “100 Years
Ago.” Quite a few historical events occurred in 1914,
including Babe Ruth’s entrance into baseball, the opening
of the Panama Canal, the introduction of the Ford Model
T Assembly Line, and the opening of the play
“Pygmalion.” It was a treat to see how the designers
envisioned these various events with flower design.
Dorrie McDonald of Chesapeake Beach, MD made a
clean sweep of the Design Division winning in all three
sections. Here are two of her designs. “Pygmalion” was
a traditional mass design which included two or more
different cultivars of mums, staged in a pumpkin or
pumpkin-like container and her Petite Award was for
“Passing through the Panama Canal”.
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Photos by Todd Brethauer
SCHOLARSHIP Carol Coose, Chairman
Chantal Agnew…will graduate from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY on May 22, 2015. During the summer
of 2014, Chantal conducted research for her undergraduate thesis. With the help of the Isaak Walton League of
America and the Muddy Branch Alliance, she has been monitoring the water quality of the Muddy Branch tributary in
Montgomery County. She selected two sides of the stream to monitor, and every other week, collected physical and
chemical data about the water quality. She collected biological samples of the water by studying the macro
invertebrates in the water. During the fall semester she will be analyzing all of the data to assess the overall quality of
the stream. Her thesis should be an interesting one and prepare her for an extraordinary career.
As a student this past summer, Chantal also had the opportunity to work for the Honeywell Institute for ecosystems
education at Horn Point in Cambridge, Maryland and for a second consecutive year had the opportunity to work as a
teacher’s assistant. She also worked as a teacher, teaching sea level rise and climate change to, “some very bright
students!”
Chantal received a NCAGC Scholarship for a second year and is so appreciative of the many advantages she has
received. She is well on her way to a great career. Thanks, everyone!
This past summer, Russell Winter worked as a Wildlife Field Assistant under a PhD student from Penn State
University who was studying the effects of shale gas developments on wildlife. He assisted in this project by
conducting bird point counts along several segments of natural gas pipelines in order to determine which species were
using the pipeline, which species were using the edge, and which species remained in the interior forest. He also
assisted with collecting vegetation data at each of the study sites and assisted with conducting salamander surveys in
forested areas adjacent to natural gas pipelines.
After graduation from SUNY-EFS (State University of New York College of Environmental Science), Russell
plans to spend a year doing several bird related field jobs. He then plans on attending graduate school where he will
obtain a Master’s degree and possibly a PhD while studying avian behavioral ecology. Russell has been a two time
scholarship recipient. We can see how well he spent his time studying at SUNY. Russell appreciates all of the
support given by NCAGC! Congratulations, Russell!
NGC Conservation Pledge
“I pledge to protect and conserve the natural resources of the planet earth and promise to
promote education so we may become caretakers of our air, water, forest, land and wildlife.”
(Adopted by the NGC Board of Directors in Stamford, Connecticut, 1994)
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