District 1, National Capital Area Garden Clubs: March 2010

District I Receives Helen P. Reed Landscaping Award

March 23, 2010: District I received the Helen P. Reed Award for Landscape Design for its Prospect Hill Memorial Planting during award ceremonies today by National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. The award was memorialized by this certificate and a cash award of $100. The award recognizes District I's achievement in the installation of a memorial grove at Prospect Hill Cemetery in partnership with the cemetery board.

NCAGC Award Chair Babs McClendon (above) presents the award to District I Director David Healy.

District I clubs honored at the NCAGC meeting included Capitol Hill Garden Club represented by Janice McKenney, New Carrollton Garden Club represented by Margaret McKnew, Mount Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club represented by Julie Harrison and Tanta Cove Garden Club represented by Poss Tarplay (above from left).

District I clubs were recognized for the following:

Capitol Hill Garden Club
- Outstanding Garden Club Achievement 60 or more members
- Beatrice M. Coiner Award ($100) – bulb giveaway program

Cheverly Garden Club
- Donation, Fern Valley

Four Seasons Garden Club
- Donation, Washington Youth Garden

Mount Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club
- Certificate of Recognition Club for Flowers and Cheers for Our Veterans
- Arbor House Service Certificate
- Donation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Citation
- Donation, World Gardening
- Donation, Fern Valley Citation

New Carrollton Garden Club
- Outstanding Garden Club Achievement 24 or fewer

Tanta Cove Garden Club
- Outstanding Garden Club Achievement 25-39 members
- Evelyn Lang Award - Educational Exhibit ($50)
- Standard Flower Show Citation, “Flights of Fancy” Flower Show
- Yearbook Certificate of Merit 30 -44 members
- Outstanding Club Newsletter 33-99 members
- Arbor House Service Certificate
- Donation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Citation
- Donation, Nature Conservancy Citation
- Donation, Fern Valley Citation
- Donation, Washington Youth Garden Citation
- Donation, Fern Valley Entrance and Botanical Labeling

Woodberry Garden Club
-Donation, Fern Valley

Woodmoor Garden Club
- Donation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Citation
- Donation, Nature Conservancy Citation
- Donation, Fern Valley Citation

Christine Hambach from Goddard Garden Club was recognized as the District I award of honor recipient and received a certificate of recognition from National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc.

Janet Fernandez of Bethesda received the NCAGC Award of Honor for 2010.

Ronnie Levay presented the NCAGC Award of Excellence to John Peter Thompson for his work on invasive plants. The Award of Excellence is given annual to a non-garden club member for his/her work in related endeavors. Thompson is the grandson of the founders of The Behnke Nurseries Co. He works as a consultant in ecosystem services and advocacy .

NCAGC President Mary Ellen Alden recognized Hallie Beth "Poss" Tarpley of Tanta Cove Garden Club for her yeoman's work establishing the NCAGC's new website: http://ncagardenclubs.org/

This spring arrangement by Christine Hambach graced the sign in table for District I:

--Photos by Ronnie Levay and David Healy

District I Awards Meeting 2010

March 11, 2010: Babs McClendon, awards chair for National Capitol Area Garden Clubs, Inc., recognized Christine Hambach of Goddard Garden Club as the NCAGC Award of Recognition winner for District I. District I Director David Healy presented daffodils to her.

Danielle Brabazon, awards chair for District I, presented Christine with the District I Award of Honor certificate.

Christine has been a long time president of Goddard and also active on the District I board. She was instrumental in having Goddard establish and maintain a small garden on the former chapel site at historic Prospect Hill Cemetery and she was a prime mover in District I's memorial grove project at the cemetery.

Clubs and individuals were recognized for their support--financial and hands-on gardening-of the District I civic project--the planting of a memorial grove at historic Prospect Hill Cemetery:

Clockwise from upper left: Danielle Brabazon, Carolyn Fichtel, Ann Gardenhour, David Healy, Poss Tarpley, Shirley Nicolai, Dee Droter, Julie Harrison, Charmane Truesdell, Christine Hambach, Janice McKenney and Sonia Johnson.

Awards to District I clubs were presented by Awards Chair Danielle Brabazon and Director David Healy:

Janice McKenney accepts for Capitol Hill Garden Club (l); Cynthia Smith accepts for Cheverly Garden Club:

Ellen Spencer accepts for The Gardeners of the Junior League of Washington (l); Charmane Truesdell accepts for Montpelier Garden Club:

Julie Harrison accepts for Mount Area Clay Breakers Garden Club (l); Margaret McKnew accepts for New Carollton Garden Club:

Carolyn Fichtel accepts for Paint Branch Garden Club (l); Poss Tarpley accepts for Tanta-Cove Garden Club:

A panel discussed special projects by District I clubs:

Danielle Brabazon of Woodmoor Garden Club talked about the community involvement in the club's labyrinth at Montgomery Blair High School. She said some of the students were very protective of the labyrinth.

Carolyn Fichtel of Paint Branch Garden Club discussed their annual garden therapy at Hillhaven Nursing home which started when a member's relative moved into the facility.

Julie Harrison of Mount Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club told about their making floral arrangements and taking them room to room in the Veteran's Hospital to give to patients. She said it had been very rewarding since their very first encounter with a woman who asked, "Are these for me?"

Oliver Smith of C

heverly Garden Club told about his becoming involved with National Police Week activities following the death of his son in the line of duty. Each year his club makes corsages for the survivors of police offers who attend the memorial events..

Janice McKenney of Capitol Hill Garden Club discussed her club's annual giveaway of crocus and daffodil bulbs for planting in public areas of Capitol Hill neighborhoods.

Sheila Nebel (above left) gave the Treasurer's Report, NCAGC 1st Vice President Vickie Godwin (above right) discussed club membership and NCAGC President Mary Ellen Alden showed the NCAGC tote bags that are for sale as a fundraiser (r).

Director Healy thanked Danielle Brabazon for her work as awards chair (l) and Ann Gardenhour for her work with hospitality.