Garden Post Summer 2010

Garden Post Spring 2010

Presidents' Meeting in Friendship Garden

June 8, 2010: When we arrived for the Presidents' Meeting we found another unscheduled activity already underway in the auditorium of the U.S. National Arboretum. So, it being a sunny, cool, low humidity day, we moved the meeting to the Friendship Garden behind the Arbor House gift shop. The irony was that two weeks earlier, the District I board, after an extensive debate on whether to have a picnic or a luncheon, decided on a luncheon and we ended up with a picnic anyway.

A patio table became the sign-in table (l); NCA President Mary Ellen Alden addresses the meeting on the lawn under the shade:









NCA Awards Chair Babs McClendon presented a National Garden Club award to District I for the memorial grove project with Prospect Hill Cemetery. (Go here for more on this award.) McClendon also presented two National Garden Club awards to Tanta Cove Garden Club President Poss Tarpley--a Standard Flower Show in Public Building Rosette and the Tommy Donnan Certificate of Merit for their 2009 Twigs and Sprigs newsletter:

Julie Harrison, president of Mount Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club, provided this hydrangea arrangement for the buffet table:

National Award for Prospect Hill Project

June 8, 2010: National Garden Clubs awarded a Certificate of Commendation in Civic Achievement to District I, National Capital Area, for its memorial grove project with Prospect Hill Cemetery.

District I's book of evidence received all 100 points. The judge's comment was:

"What an awesome project. Your book of evidence met all the
requirements for your project. Keep of the good work!"

The award was issued on May 16, 2010 during the National Garden Clubs' convention in Atlanta. NCA Awards Chair Babs McClendon announced the award to District I during the Presidents' Meeting on June 8, 2010 at the U.S. National Arboretum. Below Babs presents the certificate to District I Director David Healy.

Memorial Grove Dedication

Memorial Day, May 31, 2010: More than 60 people attended the dedication of the memorial grove at Prospect Hill Cemetery, The dedication followed the Memorial Day service at the cemetery.

Carol Holler, president of the cemetery’s board of trustees (below l), said the grove was a dream come true and thanked District I for its contribution and work. Rudy Becker, the cemetery representative on the project committee (below r) gave an overview of the history of the memorial grove project.

District I Director David Healy addressed the gathering. He thanked the District I clubs for the donations and work on the project and entrusted the grove to the care of the cemetery.

The Washington Sängerbund performed Wanderers Nacthlied, a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe set to music by Franz Schubert. This poem has been called the most famous lyric poem in German literature.

Here, the Sängerbund rehearses before the ceremonies:

Charmane Truesdell, Carol Holler and David Healy cut the ribbon held by Gerhard Meinzer (l) and Rudy Becker:
Pastor Bodo Schwabe of The United Church gave the blessing. Project Manager Charmane Truesdell took a bow.













The Blessing:

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die.

--attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye

The angel statue on its secure base and a dedication arrangement by project committee member Christine Hambach:

--photos by Bill Dean