WSJ Highlights Invasive Plant Eradication

September 29, 2010: The Wall Street Journal today surveyed volunteer invasive plant eradication programs across the country. A prime example in the article was the work of the Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek, which involves some members of the Cheverly Garden Club:

"That fall, Ms. Smith and her husband put a notice in the town newsletter asking neighbors to help them clear weeds and build a trail. To their surprise, about 15 people showed up on a Saturday morning. "It was a whole lot of people we would have never met before, but who were all interested in having a place to take their kids and walk the dog," says Ms. Smith. "People brought weed whackers, chain saws, and we hacked our way through very dense, overgrown woods."

Today, a regular weed-clearing takes place on the last Saturday of every month. The group calls themselves Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek, Ms. Smith says, and brings plenty of coffee. Now, the trail is almost a mile long and growing. Homemade markers point to native trees such as paw-paws and birches that once were choked. Volunteers have noticed a return of birds and butterflies."

Also mentioned in the article was Montgomery County's "Weed Warrior" program which involves several members of District IV garden clubs.

Memories of a Lady's Manor

Upper Marlboro, MD, September 25, 2010: District I's small standard petite flower show, Memories of a Lady's Manor, was well attended at Darnall's Chance House Museum, the 18th century Georgian home of Lettice Lee Wardrop Thompson Sim.

Julie Harrison of Mount Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club received a Petite Award of Merit in the flowers section of the Horticulture Division for her Lantana camara "Anne Marie"; Steve Hannun of Cheverly Garden Club received a Petite Award of Merit in the foliage section of the Horticulture Division for his Harsford Canadian hemlock [Tsuga canadensis]:















Danielle Brabazon of Woodmoor Garden Club received the Petite Flower Show Award for her tea cup arrangement in the Design Division; Christine Hambach of Goddard Garden Club received the Director's Challenge Award for her transparency arrangement:















Julie and Danielle:















Two unregistered tea cup designs were also judged and Danielle's daughter Rae Ann Marino received a first place ribbon and novice arranger Casey Kneipp of Cheverly Garden Club received a second place ribbon:















The Horticulture Division was divided into flowers and folliage and, despite a hot dry September there were top rated specimens: Ice plant [Delosperma ruschia] (left) and pin cushion flower [Scabiosa] (right):









Miniature Chrysanthemum (right) and miniature rose [Rosa] (right):









A marigold [Tagetes] (left) and a Sedum (right):















A bird's nest spruce [Picea abies] (left) and a dwarf Alberta spruce [Picea glauca "Jean's Dilly"] (right):

A squirrel's foot fern [Davallia truchomanodes] (left) and mondo grass [Ophiopogon japonicus "Nana"] (right):

Hosta "Blue Mouse Ears (left) and Hosta "Masquerade" (right):















In the Design Division, three classes--Afternoon Tea, A Spinning Wheel and A Garden Medley--were eligible for the Petite Flower Show Award and a fourth class--Candlelight Evening--were eligible for the Director's Challenge Award.

Afternoon Tea: A small, traditional design arranged in a teacup; not to exceed 8” in height, width, or depth. Designs to be placed on white pedestals of various heights.

Besides the winner of the Petite Flower Show Award (above), designs were submitted by Dee Droter (left) and Norma Merritt (right):












and by Donna Davidson, all of Tanta Cove Garden Club:

A Spinning Wheel: A miniature design; not to exceed 5” in height, width, or depth. Designs will be placed on black pedestals of various heights.

Entries by Dee Droter (first) (left) of Tanta Cove Garden Club and Ann Gardenhour (right) of Cheverly Garden Club:

Arleen Ankeney of Goddard Garden Club (left) and Connie Dalpra (right) of Woodberry Garden Club:

A Garden Medley: A traditional line design featuring small vegetables; not to exceed 8” in height, width, or depth. Designs to be placed on white pedestals of various heights.

Entries by Dee Droter (first award) (left) of and Jean Rositol (right) both of Tanta Cove Garden Club:















Bill Dean (left) and David Healy (right), both of Capitol Hill Garden Club:

Candlelight Evening: A standard size, transparency design; to be placed on off-white, open pedestals, 18” square by 30” tall. Design may be traditional or creative.

Besides the winner of the challenge award (above), designs were submitted by Dee Droter of Tanta Cove Garden Club:

Ann Gardenhour (left) of Cheverly Garden Club and Charmane Truesdell (right) of Montpellier Garden Club:

New Carrollton Garden Club Dedicates Blue Star Memorial

New Carrollton, MD, September 18, 2010: New Carrollton Garden Club dedicated a Blue Star Memorial on Route 450 just southwest of it's intersection with the Capital Beltway. Route 450 from Peace Cross through New Carrollton (also known as Annapolis Road and Defense Highway) was also declared a Maryland Historic Highway.

A bus transported us from the city administration building to the memorial site:
The memorial was unveiled:
Margaret McKnew, Blue Star Memorial chairman for New Carrollton Garden Club thanked the State of Maryland, City of New Carrollton and VFW Post 8950 in helping with the memorial and its dedication. Dick Esper, chaplain of VFW Post 8950 led the assembly in prayer.












Geraldo Marshall played Taps; a memorial wreath was placed by H. Steve Mason of VFW Post 8950, Norma Hetrick, co-president of New Carrollton Garden Club and New Carrollton Mayor Andrew Hanko.












Among those attending were District I Director David Healy, NCA Garden Clubs President Mary Ellen Alden, National Garden Club 1st Vice President Shirley Nicolai, NCA Garden Club Blue Star Memorial chairman Marion Caldwell, New Carrollton Garden Club member Charmane Truesdell with Mayor Hanko.
Following the dedication, we returned to the city administration building for a short program. The New Carrollton Police Department color guard presented the colors and New Carrollton Co-President Norma Hetrick led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Students from Parkdale High School then sang the National Anthem and another song.












New Carrollton Mayor Andrew Hanko gave a welcome and he was followed by Landover Hills Mayor Lee Walker, whose city is traversed by the historic highway.















Marion Caldwell presented the history of National Garden Club's Blue Star Memorial program; Margaret McKnew explained the history behind the designation of Route 450 as an historic highway.















New Carrollton Garden Club is participating in Operation Welcome Home, in which Marylanders go to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport to greet service men and women returning from overseas. Hetrick invited attendants to pen welcome home cards for this project. Here Charmane Truesdell and Lurraine Gettier are writing welcome home cards.