DISTRTCT I

tu SPRING 2OLO
Memberof NationalCapitalArea GardenClubs, Inc.;CentralAtlanticRegion;NationalGarden Clubs, Inc.

Noticeof Meeting:DistfictI
10:30a.m.,Thursday,March 11' 2010 '
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Diredor'sNrt"t
Enjoyment-of our gardens, our clubs, und our environment
By David Healy, Director, District I

The February snowpocalypse has been hard on gardens, gardeners,

and garden clubs. Whatever was stirring in our garden was inundated
with snow, the2+ feet that fell and another 2+ feet from clearing the
walks and having nowhere else to put it. Our privet was bent over
repeatedly. Several times during the storms we had to dig it out or
shake it off.
The storms were generally harsh to budding and blooming
camellias. Many report damageto trees and shrubs,including one of
the American Hollies that we planted last fall in the memorial glove at ProspectHill Cemetery. (We'll wait
until we're more along in the spring thaw to assessthat dxnage and decide whether to replace it.)
Many clubs were forced to cancel or reschedule meetings. Even when the streets and roads were opelL
there was ice to contend with and a general lack of parking.
At its Decembermeeting, the board of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc., acceptedmy motion
for a review of the state's expendituresand revenue. This review processis underway this spring and one
likely result will be The Capital Gardener becoming an e-mail attachment in the same manner as The
Garden Post.
The District I Awards Meeting is scheduledfor 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 11, in the auditorium of the
US National Arboretum. With any luck, the snow will be gone and spring will be afoot.
The District I bus trip to Nemours on May 23 is sold out, but Ann Gardenhour is still making a waiting list
for any reserved seatsthat become available before then. Pleasebe in touch with any suggestions for other
possible bus trip destinations for next fall or next spring.
A dedication of the memorial grove at ProspectHill Cemeteryis being scheduledfor the afternoon of
Memorial Day, Monday, May 31. Pleasesavethe date.

See the calendan on page 8 fon upcomingplant sales, tours,

fl-owen shows, meetiflgs, and
other places to go and things to see and to do. ffi
 97"'9..+*Fa Sprr7&o1o
District I hosted luncheonfollowing NGAGC'sGeneral Meeting in September
ThirteenDistrict I clubsprovidedsalads,sandwiches, anddessertsfor the luncheonat theNationalCapital
Area GardenClub's GeneralMeetingin September at the US NationalArboretum. District I,s boardprovided
coffeeandtea. CharmaneTruesdellcreatedan artisticarrangement of gourds,flowers,andfruits for the buffet.

Photos eourtesy of District I's blogspot

Nemours tour
Updates on deadlines,changes,bus stops, other neededinformation
Our Nemour's tour chairmanAnn Gardenhourprovided in-
formationneededfor our bustrip on Sunday,May 23. The busis
full, anda numberof District I club's will be represented.
Payment-in-full of t7S/personis due in to Ann by Aprit IS.
If you paid the $I0/persondeposit,you still oweAnn $65/per
personfor palnnentin full by April l5 to fully coverthe
$75lpersoncostof thetrip.
Lunch selectionsduewith payment infult, April 15
Kobe Beef Burger; SmokedChickenSandwich;Grilled Brazilian
Salad(chicken);or a CrabCakeon KaiserRoll. Everyone,s
dessertwill be Cheesecake Brulee.Lunch includesa non-
alcoholicbeverage.
Sendyour total amountdue and lunch selectionsfor you and
eachof your guestsby April 15to: Am Gmdenhour,3019
Parkway,Cheverly,MD 20785.
Refunds
Refundson $10 depositsmadein advancewill not be
reimbursedunless:
l) You notif Ann by May 1 that you want a reflrnd,and
2) Your seatcanbe filled.
Time ehangesfor tour, lunch
Because Nemours changed the time of our tour to noon, other
changes had to be made. Now, hmch at the Dupont Country
Club will not be served until2:30 p.m. There will be snacks,
but eat a good breakfast.
En route home, we stop for a visit with Carol Wamer to see
and buy her superb irises at Draycott Gardens in Upperco, MD.
Bus stops, times
Pick up will be 8:30 a.m. at Tantallon Country Club and 9:30
a.m. at Cheverly Community Center off Forest Road. The bus
will leave right away at pickup and not hold for anyone.
Everyone will be dropped offlocations by 7:30 p.m.
More chances to see Nemours' renewal
If you miss this District I trip in May, stay tuned. you may
be able to go with a District I club considering their own trip.
And, you can always book reservations to go on your own, but
plan ahead becausereseryations are not easy to get.
Want a look-see at Nemours' renewal now? Read the 8-page
article on Nemours in the March issue of Architectural Disest
masazine. .

USNA Director Eliasretires; Interim

Birector appointed
After over 16 years as the fifth Director of the US National interest,seeCapitol Hill club's news,page6.
Arboretum,Dr. Tom Elias retired as of December31, 2009.

The Garden Post is published try District I

National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs. Inc.
DistrictI raised$240 Central Atlantic Region, National Garden Clubs, Inc_
Arleen Arikeney, Editor
at the November17 fundraiserat 7632 Qui cksi l verC ourt, B ow i e, MD 20720
30 1-805-4970 - aankeneyl @comcast.net
FRANKLIN'S.
 97"tr9..1.*F*
GardenGentralwebsites
b Sp.ag&o1o
to close;District I's
blogspot not affected
District I Director David Healy said neither District I's
nor Capital Hill Garden Clubs'blogspots, which are
operated via Google, will be affected when Garden
Central, the free website and webmaster provider, closes
its operations at the end of March.
Bryan Thomlison, Garden Central Free Website
Program Director, announced Garden Central is shutting
down its operation of free websites with free web-
mastering on March 31. He cited the inability to generate
revenue to continue funding the expense of its many sites
as the reason.
Garden Central has been providing the websites free to
many garden clubs and state and regional gardening
organizations, including our National Capital Area
Garden Clubs and Central Atlantic Region's sites and
National Garden Clubs' site.
This past sufllmer, when District I joined the inter-
active, publishing world of the blogosphere on the web,
David Healy choseto use the servicesof Google.
The District I blogspot provides us virtually unlimited
space to post text and photographs of news and activities
at nearly up-to-the-minute speed. Our blogspot allows us
to share much more information and in a more timely
manner than we can within the space limitations of our
newsletter with its long intervals between issues
throughout the year.
Visit District I's blogspot
E-mail your submissions to our blogger:
Whatis a blog?
Blog-a contraction of the term nweblogu-is
a websiteusually maintained by individuats
with regular entries af commentary,de-
scriptions of events,or other matefial such as
graphics or video. Entries are commonly
displayedor loggedin a rcverse-ehronological
order. t'Blogu also csn be usedas u verb,
meaning to maintain or udd content to u blog
Source: wikipedia.org
Recycleyour
unwanted I tl-'l
gardeningtools
From the NCAGC website-lollect
l'r'
your club members'
unwanted, usable gardening tools and donate them to an
organization that will make sure they reach recipients who
can really use them. Two such organizations are affiliated
With NCAGC:
F'riends of the National Arboretum GONA) who puts
them to work in the Washington Youth Garden. Contact
Kaifa Anderson-Hall at 202-544-8733or visit
KadaAnders on-Hall@,ars. usda.gov
Green Spring Gardens in Northern Virginia. (Friends of
Green Spring Gardensis an affrliate ofNCAGC.) Contact
703 -642-5 173 or visit www..fairfa\c oun1v.sovbarl$/gs g)
Aid to Haiti
Caring Members Gan Reach Out to Aid Haiti
Fromthe NGC website-1he devastating earthquake in
Haiti leaves many NGC members wondering how they can
help. Donations are now being collected for Haiti through
National Garden Clubs, Inc. This is a special fund, separate
from the waterprojects NGC is supporting in Guatemala.
This NGC World Gardening project is in conjunction wittr
Global Partners Running Waters. The focus is on pro-
viding biological filtration to several sites serving Haitian
children, including the Port au Prince Orphanage and seven
schools in the mountainous, Amazones area. These simple
filters remove harmful bacteriaand will bring clean, life-
giving water to some of the people who need it most
desperately. All funds earmarked l{aiti will be able to get to
the Global Partners Running Waters organization quickly.
To participate:
Make donation checks payable to: NGC
Earrnark checks: World Gardening - Ilaiti
Mail checksto: NGC Ileadquarters
4401 Magnolia Avenue
St. Louis. MO 63110
ATTN: PROGRAM CHAtRiltAlil
DOWNLOAD THIS FILE BEFORE MARGH 31:
OUTSTANDI
NG OR FAVORITE
PROGRAMS
2008 - 2009
from NCAGCclubs'Award No. 18 forms
gardencentral.
http://www. orq/ncafoc
Volunteerswork on Memortal Erove at Prospect Htll uemetery, SepEemDer-l u
Visit District I's blogspot for additionalphotographs,information: http:/ / ncadistrictl .blogsot.com

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Above, R and L: A neighbor's unsightly maintenanceyard across thefence from Prospect Hill Cemetery to be screenedfrom view by
a planting of trees and shrubs along the Centetery'sside of the fence.

District I Director David Healy repofis 30 volunteers

completed the planting of the memorial grove project at
historic ProspectHill Cemeteryon September19. The
grove is a joint project of District I, National Capital
Area GardenClubs, and ProspectHill Cemetery.
Seventeenmembers from eight District I garden clubs
were joined by volunteers from the cemetery and the
Scingerbund(German choir), on planting day.The 32
trees and shrubswere donatedby Montpelier Garden
Club and installed along a portion of the cemetery's
nofthern boundary. The planting is designedto mature
into a screenthat will block views of an unsishtlv.
abutting property.
I volunteerspose.for a group photo.
Below,L - R: MountAiry ClayBreakers'Sonia
i'Jg
JohnsonandJulieHarrisonflanktheangel that
will gracethe newlyplantedmemorialgrove. l ot
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Above: Mantpelier Garden Club president Charmane Truesdell stakes

the spotfor the well-worn angel resurrected into service in the grove.

Photosby Dean,Courtesyof District I's blogspot

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For more extensivecoverageof club and District I news,photos, graphics,etc., go
Gardeners of the Junior League of Washington, DC,
presenteda small standardflower show, ',GardenersGo Green,"
at the Sumner village community center in Bethesdain Januarv
featuring the bounty of the winter gardens.
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tor http://ncadistrictl.blogspot.com
PrinceGeorge'sCountyfifth graderMary Rourke,sponsored
by Mount Airy Clay BreakersGarden CIub, won a First
Placein NationalGardenClub's youthpoetrycontest.Si_rth
graderThomasLeonard,alsosponsored by the club,receiveda
poehycerlificatein the samecontest.Thomasis the sonof
LorraineLeonard,a memberof the club andprevious
RecordingSecretaryfor bothDistrict I andNationalCapital
AreaCardenClubs.
Thomasis picturedbelowwith anotherawardhe received
this fall for his ongoingmaintenance of his awardwinnine
gardenat his homeenteredin the princeGeorsesCountv-
BeautificationCommittee'scontest
As a club,the CIayBreakersreceivedan awardfrom the
PrinceGeorge'sCounfyBeautificationCommitteein
September for their club's ongoingmaintenance of the
HollowayParkEntranceGardenon RosaryvilleRoadin Upper
Marlboro,MD. The club nominatedgardensat Concordia
LutheranChurchandSt.Mary of the AssumptionSchoolin
UpperMarlboro.Both of thosegardensalsoreceivedawards.

HORTICULTURE
"From Your OutdoorandIndoorGarden,,

Best in Show went to Joy Vig6

Oxalis(wood-sorrelor shamrock)

L to R: Mount Airy Clay Breakers Garden Club president

Julie Hsrrison, ThomasLeonard, qnd Arminta Donovan
holding awards receivedfrom the Prince George's County
Beautification Committeefor gardens in the Committee's
beatification contesL

Frederick Douglass Gardens presidentDianne Dale

ARTISTIC DESTGN
"Using the Winter Bounty of the Garden to Decorate the Home,'
Best in Show went to Jane Batde
provided a chapter for the secondedition of a book coming out
in May titled "Washington At Home,, about Washington, DC,
neighborhoods. Dianne authored the chapter on Hillsdale,
Anacostia, the neighborhood she grew up in.
There will be a book signing for all the authors at politics and
Prose bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington,
DC 20008, on May I at l:00 p.m.
The book is edited by Kathryn Smith and published by Johns
Hopkins Press.

Photos on this page courtesy ofDistrict I's blogspot

 97'.€..A*F* 6C Se.i-Y Solo
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For more extensivecoverageof club and District I news,photos, graphics,etc., go to: http://ncadistrictl.blogspot.com
Mother Naturedid not spoil winter eventsfor the Tanta-Cove Garden Club asks you to check the NCAGC
Burtonsville Garden Club! Severalmembersjoined members website for the fime of their Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May
of the Silver Spring GmdenClub for a tour of the National 8, at St. John'sEpiscopal Church, Broadcreek, 9801 Livingston
Agricultural Library in Beltsville, MD. Early in December,the Road, Fort Washington, MD. Ample, free parking is available.
club met in Eileen Wilson's garageand createdwinter The Church is an historically significant property and the site of
centerpiecesfor their homesandgatheredin Januaryfor a the club's Blue Star Memorial.
socialthat was well attendedat a local restaurant.
MasterGardenerGary Cahnpresenteda progftm on starting Cheverly Garden Club scheduledits annual plant sale for
your own seeds.February'smeetingwasa.,makeandtake', Saturday, May 8, starting at 8 a.m. at the Cheverly Town pavilion
presentedby memberSharonNopper andher husbandBill. We adjacent to the Town Community Center, 6401 Forest Road"
madebirdhousesand feedersfrom recycleditems. We are Cheverly, MD,20785. As always, the best bargains will be there
looking forward to our springmeetingsfeaturinggrowing fruit early!
treesand other edibles,learningmore aboutconifers,and The club saw the documentary, "A Man Named pearl,,, in
creatingawater gardenin a pot. Soundslike somethingfor February. In March, previous District I Director who is also a
everyone!We will also be charteringa busto the philade$hia Cheverly club past president Ann Gardenhour will lead the club in
FlowerShow.We really needto seesomelovely landscapes a floral design demonstration and competition.
after this historic winter. The club will take a field trip in April to the patuxent Wildlife
Our club will be participatingin a plant saleon Saturday, Visitor Center and hold their annual potluck picnic in May.
May 8, at thePaintBranchHigh School,l4l2l Old Columbia
Michael Giese
Pike,Burtonsville,MD. The salestartsat 8:00a.m.
Join us on the fourth Tuesdayof the month at the Marilyn J. Paint Branch Garden Club held their January luncheon and
PraisnerLibrary in Burtonsville, MD. business meeting at Riderwood Village in Silver Spring hosted by
SueStimak Louise Schutz. The program, "Garden Memories, Photographing
Capitol Hill Garden Club focusedon horticulturethis Gardensand Flowers: Seeing Shapes,Colors, and Textures,', was
winter. Club memberLynne Churchof Lynne Church a slideshow presented by Joshua Taylor, Jr., photographer. He
LandscapeDesigr did a programon treesand shrubsthat specializes in nature, landscape, and garden photography work-
provide winter interest. Shedivided winter horticultureinto shops and teaches at the Smithsonian and the Corcoran School of
berries,peelingor mottledbark,unusualforms,colorful foliage Art and Desip, with over 30 years experience in the field. He
andearlyflowers. A slideshowof her exhibitscanbe seenon included an informative critique of photographs taken by club
the club's blogspot:http://chgcdc.blogspot.com members.
Club memberMargaretMissiaenfccusedthe club on The club had their February meeting at the Riversdale Mansion in
transplantingsmalltreesandshrubs Sheadvisedusinga spade Riverdale. MD, with a talk and power point presentation by Dr.
to cut theroots6-to-10inchesfrom the trunk to createa root Marla Mclntosh, Director of the University of Maryland's
ball, ttrenleavingthe root ball in placeto encouragenew root Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and professor of wban forestry in
growth beforeplanting the root ball in its new location.For the university's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She
mostsmalltrees,shesuggested highlighted the recent designation of the University of Maryland as
beginningin September and
leavingthe root ball in placeuntil after a monthor so of growth an Arboretum and Botanical Garden, which promotes awareness of
in the spring.For shrubs,sheadvisedpreparingthe root ball conservation and preservation ofour natural environment in an
shortly after bloom but still allowing time for new root growth urban setting.
beforerelocatingthe plant. Shewamedthat crepemyrtles Celebrating Women's History Month at their March meeting and
shouldbe transplantedearly in the summerbecausethey need luncheon, speaker Anne Pomykala, a modern woman making
to be established in their new locationsin time to winter over. history, will present a slide show and talk about her experiences
acquiring restoring and developing historic properties in the
AnacostiaGarden Club participatedin a community Baltimore area, most notably Historic Gramercy Mansion,
cookoutandplant auctionin the fall wherevery special Stevenson, MD; the Carroll Mansion and the Shot Tower in
containersmadeby club memberPrestonWilliams were downtown Baltimore; and the reinvention of the former Koinonia
auctionedoff. During one Saturdayin the fall, The Anacostia Foundation's organic garden into Koinonia Farm, selling organic
DebutanteSocietyassistedthe club in plantingtulip bulbsin herbs commercially to local grocery and health food stores.
Fairlawn Park at MinnesotaAvenueand GoodHope, SE,and, Anne is an energetic entrepreneur interested in preserving
then,the club movedto the Barry Fannscommunity,SE,to Baltimore's heritage. She is a member of several garden clubs and is
plant tulip bulbs with that communityat their recreationcenter. the recipient of the2007 Award of Achievement from the Federated
The club electedofficersin Decemberanddecorated two Garden Clubs of Maryland.
treesin the community for the holidays,a tree in the Frederick The March meeting is at the Asbury Methodist Village in
Douglassvisitor's centerand a tree of handmadeomamentsin Gaithersburg, MD. Since club members take turns hosting
the lobby of the professionalbuilding neara furniture store,s lltsefings, members in assisted or retirement living, such as Asbury
big chairlandmark. or Riderwood, invite the club there when its their furn to host.
Diane Fleming Carolyn Fichtel
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For more extensivecoverageof club and District I news,photos, graphics,etc, go to: http://ncadistrictl.blogspot.com
Floral design for shut-insobedsidetables

Goddard Garden CIub president Christine Hambach

delivered 22 flarcll arrangements for shut-ins to the
Magnolia Nursing Home in Lanham, MD, in February.
Christine said the day she delivered the arrangements
the Magnolia activities chairman was blowing up
balloons for a Valentine parfy that afternoon.
Christine reports the surprise floral delivery created
some excitement with comments like, 'look atthat," nd
"aren't they beautiful." How to Design in 6-Ounce Cans
"We will decorateall the tables for the afternoon R to L: Use 6-ounce tuna or petfood cans. Empty the cans and
Valentine par$r," the activities chairman said. "And then wash and dry them. You can we the dishwasher. Decorate the
clean cans and spray paint, ifyou like. A narrow band ofred
I will give them out."
ribbon is wound around the cans shown Fill cans with oasis
Christine photographeda step-by-stepprogressionof
cut tofit and soskwithwater. Addfresh plant material
how to make bedside designs.Then, she photographed conditioned overnight in tepidwater. Designs shown use
the trays of finished arrangementsto demonstrate how bontood trimmedfrom the gardenwith small, purchased
simple, inexpensive,and fun it is to bring joy to others flowers. The Valentine theme shown is set with the use of red
while doing something she finds "soul-quenching." and white colors and a small, heart-shaped accessory.

Trays of tuna-can floral arrqngements ready for delivery to a nursing home to brighten shut-ins ' bedside tables for Valentine 's Day.

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District I
March 11
District I Awards Meeting' 10:30 a
Continental breakfast, US National Arboretum Auditorium
April 15
Deadline to pay in full for Nemours trip
Sunday, April25
Woodmoor Garden Club's Annual Plant Sale and
Ga rdenW alt { , 2- 5p
Start the garden walk with a brochure available at the plant sale
hosted at 125 and 127 Eastmoor Drive, Silver Spring, MD
May 1
Deadline to ask for refund of deposit on Nemours tour
Deadline for club dues payment to NCAGC Executive
Secretary Carole Butler
"Washington At Home" book signing for authors,
including Dianne Dale, Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015
Connecticut Ave., NW, Open free to the public, lp
Spring Farm Festival, Hard Bargain Farm, lla- 4 p
A family day in the country. Plant sale, live music, arts and
crafts, hayrides, more! Free admission. 201 Bryan Point Road,
Accokeek, NID2A607 webmail@fergusonfoundation.org
May 8
Cheverly Garden Club Plant Sale
Chever$ Town Pavilion, adjacent to the Town Community
Center, 6401 Forest Road, Cheverly, MD, 20785,8a
Tanta-Cove Garden CIub plant saleoCheck the NCAGC for
times. St. John'sEpiscopal Church, Broadcreek, 9801
Livingston Road, Fort Washington, MD
Burtonsville Garden Club plant sale, Paint Branch High
School, l4l2l Old,Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD, 8a
May 20
Deadline. The Garden Post fall edition
Submit items to the Editor, aankeneyl@comcast.net
l&day23
District I Nemours Tour and visit to Draycott Gardens
Reservations required, see page 2
May 31
Dedication of memorial grove at Prospebt Hill Cemetery
Save the date. Details TBA
June
District I Presidents Meeting, details TBA
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March 6
National Capital Orchid Society's32nd Annual
Orchid Auction, Hundredsblooming or in bud, manyrare and
unusual.US National Arboretum.Freeadmission.Checks,VISA,
MasterCardwelcome.Bring your own lunch.Preview:lOa -
l la; Lively Auction: l la - 3p
March 23
NCAGC Spring Awards Meeting,locationanddetailsTBA
March 31
AII websiteswith a Garden Central addressshut down
March 31 - Aprit 1
Environmental StudiesSchool,Course3oregisfation forms
online;301-590-9638.AgriculturalHistory FarmPark,
MontgomeryCountyAgricultural UMD ExtensionCenter, 18410
MuncasterRoad,Derwood Maryland20855
April S
Morning of Design,10a- Noon,sponsored by the Judges
Council andDistrict III, Merrifield GardenCenter,Fair Oaks,VA
April l0
22nd Annual PotomacRiver WatershedCleanup,9a * Noon
Sponsoredby the Alice FergusonFoundation
org/trash
www.potomaccleanup.
April 16 - 17 at River Farms
BoulevardDrive, Alexandria,Y A 22308
793| Easr..
District II Flower Show, "CarpeDiem" (Seizethe Day)
Fri, 1:30p- 5p; Sat,9a - 3p;mainhouse
American Horticulture Society"Spring Garden Market"
Plant Sale,Fri ,9a- 6p; Sat,9a- 3p,front lawn
April22
District III bus trip to the JamesRiver Plantations
Reservationsrequired: 703-734-3858 gisent@ix.netcom.com
May 4- 5
GapdeningStudiesSchool,Meadowlark Botanic Gardens,
Dstgils TBA
May 7- 8
Flower Mart 2010honoring Ukraine
WashingtonNational Cathedral,Massand Wisc Avenues,NW.
Fri, 10a- 6p; Sat,10a- 5p. All HallowsGuild'sannualbenefit
for the WashingtonNational Cathedral'sgardensand grounds.
Specialtours, lecturesentertainment,plants,herbs,floral displays,
boutiqueitems,children'srides, antiquecarousel,and special
eventsto highlight Ukraine. Freeadmission.
202-s37-3185 www.allhallowsguild.org/frn
May 27
Celebrationof X'oundingof Fern Valley, savethe date.
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