Floral Design Program Features Repurposed Stuff

St. Louis, MO, September 28, 2013:  A floral design program featured the use of repurposed "found" items incorporated into rather dramatic arrangements.  The theme was a trip to the Caribbean.

Visit to National Garden Clubs, Inc. Headquarters

St. Louis, MO, September 27, 2013:  Presidents of the 51 state garden clubs attended workshops and a luncheon at the headquarters of National Garden Clubs, Inc.  The headquarters sits on the grounds of the Missouri Botanical Garden (1859).    The headquarters, dedicated in 1958, is a Mid-Century Modern building.  One enters an enclosed peristyle surrounding a Japanese garden.  The gallery to the left leads to a large assembly room with glass walls on three sides; the gallery to the right leads to the heaquarter's offices.  The galleries have celadon-colored rugs bearing the medallions of the 51 state garden clubs.

The Japanese garden.

A gallery reflected in a mirror.

One of the gallery carpets.

Our medallion in the carpet.

 The headquarters' grounds include this interesting 9-11 memorial:  a Pennsylvania keystone flanked by Twin-Towers flag poles within in a pentagon Pentagon.

 

 After lunch we had a preview of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

A fountain from the St. Louis World's Fair.

Floral Designs at the NGC Fall Board Meeting

St. Louis, MO, September 26-28, 2013:  These are a few of the floral designs in the meeting area of the St. Louis Airport Marriott during the fall board meeting for National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Mary Cottrell Honored in Seattle

Seattle, WA, May 25-26, 2013:  Mary Shepherd Cottrell received the National Garden Club Award of Honor from President Shirley Nicolai during an awards banquet at the National Garden Club Convention RAINSHINE.  Cottrell was nominated by her club Rock Springs Garden Club.  She was the winner in District III, in National Capital Area and in the seven-state Central Atlantic Region.  All eight regional winners receive the national award each year at the national convention.

Central Atlantic Region Director Jeanne T. Nelson bestowed the Central Atlantic Region Award of Honor on Cottrell the following day at a regional luncheon.

NCA's New President - David Healy!

On Friday, April 19th, 2013 the National Capital Area held their Installation luncheon at the University of Maryland Golf Course.  Shirley Nicolai, National Garden Clubs, Inc. President and Jeanne Nelson, Central Atlantic Region Director were present for this momentous event!  Vickie Godwin pinned David Healy the 2013-2015 President of the NCA!

Other officers installed were Jo Sellers as First Vice-President, Karen O'Meara as Second Vice-President, Christine Getek as Recording Secretary, Paula Knepper as Treasurer, Mary Corley as Assistant Treasurer and Carolyn Casey Kneipp as Arbor House Treasurer.

Jeanne Nelson also installed the four District Directors:  Danielle Brabazon, District I, Angela Ganey, District II, Leigh Kitcher, District III and Robin Hammer, District IV.

Barbara Bullock of the US National Arboretum gave a phenominal and inspiriational talk about azelea's.  This is the time of year to visit the fabulous collection found at the Arboretum!

Enjoy the slideshows of the installation!


Above slideshow by Oliver Smith.

Members of all four districts created table arrangements which went home with a lucky person at each table.

Above slideshow by Bill Dean.

National Capital Area Awards Meeting

How excited everyone was to have our first meeting back in the newly renovated Arboretum Auditorium!  Vickie Godwin welcomed everyone and each District was well represented!
















President Godwin began by awarding Presidential Citations!
Oh how everyone enjoys receiving recognition for all their hard/wonderful/great work!

Arlene Stewart, Capital Gardener Editor

Diane Reba, Recording Secretary for
several administartions!

Paula Knepper, keen eye on the budget as Treasurer

Other Presidential Citations were awarded to:

• Billie Trump for her work with Garden Studies
• Evalee Ciuca who wrote the application for the Award of Excellence for the American Horticulture Society and met with success while facing illness and personal difficutlies. 
• Anne Bucher for her "what can I do?" attitude and her successful Design Program which supported the President's Rain Garden Project". 
• Shirley Niccoli for being the busiest lady (as National Garden Club President) who always makes time to help the NCA out with protocol guidance!

Potomac Village Garden Club was the big winner of the meeting!  They received the Beatrice M. Coiner Award for Community Projects ($150) for their project, Deer Management Project of Montgomery County.  

They also received the Edith Bittinger Environmental Improvement Award for Selection of Deer Resistant Plants.

Sally O'Connell presented awards to the many clubs in District I - many were present!

Pat Kirk stepped in for Lin Stauffer and handed out awards to District II clubs!

Anne Stuntz handed out the District III Awards!

Anna-Mae Kobbe presented awards to District IV clubs!

The Award so many were waiting for - the Award of Honor!  This award ties all four districts together as individual clubs nominate someone from their club who has shown excellence.  The four districts then meet to discuss who will be the State (NCA) winner.  It is wonderful that individual clubs are able to have such an impact in the award process!  This year, three out of the four districts had nominee's!  

The 2013 winner is Mary Cottrell!  Congratulations Mary!

Lastly, members presented the skit for the 2013 Central Atlantic Region (CAR) Meeting which was first presented at the 2012 CAR Conference in Cleveland, OH.  David Healy, incoming NCA President wrote and directed the skit which had important landmarks of the Washington DC area.  Everyone enjoyed the skit and many are looking forward to the 2013 Conference being held in Bethesda, Maryland!

Distict IV Spring Meeting

Award 18 Winners

On March 22nd District IV held their Spring Meeting where they elected and installed the 2013-2015 Officers: Director, Robin Hammer; Assistant Director, Ann Mae Kobbe; Treasurer, Mary Corley and Secretary, Toni Reutmann.  Congratulations everyone!  Attendees were also treated to a wonderful program by Joe Howard (Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department) who spoke on Montgomey County's Champion Trees.



Outgoing director Bette Lewis was presented with flowers and a basket full of gifts!