Environmental Studies School Course 2

Agricultural History Farm Park, Derwood, MD, January 14-15, 2014:  Twenty-two students from three states (Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania) and National Capital Area attended Course 2--The Land and Related Issues of National Garden Club's Environmental Studies School.  The two-day course included eight lectures by seven instructors and a tour of the MontgomeryCounty Single Stream Recycling & Transfer Station.  Seven students sat for the exam.

On site at the Transfer Station.

The course was organized by NCA Environmental Studies Chairman Lydia Barbour of Tanta-Cove Garden Club.  Barbour reported:  "This would not have happened without the help of a number of our members.  My team included Paula Knepper, Karen Lucas, Ellen Spencer, Jo Sellers, Jean Rositol and Shirley Nicolai.  They all helped whenever and wherever needed throughout the two days.  Paula Knepper was so helpful in the process of finding speakers, helping with the arrangements, coaching, proofing, and a myriad of other things during the two days, including setting up equipment, paying the honorariums, and serving as one of the Proctors.  She gets a lot of the credit for pointing me in great directions and helping with course corrections when I needed help.  Karen Lucas was an excellent Registrar.  Ellen Spencer helped purchase the food and kept everyone and everything moving in setting up and cleaning up meals.  Jo Sellers served as the other Proctor as well as with setting up and cleaning up the room and meals.  Jean Rositol also helped with the setting up and cleaning up of the room and Shirley Nicolai helped shepherding people and processes.  Their collective help was invaluable."

The one-hour lectures were:
ECOLOGY - Land - Chuck Schuster - Study various land types, their origins, characteristics and life forms.

PLANTS – Agriculture  - Chuck Schuster - Explore the origin of food plants and the problems associated with world food production and distribution.

SOURCE REDUCTION OF POLLUTION - Mark Charles - Examine pollution abatement through recapture and recycling of materials.

COASTAL ZONE / CHESAPEAKE BAY MANAGEMENT - Amanda Rockler - Realize the values, uses and functions of coastal zone eco-systems.

CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING - Ann English - Installation of a Conservation Landscape and Rainscape Rewards.

EARTH STEWARDSHIP - GARDENING WITH NATURE  - Mary McKnight - Study the enhancement of home and public grounds incorporating sound conservation principles and respect for site limitations.

WILDLIFE - MISUNDERSTOODS - Alonso Abugattas - Explore and acknowledge the value of beneficial species with poor public relations.


ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES - Vaughn Perry - Study the earth's finite and renewable resources.

Course 3-The Water and Related Issues is tentatively scheduled for September 16-17, 2014 at the Agricultural History Farm Park.

Ayr Hill Christmas Tea

Vienna, VA, December 9, 2013:  Members of the Ayr Hill Garden Club gathered at the home of Anne Stuntz and Brad Swanson for their annual Christmas tea.  There was ice in the trees, geese on the snow covered lawn, savories, sweets, good cheer and carols in the parlor.

For more photos go here.

--Photos by David Healy

Deck the Halls Workshop on Capitol Hill

December 4, 2013:  Capitol Hill Garden Club holds its traditional holiday floral design event in the evening. The club was among the first to hold evening meetings to accommodate participation by younger, employed persons.

--photos by Bill Dean

Wreath Making at Tanta-Cove

Ft. Washington, MD, December 4, 2013:  Tanta-Cove Garden Club invited National Capital Area President David Healy to join them for their annual wreath making workshop at St. John's Church.

David's Wreath in situ

--photos by David Healy.

Holiday Design Demonstration Sponsored by Hayfield Garden Club

Hayfield Elementary School, Alexandria, VA, November 20, 2013:  Hayfield Garden Club presented a floral design demonstration by Christopher Polychronis of Michael's Flowers of Lake Ridge.  The club hosted the event as a community service project for the Hayfield Citizen's Association.  

Club President Jack Pitzer

Floral Designer Christopher Polychronis

The lantern was retrieved from a dumpster.

The Door Prize

--photos by Bill Dean.

Standing Room Only for Morning of Design

Bethesda, MD, November 8, 2013:  An overflow crowd watched floral design demonstrations by Arlene Stewart, Leigh Kitcher and Jane Oliver Smith.  District IV hosted this Morning of Design sponsored by the Council of Accredited Flower Show Judges.  District IV Director Robin Hammer welcomed attendees before dashing out to procure additional refreshments.

Designs by Arlene Stewart:

Her invitational for the C.A.R. Conference.

She tamed the bright red Target container.

The bigger tubes were anchored by cans of food.

Designs by Leigh Kitcher:

Flexible irrigation tubing formed the container.

A mass design in a seasonal container.

A seasonal construction.

Designs by Jane Oliver Smith:

Another container tamed.

A study in balance.

Wow!

--Photos by Barbara McClendon.

Bethesda Community Garden Club Celebrates 90 Years

Chevy Chase, MD, November 6, 2013:  Members of Bethesda Community Garden Club celebrated the club's 90th anniversary with a tea "hats and gloves suggested."  National Capital Area president David Healy presented a presidential citation "for outstanding garden club achievement . . . on their 90th anniversary of cultivating friends and the community."

Group photo by Robin Hammer.

--Photo by David Healy

--Photos by Vickie Baily.