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THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
gardener
THE NATIONAL

                  SPRING 2021

                  BLOOMING
               ON THE GRAND
                           -
                 GARDENING
                 ON THE BAY
                           -
                 THE BEAUTY
                    OF BULBS
                         Spring 2021| 1
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
A natural in the garden since 1929.

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                      Are Partnering To Help Communities

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                      your community, up to 20 local garden clubs across America will
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2 | The National Gardener
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
The National Gardener
                                          Spring 2021 | Vol. 92, No. 2

National Garden Clubs, Inc.                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS
5,000 Garden Clubs                                            President’s Message                               4
165,000 Garden Club Members
                                                              National Garden Week                              7
50 States and the National Capital Area
60 National Affiliate Member Organizations                    Blooming on Grand                                 9
330 International Affiliate Member Organizations              Plant America Community Project Grants           13
Gay L. Austin, President                                      Plant America Full STEAM Ahead                   16
401 Marion Ave., McComb, MS 39648-2709                        Seeds of Learning                                17

The National Gardener                                         Digging In                                       19

Patricia Binder, Editor                                       Restoring the Roses                              24
patricia.b.binder@gmail.com                                   Enhancing the Community                          27
636-775-2378                                                  The Happy Gardener’s Guide                       30
Direct all advertising inquiries to the editor
                                                              NGC Schools News                                 34
TNG Website Inquiries:
National Garden Clubs Inc.                                    NGC Flower Show Schools News                     36
4401 Magnolia Avenue                                          Gardening on the Bay                             37
St. Louis, MO 63110-3492
                                                              The Beauty of Bulbs                              40
314-776-7574 Ext. 215
headquarters@gardenclub.org

NGC Headquarters                                                               THE COVER
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm CST
                                                                        “Grand Rapids in Bloom” is the
4401 Magnolia Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
                                                                       ambitious planting project of 50
Tel: 314-776-7574 Fax: 314-776-5108
                                                                       Prunus Kanzan ‘Kwanzan’ cherry
E-mail: headquarters@gardenclub.org
                                                                   trees along the scenic Grand River in
Web: www.gardenclub.org
                                                                   Grand Rapids, Michigan, by members
Michelle Smith, Ext: 214; Executive Director                           of Kent Garden Club. The iconic
Emily Kiske, Ext: 218; Member Services                              flowering cherry cultivars are noted
   1-800-550-6007 - Orders Only, Please                               for their bountiful spring blooms
Bill Trapp, Ext: 212; Accountant                                    that offer a riot of welcome color to
Chris Schmidt, Ext: 211; Accounting Assistant                      the downtown corridor each spring.
Katie Roth, Ext: 215; Administrative Assistant                           Photo by Shannon Sprague.
Rebecka Flowers, Ext: 210; Schools Secretary

The National Gardener (ISSN: 0027 9331) (USPS: 595-500) is published quarterly by National Garden Clubs Inc., 4401
Magnolia Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110-3492

                                                                                                    Spring 2021| 3
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Gay L. Austin
                                2019-2021 NGC President

                            President’s Message

   D     uring a recent morning walk, I
         noticed the first group of migratory
   robins in the open pasture close to
                                                connection with garden club members
                                                around our world sustains my sense
                                                of purpose for the critical reasons our
   our home. To Mississippians, this            group exists. I would be remiss not
   indicates spring is not far behind. With     to share our many accomplishments
   this evolving season comes an air of         together:
   expectation as nature begins to awaken       •    The NGC Board of Directors and
   around us.                                        International Affiliates exceeded
     This is the last president’s message            expectations in all areas. Even
   of this administration and also the last          in challenging times, we have
   print issue of The National Gardener –            accomplished many programs that
   the flagship magazine of NGC – which              will strengthen our organization
   has been in print 91 years. To the editor         in future endeavors. It would be
   of TNG, Patricia Binder, thank you for            impossible for me to list the scores
   working with us since 2016 to create a            of individuals who contributed to
   beautiful, educational and enjoyable              our success, but to each one of our
   publication. For TNG readers, please              volunteers, I express sincere thanks
   note the magazine is transitioning to             for your dedication and service to
   a digital format on the NGC website at            NGC. Please know how much I have
   gardenclub.org, beginning in summer               valued your effort, skills and time.
   2021.                                        •    In September 2019, a formal
     As NGC President for the 2019-2021              dedication was held to recognize
   administration, this chapter of my                the extensive renovation of the
   volunteer journey has provided a lifetime         grounds and gardens at NGC
   of happy memories, many far more                  headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
   valuable than I can ever express. The             More than 200 NGC members

4 | The National Gardener
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
from across the United States,                local chairmen contributed many
    including former NGC presidents,              hours of planning to continue our
    were on hand to celebrate the                 mission for education and are to be
    remarkable transformation. Michelle           congratulated for these successful
    Smith, executive director at NGC              learning opportunities.
    headquarters, and her highly             •    Another area of success is the
    efficient staff worked tirelessly on          broader message to promote
    the project in keeping with NGC’s             NGC’s mission and highlight the
    commitment to gardening and                   efforts of our members nationwide.
    sustainability. While the new design          Through the professional efforts
    respects the past, it also serves as a        and outreach by Binder PR and
    role model for current, eco-friendly          Marketing Communication, our
    performative landscapes.                      NGC public relations firm on record
•   In August 2020, NGC launched a new            for 14 years, we are able to share
    website on gardenclub.org Through             our news in the media. Articles on
    the dedication                                             a wide range of topics,
    and talent of                                              with a focus on National
    our NGC staff at
                                    “
                                                               Garden Clubs Inc.,
                                         All NGC
    headquarters and                                           have been published
    website committee,               educational               in print, online and
    this digital face              opportunities               shared on social media,
    of NGC provides                                            including two separate
    outstanding                continue to provide             features on gardening
    education and              an excellent source             in the pandemic by
    connects our                                               CBS Market Watch and
    gardening
    community of
                                 of knowledge.
                                                   ”           Boston University News;
                                                               an American Flowers
    current and                                                Week focus in a leading
    potential new members and viewers             national digital magazine; and a
    from around our world.                        gardening piece in a prominent
•   All NGC educational opportunities             national magazine that has 7.6
    continue to provide an excellent              million readers. In addition, NGC
    source of knowledge. We developed             garnered local and regional media
    digital schools that broaden our              publicity on the installation of
    visibility and access worldwide.              new NGC executive officers, the
    The approximate number for each               recipients of NGC’s prestigious
    school, symposia and/or refresher             Award of Excellence and programs
    from June 1, 2019 to December                 such as Plant America. The exposure
    31, 2020, includes: Environmental             makes an immeasurable impact on
    Schools – 47; Gardening Schools –             NGC’s public image and serves as
    52; Landscape Design Schools – 41;            an effective marketing tool. Thank
    and Flower Show Judges – 57. NGC              you to the many garden clubs that
    Affiliate International Schools hosted        shared our news on their websites
    an equally significant amount of              and in social media.
    educational schools. Our dedicated         Programs supported by NGC continue
    national, international, state and       to be successful. A few highlights of the

                                                                             Spring 2021| 5
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
2019-2021 administration include:             •     An effort to develop a photography
   •   The NGC college scholarship                     program is being developed, with
       program supplied over $300,000 in               more information to follow soon.
       financial aid to students majoring in     •     Celebrate National Garden Week
       fields of study related to horticulture         in Your Community! Please plan to
       and the environment.                            join NGC clubs across the nation to
   •   The Plant America Community                     mark National Garden Week, June
       Grant program received over 450                 6-12, 2021. This is an opportunity to
       applications, with almost $100,000              encourage pride in your community,
       being awarded to 107 member                     interest new members and work
       clubs. Grant recipients used funds              with other groups to be part of
       to assist in community service                  those efforts.
       in multiple areas of gardening,              As this chapter closes for us, we
       horticulture, garden design and           realize that change is inevitable. To
       beautification.                           implement successful change, we must
   •   NGC continues to work with the            accept the evolution, respect leadership
       United States Forest Service, an          and have faith in our successes. With
       agency of the U.S. Department of          a strong foundation forged by our past
       Agriculture, in which garden clubs        and present volunteers and continued
       donate funds in $68 increments            dedicated experienced leadership,
       to NGC’s Penny Pines program              National Garden Clubs Inc. is in capable
       that help to sustain and/or replace       hands to ensure stability and growth.
       national and urban forests through           My garden club volunteer experience
       this reforestation program. This          began in my own backyard. From the
       administration has received over          first invitation to join a club, I embraced
       $60,000 in donations to assist with       each opportunity given to me and
       this much-needed program.                 have reaped a lifetime of joy from this
   •   NGC’s youth programs continue             experience. I am humbled to have
       to educate and nurture world              served in this capacity and look forward
       stewardship in the next generation        to NGC members strengthening our
       of gardeners. Through our                 legacy by service to our world and its
       programs, clubs and affiliates, we        future. 
       encourage tomorrow’s citizens
       to be responsible and capable in
       respect to and knowledge of our
       environment.

                               NGC Calendar
      Annual Conventions                             Fall Board Meetings
      2022      Orlando, FL,                         2021   St. Louis, MO,
                May 17-20                                   Sept. 22-24
      2023      White Sulphur Springs, WV,           2022   TBD,
                May 2-5 (installation)                      September

6 | The National Gardener
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Celebrate
            National Garden Week
                          in your community

Join NGC to
celebrate National
Garden Week!

N      ational Garden
       Week was founded
by National Garden Clubs
Inc., to promote the                            NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK
organization’s objectives                           June 6-12, 2021
of beautification,                                     Sponsored by
education of                                  National Garden Clubs, Inc.
environmental efforts and
the involvement of garden
clubs in communities. This
week is an opportunity to
encourage pride in your
community, reach out to
potential new members
and collaborate with other
area groups as part of
those efforts.
   Some ideas to consider:
•     Plan an educational
      program and/or
      workshop at your
      local library, public
                              •   Plan a garden tour.            an existing garden.
      garden or garden
                                  This is a great time to        Reach out to local
      center.
                                  share ideas and show           groups to assist in
•     Sponsor a hands-on
                                  your knowledge of all          your efforts.
      “How Do You Select
                                  things that grow.         •    Plan an activity with
      Flowers/Shrubs
                              •   Beautify a                     a youth group or
      for Your Garden,”
                                  manageable blighted            students at a local
      workshop at an area
                                  area or enhance                school.
      nursery.
                                                                              Spring 2021| 7
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
•    Place a plant or flower arrangement
        at a public facility, along with one of                      Download the NGC National
        the beautiful National Garden Week                           Garden Week materials for use in
        posters.                                                    publicizing your National Garden
                                                                     Week project!
   Sara Hemphill
   Chairman, National Garden Week                                    gardenclub.org/national-
   SaraElisabeth@gmail.com                                           garden-week

                                            National Garden Clubs, Inc.
                                                NATIONAL GARDEN WEEK
                                                    PROCLAMATION

                            Whereas, Gardeners have a passion for nurturing the beauty and
                            resources of the earth through the planting of seeds, the care of all
                            plants and the riches of their efforts; and

                            Whereas, Gardeners seek to add beauty, splendor, fragrance and
                            nutrition to our lives through the growing of herbs, vegetables, foliage
                            and flowers; and

                            Whereas, Gardeners work to preserve our country's traditional spirit of
                            independence and initiative through innovation and hard work; and

                            Whereas, Gardeners advocate the importance of all creatures, large and
                            small, that share our world and their roles in a balanced and productive
                            ecology; and

                            Whereas, Gardening furnishes a challenging and productive activity for
                            our citizens, for those just learning as well as those having years of
                            experience; and

                            Whereas, Gardening promotes a healthy lifestyle that lasts a lifetime,
                            helps reduce stress from other areas of our life, teaches that rewards can
                            come from diligent efforts; and

                            Whereas, Gardening enables members of Garden Clubs across the
                            nation and the world to make a world of difference in the communities
                            where they reside and work;

                            Now, Therefore Be It Resolved that in an effort to acknowledge the
                            importance of Gardening and the numerous contributions of Gardeners,
                            National Garden Clubs, Inc. designates the week of June 6-12 as
                            National Garden Week.
                                                     Mary Warshauer,
                                               2021-2023 President, NGC, Inc.

8 | The National Gardener
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
blooming
    on the grand                                                        Photo by Barb
                                                                          Hoogeboom

A      stroll along the Grand River in
       downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan,
can be a delightful experience in nearly
                                            Basin in Washington D.C.
                                              In spring 2016, members of the
                                            garden club coordinated local efforts to
any season. However, the view is even       plant nine Kwanzan cherry trees on the
more breathtaking in spring, courtesy of    grounds and along the walkways of the
a riot of color from the bounty of blooms   Grand Rapids Public Museum, situated
bursting from the Kwanzan cherry trees,     on the western bank of the Grand River.
which line the river’s banks.                 The cherry trees were donated by
                                            members of Kent Garden Club, the
A Dream Takes Root                          majority of which were planted in
   The planting of the cherry trees is an   memory of members of their families.
ambitious community beautification          The trees, which feature an attractive,
project by members of Kent Garden Club      upright symmetrical canopy, can grow
in Grand Rapids. The project, “Grand        up to 25 feet tall and do not produce
Rapids in Bloom,” was launched in 2016      fruit. The trees quickly became beloved
and spearheaded by Adele Krhovsky,          downtown icons due to their ease of care
then Kent Garden Club president, whose      and pleasing aesthetics.
vision was to plant Kwanzan cherry trees      In summer 2018, Kent Garden Club
along the banks of the river to mimic       members organized a successful garden
the area that graces the renowned Tidal     walk to raise funds for the planting of

                                                                            Spring 2021| 9
THE NATIONAL gardenerSPRING 2021 - BLOOMING ON THE GRAND GARDENING ON THE BAY THE BEAUTY - National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Photos by Shannon
                                                                           Sprague

                                                                            to provide
                                                                            the ongoing
                                                                            upkeep and
                                                                            maintenance
                                                                            of plantings on
                                                                            the grounds
                                                                            of the Grand
                                                                            Rapids Public
                                                                            Museum.
                                                                            In 2020,
                                                                            members
                                                                            planted 45
                                                flats of begonias. The club creates a
                                                schedule during the growing season,
                                                which elicits help from members to weed
   additional trees. That fall, three more
                                                garden areas two days each month from
   memorial cherry trees were planted
                                                                April through October.
   on the grounds of the
                                                                Volunteer hours during
   museum, resulting in a
                                                                this time may total

                                       “   In 2020,
   total of 12 cherry trees
                                                                130 hours or more. In
   planted on the property.
                                    members planted addition, members tend a
                                                                Kent Garden Club Knock
   Gardening on the                      45 flats of            Out® Rose anniversary
   Grand
      Gardening on the Grand
   is a project initiated by
                                        begonias.
                                                    ”           garden, which features
                                                                a prominent marker
                                                                that recognizes the
   Sue Jabin, a local Master
                                                                club’s 100th anniversary.
   Gardener and patron of the arts in Grand
                                                Future plans include the installation
   Rapids, who provided years of leadership
                                                of a butterfly and pollinator area. Kent
   to Kent Garden Club members. Jabin
                                                Garden Club member Barb Hoogeboom
   enlisted help from members of the club

10 | The National Gardener
BOUNTIFUL BLOOMS
      Japanese cherry trees     Potomac River. Adjacent         display of large clusters
   were introduced to the       to the Tidal Basin are          of deep pink double
   United States in 1903,       important national              blooms. The blossoms
   and many varieties are       monuments, including            are on full display at the
   planted throughout the       the Jefferson Memorial,         National Cherry Blossom
   nation. In 1912, the mayor   the Martin Luther King          Festival, an annual event
   of Tokyo, Japan, presented   Jr. Memorial and the            that attracts people
   Japanese cherry trees to     Franklin Delano Roosevelt       from across the U.S. and
   the city of Washington       Memorial.                       visitors around the globe,
   D.C., as a cultural symbol      Named after a                where they marvel at and
   of hope, renewal and         mountain in Japan and           photograph the Kwanzan
   friendship.                  native to that country, as      and other species of
      The trees were planted    well as China and Korea,        Japanese cherry trees
   around the iconic 107-       the dazzling, showy             situated along the banks
   acre Tidal Basin, which      flowering Kwanzan cherry        of the iconic Tidal Basin.
   is part of West Potomac      tree is believed to be the      Visit nps.gov/subjects/
   Park. Built in the 1800s,    hardiest of all species of      cherryblossom and
   the man-made, 10-foot-       cherry trees. Each spring       nps.gov/articles/
   deep reservoir was built     in our nation’s capital,        dctidalbasin
   to harness the power of      Kwanzan cherry trees
   tides from the nearby        provide a stunning floral

                                                   Photos courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service

 is the chairman who leads the volunteer     eastern side of the Grand River to mirror
 efforts.                                    planting efforts at the museum grounds
                                             to the west. These efforts included:
 Extending the Vision                        •    In fall 2017, five cherry trees were
   In an outreach to and collaboration            planted at nearby Sixth Street Bridge
 with city and community leaders and              Park, which offers easy access to a
 members of the City of Grand Rapids              historic bridge and Riverwalk. The
 Parks and Recreation Department, Kent            project was funded by Kent Garden
 Garden Club members proposed the                 Club.
 planting of Kwanzan cherry trees on the     •    In 2018, a noted, local philanthropist
Photo by
Ed Downs
Photography                                                                           Spring 2021| 11
Members of Kent Garden Club regularly tend to their installation of a special
                                        garden – which features a stunning display of Knock Out® roses – on the
                                        grounds of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The garden honors the club’s
                                        100th anniversary. Photos by Kathy Wolverton.

                                          to the beautification of               blooms along the river.
                                          the city’s parks and Grand               Founded in 1913, Kent
         joined the project’s
                                          River corridor. In addition,           Garden Club has nearly
         efforts. By year’s
                                          due to the relatively short            100 members and is a
         end, 17 additional
                                          15-to-25-year lifespan                 member of Michigan
         cherry trees had been
                                          of the trees, members                  Garden Clubs Inc. For
         planted.
                                          of the garden club are                 more information, visit
   •     In fall 2019, 16 more
                                          committed to plan and                  kentgardenclub.org 
         cherry trees were
                                          plant additional cherry
         added.                                                                  Kathy Wolverton
                                          trees, when needed, to                 President
      In only four years,
                                          preserve the city’s iconic             Kent Garden Club
   a total of 50 Kwanzan
                                          tree canopy and beautiful              Akw47@comcast.net
   cherry trees have
   been planted as
   part of the Grand
   Rapids in Bloom
   project. Members
   of Kent Garden
   Club forged civic
   relationships
   and successfully
   led community
   efforts to support
                               RIGHT: Future plans include the
   the goal of the               installation of a butterfly and
                             pollinator garden on the grounds
   mayor of Grand                   of the Grand Rapids Public
                                  Museum. An overgrown area
   Rapids – to            (right), was cleared by Kent Garden
   expand the               Club members (above) and will be
                              ready for a variety of pollinator-
   downtown green          friendly plantings in spring. Photos
                                           by Barb Hoogeboom.
   canopy and add

12 | The National Gardener
PLANT AMERICA
                                  community
                                  project grants

C    ongratulations to the 51 garden clubs across the nation that have been awarded
     a 2021 Plant America Community Project Grant from National Garden Clubs Inc.
NGC takes great pride in the vision and commitment by the members of these clubs
to green communities across the nation.
  Members of the NGC Plant America Community Grant Committee marveled at the
scope of the diverse and unique projects undertaken by club members. Listed below
are the NGC garden clubs that were awarded up to $1000 in support of their local
efforts.
  Start planning your next gardening project, and take advantage of the 2022 NGC
Plant America Community Project Grant application, which will be posted on the NGC
website at gardenclub.org 

David Robson
Chairman
Plant America Community Project Grants
drobson@illinois.edu

•   Fayette Garden Club The Garden         •   Livermore-Amador Valley Garden
    Club of Alabama Inc.                       Club, California Garden Clubs Inc.
•   MGM Garden Club                        •   Wilton Garden Club
    Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs         The Federated Garden Clubs of
    Inc.                                       Connecticut Inc.
•   Gold Canyon Garden Club                •   Garden Club By the Sea
    Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs         Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
    Inc.                                       Inc.
•   Descanso Garden Club                   •   Oleander Garden Club of the Palm
    California Garden Clubs Inc.               Beaches Inc.
•   Pacifica Garden Club                       Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
    California Garden Clubs Inc.               Inc.

•   Potter Valley Garden Club              •   Coral Pines Garden Club
    California Garden Clubs Inc.               Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
                                               Inc.

                                                                          Spring 2021| 13
•    The Garden Club of the Halifax        •   Franklin-Simpson Garden Club
        Country                                   The Garden Club of Kentucky Inc.
        Florida Federation of Garden Clubs    •   Attleboro Garden Club
        Inc.                                      The Garden Club Federation of
   •    Spalding Garden Club                      Massachusetts Inc.
        The Garden Club of Georgia Inc.       •   Chula Vista Garden Club
   •    Dogwood Garden Club                       Michigan Garden Clubs Inc.
        The Garden Club of Georgia Inc.       •   Michiana Landscape Study Club
   •    Avondale Estates Garden Club              Michigan Garden Clubs Inc.
        The Garden Club of Georgia Inc.       •   Magnolia Garden Club
   •    St. Mary’s Garden Club                    The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Inc.
        The Garden Club of Georgia Inc.       •   Park Place Garden Club
   •    Ladies’ Garden Club                       The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Inc.
        The Garden Club of Georgia Inc.       •   Water Valley Town & Country
   •    Douglas Garden Club                       Garden Club
        The Garden Club of Georgia Inc.           The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Inc.
   •    Valley Garden Club                    •   Missoula Garden Club
        Garden Club of Idaho Inc.                 Montana Federation of Garden
   •    Merry Tillers Garden Club                 Clubs Inc.
        Garden Club of Idaho Inc.             •   Rainbow Garden Club
   •    Enter the Garden Club                     Montana Federation of Garden
        The Garden Club of Indiana Inc.           Clubs Inc.

   •    Iris Elm Garden Club                  •   Dominion Valley Garden Club
        The Garden Club of Indiana Inc.           National Capital Area Garden Clubs
                                                  Inc.
   •    Little Sioux Federated Garden Club
        Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa Inc.   •   Epping Garden Club
                                                  New Hampshire Federation of
                                                  Garden Clubs Inc.
                                              •   Old Homestead Garden Club
                                                  New Hampshire Federation of
       Plant America                              Garden Clubs Inc.
       Community
                                              •   Garden Club of Hackensack
       Project Grant                              The Garden Club of New Jersey Inc.
       application will be                    •   Modern Gardeners Garden Club
       posted on the NGC                          The Garden Club of North Carolina
       website at:                                Inc.
                                              •   Madison County Garden Club
       gardenclub.org                             The Garden Club of North Carolina
                                                  Inc.

14 | The National Gardener
GROW YOUR
                                            PROJECT!
•   Cary Garden Club
    The Garden Club of North Carolina
    Inc.
•   Fox Chapel Garden Club              National Garden
    The Garden Club Federation of       Clubs Inc.
    Pennsylvania                        offers items to help your garden
•   Presque Isle Garden Club            club create awareness of your
    The Garden Club Federation of       PLANT AMERICA
    Pennsylvania
                                        community gardening
•   Palmetto Garden Club of South       project!       Plant
    Carolina
    The Garden Club of South Carolina                          America
    Inc.                                                       Button
•   The Beaufort Garden Club                                   Magnetic
    The Garden Club of South Carolina                          Closure:
    Inc.                                                       Pack of 10:
•   Poinsett-Bland Garden Club                                 $15
    The Garden Club of South Carolina
    Inc.
•   Chapin Garden Club
    The Garden Club of South Carolina
    Inc.
•   Franklin County Garden Club
    Tennessee Federation of Garden      Plant
    Clubs Inc.                          America
•   Gardeners’ Club of Parker County    5”x5”
    Texas Garden Clubs Inc.             Car Magnet
•   Pine Lake Garden Club               $5 each
    Washington State Federation of
    Garden Clubs
•   Olde Berkeley Garden Club
    West Virginia Garden Club Inc.            Shop online today at
•   Judy’s Garden Club                       NGC Member Services:
    West Virginia Garden Club Inc.         shopgardenclub.org/
•   Lake Wissota Garden Club                     shop/
    Wisconsin Garden Club Federation           Call 1-800-550-6007
                                             E-mail: headquarters@
                                                gardenclub.org

                                                                 Spring 2021| 15
‘show me state’ garden club
   GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD ON
   PLANT AMERICA COMMUNITY PROJECT

   M       embers of Clayton Garden Club
           in Clayton, Missouri, are working
   with local children and families to create
                                                tools in which
                                                to implement
                                                STEAM learning.
   a new gardening initiative with funds the       Clayton Garden
   club received from an NGC 2020 Plant         Club is one of
   America Community Project Grant.             the longest
      Partnering with the Urban League          continuous
   of Metropolitan Saint Louis Head Start       garden clubs in
   Program, club members will launch            the United States,
   efforts in spring to create raised garden    marking over
   beds at a local Head Start facility.         80 years in the
   According to club members, the garden        St. Louis area. It
   beds will help to instill in children and    is a member of
   teachers a love of gardening, as well        The Federated
   as introduce plant science to young          Garden Clubs of
   children, helping to prepare them for        Missouri
   future STEAM (science, technology,           Inc. 
   engineering, arts and math) learning.
                                                Judy King
      Funds for the project provided
                                                Publicity Chairman
   materials for two raised beds for each       Clayton Garden Club
   classroom, including soil, seeds and         judycxking41@gmail.com
   child-sized gardening tools. Children will
   be able to activate all five senses while
   they learn, explore and grow vegetables
   and herbs for their classroom. The
                                                  ABOUT HEAD START
                                                  Head Start is a national program that
   project also was planned in a joint effort
                                                  provides early childhood education
   with PNC Bank’s Full STEAM Ahead
                                                  and child development services to
   Program, which provides STEAM coaches
                                                  low-income children and families, with
   for plant science teacher training at Head
                                                  a focus on school readiness in literary
   Start.                                         and math skills and job skills training
      The project is slated for completion in     for teens and adults. Serving the St.
   June 2021, culminating in an “Eat What         Louis community for 102 years, the
   You Grow” celebration. Officials at the        organization offers multiple locations
   Mt. Zion Head Start plan to continue to        throughout the region.
   use the raised beds as hands-on learning

16 | The National Gardener
SUMMER CAMP PLANTS
   ‘mustard seeds’
   of learning
 Pops of autumn color frame the Ivan Racheff House, the headquarters of Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs
 Inc. Built in 1902, the original home was later modified for commercial and residential space by Ivan Racheff,
 president of Knoxville Iron Works. The gardens were established by Racheff in 1947.

F   or more than 18 years, members of
    Norwood Garden Club in Knoxville,
Tennessee, sponsor the one-day Mustard
                                            Growing Good Stewards of the Earth
                                              Mustard Seed Camp provides
                                            educational activities for up to 26
Seed Camp each summer for children in       campers on a first-come, first-served
kindergarten to age 13.                                    basis. The primary
  The camp, highly                                         objective is to educate
anticipated by area

                                         “
                                                           and encourage youth
children and their families           The primary
                                                           to be active participants
each year, is held at the         objective is to          in the community, the
Ivan Racheff House, a                                      environment and become
historic home built in             educate and
                                                           good stewards of the earth.
1902 with gardens in            encourage youth Through fun hands-on
Knoxville. Situated on
three acres that feature            to be active           instruction and activities,
                                                           attendees learn the value
seasonal plantings, the        participants in the of gardening activities.
home plays an integral
role as part of Racheff
Park & Garden, and also
                                 community....
                                                                 ”
                                                           Environmental issues also
                                                           are introduced to campers.
                                                           Each year, the camp’s
serves as headquarters                                     theme pays homage
of the Tennessee Federation of Garden       to the current president’s project of
Clubs Inc., whose members maintain the      National Garden Clubs Inc. and theme
gardens. The property is listed on the      of Tennessee Federation of Garden
National Register of Historic Places.       Clubs Inc. In 2020, the camp theme

                                                                                                 Spring 2021| 17
on topics such as the
                                                                environment, gardening
                                                                and wildlife habitats.
                                                                Fun hands-on activities
                                                                also are featured. At
                                                                lunchtime, campers learn
                                                                the value of recycling
                                                                and how to develop good
                                                                recycling habits when they
                                                                observe first-hand how
                                                                much trash is generated
   incorporated NGC’s “Plant     junior garden club             by the sack lunches they
   America” and TFGC’s           chairman and member            bring to camp.
   “Using your Senses –          of Norwood Garden                 Buoyed by the learning
   Taste, See, Hear, Touch       Club. Another member           experiences at Mustard
   and Smell.”                   volunteers as the on-site      Seed Camp, participants
     In addition, members        registered nurse for the       often revisit the garden
   from other area               safety of the campers.         throughout the year to
   garden clubs, as well                                        plant additional flowers
                                 A Day at Mustard Seed          or plants. Older campers
   as local businesses and
                                 Camp                           return to volunteer
   organizations in Knoxville,
                                    The day begins with         in the garden to earn
   support the camp
                                 the opportunity for each       community service credit
   each year. Community
                                 attendee to choose from        for their projects or clubs
   efforts include creating
                                 a variety of donated           in middle school or high
   attendance certificates
                                 flowers, seeds or bulbs        school. Members from
   or goodie bags, donating
                                 and plant them in the          area Boy Scout or Girl
   refreshments, as well
                                 children’s garden area.        Scout troops also have
   as supplying plants and
                                 Campers are then divided       taken on projects at the
   seeds for campers to
                                 into three age-appropriate     garden. 
   take home. Through
                                 groups to participate
   the community’s                                              Maggi Burns
                                 in the day’s planned
   contributions of tools,                                      President
                                 rotation of activities.
   materials and financial                                      Tennessee Federation of Garden
                                 Professional speakers
   support, Norwood Garden                                      Clubs Inc.
                                 from the surrounding           MaggiTFGC@epbfi.com
   Club is able to offer the
                                 area are invited to share
   camp free of charge to                                                Photos courtesy
                                 their knowledge and
   campers. Mustard Seed
                                 field expertise through                 of Norwood
   Camp is coordinated each
                                 35-minute presentations                 Garden Club
   year by Kathy Pearson,

                                                        In 2020, campers listen to Charlie
                                                        Rhodarmer, director of the Sequoyah
                                                        Birthplace Museum, who provided insights
                                                        into the history, language and culture of
                                                        the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Campers
                                                        complied with area COVID-19 guidelines.
                                                        The museum, theater and interpretive
                                                        center, located in Vonore, Tennessee, was
                                                        named for Sequoyah, a soldier, silversmith,
                                                        statesman and the creator of the Cherokee
                                                        writing system. The museum is Tennessee’s
                                                        only tribally operated historical attraction.

18 | The National Gardener
digging in
GARDEN CLUB MEMBERS
TURN INTEREST INTO ACTION

M       embers of Dig and Dream Garden
        Club in Centennial, Colorado,
measure the success of their volunteer
                                          is part of the Arapahoe County Public
                                          Libraries system. The following year, the
                                          garden achieved national recognition
gardening programs by the effectiveness   as a Certified Butterfly Garden and a
of their efforts and impact on the        Certified Monarch Garden by the North
community.                                American Butterfly Association. The
   Federated in 1961, the 35-member       garden club is the recipient of a 2020
club – whose members vary in age and      Ames Tool Grant and uses the tools it
gender – undertakes several important     received on this project, as well as at
projects in the area, which continue      the club’s other projects, including the
to leave a positive footprint in the      Pickens Technical College Rose Garden
community. In 2016, members designed      and the Ronald McDonald House
and installed a butterfly garden at       gardens. The garden club also garnered
Centennial’s Smoky Hill Library, which    an NGC 2020 Plant America Grant.

                                                                        The garden
                                                                        at Smoky Hill
                                                                        Library in
                                                                        Centennial,
                                                                        Colorado,
                                                                        designed and
                                                                        installed by
                                                                        members of
                                                                        Dig and Dream
                                                                        Garden Club,
                                                                        is recognized
                                                                        as a Certified
                                                                        Butterfly
                                                                        Garden and
                                                                        a Certified
                                                                        Monarch
                                                                        Garden by
                                                                        the North
                                                                        American
                                                                        Butterfly
                                                                        Association.

                                                                         Spring 2021| 19
campus, with proceeds
                                                                    funding club activities.
                                                                    The college offers nearly
                                                                    50 certificate programs
                                                                    in state-of-the-art skills
                                                                    to adults and high school
                                                                    students as part of the
                                                                    Aurora Public Schools
                                                                    and Colorado Community
                                                                    College System. For
                                                                    students interested in a
                                                                    career in the gardening
                                                                    industry, the college offers
                                      The rose garden at            an urban horticulture and
                                      Pickens Technical College,    landscape management
                                      situated on the sprawling     program, which hosts
                                      college campus, was           six greenhouses where
                                      designed, installed and       studies include a wide
                                      has been maintained
                                      by members of Dig and
                                      Dream Garden Club since
                                      the 1970s. Garden club
                                      members maintain a
                                      memorial garden on the
    Dig and Dream Garden Club         campus to honor past
    members used the tools and
    garden wagon they received
                                      members, collaborate
    from a 2020 Ames Tool Grant at    with the college’s staff on
    the butterfly garden at Smoky
    Hill Library. Prior to earning    new and ongoing projects
    the grant award, members
    furnished their own gardening
                                      and work closely with
    tools on the project and even     students on the care and
    needed to tote water in buckets
    for the lack of a garden hose.    maintenance of roses in
    The cart, and other needed        the garden. Each year,
    items, furnished by the Ames
    Tool Grant, simplified garden     garden club members sell
    chores, especially in the                                           The garden club maintains the
    transport of plants and other     perennials at a Mother’s          butterfly garden and members
                                                                      offer docent-led garden tours for
    materials.                        Day Plant Sale on the                        adults and children.

20 | The National Gardener
range of topics, from
tropical plants to
nursery propagation.
In addition to course
work in the classroom
and laboratory, the
campus offers a living library                  The rose garden at Pickens Technical College in
                                              Aurora, Colorado, is considered one of the garden
of trees, shrubs and perennials for             club’s outstanding and ongoing legacy projects.
students to study. For more information,
visit pickenstech.org
   In addition, garden club members        The garden club works diligently to
maintain the NGC Gold Star Families        find creative ways to keep members
By-Way Marker and the                                          engaged. In keeping with
NGC Blue Star Memorial                                         the changes to regular
                                                               activities due to local
                                 “
By-Way Marker at                   The garden club restrictions from the
Fort Logan National
Cemetery. The 214-             works diligently to coronavirus, the club
acre national cemetery          find creative ways successfully                 held virtual
                                                               meetings and members
is managed by the U.S.
Department of Veterans           to keep members are volunteering at

                                                     ”
                                                               outdoor projects – with
Affairs, and earned                  engaged.
national significance for                                      members working
its association with the                                       in shifts to observe
development of military                                        area social-distancing
and veterans cemeteries                                        guidelines. The club
during the late 19th and early 20th        continues its educational programs,
centuries by the federal government.       including the introduction of a virtual
   Members of Dig and Dream Garden         program on gardening for butterflies,
Club also planted trees throughout the     and expanded its website – adding the
city, provided trees to area schools and   ability for members to pay membership
helped design gardens at area senior-      dues online. Future plans include the
living facilities.                         development of a junior garden club to

                                                                                    Spring 2021| 21
Dig and Dream Garden Club members
                                                    designed, installed and regularly maintain
                                                    the welcome garden, shade garden, interior
                                                    gardens and patio planters at the Ronald
                                                    McDonald House in Aurora, Colorado. The
                                                    facility is part of Ronald McDonald House
                                                    Charities, a nationwide network that
                                                    provides the basic comforts of home for
                                                    families of seriously ill or injured children
                                                    who are patients at nearby metropolitan
                                                    hospitals. Garden club members help support
                                                    Ronald McDonald House guests by preparing
                                                    handmade welcome kits containing personal
                                                    care items. The gardens offer beautiful,
                                                    natural spaces that provide a needed respite
                                                    for families. Although local restrictions from
                                                    the spread of the coronavirus curtailed many
                                                    of the club’s activities at the facility last year,
                                                    garden club members look forward to the
                                                    opportunity to return to their projects at the
                                                    facility this year.

   introduce young people to the joys of     Victoria Schmidt
   gardening.                                President
     Dig and Dream Garden Club is a          Dig and Dream Garden Club
                                             Victoria.schmidt@cybertraininc.com
   member of Colorado Federation of
   Garden Clubs Inc.                               Photos courtesy of Dig and
   Visit diganddream.com                          Dream Garden Club

   Dear Members of National
   Garden Clubs Inc.,
     National Garden Clubs Inc. announces the
   exciting transition of The National Gardener,
   the 91-year-old quarterly flagship magazine
   of NGC, from a print publication to a
   digital platform. This change debuts
   with the summer 2021 edition. The new
   publication, along with past issues of the
   magazine, will continue to be available on
   gardenclub.org
     To subscribe and receive The National
   Gardener directly to your inbox, visit
   The National Gardener page on the NGC
   website and complete the easy subscription
   form. You may unsubscribe at any time and
   subscriptions are always FREE.
     NGC sincerely thanks the subscribers and
   readers of TNG as it moves forward to grow
   NGC’s unique voice and audience.

22 | The National Gardener
TOOL GRANT PROGRAM
AMES proudly sponsors the National Garden Clubs’
Tools Grant Program since 2014. AMES provides tools
for grant winners to support local community
gardening projects.
                                                                           “WELLNESS GARDEN”
                                    In collaboration with the James C. Kennedy Wellness Center.
                                                The Charleston Magnolia Garden Club, Mississippi

            “RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE GARDENS”
            The Burlington Garden Club, Vermont

            “GARDEN BEAUTY”
            The Wedowee Garden Club, Alabama
                                                               “POLLINATOR FRIENDLY GARDEN”
                                                  The Ramblers Garden Club Louisville, Kentucky
                                                                                 Spring 2021| 23
restoring
        the roses

   A      visit to the Tulsa
         Municipal Rose
   Garden at Woodward
                                             Members of Tulsa
                                           Garden Club, which was
                                                                                 bushes at the site in 1935.
                                                                                 Club members continue
                                                                                 to maintain garden areas
   Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma,                                                      and support the garden
   is a unique horticultural                                                     through a variety of
   experience. In addition to
   the popular rose garden,                    “ ...the rose
                                             garden contained
                                                                                 activities and fundraisers.
                                                                                 In its peak years, the rose
   the 45-acre public park                                                       garden contained more
   offers a botanical garden,                 more than 9,000                    than 9,000 roses in 250
   arboretum and specialty                     roses in 250                      varieties. More recently,
   gardens that showcase                                                         rose rosette disease – a
   azaleas, tulips, irises,
   dogwood and redbud
                                               varieties.
                                                                     ”           virus transferred from
                                                                                 plant to plant by a tiny
   trees, tropical plants, cacti                                                 mite - decimated the
   and more – all situated                                                       plantings, resulting in the
   in beautifully landscaped               organized in 1929, were               removal of nearly all of
   settings.                               the first to plant rose               the bushes.

                                                                                  A member of the Second Chance
                                                                                  program uses the tools the
                                                                                  garden club received from a
                                                                                  2020 Ames Tool Grant on a
      The bench in the restored rose garden is sheltered by original junipers.    project.

24 | The National Gardener
The original rose garden
                                           ers of
                              st , m em b
                  to th e pa                  g a rd en .
       In a n od                      e ro se
            a rd en C lu b V is it th
T   ul sa G                                                 Members           2020, Tulsa Garden Club
                                                of Tulsa Garden               garnered an Ames Tool
                                          Club joined local                   Grant, which provided
                                          landscape professionals             materials and tools for
                                          and horticulture experts            the club to use in ongoing
                                          at nearby academic                  efforts at the rose garden.
                                          institutions in an effort to
                                          return the Tulsa Municipal          Empowering Future
                                          Rose Garden – and the               Gardeners
                                          graceful, fragrant roses               Since the 1950s,
                                          that once bloomed                   the garden club has
                                          there – to its original             supported scholarships
                                          botanical garden design             for students at Oklahoma
                                          and splendor. Toward                State University majoring
                                          that effort, the garden             in horticulture, and
                                          club established the                more recently, in the
                                          Tulsa Garden Club Rose              university’s new landscape
                                          Fund, and through the               architecture program. The
                                          generous donations                  OSU Foundation currently
                                          from the community,                 manages the club’s
                                          new and replacement                 endowment that funds
                                          plants – selected for               multiple scholarships each
                                          their hardiness and                 year.
                                          disease-resistant qualities            Students in horticulture
                                          – were purchased. The               studies at Tulsa
                                          garden club also plans to           Community College also
                                          continue to raise funds             benefit. Today, the TCC
                                          toward the rose garden’s            Foundation manages the
                                          ongoing restoration                 club’s endowment for the
                                          and maintenance. In                 college’s Second Chance
                                                                              program, which helps fund
                                                                              horticulture-programming
                                          New roses were selected for their
                                          hardiness and disease-resistant     scholarships, certification,
                                          qualities.

                                                                                                Spring 2021| 25
Since 1929, members of Tulsa Garden Club have opened their own gardens and arranged public tours to help
       visitors learn more about ornamental, vegetable and herb gardening, natural and functional hardscape, water
       management, and lighting. Proceeds benefit the projects of Tulsa Garden Club. In 2020, the 70th Annual Garden
       Tour was canceled due to area COVID-19 restrictions. Members hope to resume the tour this year.

    as well as maintenance                 Garden Clubs Inc. Visit
    and supplies for inmates               tulsagardenclub.org/ 
    participating in the work
                                           Rose Shultz
    program at Dick Conner
                                           President
    Correctional Center, a                 Tulsa Garden Club
    medium-security prison                 roses@jswtech.com
    for men in Hominy,
    Oklahoma.                                      Photos courtesy
      Tulsa Garden Club is                         of Tulsa Garden
    a member of Oklahoma                           Club

                                           the Works Progress                     which connects Miami
                                           Administration (WPA),                  to Key West, in Florida;
                                           an ambitious public                    Great Smoky Mountains
                                           works program created                  National Park in
                                           by then U.S. President                 Tennessee; Hoover Dam,
                                           Franklin D. Roosevelt                  which spans the Black
                                           as part of the American                Canyon of the Colorado
                                           New Deal initiative                    River and provides
                                           to employ millions of                  electric power to Arizona,
                                           job-seekers in the years               Nevada and Southern
       Visitors to Woodward Park often
       navigate to the many green
                                           following the Great                    California; and the Grand
       spaces offered at the popular       Depression in the United               Coulee Dam in the state
       destination.
                                           States. The successful                 of Washington – the
                                           program launched a                     largest dam in the United
    About                                  number of significant                  States and one of the
    Woodward Park                          projects across the                    largest in the world.
                                           nation, including the                    In 2014, Woodward
      Woodward Park was
                                           Lincoln Tunnel in New                  Park was added to the
    completed in 1934
                                           York City; The Overseas                National Register of
    under the direction of
                                           Highway (U.S. Route 1),                Historic Places.

26
26 || The
       TheNational
          NationalGardener
                   Gardener
ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH
community projects

N      estled in the heart of Michigan in
       Genesee County, the community of
Grand Blanc is known for its welcoming
                                             each summer
                                             to water,
                                             deadhead
spirit and beautiful, user-friendly parks.   flowers and
   For nearly 30 years, members of Touch     maintain the
the Earth Garden Club in Grand Blanc         gardens.
have played an integral role in civic           The club’s
beautification through multiple planting     main objective
projects. Founded in 1991, garden club       is to stimulate
members have worked with city officials      the love of
on the planning and maintenance on           gardening,
a wide variety of community garden           encourage
projects at a historical museum, city        home and
hall and city parks. Efforts include         community
pollinator gardens, two Monarch Watch        beautification,
Waystations, as well as an NGC Blue          promote better
Star Memorial Marker at nearby Great         horticulture            Interpretive signage for the
                                                                     Monarch Watch Waystation
Lakes National Cemetery. Each spring,        practices and                 and pollinator garden
members meet to clean up and plant           encourage                 was provided by the MSU
                                                                     Extension Master Gardener
flowers in community gardens and again       all forms of                            Association.
each fall to put them to bed for the
winter. Club members also volunteer          At Rust Park, raised garden beds were designed and
                                             built to provide accessibility in accordance with the
                                                                  Americans with Disabilities Act.

                                                                                      Spring 2021| 27
A footbridge leads to the native
    garden, a project made possible
                                          conservation. However,                         Rust Park – A Gathering
       by a 2019 NGC native garden        as many members of the                         Place
                              grant.
                                          garden club may attest,                          Over the years, the
                                          their success at civic                         garden club has earned
                                          beautification is credited                     accolades for its many
                                          to providing ongoing                           community beautification
                                          education and encouraging                      efforts on the local and
                                          active participation in club                   state level, and in 2019,
                                          endeavors.                                     received an NGC grant

                                                          A monarch visits a butterfly
                                                                 bush in the perennial
                                                           garden, which is a Monarch
                                                                 Watch Waystation, at
                                                             the Grand Blanc Heritage
                                                              Museum. Plant markers
                                                            were provided by the MSU
                                                          Extension Master Gardeners
                                                                          Association.

                                          Spring bulb
   Children from a local preschool
                                        ‘early risers.’
   participate in a “dig and take”
   activity at the native
   garden. Students also
   learned about pollinators
   at the Monarch Watch
   Waystation garden.

   “ ...the
   garden club
   has earned
   accolades
   for its many
   community
   beautification
   efforts on
   the local and
   state level...
                          ”            ABOVE AND TOP MIDDLE: A bleeding heart blooms
                                       in early May
                                                                                                 Spring tulips and daffodils.

28 | The National Gardener
Garden club                                  Petunias, marigolds and fan flowers bloom in a garden
   members                                                             bed at Grand Blanc City Hall.
    maintain
    plantings
   at an NGC
    Blue Star
   Memorial
   Marker at
the entrance
        to the
 Great Lakes
    National
   Cemetery
     in Holly,
   Michigan.
 Garden club
   members
 planted the
  NGC Plant
     America
   narcissus,
 which offers
   a burst of
  color each
       spring.

for native
gardens to
continue its work
at Rust Park, which
is a beautiful                                 pertinent to the area. Considered a
green space within                             valuable resource for area history and
the city. Situated                             genealogical records, the museum offers
on 20 acres, the                               interactive exhibits and displays that
park features                                  provide insight into the days of early
a children’s garden, pavilion, a               agriculture in the region through the
“human sundial”, picnic tables, fenced         Victorian era.
playground, tennis and basketball courts,         Members of Touch the Earth Garden
baseball diamond and walking trails. A         Club play an active role in a variety of
popular community destination, the park        civic beautification projects.
also hosts fun annual water races on              They often work in tandem with other
Thread Creek, which runs through the           area like-minded organizations, including
park. The land for the park was donated        Keep Genesee County Beautiful,
to the City of Grand Blanc in 1939 by          Michigan’s first affiliate of Keep America
E. Sumner and Mary Rust in honor and           Beautiful; the beautification committee
memory of their nephew, Lt. William H.         of the City of Grand Blanc; and the
Rust, a native of Grand Blanc who was          Genesee County Master Gardeners of
killed in action in 1918 while serving with    the Michigan State University Extension
Company K, 125th Infantry Regiment in          Master Gardener Program (MGP). The
France in World War I.                         club is a member of Michigan Garden
                                               Clubs Inc. 
A Garden Showcase
  Members of Touch the Earth Garden
                                               Sue Hendrix
                                               President
Club created, and maintain, the tranquil       Touch the Earth Garden Club
garden setting at the Grand Blanc              swozndrix@gmail.com
Heritage Museum. The museum houses
historic artifacts and memorabilia                     Photos courtesy of Touch the
                                                       Earth Garden Club

                                                                                        Spring 2021| 29
THE
                   Happy

                       Guide GARDENER’S

                                   SEED DREAMS

   O     ne of my favorite
         rites of spring is
   receiving my annual
                                 lettuces and balmy basil
                                 start to dance about in
                                 my head as soon as I hear
   mailing of seed catalogues    the clink of the envelope
   and making my seed            landing in the mailbox.
   wish list. Visions of red,    Soon after, the floral
   juicy tomatoes, sunshiny      dreams begin: wild bee
   squash, velvety fingers       balm, vining sweet peas,
   of okra, crunchy crisp        sweet violas, passionate

30 | The National Gardener
poppies and tiers                                                          pink celery offers a
of sunflowers and                                                          distinctive, robust flavor.
vibrant zinnias. Let                                                       Although its fiber does
the parade of annuals                                                      not lend toward it being
march through my                                                           a snack food, it stays
perennials and take                                                        exceptionally fresh in
its place in the sun.                                                      a refrigerator drawer.
My seed dreams will                                                        Even just a few heads of
become real seeds                                                          pink celery can deliver
and real specimens in                                                      months of seasonings for
good time.                                                                 stir-fry dishes. Besides,
    Though this ritual                                                     how much fun is it to ask
has been performed                                                         a friend or stranger, “Did
                                The easy-to-grow Chinese Pink Celery
numerous times, the             completes the nutritional rainbow.         you know celery comes
tingle of expectation                                                      in pink?”
continues to head off the winter                          The Rocky Ford Cantaloupe™, world-
doldrums, infusing my spirit with fresh               famous since 1887, is readily available
thoughts of the coming spring that will               in my area and I seldom grow my own.
warm the earth and let us be busy in the              But would I consider a small, green,
garden once more.                                     white and orange-striped melon from
    While it’s desirable to plant cultivars           the Punjab region of India? Curiosity
that have already earned their                        got the better of me and I dove into
reliable status, spring also affords the              new territory with glee. Could I get the
opportunity to dream and invite some                  beautiful Cucumis melo ‘Kajari melon’
newcomers to the garden table. I was in               to grow in a far different landscape
a particularly cheeky, adventurous mood               than the fertile lands of Punjab? The
last year when I decided on some options              answer is a resounding “yes!” In addition
from the Punjab region of India, the                  to its striking appearance, the fruit is
Orient and Italy.                                     considerate enough to alert the grower
    Why not try Apium graveolens ‘Chinese             exactly when it is ready to be picked –
pink celery’? Popular in Northern China,              when it’s fully ripe, touch it gently and it
it sounded like an attractive choice, even            will fall from the vine. It is most helpful
if its usefulness might be in question. I             to let the fruit itself declare its ripeness!
learned that when started from seed,                  This was a revelation, as I’ve often been
pink celery looks very delicate, but its              amiss in determining the right time for
looks betray its hardy nature. True                   the optimum enjoyment of a melon. The
                              to form, it             melon’s pale green
                              branched into           flesh is soft and

“    ...pink celery a sturdy clump the taste is
looks very                    of pink stems           similar to
                              nearly a foot           honeydew,
delicate, but its tall. When                          but much
looks betray its              harvested               sweeter.
                              and cooked
                       ”
                                                           The Kajari is
hardy nature.                 in a stir-fry
                                                            an heirloom
                                                        melon grown in
                              of veggies,               the  Punjab region
                                                                 of India.

                                                                                          Spring 2021| 31
Its wonderful fruity fragrance rivals any
   popular perfume.
      The Nardello family brought the seeds
   for this excellent sweet pepper to the
   United States when they emigrated
   from Italy in 1887. Today, this pepper
   is included in the Ark of Taste, an
   international catalogue of endangered
   heritage food maintained by the Slow
   Food Foundation. Many chefs favor this
   sweet Italian frying pepper for its mild,
   fruity contribution to whatever veggies
   are in the sauté pan. For gardeners
   like me who struggle to
   get peppers to thrive, the
   Capsicum annum ‘Jimmy
   Nardello’ is an answer to a
   garden prayer. The classic
   “sports car red” pepper
   has the appearance of
                                                                  The snake bean quickly fills out
   a hot chili pepper, but                                           a trellis with foliage. Its tiny
                                                                blossoms, shaped like frilly stars,
   has a mild, spicy flavor.                                                    attract pollinators.
   Are you up to the                                         The Jimmy Nardello pepper is
   Jimmy Nardello pepper                                     dependable to grow and delicious
                                                            in flavor.
   challenge? Think of the
   fun factor of videotaping yourself
                                               desired an optimal-sized python, I
   calmly chomping on several of these and
                                               trimmed out slower-growing ones and
   sharing the astonishing sight to your
                                               still was rewarded with a wheelbarrow
   friends or grandchildren?
                                               full of four-to-six foot long beans! With
      Saving my best experimental dream
                                               COVID-19 restrictions limiting visitors
   until last, let me introduce you to the
                                               to my garden, I didn’t get to share with
   Trichosanthes cucumerina ‘Chinese
                                               others the fun of growing this bean;
   Python’ snake bean. It is the largest and
                                               however, the perfectly harmless bean
   thickest of its variety, growing up to 60
                                               “snakes” hanging from the archway trellis
   inches in length and 1.5 inches thick.
                                               always elicited a smile from me.
   Southeast Asia is the usual habitat for
                                                  Maybe the best part of “dream
   this prolific vine that bears loads of
                                               seeding” the garden with newcomers
   elongated vegetables. Technically, this
                                               from distant lands is not only the
   curious specimen is in the squash family,
                                               wonders they bring to the table, but the
   but its python-like appearance belies its
                                               fun connections to people and places far
   proper biology.
                                               away. 
      There is hardly a more entertaining
   vegetable for the garden! Regarding         Charlotte A. Swanson
                                               Consultant, Gardening Schools
   care and maintenance, the snake bean
                                               swannson@daltontel.net
   requires a strong trellis and occasional
   trimming to keep it in place. Since I             Photos by Charlotte A. Swanson

32 | The National Gardener
The Espoma                Great Depression and           brand leader, Espoma
Company began                the years that followed.       offers over 70 popular
production in 1929 with      However, growth was            organic products and
its first product, Espoma    slow and the work              manufactures over
Organic, a proprietary       hard. During this time,        50-million pounds
blend of natural materials   Sanders anticipated the        of organic fertilizer
available near the           need for a new type of         per year, making it a
company’s location in        plant food specifically        leading provider of
Millville, New Jersey. The   designed for hollies and       organic fertilizers for the
ingredients in Espoma        other acid-loving plants.      retail lawn and garden
Organic were blended         His pioneering spirit and      industries.
and bagged using shovels,    industry insights led to the     The evolution of
wheelbarrows and scales      testing of several plant       Espoma’s once-modest
– tasks accomplished         food formulations with         manufacturing facility
through the painstaking      local nurseries. The result    to the capabilities of the
efforts and hard work        was Holly-tone® – the          modern, state-of-the-
of scores of dedicated       first organically balanced     art operation in Millville
employees.                   fertilizer developed and       today is a reflection of the
   With product in hand,     formulated to fulfill the      company’s growth and
Espoma founder H.G.          requirements of acid-          success through hands-
Sanders set out on the       loving plants.                 on family ownership,
road selling in the New         Today, Holly-tone           quality products and
York, Philadelphia and       is considered by               dedicated workforce. This
Washington D.C. markets.     professional and amateur       time-honored spirit will
This successful strategy     gardeners to be the            continue to provide the
helped the company           number-one plant               impetus for Espoma well
survive the economic hard    food for all acid loving       into the 21st century.
times brought on by the      plants. In addition to this
                                                            Visit espoma.com

                Espoma is accepting applications
              for the Espoma Plant America Grant
                       October 1, 2020 – May 31, 2021
        For more information and/or to apply for the grant, visit
     espoma.com/garden-clubs/ or gardenclub.org/projects/espoma

                                                                             Spring 2021| 33
environmental, gardening
   and landscape design
   SCHOOLS

   C     ourses for Environmental,
         Gardening and Landscape Design
   Schools are being held via Zoom video
                                                 Students and consultants, especially
                                               those living out-of-state of the event,
                                               should inform their state school chairman
   conferencing until they can be held in an   of their attendance. Students completing
   in-person classroom setting. Some state     their 4th course need to complete
   chairmen are planning “hybrid” courses      Form 6, the Consultant Accreditation
   where the event is in the classroom with    Application, along with their registration
   some of the instructors presenting their    form for the event. Consultants seeking
   topics live and/or via Zoom. This course    refresher credit should complete and
   format is a wonderful opportunity to
   learn from some of the best experts
   and instructors at a minimum to no                            
   cost. We are adding to our national list           Please visit NGC Schools
   of highly recommended instructors who                Course Calendars at
   are willing to teach by Zoom. Students
   and consultants enjoy the opportunity to
                                                   www.gardenclub.org
   learn in a safe environment.

   Dear Readers of                                 valued columnist. She penned “The
                                                   Happy Gardener’s Guide” articles in
   The National Gardener,
                                                   each TNG magazine, which offered
      As my six-year tenure as your NGC            her unique insights into gardening.
   Gardening Schools chairman comes to a           Thank you Charlotte!
   close, I want to express my thanks and      •   Our NGC gardening committee
   commend the NGC gardening consultants           led the way to develop guidelines
   and authors who have so willingly               for NGC Environmental Schools,
   contributed to the educational content of       Gardening Schools and Landscape
   this publication:                               Design Schools in the use of the
   •    Charlotte Swanson, a gardening             Zoom video conferencing virtual
        consultant who completed all four          platform. We formed a Zoom Beta
        GSS courses in Nebraska five years         Advisory group in June, 2020, which
        ago, has been a consistent and

34 | The National Gardener
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