The General Meeting was called to order by President Carol Ross on Monday, May 2, at 12:19 p.m., at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut.
President Carol Ross welcomed everyone to the May General Meeting and thanked Debby Moore for the lovely English-carriage-themed arrangement Debby created for the refreshment table.
Award Presentation
President Carol Ross began by announcing that Kelly O’Leary, principal at the St. Martin de Porres Academy in New Haven, Connecticut, had been chosen as one of the 2011 national award recipients of the GCA Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award. GCNH is proud to have nominated Kelly O’Leary for consideration of this prestigious award. Vickie DiSesa, (Scholarship Committee Chair) presented the award to Ms. O’Leary on behalf of GCA, presenting a congratulatory letter, a framed certificate, and a check in the amount of $1,000.00. Kelly O’Leary graciously accepted this award and thanked GCNH for nominating her and GCA for honoring her with the award.
Program
President Ross introduced Debby Moore (Program Committee Chair) who provided the introduction for guest speaker, Sylvia Kowal Abbott. Sylvia Kowal Abbott is a Master Judge for the National Garden Clubs, Inc., as well as a GCA Horticulture and Flower Arranging Judge. In preparation for the GCNH Zone II Meeting, Sylvia Kowal Abbott chose to speak on the topic of “Growing and Grooming for a Flower Show,” and submitting entries in the Horticulture Division. She provided handouts on both topics. Her presentation was accompanied by a slide show of photographs taken at the 2005 WAFA (World Association of Flower Arrangers) Flower Show in Yokohama, Japan. She encouraged GCNH members to attend the WAFA Flower Show, This Glorious Earth, which will be held for the first time in the United States, June 15-19, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Seaport World Trade Center. Thirty countries belong to WAFA, and their international flower shows are held every three years in a different country. www.wafausa.org
Business Meeting
President’s Report
• President Carol Ross thanked the guest speaker, Sylvia Kowal Abbott, for her informative and helpful presentation.
• Thank you to Marty Dauwalder for preparing the minutes.
• President Ross called for the Treasurer’s report.
Treasurer’s Report
• April 2011 - Recorded Income and Expenses
$ 645.55 – Total Income
$357.00 - Income from the sale of Betsy Gentry’s Books (deposited into the Legacy Fund)
$270.00 – Income from the sale of Kitchen One and Kitchen Two Workshop Manuals
$3,504.82 – Total Expenses for April 2011
$9,229.35 – Administrative Account Balance (the GCNH regular, checking account)
• Sondra Haller (Treasurer) stated that letters requesting membership dues have been sent out and should be returned to her as soon as possible.
• Sondra noted the envelopes used to send notice of dues were 100% recyclable, and the Forever stamps on the envelopes were printed with tips on ways to help “save the planet.”
• Members wanting to pay their dues at today’s meeting, please see Sondra (she brought extra forms just for this purpose).
President’s Report (continued)
• A thank you was received from Colleen Murphy-Dunning, Director, Hixon Center for Urban Ecology, URI (Urban Resources Initiative), for the donation of $2,500.00 to be used for the specific purpose of planting trees in the City of New Haven. Ms. Murphy-Dunning stated a significant number of trees (270) will be planted by the end of April, 2011.
• A thank-you note has been received from GCA thanking GCNH for a donation of $400.00 to be used for an internship in the Garden History and Design. This gift was made in honor of Jenny Rose Carey, our November 2010 speaker.
• A thank you was extended to Lisa Lovejoy for the lovely flower arrangement she made on behalf of GCNH for the memorial service held April 17 for long-time GCNH member, Betsy Gentry.
• Debbie Edwards was called upon to present a report on long-time GCNH Sustaining Member, Phyllis McDowell. Debbie reported Phyllis McDowell had recently received the “Citizen Service Before Self Award” from the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. An article can be found in the New Haven Register published on Wednesday, April 20, 2011: “Fellowship Place Founder Phyllis McDowell Earns Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation Award.” A copy of this article was on the side table for review. www.nhregister.com
• President Ross announced GCNH member, Natalie Melbardis Ronai, has an exhibition of her art on display at the New Haven Lawn Club from May 5 until July 4, 2011. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Reminder to members to please submit any information you want to be included in the GCNH blog newsletter to Ann Hoefer by the Sunday after the General Meeting.
• GCNH members were asked to please check their names/addresses/telephone numbers and e-mail addresses in the current GCNH Directory to insure they are accurate for the 2011-2012 directory. Changes should be submitted to Elaine Anderson (Corresponding Secretary).
• President Ross stated copies of the revised Bylaws had been given to all GCNH members for review, and this document must now be voted upon for approval by the members present at this meeting. Members had previously been asked to contact President Ross by April 18, 2011, with any suggestions of change to this revised document. Two suggestions were received and reviewed by the GCNH Board of Directors at the April 21, 2011, board meeting: (1) It was suggested that the flower show listing be expanded. The GCNH Board of Directors determined there is not a need to expand this. (2) It was suggested that the Standing Committees have a chair and co-chair. The Board of Directors determined that because it is not always possible to fill both positions on every committee, this idea would be an appropriate directive to the Nominating Committee, which will try and fill these positions. There being no further discussion of the revised Bylaws, President Carol Ross asked for a motion of approval to accept the revised GCNH Bylaws as written. The motion to approve the revised GCNH Bylaws as written was made by Christine Janis, seconded by Susan Ehrenkranz, and approved by a quorum vote of the membership present.
• A welcome was extended to GCNH member, Robin DuBois.
Committee Reports
Visiting Gardens—Jeanne Ciravolo Bjorkman
• The Conservation and Visiting Gardens Committees have worked together to plan a GCNH garden tour to the Highstead Arboretum in Redding, Connecticut, to see their extensive collection of Kalmia latifolia (Mountain laurel). The tour is scheduled for Friday, June 3, 2011. A box lunch will be provided at a cost of $15 each. More details to follow. A sign-up sheet for participating in this tour is located on the side table, or contact Jeanne Ciravolo Bjorkman.
Hospitality—Rosita Murphy
•Thank you to all who brought refreshments to today’s meeting—Vicki Arkins, Jody Bush, Marty Daniels-Cohen, Cordalie Benoit, Ann Burrow, Adele Edgerton, and Marty Dauwalder. Thank you to Debby Moore for her lovely table arrangement.
Flower Arranging—Lisa Lovejoy
• Once again Lisa Lovejoy had provided a photo “puzzler” on the side table for members to try and guess the correct placement of ribbon awards on four flower arrangements (a game of guessing and determining which flower arrangement should be awarded 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention). GCNH members who guessed correctly were Debbie Edwards and Amy Estabrook. They were each given a prize of a one-year subscription to the flower arranging magazine, By Design.
• Kitchen One participants will be meeting on Wednesday, May 25, to make flower arrangements for the GCNH Spring Wine Tasting event.
• A thank you was extended to Sylvia Kowal Abbott for her timely program presentation.
• WAFA Flower Show (World Association of Flower Arrangers), This Glorious Earth, held at the Seaport Trade Center, Boston, Massachusetts, June 15-19, 2011. http://www.wafausa.org/about_the_show.php
Conservation—Mikey Hirschoff
• Two books are offered for sale today by the Conservation Committee. Earth Friendly Alternatives, published by the Stonington Garden Club. Does It Come In Green? published by the Stony Brook Garden Club of Princeton. Orders can be placed today with Mikey Hirschoff, or by Sunday, May 8, to ensure the books will arrive in time for the GCNH Annual Meeting on June 6.
Photography—Amy Estabrook
• Mikey Hirschoff reported in conjunction with Amy Estabrook. GCNH members were encouraged to enter their photography in the Zone II, ‘NEATH THE ELMS,’ Photography Division of the flower show. Members should submit their photographs to Amy, all will be reviewed, and one will be selected for submission as our Club entry in the Photography Division (Class 1-Shadows; Class 2-Surfaces; Class 3-Contrasts). Each club can submit only one photograph. If interested, please see the sign-up sheet on the side table, or contact Amy Estabrook.
• Photographs taken of GCNH activities and events in 2010-2011 are requested for the GCNH archives which is being complied by Amy Estabrook. Members, please submit any photographs you may have. Your original photograph will be copied and returned.
• Check the GCNH blog for further Photography information.
Horticulture—Shelby Wilson
• President Ross reported on behalf of Shelby Wilson, encouraging all GCNH members to enter the Horticulture Division of the Zone II Flower Show.
2011 Zone II Meeting, Fundraising Chair—Betsy Hartmayer
• GCNH members have the opportunity to become involved and help host the GCA Zone II Meeting GCNH is hosting in October. Rather than assess each GCNH member a dollar amount to help raise funds for this project, GCNH has chosen to hold fund-raising events. The final event for this purpose will be the Spring Wine Tasting to be held in the home of Susan and Richard Ehrenkranz on Thursday, May 26, 2011, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Le Petit Gourmet will cater the event, and wines will be donated by Amity Wine & Spirit Company. Invitations have been sent, and RSVP’s are being taken.
2011 Zone II Meeting, Flower Show—Vicki Arkins
• Plans for the Zone II Flower Show are off to a great start, with only six months until the meeting! Members were asked to please read the handout/schedule, ‘NEATH THE ELMS,’ which each member has been given.
•Each Zone II club (20 in all) will be required to enter one class in each discipline (minimum of three entries per club).
• Division I - Flower Arrangement. Class1 - Drama; Class 2 - Poetry; Class 3 - Music; Class 4 - Dance; Class 5 - Art. Each club is required to provide one entry in one of the Flower Arrangement Classes. Betsy Hartmayer has volunteered to make a flower arrangement entry for GCNH.
• Division II - Horticulture. Class 1 - Topiaries; Class 2 - Fall Window Box Garden; Class 3 - Air Plant Display;
Class 4 - Wreath of Succulents; Class 5 to 9 - Dahlia; Class 10 - American Elm Seeds; Class 11 - Indoor Favorites;
Class 12 - Indoor Flowers. Each club is required to submit a minimum of one entry into the Horticulture Division. Horticulture is an important part of the flower show, and it is hoped there will be many entries from GCNH members.
• Division III – Photography. Class1 - Shadows; Class 2 - Surfaces; Class 3 - Contrasts. Each club is required to enter one photograph in Division III Photography. Four entries have been submitted, thus far.
• Division IV – Educational Exhibit. Buy Local ~ Eat Local, In New Haven County
• Please volunteer to help with this important event—all GCNH members must “wear several hats” to help make this meeting and flower show a success. Volunteer sign-up sheets are located on the side table.
2013 Project Trees—Debbie Edwards
• Self-Guided Walking Tour. Billie Ladd requested GCNH members taking walking tours of gardens and parks this summer to please bring back and give to Billie brochures from those tours. These brochures will be reviewed as plans are made to compile the brochure for the Zone II Self-Guided Walking Tour of the New Haven Green.
• Documentary Film. Karyl Evans Productions, LLC, is producing the film documenting the history of the New Haven Green. Karyl would like to film inside the vestibules of the two churches on the Green—Center Church of the Green (or First Church of Christ), and the United Church on the Green (or North Church). If any GCNH members personally know who to contact at either of these churches to inquire about permission to film in the vestibules, please contact Karyl Evans. Actor, Paul Giamatti, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, has agreed to narrate the film.
Announcements
• The GCNH Annual Meeting will be held at the home of Rosita and Grayson Murphy on Monday, June 6, at 12:00 noon. GCNH members were reminded to wear their garden hats to this meeting in which the wonderful achievements of the past season are celebrated.
Other Business
President Carol Ross asked for a motion to approve the GCNH General Meeting Minutes of April 4, 2011.
M/S/P to approve the minutes.
There was no further business for discussion.
M/S/P to adjourn at 2:10 p.m.
Minutes submitted by recording secretary, Marty Dauwalder
The next GCNH General Meeting will be held on October 3, 2011, at 11:45 a.m. in the Jones Auditorium, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The guest, program speaker will be Howland Blackiston, presenting “Threats Challenging the Honey Bee.”
See next Page 5
Growing and Grooming for a Flower Show
Program Notes – Sylvia Kowal Abbott Presentation
Growing and Grooming for a Flower Show
Program Notes – Sylvia Kowal Abbott Presentation
Members supporting the GCA Zone II Meeting Flower Show by actively participating are not only supporting the garden club, but are actively learning, themselves. When entering in a flower show, always read the schedule and guidelines, participate as much as you can, and don’t worry about the awards! Through GCA, members have a social, as well as vocational, meeting of minds. Flower shows are meant to be a learning experience and fun! Don’t forget to enter in the Horticulture Division—it is an important part of every flower show, and it is an area where garden club members can show-off their plant-growing skills.
Sylvia Kowal Abbott chose to emphasize several points from her handout, “Growing and Grooming for a Flower Show.”
Growing
• Start with good genetic material—award winning cvs, good nursery stock. Buy plants tagged with the rating (a plant that has been rated with an award from one of the plant societies). Always be sure of what you are buying and ask questions of the nursery sales staff if the plant is not clearly labeled.
• Center plant in the container. Be certain the pot is the right size for the plant.
• Stake and prune for symmetry. Stake and tie neatly.
• Disbud cut specimens if necessary (i.e., roses, peonies, etc.), when pea-sized buds. More and more flower shows are asking that plants be disbudded.
Preparing Container Grown Specimens
• Pot—free of cracks, chips; scrub with Brillo pad to remove stains; repot if necessary for plant size or cleanliness. Consider using an old, nylon stocking with soap in it to scrub the pot. Re-pot your plant early, well before the flower show, rather than trying to re-pot at the last minute—you might break leaves.
Plant Material
• Remove all debris (flowers, leaves, etc.) from the plant and/or soil. Use long tweezers to remove debris.
• For insect and fungus control (e.g., mealy bugs, powdery mildew) spray the plant with 10 Parts Water to 1 Part Rubbing Alcohol. Spray the plant with this mixture until the problem is gone (usually one week to ten days).
• Unobtrusive staking and ties. Make neat knots when staking the stem of the plant.
Cut Specimens
• Cut in early morning or late in the day. If the cut specimen has wilted, re-cut the stem under hot water.
Many thanks to Vicki Arkins for providing the following information on Merit Judging and Par Class Entries.
Merit Judging
• Merit Judging – This is point scoring. There may be more than one Blue, Red, or Yellow award in each class. Honorable Mention may also be awarded. Merit Judging is used in any show in which the members of the sponsoring club wish to eliminate interpersonal competition. A Merit Class must be designated in the schedule. In Horticulture, it is strongly recommended that all challenge classes (our Elm Seedling Class), classes for cut specimens, classes labeled “Other,” and entries grown using sustainable practices be judged using the Merit System. In Flower Arrangement, Merit Judging may be used in a club show when the exhibitors are novices and may learn from being judged individually instead of against each other; or in a home or placement show, when the locations are so different that one setting may give an exhibitor a special advantage; or in a museum setting in which the selected art is so diverse that comparative judging is difficult.
Par Class
• Par Class – Entries can be anything that grows (container-grown plants, terrariums, pairs, etc.). The Par Class entry must be an exhibit of horticultural merit that cannot be entered in another class in the show. Rather than judged against each other, the entries in a Par Class are judged individually (and against perfection) by point scoring. Honorable Mention is not awarded in a Par Class.
• Merit Judging may be used in the Flower Arrangement Division and in Horticulture; while Par Class is only found in the Horticulture Division.
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