District General Board Meeting

The Fall 2012 meeting of the district board, club presidents, vice-presidents and guests will be held November 6th at 10AM at the 1756 Uwchlan Meeting House, 5 N. Village Avenue, Lionville, PA. Our speaker will be Adam Levine, historical consultant to Philadelphia Water Department and he will be speaking about the fascinating history of Philadelphia's many lost streams.  He will also offer his books on the history of the Philadelphia Flower Show for sale.  

The Garden Class of WCCU

Our club meets the fourth (4th) Thursday of each month at 11:00am at the 1756 Uwchlan Meeting House in Lionville, PA.  For more information and to contact us, see our website www.uwchlangardenclass.org/

Spade and Trowel Club

The club meets every second Tuesday of the month from September through June. Coffee and socializing starts at 9:00 a.m. The business meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Programs begin about 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch.

 

2012 District I Garden Club 'Favorites List'

 

Programs: 

• "A History of the Flower Show", Melinda Moritz, chair of the 2012 PHS Flower Show.
• "Ground Covers - More Than Pachysandra", Pauline Myers.
• The Orchid Doctor, Tracey LeCates
• Sogetsu Design Demo, Midori Tanimune
• Lower Merion Conservancy, Patricia Thompson
• "Winter Color in the Garden", RareFind Nursery, NJ
• "Floral Arranging for Autumn", Terrain at Styers
• "Organic Gardening", Tom Colton (717-598-1721)
• "Orchids and Epiphytes", Ann Eder, Chadds Ford Greenhouses
• "Arranging the Spring Harvest", Eva Monheim
• "Sensory Appeal of Native Plants, Greg Tepper, Mt. Cuba horticulturalist
• "Container Gardening with Native Plants", Marcia Tate
• Portrayal of John Bartram, Kirk Brown, dramatist
• Especially for men - Auburn Heights Preserve, Yorklyn, DE. Tom Marshall created a Steam Museum with historic automobiles, a Stanley Steamer and a "riding" miniature railroad. (302-239-2385) AuburnHeights.org

Tours:

• Visit to Brandywine River Museum
• Chanticleer
• PECO Green Roof
• Longwood Gardens
• Jenkins Arboretum
• Burpee Test Gardens (only open a few days in Spring). Combined with visit to Pearl Buck Home.
• Eve Thyrum's Garden
• Bartram's Garden
• Meadowbrook Farm
• Terrain at Styers
• Riverbend
• Dodo Hamilton's Gardens and Greenhouses with 'best in show' plants
• Philadelphia Flower Show - early morning
• WynEden - Wayne Guymon's garden
• Native plant garden on the Springton Reservoir, Media.  martinam4@verizon.net

Activities:

• Design and deliver Christmas arrangements to residents of the Wentworth Home in West Chester.
• Design and deliver May Baskets and place on bedside tables of residents of Wentworth Home in West Chester.
• Design and deliver flower arrangements to the chester Valley Rehab Center - monthly.
• Plant seasonal containers outside Borough Hall in Malvern.
• Planted a Franklinia tree at the township building on Arbor Day.
• Designed May baskets and hung them on their mailboxes for neighbors to enjoy.
• June dinner on the terrace overlooking the gardens at Jenkins Arboretum
• August annual covered dish picnic with spouses, friends and potential new members.

News from Mt. Cuba

September brings so much to Mt. Cuba Center - fun classes, fall color, and a whole new way to visit the garden. See what you can bring home with you!

Favorite plants that make a real show in your garden - Asteraceae, (Saturday, September 15, 10AM, $20) and Heuchera and Coreopsis (Saturday, September 29, 10AM, $10) are in the spotlight this month. In both classes, you'll learn the characteristics of the plants and get one to try at home. Both classes will be outside so dress for the weather.

Art and garden lovers - this is your month! Our Garden Sketch Club sessions begin this Saturday, September 15 (10AM and 1PM, $10 per session), and continue each Saturday through October 6. Attend one session or all eight. If you like creating a take-home project, try one of the Leaf Impression Jewelry classes on Wednesday, September 19 (10AM or 1:30PM, $40.) Learn the process of designing and planting your own native plant container garden in Healthy Habitats - Contained! on Wednesday, September 26 (1PM, $35).

Public garden tours are back, starting this Thursday, September 13. "The Vibrancy of Fall" highlights the early colors of the season and how the garden and its inhabitants prepare for the winter ahead. Tours are still $5 and reservations are strongly recommended. For a whole new way to see the garden at your own pace, come to Mt. Cuba Center on one of our Visitor Days (September 28 and 29^th, 10 AM - 4 PM). Wander at your own pace and enjoy learning stations for all ages to enhance your visit. No reservations are required - tickets may be purchased at the door.

For complete details on all our classes, tours and events, and to register, visit www.mtcubacenter.org, or call 302-239-4244. Especially when there is so much to see and do, I look forward to sharing the beauty of Mt. Cuba Center with you.

Sincerely,

Eileen Boyle

Director of Education & Research

News from Mt. Cuba

Don't miss Heuchera Highlights on Wednesday, August 15. Pictured above are three favorites from our trial garden: 'Citronelle', 'Midnight Bayou' and 'Silver Scrolls'. Cost of the class is $20 and you'll take home a heuchera plant. (10AM - 12 Noon.) Register for these classes at www.mtcubacenter.org or call 302-239-4244.

By this time next month, you should have the latest Continuing Education brochure in hand. The fall/winter season will be filled with all-new opportunities for learning about native plants and their benefits. Bird watchers - take note. There will be a series of events at Mt. Cuba Center through the winter of 2013 that you won't want to miss. Also highlighted are Asterceae, Heucheras, Coreopsis, and native orchids, along with field trips and art classes. Our fall tours get a renewed focus. Look for four special "Visitor Days," where you'll be able to stroll the gardens at your leisure.

If you'd prefer to learn inside, take a class at Mt. Cuba Center Connect. Moss, ferns, hummingbirds, meadow plants and orchids await you. Check out our Facebook page for regular postings on drought-tolerant plants and see what stays looking great in the hottest of weather.

As always, even during the doldrums of summer, I look forward to sharing the beauty of the gardens with you, both onsite and online.

 

Sincerely,

Eileen Boyle

Director of Education and Research

News from Mt. Cuba

With high-temperature records being broken all over the country, especially in the last few weeks, the thought of gardening seems a little daunting, doesn't it? But now is the time to give those carefully tended plants just a little extra attention. Make it a family affair and pass along the love of all things native to the next generation.

Family programming is highlighted in this month's classes at Mt. Cuba Center. The Journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly (Tuesdays, July 17 & 24) introduces kids to the magical metamorphosis of our winged friends. Jack Hubley's Wild Neighbors returns on Saturday, July 14 at 10AM. This time he's bringing hawks and owls - birds of prey that you may have seen in your own backyard. Keep unwanted plants out of your yard - learn Native Alternatives to Invasives on Wednesday, July 18, (10AM-12 Noon). Join me on Fridays, July 20 & August 3 and learn how to identify the most common Forest Trees of Delaware (10AM-12 Noon). Become a Mt. Cuba Center Researcher for a Day and contribute data to our trials on Heuchera and Coreopsis.(Saturday, July 21, 9AM - Noon.)

We've added a new selection to our online classes at Mt. Cuba Center Connect. Native Orchid Conference 2011 features seven hours of video lectures taken from last year's gathering of native orchid enthusiasts at Mt. Cuba Center. Watch them at your leisure - with the promo code "ladyslipper," the class is $35.

For details and registration for all our events, visit www.mtcubacenter.org, or call 302-239 4244. Remember, even when it's hot, the garden continues to give sanctuary to birds, bees and more. I look forward to sharing the beauty of our garden with you, onsite and online.

Sincerely,

Eileen Boyle

Director of Education and Research