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Redbud Reporter Fall 2013

FROM OUR DIRECTOR

Dear Reliable Redbuds,

Our District has started to become famous for the Baskets that our clubs and their members make

up for the Raffle held at the October Redbud District Meeting. My request of you is to make a

basket that can be raffled off, perhaps with a special theme, and since cards will be placed at all

the baskets, we need to know in advance of your intentions, so that Rigby can make the cards

with your club name on it. (I will ask you to make a list of included items which can be attached

to the raffle description card.)

The other Redbud Fundraiser we have at the October Meeting is the Ways and Means Country

Store. Moonflower GC will be handling the sales, but all of us are needed to bring in plants,

seeds, pots, garden implements, books, magazines, and, my favorite part, all the knick-knacks

and vases and more. In the past, we have also had members who brought up clear bags filled

with very large pinecones, cookbooks from their garden clubs which they were donating for the

fundraising of Redbud, and even jars of jellies and relishes. All that you bring will be happily

sold and bought, before the meeting, at the lunch break and, if any is left, after the meeting.

Thank you so much for your help.

Emily Emily Wilbert

Redbud District Director

themomemw@gmail.com

Redbud District Meeting

Friday, October 18, 2013

Stone Mountain Inn

Gardening Grows Friends

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FIRST ANNUAL AVONDALE ESTATES TREE WALK Avondale Estates Garden Club and Avon Garden Club jointly

sponsored the Tree Walk on April 27 of this year. Avondale

Estates is one of the official Tree Cities in the state of Georgia,

with many old oak trees, mature maples of several varieties, and

unusual specimen trees lining the residential streets, often

creating a canopy over sidewalks and roads. Avondale residents

had been asked to nominate trees for the walk, which they

selected for outstanding qualities including size, shape, history,

and other appealing characteristics.

The starting point for the walk was the Community Clubhouse.

From there participants headed out in several small groups, each

led by an expert tree guide, and visited the nominated trees and

others, and discussed features and characteristics of each tree

with their guide. City trees face many challenges and much

forethought is needed to optimize the chances that the tree will reach successful maturity and not

be a burden. Selecting the right tree for the environment and soil conditions, protecting the roots

in the drip zone, keeping distance from concrete and asphalt, placing the tree to avoid damage to

basements, structures, and utilities, and avoiding visibility problems for drivers are some of the

concerns of tree experts when planning and maintaining city trees.

HUNTING HILL LOOKING FORWARD TO GROWTH Times are changing. And in response, the Hunting Hill

Garden Club (HHGC) of Decatur is reinvigorated and

poised for growth. In March of 1962, twenty-four ladies

formed the HHGC in what was then considered a

suburban part of Atlanta. Through the next fifty-one

years, things changed. As the city grew, so did outlying

suburbs, and Decatur, which was once a suburban part of

Atlanta, became a desirable Inside-the-Perimeter location.

During this time, the club maintained the course, and the

ladies of the neighborhood continued the objectives of the

club. One of those objectives is to further civic interest and promote friendliness of the

neighborhood.

Today the neighborhood is very different than it was in 1962. There are dual income families,

couples of all ages, and other new neighbors that create a very diverse neighborhood. One thing

remains the same, the importance of the HHGC, and the club has evolved with the changes.

For instance in 2012, the club amended its by-laws so that men could be members. The by-laws

were originally written to allow only women members. So in 2013, the club saw its first male

president, Nick Smith. He and co-president, Leslie Blair, are continuing to build off of the club’s

legacy and invigorate the membership with an emphasis on environmental issues, food

provenance, organic gardening, community involvement, and social events.

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The co-presidents are joined by a fantastic Board boasting members ranging from new home

owners to a founding charter member. With the support and guidance of charter member, Joanne

Bennett, and long standing members Rigby Duncan and Betty Thompson, the new board has a

deep understanding of the potential impact of the club while introducing new ideas that support

the club’s objectives.

While times have changed since 1962, the HHGC has changed too and is hopefully poised for

another fifty years of philanthropic activities, building interest in gardening, and promoting

friendly interaction in our neighborhood.

LADYBUGS READY FOR THE LILBURN DAZE FESTIVAL The Ladybugs Garden Club worked to put the finishing touches on pocket wreaths they are

hoping will be one of the successful fund raisers for their projects. They will have a booth at the

Lilburn Daze festival in October where they will be selling yard art they made, like decorative

miniature bird houses on a stake for your garden, living wreaths, baskets planted with succulents,

fall flowers, ferns and herbs. They will also sell potted plants

from their yards. The Club always has a give-away for children

at the festival, and this year’s is a pet rock painted like a ladybug

with a verse included about “life,” such as “Dream big!”

Preparing items for sale at the fall festival not only has the

ultimate purpose of fund raising, but also provides a learning

experience. Ladybugs carefully label each plant for sale with the

common name, the botanical name, drought tolerance and

include a photo of the blooming plant on the label. The pocket

wreaths, which are to be used outside, afforded a learning

experience to determine which plants would flourish in the fall

weather as the wreaths grace fences, doors, gates and outdoor

walls.

Karen Bricker, pictured, and Penny Brown led the effort to create living wreaths.

Gardening Grows Friends

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CONCORD GARDEN CLUB INAUGURATES THE YEAR OF CELEBRATION

Concord Garden Club met on September 19 in the

garden of the home where the organization was

founded in 1924 to honor those ‘twelve good

women…’who were the first members. Five of those

attending are legacy members or past legacy members

of the club. Also, there were letters read from other

past legacy members with recollections of early

meetings. A second generation member wrote a very

interesting letter chronicling the changes she

experienced as a member joining during the club’s

23rd

year (4 years prior to the federation of The

Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.) She comments on the

“genteel Georgians of that era…” when each of the original 12 members all had formal gardens

(and gardeners to help maintain them). Her membership dates from 1947, soon after World War

II. “…servants were scarcer, women were working away from home and the new, younger

members found it hard to sustain the old ‘rules’. Fortunately, they fashioned a more flexible,

welcoming group, and developed into a modern version of what the original twelve probably had

in mind.” Every garden club member continues to adjust to the changing standards, but always

keeps in mind the goals of The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.—Education, Beautification, and

Preservation. This has kept Concord Garden Club a viable group for almost 90 years and will

continue to make the garden club movement positive and worthwhile.

As Concord Garden Club prepares for this significant anniversary in April of 2014, it was very

meaningful to be invited to have the September meeting in the garden of this special home and to

take the picture recreating the one taken in April 1924 when the club was organized. We thank

the owners for their courtesy in allowing us this opportunity.

LULLWATER AND EMORY ENVIRONMENTALISTS HELP WITH INVASIVE REMOVAL The Lullwater Garden Club (LGC) launched its first work

project for the Lullwater Conservation Garden’s 2013-2014

season on Saturday, September 14, 2013. Eight students

from Emory University’s Environmental Studies Club came

down to the Garden for a day of invasive plant removal.

Pictured are the eight students from Emory University and

Jane Kelly, First Vice President of the LGC. The students

come from all over the U.S. – Buffalo NY, New York City,

St., Louis and the like. However, they all share a passion for

the environment and in keeping community green spaces

available for the public.

The Environmental Studies Club was looking for a project in

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the local community and luckily for the Lullwater Garden Club, the efforts of removing invasive

plants from the Lullwater Conservation Garden fit the bill. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon,

all worked to remove over 20 bags of invasive materials from the Garden. Enthused by the

history of the garden and the neighborhood’s association with Olmsted, the students have

decided to partner with the Lullwater Garden Club to assist with future maintenance efforts. The

LGC is thrilled to have their support.

REDBUD YOUTH HAVE LOTS OF FUN! Remarkable Redbud campers joined the 6

th Annual

Wild & Wonderful Experience camp held July 14-16

at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield. We

dodged the raindrops and enjoyed an array of exciting

activities including a stream study, fishing, visiting

with a Red Tailed Hawk, a Barred Owl and several

large snakes! Our GCG projects included container

gardening, bee studies with a local beekeeper and

even tasting delicious raw honey. President Suzanne

Wheeler taught us all how to make a collage design

using dried natural materials. Cloud cover did not

dampen our annual program from the Atlanta Astronomy Club. Frank Garner and Theo

Ramakers brought an extensive slide and visual aid presentation to the campers who were

enthralled the entire evening in learning of our solar system. The rains also brought an

opportunity to learn much about mushrooms on our various daily hikes! So much activity and

much to learn at W&WE. Mark your calendars for our next camp, July 13-15 and invite your

rising 5th

& 6th

Graders to join the fun! Thank you for your support of this wonderful

environmental education experience!

Contact Susan Turner W&WE Co-Chairman 770-922-4411

“DAISY THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS” Remarkable Redbuds Participate in District Flower Show 78% of the District’s fifty Remarkable Redbud Clubs

were involved in the production of the Redbud District’s

42nd Standard Flower Show at Stone Mountain Park

September 6-8, 2013 during the Yellow Daisy Festival.

Garden Clubs throughout the district rallied together and

stepped through the looking glass and down the rabbit

hole to produce “Daisy Through the Looking Glass”,

adapted from the familiar adventures of the childhood

classics about Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. And

what a Wonderland it was at Memorial Hall, with the

Hall of Mirrors, the Queen of Hearts’ Garden and Down the Rabbit Hole staging. The entry

vignette, a mannequin dressed in a white pinafore with a daisy head, welcomed 1,800 plus

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visitors from all over the world. Forty-four floral designs, with sizes starting at just five inches

high, were showcased on tables, pedestals, platforms and easels as well as hanging designs. One

class of designs offered a glimpse Down the Rabbit Hole, viewing beautiful arrangements

through a small opening. Attendees were invited into the Queen of Hearts Garden through an

archway of jumbo cards suspended overhead.

573 exhibits of both cut specimens of plant materials as well as plants growing in pots, plus

fruits, vegetables, vines and herbs in addition to trees and shrubs, were all grown within the 18

counties comprising Redbud District. The Special Exhibits Division of the show included both

design and horticulture for youth, preschool through eighteen years of age. The great creativity

and ingenuity in youth design entries was a show

standout again this year, with youth creating their

favorite characters from Alice in Wonderland or

Through the Looking Glass. Educational exhibits

informed attendees about butterflies and about available

new and improved cultivars, as well as cultivars on the

market 45 years ago during the first Yellow Daisy

Festival. The show fulfilled The Garden Club of

Georgia’s mission of Beautification, Conservation and

Education.

Every year several National Garden Clubs’ Special Recognition Awards are presented to

individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the District Flower Show. This year’s

recipients were Ann Purr, a member of the Mountain Mums Garden Club; Susan Turner of

Conyers Garden Club; and Deanna McFarlan, a member of Shenandoah Rose Garden Club.

Congratulations to these ladies for receiving this special honor.

Show Chairman Joy Zaidan and Co-Chairman Barbara Crank wish to express their sincere

gratitude to those who volunteered to set up, hostess, clerk, make costumes, serve on

committees, work in horticulture check-in, teardown, as well as enter designs, horticulture and

special exhibits. It took many hands to make this show so beautiful. Thanks to all of you who

worked diligently and sent monetary contributions to make this show successful. You are the

best!

Congratulations to the FLOWER SHOW TOP AWARD WINNERS DESIGN

Award of Design Excellence: Dian Goldwire (Iris GC)

Designers Choice Award: Dian Goldwire (Iris GC), Joy Zaidan (Smoke Rise Morning Glories)

Petite Award: Martha Thom (Pine Needle GC)

Blue Ribbons: Cookie Roland (Smoke Rise Morning Glories), Dian Goldwire (Iris GC), Brenda

Brettschneider (Designers Club), Barbara Crank (Smoke Rise Morning Glories), Molly

Fitzsimmons (Pine Needle GC), Joy Zaidan (Smoke Rise Morning Glories), Charlyne Harrison

(Designers Club), Mickie Holton (Leafmore Hills GC), Shirley Thomas (Designers Club),

Martha Thom (Pine Needle GC), Tee Borders (Pine Needle GC), Gloria Ward (Designers Club)

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HORTICULTURE:

Award of Horticultural Excellence: Bonnie Phelps (Avondale Estates)

Award of Merit for Flowering Perennials: Berna Spencer (Ladybugs)

Award of Merit for Flowering Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, Rhizomes: Bonnie Phelps (Avondale

Estates)

Award of Merit for Foliage Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, Rhizomes: Elba McCue (Ladybugs)

Award of Merit for Flowering Annuals: Jane Hersey

(Student Judge)

Award of Merit for Fruits and Vegetables: Barbara

Maaskant (Shenandoah Rose GC)

Arboreal Award for Shrubs: Dian Goldwire (Iris GC)

Arboreal Award for Trees: Jane Hersey (Student

Judge)

Collector’s Showcase Award: Rosalie Gage (Old

Town GC Sharpsburg)

Grower’s Choice Award for Foliage Container-Grown

Plants: Shirley Porterfield (Student Judge)

SPECIAL EXHIBITS

Educational Award: Gloria Ward (Designers Club)

Youth Design, Juniors: Helen Herrera, age 7 (sponsored by Iris GC)

Youth Design, Intermediates: Luke Johnson, age 8 (sponsored by Spade & Trowel GC)

Youth Design, High School: Shepard Martin, age 14 (sponsored by Hunting Hill GC)

Youth Horticulture, Intermediates: Ginny Flory, age 12 (sponsored by Breckenridge Garden

Arts I GC)

ADDITIONAL AND LOCAL AWARDS

Stone Mt. Park Award (for the Club winning the most blue ribbons in the show: Spade &

Trowel GC (won 48 blue ribbons)

Sweepstakes Award (for the individual winning the most blue ribbons in horticulture: Sandra

Wheeler, Breckenridge Garden Arts I GC (won 21 horticulture blue ribbons)

The Mickie Holton Inspirational Award: Gloria Ward (Designers Club)