Evergreen Garden Club
Minutes of Meeting on October 15, 2024
Attending: Constance Anderson, Kathryn Baker, Jean Barquin, Julia Bellinger, Carol Cramer, Winkie Crigler, Jane Dana, Jane DeCell, Doris Dixon, Catherine Farrell, Fossy Fenwick, Betsy Forster, Helen Garrett, Mary Jane Glass, Jeannette Harper, Lynn Keith, Mary Frances Koltes, Sara Maner, Claire Marshall, Sally Marshall, Dolly McKenna, Colet Mitchell, Janet Nassim, Lynne Pickard, Jackie Poortman, Donna Roberts, Pam Seldon, Laurene Sherlock, Anne Snodgrass, Susan Taylor, Ellen Thrasher, Rosa Wallach, Xenia Wilkerson, Ann Williams.
Speaker: Doris Dixon welcomed our guest speaker, Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener magazine, a podcast, and two gardening books. Her talk was on Great Ground Covers, also the title of one of her books. Kathy suggested that we replace grass to be more Earth-friendly. Ground covers can increase water filtration, reduce erosion, protect tree roots, sequester more carbon, and combat invasives like ivy. Kathy recommended the website of Mount Cuba Center for their research on native plants for the Mid-Atlantic region. Mount Cuba has learned that some cultivars attract even more pollinators than the straight species.
Business Meeting:
Housekeeping: Upon motion duly made and seconded, the members voted to approve the September meeting minutes without change.
Winkie thanked our hostess, Susie Taylor, and our two hospitality providers, Julia Bellinger and Lynn Keith.
Treasurer’s Report (Susie Taylor). We currently have just under $5,000 in the bank. This includes all expenses and income as of September 19. As of September 19, 10 members had submitted dues. I’ve tallied up, but not yet deposited, additional dues checks received since September 20, now amounting to $2,125. (This includes a $25 gift.) As of today, October 14, twenty-four members have submitted their dues and twenty-four members have yet to pay their dues.
The Garden Club is on track with its approved budget. As a reminder, the approved budget anticipates available funds of $4,000 to donate in support of its philanthropic mission. This is $1,000 less than we have been able to donate in recent years because of our investment in our new website.
Presentation of candidates for membership (Xenia Wilkinson)
· Ann Reid (proposed by Winkie Crigler)
· Sarah Vilms (proposed by Rosa Wallach)
Website presentation (Jane Dana) Jane and Catherine Farrell did a lot of work on the club’s website this summer. The address is www.EvergreenGC.org and the password remains the same: Forevergreen. We will receive emails from Evergreen Garden Club with a link to our website. There will be some information in the email, but you must click on the link in the email to see all of the information on the website. And because almost all of what is being transmitted to the membership is behind the privacy wall that protects our Members Only section of the website, you will probably be asked to enter the password. Jane asked for feedback as we use these links.
Tregaron Workday (Colet Mitchell). Please join us for another volunteer clean-up morning at Tregaron. It’s fun, chatty, earthy, and our help is appreciated as is our fellowship..
· DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 10:30am-12:30pm
· LOCATION:Tregaron Conservancy
· Klingle Road Entrance, 3031 Klingle
· SCHEDULE: 10:30 a.m. Meet at the EGC garden area by the Lily Pond, near Klingle Road entrance. Break into groups for clean-up.
· Please dress appropriately for gardening and bring gloves, trowel, and clippers.
· Additional information and a map can be found at tregaron.org.
· PARKING: Two-hour parking is available on nearby streets. There’s usually plenty of parking.
· Please RSVP to Colet Mitchell, m.colet@verizon.net or text 301-537-5153.
NCAGC News: Winkie asked how many are receiving “In the Know,” the NCAGC monthly newsletter. It generally comes out on the first Monday of the month. NCAGC is hosting a “Morning of Design” on Thursday November 7, at 10 am in Sandy Spring, MD. A few of us went last year, and it was interesting. She passed around the flyer for the event, and it will be posted on the website.
Help Needed: Winkie reminded club members that we still need a hostess for our March meeting (Yankee Clippers lecture and slide show). We also need someone to chair our Nominating Committee.
Next Meeting: Winkie announced that our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 19, 10:00 am, at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, 6601 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817. Christy Thorley, floral arranger, will demonstrate how to construct beautiful, various-sized arrangements for your Thanksgiving celebration using locally available flowers. Christy will also assist as we make our own floral arrangement to take home. A seasonal vase and flowers and greens will be provided. The presentation will be followed by a business meeting. Flower and container fee: $30 per person. (Please make your checks payable to Evergreen Garden Club and give your payment to Susie Taylor, out Treasurer.) You can also choose to “audit” and not make an arrangement. If you want to make an arrangement, you need to RSVP by Monday, November 11, so that we know how many containers and flowers to buy.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jane Glass, Recording Secretary