President's Letter

                                                                        May 3, 2026

                                                “The Earth laughs in flowers”

                                                                          ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear Evergreen Garden Club Members,

This is our last meeting of the year, and it is an important one! Enjoy a special brunch hosted by program presenter Ann Reid – and perhaps get inspired to capture the beauty of your own garden on canvas; one of Ann’s paintings is at the end of this letter. On the business side, Members will vote by ballot on a resolution from the Philanthropy Committee (presented at the March meeting and outlined below in the business meeting section) to create an internal gift campaign commemorating the Club’s 75^th anniversary. Your vote counts.

Tuesday, MAY 19^, 10:00am YEAR END PROGRAM MEETING and BRUNCH

“From the Garden to Canvas – Painting the Garden” with Ann Reid, Artist, and Evergreen Garden Club Second Vice President

Location: Home of Ann Reid, 5508 Glenwood Road, Bethesda, MD

Ann is an oil painter specializing in landscapes and floral paintings. Her subjects include gardens from her travels, local gardens, and her own garden. Ann will, weather permitting, start with the garden, show you some of her works, talk about her process, and demonstrate the start of a floral painting. **Street parking is available. A couple of people may park in the driveway. The street is narrow please make sure there is room for vehicles to get by.

Business Meeting:  Grants and 75^th anniversary

Background

Ø  Current – We are on track to spend $4,000 in grants again this year and we have a healthy balance in the account so that we can make an additional 75^th anniversary gift of $7,500 in 2028 above the current grant level. The 75^th anniversary account is funded by any unspent speaker fees and a $1,000 reduction in annual grants derived from member dues.

Ø  Proposed Change – The Philanthropy Committee supports a larger monetary gift to commemorate the anniversary and have greater community impact. This would be done via non mandatory internal fundraising. Some possibilities might be members giving $1,000 over three years or matching dues.

Winkie Crigler and Jane Dana led discussion at the March meeting and will be available for Q&A

Voting (ballots will counted and announced at the meeting)

1.      Yes or No ballot vote to create a gift campaign

2.       If  motion is approved, a second vote will be taken to amend the current budget

 MINUTES: Oak Spring Garden Field Trip - Home of Bunny and Paul Mellon

“M&M” house – Ann Reid