Archives

October Happenings

Oct6

We know Fall has arrived when our Awards committee presents EAGC’s annual awards for Outstanding Gardens. This year, our Awards ceremony was moved up a month to September, allowing members more time to look over the gardens of our recipients before a fall frost arrives. A slideshow of the spectacular winning gardens was presented by Carmen G. & new Awards chair, Ginelle H., reflecting three very different gardens – all beautiful in their own way. The winning gardeners or a representative were present at the meeting to receive their awards and answer member questions about their gardening techniques and experiences.

Lisa & Greg Wenger, Exeter
Martha & Ken Kiper, Newfields (award accepted by daughter Brittany Drew)
Barry Brewster, Exeter

For photos of these three Outstanding Gardens, click here.

This September kickoff meeting was well-attended, with members exchanging summer garden information and learning about what the club has in store for this 2024-25 season. New Yearbooks were distributed (if you missed the meeting, pick yours up at the October meeting) and there were plenty of sign-up sheets for Yuletide Fair workshops. The sales table had a good selection of donations and members were encouraged to hang a leaf on the Promise Tree – some fun activity that will bring us together, an opportunity to get better acquainted. And of course, the refreshment table – always mouth-watering.

Bird’s eye view of refreshments

Thanks to Carmen G. Ann H. and Nickky J. for the photos. (And to the drone that took a photo of the refreshment table!)

Club News

  • The October 17th meeting will be a busy one. Environment & Conservation will be presenting a slideshow of the Beautification Mini-Grant recipients for 2024. Civic Beautification will show us some slides of the gardens our club maintains. The NH Federation of Garden Clubs will introduce their organization and take questions.
  • This will all be followed by Patti E. who has arranged a Seed Swap. Please bring baggies or small envelopes for the seeds you would like to try – and a marker. If you are providing seeds, be sure to label them so that members can copy when they take SOME of your seeds.
  • Following all this, there is time for committees to meet and brainstorm about their year, as we have the room till 1pm.
  • Please bring your checkbook to the October meeting, as we will be doing sign-ups for the December 5th Holiday Luncheon, at the Wentworth Country Club, Rye, from 11:30 to 2. Our headcount and food choices must be submitted to the country club before our November meeting, so sign up now. If you’re unable to come to the October meeting, contact Paige C. to sign up and choose your entree.
  • Mark your calendars for our Election Day Bake Sale – on Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to noon at the Exeter polls. We are coordinating drop-off locations on Monday, Nov. 4th for your baked goods. A sign-up sheet will be available at the October meeting for help at the sales table on the 5th. Johann S. will be providing more details.
  • Reminder: Lee C. and Ellen J. are holding a Holiday Gnome Workshop on Thursday, October 10 from 10-12 at the Wiggin Memorial Library in Stratham.
  • The Design Committee is planning an Instructional Greens Workshop for Thursday, Dec. 12. More info will be available at the October and November meetings.
  • Mark your calendars: we will be holding our annual Yuletide Fair Workshop on Nov. 22, in preparation for the Fair on Nov. 23rd.

Lynda B.’s Fall Photos

Hollyhocks at community garden at Wagon Hill, Durham
Award winner proudly displaying his sign
Pumpkins in Portsmouth
Portulaca and pumpkin on my balcony
Roses in Exeter

August Happenings

Aug25

Our new gardening season is almost upon us – marking another summer that disappeared before our very eyes. Judging by the photos submitted by members, we spent our break enjoying the hard work we and others have invested in nurturing beautiful things. The highlight club activity of August was Lee C.’s design workshop. Ann H. provides us with these words and photos:

What fun members had learning the basics of flower arranging with Lee at her home recently. She is such a natural arranger who effortlessly blends technical skill with creative expression as evidenced by her latest Ogunquit Museum’s Art in Bloom design. Members were fortunate to be guided through arranging techniques, balance and harmony by crafting their own designs with feedback from Lee. How lucky we were to have access to Lee’s gardens and gorgeous umbrella pine tree!  Assisting Lee were Jane J., Kathryn J. and Ann H.

A note from our new President, Vicki…

The Promise Tree is a well-loved tradition for our Garden Club. Members participate in events outside of our regular meetings for the purpose of enjoying a fun time together; as well as providing funds for the community projects that we offer, such as: Civic Beautification, Mini Grants and Scholarships.
We encourage members to offer an event or service. The Promise Tree gets a new leaf, and the host provides a sign-up sheet for her event. This sheet provides date, time, place, theme, the number of people that can attend, and the price of the event (we value the social aspect more than funds).
We have created a new ADVOCATE position, on trial, as we are trying to revive the Promise Tree after our COVID years. Please volunteer to ensure the Promise Tree set-up looks great for your month, be available to answer questions, and encourage new events with our empty leaves. Consider pairing up as Advocates to mingle more during the social hour. Let us try for a full and healthy tree this year to display at our June Luncheon.
The Advocate sign-up sheet is included in your most recent club email or sign up at the next meeting.

Club News

Our first Board meeting of the season will be held at 9:30 on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Stratham Municipal Center in the Hutton Room.

In case you’ve lost track of your week, the summer maintenance schedules for the Stratham Veterans Garden and the American Independence Museum are now posted on the website, under Members Only. Don’t forget to notify the next person on the list at the end of your week!

Our September 19th general meeting will feature the Awards Presentations for Outstanding Commercial and Residential Gardens. After touring nominated gardens and much deliberation, the Awards committee has made some difficult choices and will reveal them at the meeting. We will also hear committee overviews from the chairs and hopefully have time for some committee discussions. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Morgera Room of the Stratham Fire Department.

Other Plant News

Want more info about where and how plants originated? The five-part Ancient Earth series from PBS NOVA and the BBC is available to stream on pbs.org/nova, NOVA on YouTube, and the PBS app. The series uses realistic animation based on the latest research to explore the dramatic history of Earth, from its formation to the emergence of humans.

Can you guess why the name tulip comes from the Turkish word tülbent which means “turban”? How about why the petunia gets its name from the Tupi word petí̵ma which means “tobacco”? Check out this website for your etymological answers. Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden | Merriam-Webster.

For those of you with night-blooming Cereus who are patiently waiting for a bloom, Carmen G. has discovered a foolproof way to get blooms out of a recalcitrant plant. Being much discouraged that her large, healthy Cereus has refused to produce, she gave it an ultimatum: “bloom this summer or it’s the compost for you.” Well, here’s the result, as of 11 p.m. on the 24th.

Here’s the bloom’s progression from Aug. 14 to the 25th.

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Lastly, more wonderful photos from Lynda B. “I helped my daughter feed cows, goats, and rabbits on the Appleton Farm in Ipswich, Mass. where she volunteers; a doorway in Ipswich; a smoky sunset in Exeter.”

July Happenings

Jul10

I don’t know about your gardens, but there’s not much gardening happening at my house. The heat and humidity have driven me to any air conditioned refuge I can find. Trying to accomplish something garden-related, I’ve been venturing out late in the day to map the plants in my beds. This will give me a head start this fall when it’s time to move and/or divide plants that have outgrown their little pieces of real estate.

This heat wave allows extra time with your computer or phone to take a look at Ann H.’s most excellent photographic documentation of our June Luncheon and Plant Auction, held this year at the Abenaqui Golf Club in Rye. It was the general consensus of members that the venue and food were excellent, and Max F. performed her usual magic by auctioning off every plant just in time for the salads to be served. In addition to a delicious meal and a fun auction, our Executive Board was sworn in. Thanks go to Paige C. and her committee, who made all the arrangements for our luncheon, along with the centerpieces and favors.

Paige C. – Our Hostess with Terrarium Centerpieces
Auctioneer Max F.
Looking for a new home: Shade Plants
and lots of Sun Plants
President Pat N.
Passing the gavel to a very enthusiastic Vicki B.
Executive Board for ’24-’25

At the end of a fun afternoon, eight fortunate members won the centerpiece of their choice: Jan C., Carol C., Nickky J., Lynda B., Ginelle H,. Anne C., Linda S., and Audrey B. Congrats!

EAGC extends its heartfelt congratulations to Lee C. for securing 3rd place in the People’s Choice Award out of over a dozen floral designs at the Ogunquit Museum’s Art in Bloom event. She competed for EAGC against several garden clubs, professional florists, and independent designers. Receiving this achievement reflects her dedication and passion for the craft and she inspires us all with her creativity. Well done, Lee! She and Ann H. spent hours traveling to and from Ogunquit, designing the arrangement, and lining up supplies. This was Lee’s second time participating in this competition, as a representative of EAGC. Thank you, Lee, for putting our club on the map!

Lee’s arrangement & the painting she interpreted.
Arrangement in process.
Final Design
The Winners

Are you in the mood for a mid-summer garden tour? The Garden Club of Deerfield is sponsoring a garden tour on Saturday, July 20th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Maps will be available at the welcome station at Blooms & Brews Cafe, 38 North Rd. in Deerfield from 8 a.m. to noon. For more info, contact Amanda Beauchamp at 603-560-2039.

For those not inclined to travel to Deerfield, let’s take a photographic tour of some gardens closer to home. Last year our Environment & Conservation Committee awarded one of its pollinator mini-grants to Renee Richards of Exeter. The committee made its routine tour of the awarded gardens in the late summer. This June we received this message from Renee, via our Facebook page:
“I was a bit mortified at how sad this looked when your group came by at the end of last summer, but it is certainly thriving now. And the pollinators truly love it. I have dragonflies, bees, hummingbirds, etc. Truly appreciate the grant!” Renee included photos; it’s obvious why the pollinators love her garden.

Our club was contacted last year by Tom Cregan, a seven-year resident of Exeter who has been planning and developing a garden on his property. He forward some pictures to us this summer to demonstrate the progress he’s made. Certainly impressive gardens!

I hope these photos have inspired you to take a few pictures of your own garden to share with members. Email them to me and I’ll add them to the next Happenings. It’s always fun to see what others are growing – even if it’s in a pot on the patio!
LuAnn

May Happenings

May10

April General Meeting

Douglas Cygan, Invasive Species Coordinator at the State of NH Dept. of Agriculture, shared his conprehensive knowledge of NH Invasive Species with members at our April meeting. Doug is THE authority on this topic in New Hampshire and is obviously very passionate about his topic. Everyone who attended came away with a much greater understanding of the negative effects of invasives and how those are being addressed.

The Hospitality committee, coordinated by Jill C., did its usual magic, providing a refreshment table that was both spring-like and mouthwatering.

Treasures Unveiled – A Promise Tree Event

Lee C., a passionate collector of Japanese art, welcomed club members to her Asian room to explore the history, the craftsmanship and sprit of her collections. Starting with the bright red wedding kimono she stands before, she shared the intricacies and history of many of her pieces from jewelry to hair ornaments, ceramics, furniture, cloth, carvings, and paintings. Favorite items were passed around to admire the details and artwork, such as the delicate netsukes, tiny carved masterpieces worn on obi sashes of kimonos.

Following her presentation, Lee gathered her guests around the table for a traditional Japanese lunch, explaining each delicious course as it was brought to the table. Everyone savored the flavors of every successive dish. It was a wonderful time of camaraderie, hospitality, and teaching in Lee’s comfortable home.

One of our club’s most important community service projects, the Veterans Memorial Garden in Stratham, is in need of more volunteers to help maintain it this summer. As anyone who’s been there knows, this garden is a lovely, peaceful place to spend some quiet time. Why not do a little weeding & deadheading while enjoying the beauty? Contact Mel M. to sign up for a week.

Board News

  • Our Indoor Yard Sale is tomorrow (Saturday, the 11th). Remember your Baked Goods and Yard Sale items – which should be brought to the Stratham Municipal Center between 2 and 5 Friday or by 8 on Saturday.
  • Returning and incoming officers and committee chairs are invited to the June transition meeting on Monday, June 17, at LuAnn F.’s home. Please reserve the date; more details to follow.
  • Time to renew your membership! Please download the Registration Form from the website (here) and bring it along with your check to the May 16 meeting.
  • If you haven’t signed up for our Spring Luncheon and Auction yet, contact Paige C. The deadline is May 25th!

Lee C., with the assistance of Ann H., is again representing our garden club with an arrangement at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art’s annual Art in Bloom event, Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23. Some of you will remember that on Lee’s first attempt at this event two years ago, she placed second! Lee has just chosen the artwork she will be interpreting and has shared a sneak preview.

‘Tis the season for Plant Sales! Patti E. has done some excellent research and compiled a list of local sales, which she posted on our Facebook page (find it here – visit and like it often!) Here’s a brief rundown of her efforts. She also offers precautionary advice regarding invasive jumping worms.
A gentle reminder to wash the roots of your plants before transplanting to prevent the spread of jumping worms and their eggs.

Other Local Events

  • The Portsmouth Garden Club Literature in Bloom is displaying floral arrangements at Portsmouth Public Library. This year they are featuring Children’s books. Display is free and open to the public beginning at 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 15 through Friday, May 17 at noon.
  • Online. Emily May, Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Xerces Society will present “In the Life of Nocturnal Pollinators” on May 23 from 1:00 – 2:00pm. Learn about the pollinators that come out to work as others turn in for the evening. Moths, flies, beetles, and other dusk and night-time pollinators play important roles in pollinating wild and managed plants. Free. Click here to register.
Wikimedia Commoms

This Month’s Big Question: Does leaving the dandelions in my lawn benefit pollinators?
I know of a certain husband (who will remain un-named) who strongly believes that dandelions serve no purpose other than to aggravate lawn lovers. Steph Sosinski, Home Horticulture Program Manager for UNH, has written an article that should help put that question to rest. Here’s her opinion.

Member Ginny T. was fortunate enough to be hiking in Leavenworth, WA when she came across some amazing flowers – Chocolate Lillies:

April Happenings

Apr6

April is National Garden Month

Let’s jump into Spring with some gorgeous floral arrangements, courtesy of our very own designing members. At the March 28th Design Workshop and under the direction of chair, Ann H., members made Easter-themed arrangements, proving once again what a talented group of arrangers we are. Enjoy the results:

And here are some of the creators at work:

These arrangements were made using Sideau, a floral foam alternative crafted from Earthwool, a natural material derived from volcanic igneous rock and fortified with a binder free from plastics and formaldehyde.The floral bricks can be reused or composted, added to the garden soil or as a starter base for seeds. Using this eco-friendly solution to floral foam, we not only reduced waste but contributed to a healthier environment.

In other spring news, our March speaker was Jamie Colen, who has been Garden Director of the beautiful Fuller Gardens for over 20 years. He impressed attendees with his extensive knowledge of soil dynamics and his passionate belief in natural, versus synthetic, soil management.

Jamie Colen

Members brought Spring to the meeting by displaying their first garden blooms on the Hort Table. A surprising number of cheerful flowers made their appearance, including Iris, hellebores, Pieris japonica, pussy willow, Johnny jump ups, and snowdrops.

And of course, the Hospitality Committee, put on a seasonal show at the refreshment table:

The March meeting also featured an Environment & Conservation presentation on ground insects, those little critters who work busily and mostly out of sight on our soil and plant roots. In addition, Patti E. offered members seeds from the club’s Seed Library, which is open for business again at the Exeter Public Library.

Thanks to Ann H for all the wonderful photos!

A great many members participated in the club’s 2024 Member Survey, which was collected at the February meeting. Ginny T., our Treasurer, gave a brief overview of the results at the March meeting. Although opinions and suggestions varied widely, their were some common responses that will help guide the club in a direction that maintains the relevance and value to our members. More information about the survey will be forthcoming.

The Programs Committee hosted a very elegant “Mingle, Munch and Moot” luncheon on March 14 to explore new ideas for possible meeting programs. Ann S. hosted the group in her beautiful home, while Vicky B. and Mary Anne J. helped with prep and refreshments. It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon getting to know each other better. And there was actually some serious discussuion about programs!

Several members of the Civic Beautification Committe put together a cheerful spring welcome for anyone visiting the Stratham Municipal Offices. Our club has adopted the somewhat barren entry as one of our beautification projects and our contributions have been greatly appreciated.

Wellington Gardens is open for the season. Their annual PERENNIAL SALE will be from Saturday, April 27 – Friday, May 3 or until sold out. Sale hours: 7 am – 6 pm. All 4-inch Perennials are $3 each.
Their ANNUALS SPECIAL is Saturday, May 4 – Sunday, May 12 or until sold out, from 7 am – 6 pm. Select Annuals 6-packs are $2.50 each. They’re at 89 Rowell Road East, Brentwood.

UNH Extension has published two articles of special interest to spring gardeners. “How to Utilize Raised Beds for Small Space Gardening” explains how raised beds can be be used to grow flowers, vegetables or even fruit. Find the article here.
And UNH Extension’s question of the week is “Which Spring Ephemerals Are Best for New Hampshire Gardens?” Ephemerals emerge early in the spring, flower and go dormant by summer, only to emerge again the following spring. This article describes those that flourish in NH. You can read about them here.

Spring beauty (Claytonia virginiana) image by Ivy Main, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Common

Upcoming Events:

April 11, 12:00 – 1:00pm “Building Resilient Landscapes” Online, Free
Presented by Dan Jaffe Wilder, Director of Applied Ecology, Norcross Wildlife Foundation
In this changing world, it behooves us to build resiliency into every landscape. The days of landscapes dedicated to beauty alone are passing. People are demanding ecologically sensitive landscapes; they want reduced lawn, reduced maintenance, and greater wildlife value. Register here.

April 16 Traffic Stopping Curb Appeal by Kerry Ann Mendez
Hosted by the Rye Driftwood Garden Club. https://www.ryenhgardenclub.org/programs for info.

April 17, 10:30 AM – 12. Flower Arranging presented by Jayne Densmore
Portsmouth Garden Club, held at the Urban Forestry Center, Elwyn Rd., Portsmouth. They ask that non member guests donate $5 to cover cost.

April 22, 2:00 – 3:30pm “Edible Native Plants” Online, Free
Presented by Russ Cohen, Naturalist, edible native plant seed collector, propagator & planter
The fact that many of our native species are edible by people too provides an additional incentive for people to plant them in their yards that might otherwise be insufficiently induced to do so for the ecological rationale alone. Register here.

April 24, 7:00 – 8:00pm “Rethinking Gardening” Online, Free
Hosted by York Public Library. Presented by Wild Seed Project
Our garden plant choices can determine which species can seek refuge in our gardens, how much species diversity we see in residential areas and help minimize impacts of climate change such as flooding and drought. Register here.

May 8, 7:00 – 8:30pm “Gardening Among Hungry Mammals” Online, Free
Presented by Nancy Lawson, Author, The Humane Gardener
Discover how a combination of strategies—including mixtures of preferred and unpalatable species, strategic plantings along well-used pathways, and gentle exclusion techniques—can help you trade resistance for peaceful coexistence. Register here.

Lee C. is creating Gnomes again – this time a special Easter Gnome.