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February Happenings

Feb13

Welcome to our new Communication Reporter, Connie A.! She’ll be contributing to the monthly Happenings. If you have news you’d like added to the Happenings, please send it to Connie or LuAnn.

It’s been cold and windy with a 40-degree day sprinkled in and then we got some snowstorms. But the lead is the earth quake we had on January 27! Where were you when the 3.8 magnitude quake shook a 100-mile radius around York on that Monday morning?

Before we get into what’s coming up, we’d like to mention again the very beautiful work that the Civic Beautification and Design committees did for the holidays. About a dozen members draped and hung lovely seasonal greenery at the Exeter and Stratham historical societies as well as the Folsom Tavern at the American Independence Museum and the Veterans’ Garden at Stratham Hill. Lee C., Ellen J., Pat N., and Mel M. contributed most of the wreaths and boughs used. Lee C., Kathy M. and Ellen J. decorated the Stratham Historical Society. Jane J. donated the decorated wreathes for the Exeter Historical Society and Folsom Tavern. Lee C. donated all the greens, winter berries, etc.  Pat N. provided the large pinecones and additional greens.

At our next meeting on February 20, horticulturist Julie Coleman will present “Battling Bugs: Managing Pests in Northeast Gardens.” Julie hails from Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the UNH plant science program. She has been a farm and orchard manager and has provided consulting services for gardeners. She also works at the Wentworth Greenhouses. Ready any insect-related questions for Julie before the gardening season is here.

Kathryn J. Trayscape

Coming up at the April and May meetings are some fun design workshops. In April we’ll do a project involving things found outdoors: sticks, nuts, stones, feathers…. Then, “Trayscaping” follows in May. Committee chair Lee C. invites members to try their hand at creating a collection of accessories and flora on a tray. It could be a breakfast tray, or a platter for a kitchen island, a sideboard, or a guest room. More information at the next meeting. Stop by the Design Committee table to learn more and sign up.

Our January meeting featured Lindsay Watkins, a field specialist with Forest Resources of the NH Cooperative Extension. Lindsay illustrated her talk with a slide show of familiar landscape trees that are facing serious health issues from invasive insect species and diseases. Check out nhbugs.org for more information about how you can detect, treat, and report suspected invasives and diseases affecting trees in your yard or in parks. Lindsay’s complete slide show is available on our website for anyone who missed her presentation or wants to review it. You can find it here.

Betsy V. and Jill C. of the Environment and Conservation Committee kicked off the meeting with a fact-led description of two native species: the staghorn sumac and the beach plum.

Centerpiece by Ann H
Lindsay Watkins

Photos: Ann H.

Members – remember our Hort Table is active all winter! Bring your contribution to the meetings – anything of winter interest from your garden: evergreens, seed pods, grasses, or whatever reminds you that there is a garden bed under the snow.

Club News

This coming Saturday, Feb. 15, will be the first of two presentations by our Environment & Conservation committee in cooperation with the Exeter and Stratham Libraries. Chairs Linda V. and Betsy V. will be introducing our Pollinator Mini-Grant program for 2025 and will include a screening of Doug Tallamy’s video, “Nature’s Best Hope”. The event begins at 10 a.m at the Exeter Library and will be repeated at the Stratham Library on Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m. Residents of Exeter and Stratham are encouraged to come pick up an application for a Pollinator Mini-Grant and everyone is invited to view Tallamy’s thought-provoking film. (Applications are also available on our homepage.)

Mark your calendars – Our Spring Yard Sale and Plant Sale fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 8 AM to 1 PM, with setup on Friday, May 9 from 4-6 PM.

Paige C. has announced the date for our annual Spring Luncheon and Plant Auction: “We have a luncheon date and the Morgera room is reserved for Thursday, June 5th. It will be very different this year, but Nancy and I are happy to shake it up!”

Other Programs and Events

The Rye Driftwood Garden Club will be presenting: “Maple Sugaring, Myth, Magic and Reality” on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 9:30 a.m. Go to https://www.ryenhgardenclub.org/programs for more info.

The Portsmouth Garden Club will host Chris Barboza on “Pruning” on February 19 at 10 a.m. More details at https://www.portsmouthnhgardenclub.com/programs.

On Feb. 13, the Hampton Garden Club is sponsoring Doris Buko UNH Extension Master Gardener who speak on Herb Gardening at 6 p.m. Info here.

The UNH Extension Master Gardener Program and the NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center are offering monthly garden workshops now through October; 8 Free garden tour dates May through October; and 6 Free ‘Engaging the Experts’ dates. The January 18 workshop is “All About Seeds: Navigating Catalogs and Purchasing Seeds”. For the full schedule of workshops, click here.

Asian Longhorned Beetle Photo: Wikimedia Common

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is February 24-28, 2025. NISAW is a nationwide event to raise awareness about invasive species, the threat that they pose, and what people can do to prevent their spread. Check our the “5 Ways to Participate” here.


Mar. 12, 6:30 pm — Learn about Invasive Species. Register at the Hampton Falls Free Library by calling 603 926-3682. A presentation of Hampton Falls Conservation Committee, UNH Extension, and Pollinator Pathways.

Feb. 13, 1-6 pm, Gardener’s Supply, Greenland, NH — Mini Succulent Garden Workshop (no registration needed)

Feb. 22, 11-12 noon, Gardener’s Supply, Greenland, NH — Houseplant Education. Register at:
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/gardeners/houseplants-022025

Members of the EAGC are invited to celebrate the retirement of Exeter Public Library’s Director, Hope Godino! Friday, Feb. 21, 2-6 pm on the main floor of the Library.

Photo: Wikimedia Common

Interested in learning more about NH butterflies? Sign up for these free Nature Groupie online classes:
Intro to Identification: Feb. 12, 6:30 pm
Wetland species: Feb. 26, 6:30 pm
Woodland species: Mar. 12, 6:30
Grassland species: Mar. 26, 6:30
Sign up and more info here.

If you plan to plant a vegetable garden this spring, the UNH Extension has a handy chart of optimal dates for vegetable planting or transplanting. Find it here.

Speaking of vegetables, the American Horticultural Society has published an article titled “Heirloom Vegetables – What Are They and Why Are They Important.” Read about it here.

January Happenings

Jan9

We can officially say winter has arrived, given the frigid temperatures and brutal winds we’ve been experiencing lately. EAGC finished out 2024 with mild weather and a burst of activities centered around the holidays. Most members probably have been very happy to take a deep breath and relax after all the hubbub of the season. There are still some great photos of the festivities to share, however, including Betsy’s notorious Swap Shop Party. Let’s start with the spectacular food spread, prepared by Betsy and a few of her holiday elves:

Followed by the one-of-a-kind gift swap and lots of laughs:

Betsy: Hostess with the Mostest
Ginny gifted this to Ann H…
who made lemonade out of a lemon!
Photo: Pat N. 12/16/24

Amaryllis always seem to have their own agenda.
These amaryllis from the Yuletide Fair were planted at the same time, treated with the same conditions, and expected to bloom between mid-December and mid- January. Well, here is my pair …. doing their own thing. Amazingly, the one on the left has three bloom stalks while the one on the right has two!
I hope our customers are having such luck.
Pat N

Members: How are your amaryllis doing?

Amaryllis weren’t the only holiday florals in member homes. Lee C. held a Holidays Greens Workshop in mid-December, attended by 12 members who created some festive arrangements to add to their holiday decor. Lots of concentration produced some beautiful results:

Club News

EAGC received recognition on Facebook from the Stratham Historical Society in December: “We want to thank the ladies from Exeter Area Garden Club who did a phenomenal job making our building beautiful and festive, just in time for our Open House.” They are: Lee Cooper, Ellen Johansen, and Kathy Maskell.”

Dates to add to your calendar:

  • Our annual yard/plant sale is Friday May 9 and Saturday May 10. We have the same location (the Stratham Municipal Center) and need member help for advertising. A guideline is being developed so we know what items to donate.
  • The yearbook has the wrong date for the May program. It is May 15, not May 22.
  • Our June Luncheon & Plant Auction will be sometime from June 5th to the 12th. The committee is firming this up.
  • We have secured the date of December 4th, 2025, for next year’s holiday party.

The Nominating Committee soon will be looking for members to fill open board and committee positions.

Volunteers for the Scholarship Rewrite Group and the Website Research Group have started their efforts.

At the Board meeting on January 7, we voted to accept the flagpole garden at the Stratham Fire Station as one of our community areas to maintain. The Civic Beautification committee will be organizing a maintenance schedule.

Our January 16 speaker is Lindsay Watkins. Lindsay is the Field Specialist in Forest Resources for Strafford and Belknap County. She is passionate about our native trees and has a slide show talk on “Cultivating Resilience in Landscape Trees”. Our meetings start with set-up at 8:30, social time at 9 a.m., and end at about 11:30. The Morgera Room at the Fire Station is available for your meeting needs till 1 p.m.

Other Nature News

Join NH Audubon this winter for the 38th annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey on February 8th and 9th, 2025. This statewide effort invites participants to observe and report the birds visiting their backyards, helping track winter bird populations and trends across New Hampshire. For info, click here.

The Massachusetts Pollinator Network hosts a free presentation by Dr. Avalon Owens, who will speak about the impacts of artificial light on insects and what it means for insect conservation. Dr. Owens will also share why insect conservation is important and how we can help. Online Zoom meeting, January 28 from 7:00 – 8:15pm. Sign-up is free & open to all. Register here.

Thanks again to our intrepid photographer, Ann H.

December Happenings

Dec12

Our November meeting featured Rita Wollmeringer, who gave an enthusiastic and informative presentation on “The Many Gifts of Herb Gardening.” She brought fragrant samples of some of the many herbs she grows, along with potted herbs and her own bottled herb salts, which she shared with members. Environment & Conservation members, Lynne B. and LuAnn F. discussed cranberries and pignuts, two foods that can be foraged in this area. The Promise Tree and Sales Table garnered a lot of activity and plans were finalized for the Yuletide Fair.

Rita Wollmeringer
Rita’s Homemade Salts
Hort Table Samples
Seasonal Centerpiece
Ann’s “Drone” Shot of the Food Table

Preparations for the Yuletide Fair have been ongoing for months, but work on live arrangements took place the day before the fair. Many members joined in the effort – some working on arrangements and others assembling gnomes.

Gnome Workshop

EAGC’s tables at the Yuletide Fair, on Nov. 23rd, were overflowing with our creative output and much of it went home with happy shoppers. Thanks to Johann S. and her large contingent of volunteers, the club brought in $1,195.33. Just as important as the profit was the camaraderie of members working together, sharing their creativity and talent.

Holiday spirit was contagious at our annual Holiday Luncheon on December 5 at the Wentworth by the Sea Country Club. Members celebrated the season in front of a toasty fire with a delicious meal and a grab bag gift exchange. Ann H. and Patti S. documented the good times with these photos.

luncheon dessert

The Veterans Garden at Stratham Hill Park was decorated for the holidays by Mel M., who hung wreaths in honor of those veterans memorialized there.

Club News

The speaker for our January 16th meeting will be Lindsay Watkins, Extension Field Specialist, Forest Resources, at UNH. She will be speaking about “Cultivating Resilience in Landscape Trees,” an important topic to all of us, considering the impact of climate change and recent invasive insect infestations.

The January board meeting has been changed from January 2nd to Tuesday, January 7th, from 1 to 2 p.m. The location is still to be determined. Board members will be notified via email.

Melissa Law of Bumbleroot Organic Farm will be speaking at the Jan. 21 meeting of the Rye Driftwood Garden Club on “Building a Sustainable Small Farm.” Ryegardenclub.org.

The Portsmouth Garden Club will feature Card Making on January 15, presented by Jean Bell and Ann Radwan. Portsmouthgardenclub.com.

Coming soon: Photos of Betsy’s Annual Swap Shop Yankee Swap. You won’t want to miss them!

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Happy Holidays!

Thanks to all the photographers who contributed to this Happenings: Ann H., Patti S., Lee C., Mel M. and anyone else I’ve forgotten!


November Happenings

Nov18

Our club’s October meeting was a busy and informative one. Linda V. and Betsy V. presented a slide display of this year’s Pollinator Mini-Grant recipients, including a progress report on their committee’s effort to create a pollinator corridor in Exeter and Stratham. This was followed by slides of our club’s Civic Beautification projects, presented by chair, Linda S.

Environment and Conservation introduced this season’s topic – edible berries found in this area’s fields and forests, kicked off by one of Jill C.’s famous quizes. This was followed by three guests, representatives of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, who explained their organization and described the benefits of membership enjoyed by member clubs.

And finally, Patti E. organized a huge Seed Swap and presentation, with seeds galore and detailed information on seed saving.

Pollinator Corridor
Winnie Schuman, NHFGC
Sue Minor, NHFGC
Fiona McKenna, NHFGC
Patti’s Seed Swap

The Horticulture Table was overflowing with blooms and interesting plants brought by members…

And of course, there were refreshments…

Photos by Ann H.

Fall cleanup at the American Independance Museum in Exeter was completed by Linda S.’s team on a mild, sunny Friday, in little more than hour. Linda reports that it couldn’t have been accomplished without Rose’s truck and Ellen’s leaf vacuum/ mulcher. The museum thanked this year’s Civic Beautification volunteers with a coffee mug

The hard-working team, minus Jill F.
And here’s Jill!

Photos by Ann H.

Mel M. and her Civic Beautification volunteers undertook the fall cleanup of the Stratham Veterans Garden, making sure that it was a pristine setting for the Nov. 11th Veterans Day ceremony.

Photos by Lee C. and Ellen J.

Club News

Don’t miss the first speaker of our 2024 -2025 season. Rita Wollmeringer will be presenting “The Many Gifts of Herb Gardening,” on Thursday, Nov. 21. Arrive at 9 a.m for refreshments & lots of socializing!

Our Election Day Bake Sale was a success, after missing the sale in 2022 due to Covid …. This year: rainy cold weather, limited to one table, and very confusing voter queuing pattern!!
A big thanks to all the bakers for the wonderful assortment of goodies … an extra special thanks for labeling and pricing your items. Thanks to our “drop-team”, Jill and Ginelle.
Our fearless Ways and Means Chair, Johann, sends a very special thanks to the folks who staffed the table and “peddled” our goodies to the patient voters in the very long line. Nearly every crumb was sold and our final sales number was $826!
P.S. A little call out for Lang – he was there to help run interference with the voting moderators.
– Pat N

Photos by Pat N.

Our next fundraiser is on the near horizon – the Nov. 23rd Yuletide Fair at the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham. Many members have already been busy creating sales items, for example:

Photos by Ann H., Vicki B.

On Friday, November 22, all members are invited to participate in our final workshop where we’ll be assembling arrangements and organizing for the Fair. We’re meeting from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Stratham Municipal Center. Contact Johann S. with any questions. This fun workshop is our final big push to make this another profitable fundraiser.

Members’ very last chance to sign up for the Holiday Luncheon at Wentworth Country Club on Dec. 5th is at the next meeting on Nov. 21st. Don’t miss out – contact Paige C. for details.

Lee C. will be offering a Greens Workshop/Design Lesson on Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 9 to 11 a.m. Sign-up will be available at the November meeting or contact Lee.

Everyone is encouraged to take a look at our Facebook page. Patti E. does a spectacular job of updating the page with interesting gardening info. You don’t have to join Facebook to look at our page, just click here to check it out. And while you’re there, be sure to click on the “Like” button.

Stay up to date with all the club plans and activities. The minutes of our board and general meetings are always available on the website under Members Only in the main menu.

Other Events

The 6th Annual Seed Swap Giveaway will be held on November 16, from 9 am to 3 pm There will be over 30 species of FREE pollinator-friendly plant seeds. Kingston Recreation Building, 24 Main Street, Kingston, NH.

On November 19, Rye Driftwood Garden Club will be hosting Jean Stefanik and “Orchids All Around Us.” Info at www.ryenhgardenclub.org.

September Happenings

Sep15

EAGC’s first meeting of the 2024-25 season is Thursday, September 19. We’re adjusting the starting time of our general meetings – our new set-up time is 8:30, with doors opening at 9 for Social Hour. This will allow members more time to chat, check out displays and Promise Tree offerings, and enjoy the always yummy refreshments before getting down to business. (As always, bring your own beverage.)

Our Awards Committee will be announcing the recipients of three Outstanding Garden Awards at the September meeting. Outgoing chair, Carmen G., along with our new chair, Ginelle H., have invited award recipients to the meeting and have put together a Powerpoint presentation of photos of the winning gardens. The meeting will also include Ways & Means announcements, overviews of all our committees, and some committees will be meeting to discuss plans for the year.

Lazy Scarecrow – photo Ellen J.

Fall must have officially arrived – Ellen J. of the Beautification committee has created a seasonal display for the entrance to the Stratham Municipal Center. She’s taken the scarecrow theme to a new level, covering all the fun of fall!

Club News

Ways & Means

  • Workshops are underway for the Yuletide Fair, to be held on November 23rd. Lee C. and Ellen J. are hosting an Oct. 10 workshop to make Gnome Centerpieces (right). Members are also working on Scented Pomander Balls, under the direction of Pat N. Sign-up for the Gnome workshop will be available at the Sept. meeting.
  • A Promise Tree event: Apple Picking & Refreshments tomorrow, September 16, from 1-3 at LuAnn F.’s home. $10 donation to the Promise Tree. Contact LuAnn to RSVP.
  • We will be holding a Bake Sale at the Exeter polls on Election Day, Nov. 5. This is our first Election Day Bake Sale since the pandemic brought them to a halt.
  • Our 2024-2025 Yearbooks will be available at the September meeting, thanks to our new Yearbook Editor Pat N. Be sure to pick yours up at the membership table.
  • There are still a few empty board and committee spots waiting for member volunteers. Please consider whether one of these would be a good fit for you: Vice President, Nominating Committee, Hospitality chair to oversee monthly refreshments, Publicity, or Civic Beautification coordinator of the Holiday decorations at the Exeter Historical Society.
  • Looking ahead – our Holiday Luncheon date has been scheduled. We’ll be celebrating on December 5 at the Wentworth by the Sea Country Club in Rye.

Other Events & Activities

The Barrington Garden Club Seed Swap is on October 16 at 6 pm. Go to https://www.facebook.com/BarringtonBloomers/ for more info.

The Lane Memorial Library is offering an HBO documentary film, “Trees and Other Entanglements”, on Tuesday, September 24th, 2 PM and Friday, September 27th, 2 PM at the Weston Gallery & Theater. Free admission. In this film, meeting a young boy stolen and hidden amongst trees, an artist refining American bonsai, a photographer artfully observing trees, a mother fighting to protect the forests in her backyard, family trees and uprooted trees, and a man who steadfastly plants them.

Image by Freepik