December Happenings
This year’s Holiday Luncheon was sublime. A cozy and beautiful setting, with friends, new and old, and well-prepared food. Add to that, the excitement of opening a gift chosen from an overflowing table of beautifully-wrapped presents!!! Thank you, Paige and Pat, for arranging such a lovely afternoon.
Our club was positively buzzing with activity getting ready for the Yuletide Fair the next day! And all of that planning and hard work led to us realizing our goal for funding our gardening awards, horticulture scholarship and program speakers. Important, too, are the good feelings we share working together.
The Yuletide Fair is one of our primary fundraisers and it requires the participation of all members to be a success. Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers, our treasurer Ginny T reports that we took in $1,651.00. After expenses, our profit was approximately $1200. This is a great result. As you can see by these messages of thanks, member participation was awesome!
Design chair Lee C had this message:
“The 2025 EAGC design workshop to produce our Yuletide Fair inventory was a huge success thanks to the following members who volunteered their time and expertise to create beautiful arrangements, wreaths, boxwood trees, succulent pots, swags, etc…..
I personally want to thank:
Ann H., Patti S, Gloria S, Nancy D, Ginny T, Patti E, Aly C, Karen V, Jenny M, Jane J, Kathryn J, LuAnn F, Paige C, Betsy V, Ellen J (and her husband), Rose G, Lynne B, Pat N, Diane M, Connie A, Vicki B, Nancy F., Carmen G, and Linda S.”
And this message from Linda S, Ways & Means chair:
“This was the third year we participated in the Exeter Area GFWC Yuletide Fair. And, it was a huge success thanks to you. Everything went smoothly with the set up, sales and clean up. Carmen and Steve delivered and removed the lattice, Ellen and John set up the lattice attaching the club banner to the top. Nancy D designed the space and stayed all day. Patti E. took photos and posted them on Facebook. LuAnn did double duty, breaking down boxes at the workshop, so she could get them in her car, and taping them back together Saturday morning. Jane and Kathryn not only delivered plants to the school but proceeded to sell them.
At the workshop, Ellen made three spectacular laurel and greens wreaths that were immediately purchased by members. Of course Lee and Doug were there all day. Lee refreshed arrangements and Doug had his truck available for storage and equipment. He also checked out the competition. All the boxwood trees sold, thanks to our new member Kären V, who lead the workshop. The simmering potpourri, which was Jenny’s idea, sold out too. Our treasurer, Ginny was there all day facilitating transactions with Venmo.
Ellen and daughter Emma returned to help with the clean up. Jill C and Bill came to help but almost everything was almost sold, thanks to our sales team.
Thanks again and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.“
For our November meeting program, Patti E shared with us her deep interest in, and knowledge of, preserving flowers and leaves for display. Her slide show illustrated techniques she uses to dry flowers and included lists of the many flowers that can be dried for projects.
An added feature of the meeting was a gorgeous display of arrangements prepared for the Yuletide Fair and offered for sale in advance to meeting attendees.
Representing the Environment and Conservation committee, Lynne B gave us the details on oriental/asiatic bittersweet. This pesky invasive has been in North America for over a century when it was introduced as an ornamental vine from East Asia.
Our Civic Beautification volunteers have been busy decorating for the holidays. The Exeter and Stratham Historical Society buildings and the Stratham Municipal Center all benefit from our club’s efforts.
Be sure our January 15th general meeting is on your calendar. Our speaker will be Dianne Richards and her presentation is titled “Bees”. The meeting will also include our world-famous refreshment table, Club Connections offerings, and another presentation by E&C from their “Keep It or Kill It” series.
Area events
On Tuesday, January 20th, the Rye Driftwood Garden Club will feature Steven McGrath, a freelance professional photographer. Mr. McGrath will offer instruction on taking better garden pictures using different settings on phones and cameras. The meeting begins at 9:30 with refreshments; the program begins at 10:30. Guests are requested to pay $5.
On Wednesday, January 21st, the Portsmouth Garden Club meeting offers a talk on orchids with Jean Stefanik, an American Orchid Society judge and trip leader. Have an orchid at home that troubles you? Bring it with you; Ms. Stefanik may be able to give you a tip or two. There will also be an orchid giveaway! https://www.portsmouthnhgardenclub.com/programs
Orders for seedlings at the NH State Nursery are now open. They offer more than 50 species of bare-root seedlings for sale. All their seedlings are grown from seed in NH State Forestry seedbeds to ensure they are well-adapted to the regional climate and conditions. Check out their online store early and often, as supplies go quickly. Due to recent droughts, some species may be limited and sell out quickly. Order sizes are capped so everyone has a chance to buy seedlings. For more information contact the NH State Forestry Nursery
Would you like a holiday wreath than can be thrown in your compost at the end of the season? Here are instructions for a simple wreath that you can make in an afternoon, enjoy during the season, and then add to your compost pile. Make a Wreath.
Edited by Connie A. & LuAnn F.
Thanks to our many talented photographers, including Ann H, Patti E, Linda S & Lynda B and those whose names we’ve missed.
