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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.”

June Happenings

Jun15

My apologies to members who want to see photos of our Spring Luncheon and Plant Auction held Wednesday, but they aren’t ready yet – tune in to the next Happenings for those. I can report, however, that we had a great turnout – 48 members and guests – and everyone had a terrific time and scored some great plants. Our next regular meeting will be on Thursday, September 21, but watch your email and the calendar for field trips and other summer gatherings.

Our May meeting, presented by Ann H. and the Design committee, was a particularly popular event. Attendees were given the opportunity to appreciate the design talents of nine of our members, while learning a little more about each of them through their very personal floral designs. The presenters were tasked with choosing a favorite children’s book to interpret – and the results were stunning. After sharing their creations at our meeting, the designers displayed them at the Stratham Library.

Before the “Big Reveal”
Lynda B.
Johann S.
Ann H. – Very Hungry Caterpilar
Jill C.
Jennifer H.
Susan C. – The Giving Tree
Dianna T.
Lee C.
Pat N.

Thanks to the Stratham Library for some of these photos.

The busy May meeting also included E & C’s Bug project. Members were asked to bring a bug found in their home for display. Many predictable household insects turned up – no scorpions or tarantulas, fortunately.

Creepy crawlies on display
It’s fair to say the refreshemts were a hit – this is the table at 11:00.

The flower design exercise this spring was to build an arrangement and incorporate wood in any form. The results were varied and creative and fun. Some used wood containers, others used stems, branches, roots, and even decaying wood found on the forest floor. This group was the first to experiment with Agra Wool, a natural floral foam that is 100% biodegradable.

Agra Wool in action

Spring is a busy time for EAGC’s community service volunteers. Civic Beautification members raked, weeded, and planted at our two major sites, the American Independence Museum in Exeter and the Stratham Veterans Memorial Garden. Both areas cleaned up nicely and were readied for summer visitors. Weekly volunteer schedules have been arranged to maintain the gardens into the fall. Our communities surely appreciate our efforts.

Our landscape designer oversaw cleanup at AIM.
Cleanup at the Veterans Garden under a perfectly blue sky.

Another beautification effort EAGC has undertaken is at the entrance to the Stratham Municipal Center Offices. These pots are updated seasonally and certainly help cheer up the entry for residents and employees. Thank you to all our hard-working volunteers!

It’s not too late to add another container to your deck or patio. There are still plenty of plants available at local nurseries. For some professional tips on container plant selection and care, check out a recent article in AHS’s American Gardener magazine by Mary-Kate Mackey, Pro Tips for Container Gardening in All Climates.

Lynda B. has shared more of her photos of Exeter’s beautiful and historic spots. Enjoy…

October Happenings

Nov10

As we busily gear up for our debut appearance at the Yuletide Fair on November 19, let’s take a look at what’s been going on for the past month. The Awards Committee, under Mary Jo C.’s expert leadership, provided an impressive program for the October general meeting. We were fortunate that a number of award recipients were present to accept their awards and discuss their gardens.

The award for Outstanding Civic Garden was presented to Eric Chinburg, President and CEO of Chinburg Properties, Chestnut Street Apartments in Exeter (Accepting the award on his behalf was Lexi Jackson, property manager of Chestnut St. Apts.) Also receiving the award were Barbara H. Beardsley, designer and lead gardener of the sustainable meadow at the Chestnut St. Apts. and Ann Smith, the assistant gardener. The Outstanding Residential Garden Award was presented jointly to Sherri and Kim Brown, 12 Brown Rd. in Hampton Falls.

Ann Smith (L) and Lexi Jackson (R) with Awards Committee members Lynda B & Jann B
Sherri & Kim Brown, Ann Smith & Lexi Jackson
Back: Committe members Lynda B., Patti S., Dianna T., Mary Jo C., Anne C., Jann B. Front: Sherri & Kim Brown, Ann Smith, Lexi Jackson

Photos of the Brown’s lovely gardens:

The “Meadow of Hope” at the Chestnut St. Apartments:

The Hort Table at the October meeting held a surprisingly colorful selection of garden cuttings for this time of year. Committee chair, Ann H. would like to thank the members who shared horticulture from their gardens at the meeting. With variable weather becoming our new normal, it was good to see what fall plants were flourishing in spite of the dry conditions in our New Hampshire Seacoast.

Paige C.’s Monkshood didn’t make it to the Hort table

Other highlights from the October meeting:

EAGC’s newest member?
Promise Tree offerings

Our November General Meeting, on Nov. 17th, will feature speakers whose previous presentation was cancelled due to Covid precautions. Jana Milbocker & Joan Butler from Enchanted Gardens in Massachusetts will speak on “Artists’ Gardens in New England.” Some of our most beloved painters, sculptors and authors were inspired by the gardens they created. Visit the private havens of Edith Wharton, Julian Alden Weir, Childe Hassam, Daniel Chester French, Emily Dickinson, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Celia Thaxter and others. Learn about the gardens’ histories, design and horticultural highlights in this richly illustrated presentation.

Making for a busy week, our general meeting will be followed the very next day by our Yuletide Fair workshop, at the Stratham Municipal Center, from 1 to 5 PM. Expect amazing creativity to happen as we assemble floral arrangements for the fair. This will be a fun and productive event. If you haven’t signed up yet, check with Ann H. or Lee C. to get the details. And then bright and early the following day, Nov. 19, members will be transporting our creations to the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham for the fair, which starts at 9 AM. Volunteers have been recruited for our sales table, set-up, and clean-up. A large crowd typically shops at this fair, so we’re anticipating a successful (and probably exhausting) day.

November Happenings

Nov14

The holidays are approaching (very quickly, it seems) and the club calendar is filling up with special activities. Some email information has already gone out – decorating the Historical Society, Holiday Luncheon, and Design Workshop – and more plans are in the works.

But let’s backtrack for a moment. Last month’s speaker, Jeanne Davidson, may win a gold medal for most enthusiastic presentation and best props. She also provided us with loads of advice on how to protect our backs as we garden. Jeanne’s demonstrations were spot on (see photos) and she got members up off their seats to practice her techniques.

The meeting room at the Mogera Library was appropriately fall-like, thanks to the Hospitality Committee’s efforts. The creatively decorated centerpiece pumpkin, provided by Pat Navin, was auctioned off at meeting’s end.

A highlight of the meeting was the return of the Hort Table. Many members scoured their fall gardens for anything beautiful and/or interesting and the result was a surprisingly large, colorful, and varied assortment.

Our November meeting promises to be just as colorful, as we’ll be hearing Jillian Arquette-Gallagher speak on “The Importance of Local Flowers.” Jillian is owner of Fruition Flowers in Newmarket, NH. She has been drawn to flowers from a young age and creates memorable arrangements for a range of events. Her education in color and design lends a unique approach to floral arrangements. Like the bees, she gathers inspiration from the seasonal charm of New England. She uses as many foraged and locally cultivated materials as possible.

The meeting will be this Thursday, the 18th, at the Morgera Room at the Stratham Fire Department; doors open at 9, snacks at 9:30, meeting at 10. Don’t forget to bring your own beverage!

Promise Tree News: There will be a signup sheet at the Nov.18 meeting for a Cookie Swap which is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 20, from 2 to 4pm, at Susan C.’s home. The swap will be limited to 15 members. Participants are asked to bring 60 cookies and an extra container for their take-home cookies. All members of the Ways and Means committee will meet briefly after the Nov, meeting to finalize plans for the Cookie Swap.

Also, club members are asked to “make a promise”. We welcome new leaves on our Promise Tree with “gifts” of your choosing.

The Website Committee is planning an update of the site, with the hopes of making it more streamlined and user-friendly for members. One change you may have already noticed – the “Garden Talk” blog is now named “Happenings”. Everything else about the blog remains the same. In the future, some pages on the site may be eliminated, but advance notice will always be given.

We would love to have more input about how the website should look. If you have suggestions or would like to be involved in this re-vamp, contact LuAnn.

If you are planning to attend the Holiday Luncheon and have not signed up yet, please bring a check for $35 to the Nov. 18th meeting. Jill C. will be collecting them there.

A note from Abbie-Jane about the October meeting:

Enjoyed the program on Thursday. I’ve been practicing on my straight back gardening.
A big thank you to the member who brought in the pineapple vase. It graces my mantle.


June – July Happenings

Jul20

There are lots of pictures to share in this Happenings, which means we’ve been getting together again as a club. All the big smiles prove that we’re happy to be making up for lost time. Let’s start with the June Luncheon and Auction. The day was beautiful, the Portsmouth Country Club patio was a perfect venue, the auction was a success – a good time was had by all! Many thanks go to Jill C. and her efficient Hospitality committee.

  • Lovely Centerpiece
  • Another Centerpiece

After several rain cancellations, the Promise Tree Garden Tour finally took place on July 12th. Members endured heat, humidity, and the occasional raindrop to take in the beautiful gardens of Pat S., Pat N., and Linda S. Those small inconveniences were well worth it to enjoy and learn from these three very different but well thought-out gardens. Here are some of the floral highlights.

  • johann

The American Gardener magazine is a wonderful resource for all kinds of gardening know-how. Here are a two articles that I thought were particularly interesting. “Why Wasps Deserve More Praise” discusses how these often hated insects offer many ecosystem and garden benefits. And while on the subject of insects, the article “Get to Know Your Insect Friends and Foes” offers some helpful identification information to help us sort the good guys from the bad when caring for our plants. Click on the underlined link to read the articles.

Pat N.’s 11-year-old grandson has a “play it forward” activity. He makes “Kindness Stars”, small paper Moravian stars with an attached saying. Over the past two years he has managed to make a few thousand and get them to all 50 states and many foreign countries. This boy has networked with family, friends, friends of friends, Scouts and classrooms of kids. Someone posted this on his Facebook page. Pat thought it might be worth passing along…

And finally, the Exeter Bandstand stands ready for Independence Day.

Photo by Ann H