Carole C.’s May, 2019 trip.
April Happenings
After a couple of days of sunshine & warmer temperatures, blooms are popping up all over! It’s safe to say Spring is finally making its appearance. Cool weather notwithstanding, April was a big month for EAGC news.
We’ll start with an important announcement from Meredith, our Membership Chairperson.
May is Membership Month
All members must complete the Membership Registration form and pay $25 dues in order to be included in the EAGC Yearbook. You can download and print the form here or pick one up at the May general meeting. When filling out the form, please circle any new information.
Photos of new members will be taken at the May general meeting and the June Luncheon.
Do not delay sending in your registration! The deadline for inclusion in the Yearbook is June 1st. Call Meredith Stevens with questions. 603-580-5954.
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Betsy V. helped us start out the month in festive fashion with her much-anticipated April Fool’s Party and Gift Swap. As her regular Christmas Party participants know, the “gifts” that were swapped were all compliments of the Candia Swap Shop. Good food and lots of laughs ensued.
A bunny-eating Yeti set the tone for refreshments. Everyone was obviously thrilled with their swap shop goodies!
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Paula, Jan, and Carol C. hosted a lovely Mushroom Luncheon at Paula’s home in April. The lucky attendees were served gourmet-quality mushroom dishes, ranging from appetizers to desserts, in an elegant setting.
Ann H. offered her review: The luncheon was 1st class… we were handed a mimosa as soon as we stepped in the door, and on the table a mushroom extravaganza of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres greeted us. We laughed through a difficult but fun mushroom quiz with nice prizes for several winners. After being seated in the dining room, we were served lovely vinaigrette salads garnished with freshly sautéed mushrooms, followed by a mushroom quiche main course, and warm mushroom biscuits with mushroom butter… all delicious. Our deserts were colorfully decorated mushroom cookies and a mushroom decorated cake (without mushroom ingredients). Wine and champagne flowed throughout the day but I decided not to include those photos. (Our loss!)
Hostess Carol C. preparing an entree. Mushroom on, but not in, this gorgeous cake.
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Our April General Meeting is a Members’ Meeting, when the talents of our member volunteers are displayed for all. This year, our presenters were Susan, Lee, Dianna, and Donna. They each demonstrated the creation of varying arrangements, while describing the process and offering many helpful tips. Here are the presenters and their beautiful results:
Lee worked her Ikebana magic. Donna created two candlestick arrangements. Dianna’s arrangement was edible! Susan’s basket of flowers looked perfect on the Easter table. Members examined the beautiful arrangements up close. The spring-like refreshment table centerpiece and all the wonderful food were compliments of Abbie-Jane and her committee.
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Announcements
As a followup to last year’s Environment & Conservation theme about the importance of pollinators, Linda V. has suggested checking out the related activities offered by the New Hampshire Audubon society. You can view their schedule of events at http://www.nhaudubon.org/.
The Hampton Falls Library is hosting two programs of particular interest to gardeners. On May 16 at 6:30, Invasive Plants of NH will be presented by the NH conservation commission. On June 6 at 6:30, Stephen Hale, owner of Open World Explorers, discusses Backyard Birds. The Hampton Falls Library is at 7 Drinkwater Rd., in Hampton Falls.
The Rye Driftwood Garden Club is holding their 2019 Plant Sale on Friday May 17- 9 am-2 pm and Saturday, May 18 – 9 am – 12 pm. It will be held at 481 Central Road in Rye. For info, click here.
Our own Spring Luncheon & Plant Auction is just around the corner — Tuesday, June 18. If you haven’t already signed up and send your check for $25, please do so soon. Checks may be sent to Jill, who is our Hospitality Chairperson. Or sign up at the May general meeting next Thursday. Expect a special day — plant drop-off starts at 10:30, followed by the auction at 11. Our delicious luncheon will be served at about 12:30.
If you don’t have plants to dig up and contribute, consider bringing a patio planter, houseplant, or a garden-related item to be auctioned off. And remember, an auction purchase isn’t required to join in on the fun. Consider bringing a friend, too. They’ll enjoy a great meal and make some new friends.
March Happenings
Several happy members took home cash winnings from Linda S.’s Bunco Party on the 15th. Even the biggest loser went home with a few dollars! Twelve members enjoyed refreshments, laughs, and a little competition while raising money for the Promise Tree.
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Members and guests at the March General Meeting were treated to a thorough education on the care and maintenance of European honeybees, presented by Jess Waters, owner of Half Acre Beekeeping. She and her husband, Andy DeMeo, maintain thousands of bees and place their hives on local farms. Jess answered lots of questions from the audience and raffled off a jar of her Half Acre Honey as an added bonus.
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Our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Annual Indoor Yard Sale is fast approaching. The big date is Saturday, May 4. Tables are still available so if you or anyone you know would like to rent one for $25, please contact Dianna T. or Carole C. Or go to ExeterAreaGardenClub.com and click on the link for an application form. Continue saving your treasures for the sale – we’ll be setting up on Friday, May 3. More information will be coming soon.
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The Promise Tree tour of the Woodman Museum in Dover has been re-scheduled to Wednesday, June 5, with carpools leaving from the Stratham Municipal Center at 9:30. The cost is a $20 donation to the Promise Tree and includes admission to the museum. For more info, check with Lee C, Johann S. or Edie W. Sign-up will be available at the next General Meeting.
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What fun we had at our Spring Design Workshop learning all about the Sogetsu school of Ikebana design with Martha Hamilton of Cornith, ME. Martha demonstrated several horizontal and vertical designs while enlightening us on the Japanese style of arranging. Following her presentation, she reflected on each of our arrangements in respect to the Sogetsu style of ikebana.
Ann H., EAGC Design Co-Chair
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Here are some local events you may be interested in:
Rita Wollmering of the Herb Farmacy will be teaching basic organic growing principles and companion planting at the Hampton Falls Library on Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 pm. The program is free. No sign-up is required. The library is at 7 Drinkwater Rd. in Hampton Falls.
The Bedford Garden Club is holding its Annual Plant Sale to benefit community gardens & educational programs on Saturday, May 18th, from 9 to 11 a.m. It will be held at the Bedford Old Town Hall, 70 Bedford Center Road in Bedford.
February Happenings
Doesn’t this gorgeous bloom put you in the mood for Spring and exploring all the wonderful plants available for our New Hampshire gardens? To find out more about this shrub, check out Connie’s March Horticulture Tip here.
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Our February General Meeting featured Patti Elwell, who spoke about and demonstrated “Seed Starting.” Her enthusiasm for her topic was contagious and inspiring, as were the seed packets she offered for sale to benefit the Promise Tree.
Also at the February meeting, the Environment & Conservation Committee, led by Linda V. gave a comprehensive report on the effects of global warming on the world’s oceans. Members of the committee each addressed a specific aspect of the effects, along with providing handouts and posters.
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Here are two local events to kick off the upcoming gardening season:
The Great Island Garden Club of New Castle is hosting a lecture at The Music Hall Loft on April 2nd at 10 AM. Marta McDowell will speak on her book, “All the Presidents’ Gardens”. Marta writes and lectures on gardening topics and teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at The Music Hall box office or at www.musichall.org.
The NH Master Gardener Alumni Association annual Spring Symposium will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Southern New Hampshire University Dining Hall & Banquet Facility, 2500 N River Rd., Hooksett, NH. The event will feature speakers and an opportunity to socialize with other gardeners. It is open to the public. For details, go to https://extension.unh.edu/2019springsymposium.
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BEE sure to come to our next General Meeting on Thursday, March 21. Our featured speaker’s topic will be “All About Bees.”
January Happenings
Kevin Gardner, our speaker at the January joint meeting with the Rye Driftwood Garden Club, filled the room at the Congregational Church in Rye. His talk on “Discovering New England Walls” was well-received and he was swamped afterward by listeners with questions and comments about this very popular topic.
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Welcome to new member Dianne A. from Exeter who joins us this month. Dianne has joined the Design Committee.
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UNH Cooperative Extension is holding its annual Greenhouse Open House at the Thompson School at UNH on April 5th and 6th. This year’s event will also feature the final Thompson School Flower Show and Plant Sale. The general public is invited to engage with UNH faculty, staff, and students in UNH horticulture and agriculture research facilities. This event is an opportunity to connect with the expertise of Extension educators, specialists, and Master Gardener volunteers.
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Be sure to watch the Promise Tree for some fun new additions, including a Bunco Party, gardening books, field trips, and other surprises. If members are not able to attend the next meeting, you can check out the Promise Tree offerings on this website under “Members Only.”
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Don’t miss this month’s General Meeting – our speaker will be our own Patti Elwell, who always wows us with her knowledge and enthusiasm. This month she’ll be talking about “Seed Starting.”