Our Design Committee, under Lee C.’s guidance, has organized a very special display for the May 15th meeting. Six members have volunteered to design “Trayscapes” and will share and discuss their creations with the audience. This meeting is our club’s opportunity to appreciate and learn from the talents of fellow members. Past Design meetings have included formal Tablescapes, Books in Bloom, and Movies in Bloom, all of which were thoroughly enjoyed by attendees. Designers: please bring your Trayscapes by 8:45 for setup.
Our Hort Table will also be open for your favorite blooms. Pluck your most impressive stem or stems and bring to share. We love to see what members are growing!
The May meeting will be your last chance to sign up for the Spring Luncheon, so bring your checkbook. You may also find some tempting bargains at the Promise Tree table. And don’t forget to stock up on gardening gloves for the summer!
Speaking of our Spring Luncheon, members are anticipating a new and fun experience at the May 5th event. Paige C. and Nancy D. have planned a Garden Party to accompany our annual plant auction. Expect an entertaining music and garden themed event, complete with boxed lunches – garden party attire encouraged. Festivities, at the Morgera Room in the Stratham Fire Station, will begin at 10 a.m. with plant dropoff. If you haven’t signed up, do so by May 15th. Contact Paige with any questions.
Our May 10th Yard/Plant/Bake Sale raised $1,541.50 for our club – a very good result that will go a long way toward supporting our programs, mini-grants, and scholarships. Many hands made light work, with the possible exception of Johann S., who did all the organizing, lining up of volunteers, and dealing with the stressful last-minute glitches. Our yard sale and baked goods garnered $789.50 (the baked goods table looked so tempting!) and our plants brought in $612. Thanks to the many volunteers who helped set up, worked at the sales tables, dug & potted plants, donated items, and baked.
Photos by Ann H.
The Design Committee’s Foraging for Spring event was a creative success, judging by the resulting arrangements. According to Lee: “Today’s Design workshop involved a mix of 11 newer and older members having fun with sticks, bark, vine, and spring blossoms and other elements to create exciting and unusual arrangements. Ann H. and Kathryn J. assisted Lee C, design chair, adding tips on flower preparation and use of floral ‘tools’. Even members who are condo residents found interesting natural plant life to add to their arrangements. The diversity of the arrangements was astounding. Thanks to the Wiggin Memorial Library for lending us their meeting room.” And here are the arrangements – aren’t they stunning?
Photos by Kathryn J.
And here are the arrangers, also stunning:
Photos by Ann H.
The April meeting speaker was very well received – kdb Domiguez addressed the need to “Rewild with Pollinators and Native Plants.” She talked about the changes in our local forests and gardens that have occurred due to the introduction of foreign plant species which have pushed natives out of our landscapes, and how that has affected our pollinators. In addition to the speaker, members had sign-up opportunities for upcoming activities, Promise Tree table items to choose from, and a very spring-like refreshment table to enjoy.
Ann H. had an enthusiastic response to her Early Membership Renewal Raffle at the April meeting. Over 25 members submitted their registration forms and were entered into the raffle. The lucky winner was Lee C., who took home a beautiful orchid. If you haven’t renewed yet, you still have a chance to win a prize. Ann will be having one last raffle for a lucky member who pays their $25 membership dues for 2025-26 at the May general meeting.
Linda S. has this message to the hearty volunteers who braved the cold, wet weather to clean up the American Independence gardens this past week: “Thank you for your time, energy and strength! We accomplished quite a bit in an hour. Job well done!”
Clean-up of the Veterans Memorial Garden in Stratham is scheduled for May 20th at 10 a.m. Contact Mel M. if you’d like to help out. Mel reports that the garden survived the winter very nicely, below right.
Lee C. and Ellen J. put their joint creativity (and muscles) to work at the Stratham Municipal Offices, setting up this spring display at the entrance, above left.
Club News
Members will be voting at the May meeting on approving our 2025-26 Budget. Please review the budget here before voting.
Ginelle H. will be offering a brief tutorial for interested members on using Google Forms immediately after the May meeting.
Linda S. and Mel will be scheduling members for summer maintenance of the Independence Museum and Veterans Gardens at the May meeting. Bring your calendars to sign up for your preferred week.
Our Hort chair, Kathryn J., will be participating in Art in Bloom, sponsored by the Portsmouth Historical Society, on June 13-16 at the John Paul Jones House & Garden in Portsmouth.
Area News of Interest
May 13th – Growing Pollinator Plants, 6:00-7:30pm (Tuesday) in-person at the NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center in Auburn. Part of the 2025 Demonstration Garden Workshop Series.
May 17 – The West Newbury Garden Club is hosting its annual plant sale at the Training Ground on Route 113 in West Newbury from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.
May 21st – 5:30-7pm – Massabesic Gardens Tour at the NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center in Auburn.
May 21 – Portsmouth Garden Club’s Literature in Bloom. Arrangements on display from 11-noon on May 21 at State of NH Urban Forestry Center, Elwyn Rd., Portsmouth, or from 1:30 on May 21 until 5:00 PM on May 23 at Portsmouth Public Library.
EAGC has contributed some funds for the refurbishment of the Danielle Harmon Memorial Garden at Stratham Hill Park. Mel M. has been tending this garden since its inception. It was established in memory of Danielle, a 5th grade Stratham student. In addition to club funding, club members have donated plants from their gardens. They’re being used by Mel in a complete restoration, creating a pollinator garden:
Photos from Mel M.
Lastly, more photos from our traveling photographer, Lynda B.:
