April 2017 Program - Birds in the Backyard

The April 9 Program included a Plant and Seed Exchange
The April Program of the SSM Garden Club was presented by Kathy Stevens, Brookside Gardens Horticulturist and Conservatory Manager. Her topic was birds and she accompanied it with slides of her backyard and discussion about creating a backyard habitat that welcomes birds.
A plant and seed exchange, refreshments and fellowship rounded out the event.

April 22  A few Garden Club members visited Ladew Gardens today.

February 12 2017 Program on Kokedama.

Bonsai-Inspired Art of Kokedama

February 12, 2017, 2pm – 4pm

Get your hands dirty this cold season by joining the Garden Club for a live plant workshop focusing on the bonsai-inspired Art of Kokedama, or moss balls, and hanging gardens.  Employing creative soil forms, including hand-shaped balls, egg and sea shells, we will create our own low-maintenance tiny gardens to hang or display indoors and out.  Laundry alert: We’re working with clay-based soil and water, so dress for a mess!  Disposable gloves and all supplies will be provided.

On February 12 we had a full room of members and guests, around 38, who learned about the interesting art of Kokedama, a Japanese planting in a Ball of moss and twine which can be displayed hanging or set in a container. Chelsea Soneira gave a great slide show, talk and demonstration of this unique item, with samples. All participants made two or three balls, each with one plant ordered especially for this project: ferns, grasses, succulents and others.

One participant's finished product

2016 Greens Workshops and Greens Sale

We had a great group of cutters, break down helpers and Holiday Greens Designers this year, making the SSM Garden Club Greens Sale another successful venture. Clean-up was done by a dedicated crew, leaving the basement in good shape for next year.

Nov 13, 2016 General Program Pruning and Leaf Roses

On Sunday, Nov 13, 2016 the Garden Club Program included a small business meeting and a speaker, Kathy Jentz, publisher of the Washington Gardener Magazine.
Just in time for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, find out if your trimming is hurting or helping your plants. Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, this Garden Club program is made for pruners of all skill levels! Kathy Jentz, publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, is happy to teach the ins and outs of pruning in preparation of a successful growing season.The topic was pruning, and Kathy showed us her favorite tools, demonstrated how to sharpen them, and when and where to prune shrubs and trees.

 





After the talk, Jan Baweja demonstrated how to make leaf roses while many members tried their hand at this interesting craft.

Sept 2017 - Mary Rice Award/,Oct 2017 Brookside Garden Tour/.Oct 2016 Spooky Workshop

Mary Rice Award, Sept 22
At the Museum General Meeting, the Mary Rice Award was presented to Jan Baweja for 24 years of service in the Garden Club.

Brookside Garden Tour, Oct 22
10 members of the Garden Club met on a chilly morning to have a tour by one of the gardeners of the Park. She explained the new "Parking Garden" at the Visitors Center, which has been planted with many native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials. There is also a new inclined entrance to the ponds, new retaining walls, seating area and bus parking area.

We also wandered through the garden admiring the remnants of fall flowers, learning about new plans for the garden and the upcoming Chrysanthemum.


Spooky Workshop, Oct 23
While wearing spooky costumes and snacking on goulish food, 15  hard working gremlins (garden club members and friends) made bows galore for the Greens Sale.

25th Anniversary Garden Party September 11, 2016

A beautiful sunny day and gorgeous courtyard maintained by the Garden Club marked the occasion of the 25th Anniversary Garden Party. With 55 past and current members attending, we enjoyed a light luncheon and speeches by current co-president Sunny Banvard, past president Amy Cohen (with a long list of the Garden Club's accomplishments) and co-chairmen of the event, Kathy Gaskill and Penny Sidell.  We even had a dcorated hat contest, with the prize going to Anne Willson.