SSM Garden Club

Highlights of 2018

Highlights of the Sandy Spring Garden Club 2018

The Steering Committee of Garden Club Officers meet at the beginning of the year

February 11 – All About Water Gardening

Richard Koogle from Lilypons

Kathy Gaskill and Jan Baweja

April 8 – Courtyard Cleanup and Fairy Garden Décor Workshop

Marge Combs and Penny Sidell potting plants for the Strawberry Festival

Kokedamas for the Strawberry Festival

May 20 – Backyard Habitats, Tips and Tricks for Birds and Insects /Plant and Seed Exchange

Betsy Taylor

Birdfeeder made from water bottle

June 2 - Strawberry Festival

July 22 - Christmas in July

July 24^- Hospital Picnic and Bazaar

September 9 – Designing Your Garden from a Historical Perspective: A Hands-on Program

Sunny Banvard

A group tour to the Rosarium and Dahlia Garden

Oct 21 - Spooky Workshop

Anita made our contribution for the Fall Gala auction

November 4 – Velvet Pumpkins

Dec 2^nd – Dec 8^th Greens Workshops

September 2017 Hydrangea Wreath Making

Hydrangea Wreath Making is a long standing fall tradition of the Garden Club. The beautiful hydrangea blooms are carefully picked, prepped and hand-wired to stocking covered wire forms. They are then hung to dry and, after being adorned with a holiday ribbon, become a standard item on the Greens Sale List in December.

Dried Wreath

September 2017 Program Wonders of Keukenhof

The Wonders of Keukenhof was presented by Sunny Banvard. Her beautiful slide show and history of tulips was delightful. There were even chocolate prizes for anyone who could guess dates and numbers in her presentation. Photos were also shared by Mary Dominique, and the behind the scenes workings of Keukenhof Gardens was shared by Sunny.

Mary and Kathy had brought potted pansies and kale to sell and Amy collected orders for unusual tulips bulbs, like the black tulip, along with directions to plant tulips in a pot.

A pamphlet about the Greens Workshops was handed out to everyone in hopes that they would put the dates on their calendars.

The slate of new officers was announced for 2018-2019. They are:
co-Presidents: Amy Cohen and Marilyn Kessinger
co-Vice Presidents: Sunny Banvard and Brenda Finkel
Secretary: Jan Baweja
Treasurer: Dee Hawkins

After snacking on an array of delicious foods by Claire Bode, we all learned to make "Bulb Bugs" under the direction of Stephanie Parkhurst. Colored Christmas bulbs were decorated with markers, wires twisted into rings, eyes attached and positioned on a stick for planting into our gardens or pots.
Everyone seemed to enjoy this creative project in an environment of friendships new and old.

39 people attended, at least 10 for the first time.

June 2017- Strawberry Festival/ July 2017 - Hospital Women's Board Picnic/ Christmas in July

Strawberry Festival Plant Booth
The Plant Sale Booth is a must see for anyone attending the Strawberry Festival. With our wide array of plant choices and our unbeatable prices, you’ll want to pick something up for your home garden or as a gift. We offer a variety of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and other veggies as well as flowers, both annuals and perennials. The Garden Club strives to offer plants that will attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. We also have a wide variety of shrubs. Some are donated by local nurseries, and others are shared by friends and neighbors. If you have something you’d like to share, we’d love to have it! These plants are sure to thrive in your garden. Something for everyone!

Thank you to everyone who helped set, sell plants and take down the plant booth at the Strawberry Festival last Saturday

Christmas in July Workshop
Sunday July 23, 2017 – 1:00 p.m. – 4p.m.

Have you ever wondered what goes on under the Kissing Ball? Come to our workshops and learn how to create the basics (all about the under structure) of the Kissing Ball, Boxwood Christmas Tree, Hurricane and Greens Centerpieces and Arrangements. You will learn all this and more as you help in the preparation for our fresh greens workshops in December. We will also start making the festive bows that adorn our beautiful arrangements and wreaths which we sell at the Sandy Spring Museum Holiday Greens Sale. Come join us, learn, laugh and enjoy delicious refreshments. Please contact gardenclub@sandyspringmuseum.org or call (301) 774-0022 ext. 145 and leave a messageif you have any questions.Learn how to create the basics of a kissing ball, boxwood Christmas tree, hurricane and greens centerpieces and arrangements. Help prepare for the fresh greens workshops in December and the Museum's Holiday Greens Sale.

Christmas in July last Sunday was a tree-mendous success! We talked, we ate, we made bows and forms for wreaths and kissing balls. Thanks to all the elves!

The Garden Club Plant Booth

The Plant Booth at the Medstar Montogomery Women's Board Picnic and Bazaar was a busy place this week. Thank you to the helpers from Our House and our garden club members.