ALONG THE PATH
Hi Everyone,
The Garden
Wow! Another month has flown by! Before I focus on happenings in November, I want to thank the 82nd Annual BPM Chairs Michelle Williams, Jeanne Pfeffer, and Dede Russo for their year long work and dedication with planning and organizing the BPM. It was a very successful and beautiful mart! We had outstanding weather, increased traffic and sales this year. I want to thank a few additional ladies. First, the Beautification Chairs: Paula Mentz, Colleen Smith and their helper Kelli Blanton for beautifying the entrances. It has never been so beautiful!! Michelle William’s 1950s blue truck loaded with fabulous sunflowers helped set the tone of the mart! Another shout out to Liz Rotan and Annie Hawkins for serving a lot of the old school GCH favorite dishes. I think everyone truly appreciated the endles supply of pimento cheese sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, and deviled eggs! Another Big Thank You to Wendy Askew and all the Cashiers for streamling check out. The zettle app makes paying a breeze. We can’t forget our 11 amazing Flower Girls and their bride Mary Sommers Pyne for working tirelessly through out the mart. More shout outs to Pre-order Chairs – Jan Bres and Fionna Guinn, BPM Treasurer – Kelli Cravens and Paypal liasion – Sally Giammalva, our Customer Assistance Chairman – Tonya Judah with her darling son – Kyle even stepped in to help load plants in cars, Site Liaison- Kim Jameson and Alison Tennant, Preview Party Chairs – Katie Cullen, Cabrina Owsley and Vivie O'Sullivan– they have been the preview party chairs since we started having the preview party! And last but not least - our 6’8’ Honorary Chairman –Andreas Petersen. He knows more about the mart than we do and is always happy to fix a tent, hang a sign (without a ladder) or help unload plants from the delivery truck. He is truly a keepsake!
On another note, a special thanks to Lynn Swanson and Laura Kelsey - these two garden angels delivered LOTS of Green Books to 77019 and 77056 and 77067.
Now to focus on November. Please check the website for our various field trips and workshops and mark your calendars for the Wallace Lecture and Spencer Workshop on Wednesday, November 13th at MFAH. Christopher Spitzmiller is our guest speaker. You will not want to miss the lecture or workshop. Hope to see everyone there! Thanks and Happy November!
xoxo, Judy
2024 Julia
Picton Wallace Lecture and Mary Louden Spencer Workshop
Wednesday, November 13, at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Lecture: 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m., Wyatt Theater Workshop: 12:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m., Farish Classroom 1001 Bissonnet St., 77005
Please mark your calendars for the 2024 Julia Picton Wallace Lecture and the Mary Louden Spencer Workshop on Wednesday, November 13th, at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. The lecture is open to the public at 10:00 am in the Wyatt Theater. The Spencer Workshop will be held in the Farish Classroom following the lecture. It will be limited to a small group of GCH and Garden Club of America members.
This year, we have the honor to welcome Christopher Spitzmiller. The link to sign up for the workshop is LIVE on the GCH website, along with more information. Sign up by November 6th as spaces are limited! The Workshop fee ($150) includes flowers, a container, and a box lunch. There is an optional offering of a signed, limited edition Christopher Spitzmiller cachepot at designer cost ($250). This will be the same cachepot Christopher will be using at the Spencer Workshop should you wish to have one of your own.
Christopher is known to his friends and Instagram fans as the ultimate weekend farmer, who raises his own handsome chickens, grows his own flowers, and puts up his own jam, cider, and honey. In this—his first book written with Clinton Smith—he treats readers to a full year at Clove Brook Farm, his idyllic but always-active country retreat. Naturally organized into four seasonal sections and filled with tips on garden planning, creating seasonal flower arrangements, and living with animals, A YEAR AT CLOVE BROOK FARM is a timely book as we are all focused on making the most of our own homes and gardens— even if that’s only a row of herbs in a sunny urban window—and it is the perfect inspiration for anyone enthralled by the fantasy of full-on farmstead living. Christopher Spitzmiller’s lamps, tableware, and other ceramics are found in every chic A-list interior, including the White House, and are regularly featured in celebrated publications, including Architectural Digest and the Wall Street Journal. Christopher is on the board of the Garden Conservancy and the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House.
The GCH 2024 Bulb & Plant Mart
The 2024 Bulb and Plant Mart is a fait accompli! Thank you Michelle, Jeanne and Dede for all your hard work to make our 82nd Bulb and Plant Mart a fun event and a huge success!!
ANNOUNCING CHAIRS FOR THE 2025 BULB AND PLANT MART
Sheila Mayfield, Annie Lovell and Angela Peterman
PROVISIONAL UPDATE
Hip, Hip Hooray for a successful Bulb Mart Week! We rolled up our sleeves on October 7th at Rienzi, where Nancy Davis Keely led the Flower Girls in weeding beds, digging up crinums, and plucking rain lilies for Bulb Mart. The week continued with Bulb Mart set up on Wednesday, Pre-Order filling on Thursday, lending a hand in booths on Friday and Saturday, and takedown on Saturday. We hope members had an opportunity to work alongside our fabulous Flower Girls during the Mart. Rounding out the month we had our Tour of Projects on October 23rd, where the Flower Girls visited Rienzi, Houston Hospice Garden, Houston Museum of Natural Science Rooftop Garden, MFAH South Lawn, and Urban Harvest/ Gregory-Lincoln Education Center.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE
HIGHLIGHTS SEVERAL 2023 - 2024 GRANT RECIPIENTS
University of Houston Coastal Center: The University of Houston Coastal Center was founded in 2017 on UH lands acquired after WWII and focuses on coastal prairie restoration, using some of the best tallgrass prairies remaining. The mission is to support environmental education and research by providing users with access to field sites, equipment and facilities. The project objectives are: to establish a one-acre pilot program for producing native seed collected at UHCC, to improve availability of collecting designated species of native grasses through field growing operations and to serve as educational opportunities for students.
Coastal Prairie Conservancy: The Coastal Prairie Conservancy was formed in 1992 to conserve more than 30,000 acres of coastal prairie in 9 Texas counties, including the large Katy Prairie outside of Houston. The CPC requested funds to support the native seed collection, the volunteer Grow Out Program, increased species diversity in the Native seed Nursery, and eventual use of these native plants in prairie restoration projects. These 2 brochures were funded by some of the Garden Club funds last year.
The Joy School was founded twenty-six years ago by parents, educators and clinicians to meet the needs of students with learning differences. It is the only school for children with learning differences in the Houston area to receive accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, and the students are from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and cultures. The Joy School requested and received a grant for modification and beautification of the garden and pathways between the main academic building and the new activity center. This area includes utility poles with guy wires and a transformer with an electrical panel, and the school would like to camouflage using plants and trellises with vines. The plan also includes a pollinator garden that the students will maintain.
GARDEN HISTORY AND DESIGN NEWS
In late September, I met with other GH&D Zone Reps and our GCA GH&D Committee in Washington, D.C., with all twelve zones represented. It was a great opportunity for new reps to familiarize themselves with the Garden Documenting process, and to be able to exchange ideas and ask questions of the experts at the Archives of American Gardens at The Smithsonian. One of my goals as Zone IX Rep is to raise awareness about what our committee does, and how valuable it is to be able to record today’s gardens for future gardeners, students, teachers, landscape designers, historians — anyone with an interest in learning how our country’s culture and climate changes are reflected in our gardens. You can use this link https://sova.si.edu/record/aag.gca/ref5074 to look at any of the gardens in the archives, including many from our club.
Nancy Etheridge
The Garden Club of America invites you to the
2024 Virtual Conservation Study Conference
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Conservation and Connectivity
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM Central Time
This conference is free and open to all GCA members. Register on the GCA website: https:// www.gcamerica.org/members:calendar/ereventdetails/id/521 and participate by zoom.
Conservationists, naturalists, travelers, and all outdoor enthusiasts should not miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience and learn about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems in the world. The GYE spans 22 million acres and covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho and incorporates Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, six national forests, three national wildlife refuges, as well as tribal, state, and private lands. Join the Conservation Study Conference and learn about conservation efforts and the ecological connections among grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and other species important to the ecosystem.
Weed
Wrangle at the Houston Arboretum
Tuesday, November 12th from 9-11 a.m.
4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas
Mandatory for Provisionals, Open to all (up to 20 adults)
This year we are planning our Weed Wrangle at the Houston Arboretum. We will assist the staff at the Arboretum in helping clear out weeds and invasive plants from their grounds. It is so satisfying to pull those nasty invasives and help keep the Arboretum looking beautiful for all of Houston to enjoy. Bring your own gardening gloves, sun protection and water and come join us! Sign up online.
Order Caladiums Now For Your Spring and Summer Garden!
It is time to plan for your Spring/Summer Garden! If you have never grown Caladiums before, then this is the time to do it! It is a wonderful plant that you can enjoy for all the warm months. There are many varieties for sun or shade and they need very little care. They come in a generous sized box that can easily be split with a friend or neighbor. Simply place your order by November 1 by sending your form and check to Caroline Dannenbaum. Pickup/Delivery will be in the Spring. Contact Caroline with any questions. carolinedannenbaum@gmail.com or 713-899-8021 Click HERE for order form.
FLORESCENCE 2025
2025 Florescence - Splendor is Coming!
Get Ready for Florescence-Splendor!
Floral Design, Botanical Arts, and Horticulture Design registration opened in September, but Photography registration opens November 25th at 10:00 a.m. central time! You must have the photograph(s) ready to go when you register. To register you must go flohouston.org
In the meantime, we are offering the following workshops that are open to all members to help you prepare:
Both events are at the River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics
Photography Workshop on Nov. 19th at the Forum at 10 a.m.
Botanical Arts Workshop Nov. 21st at the Forum at 10 a.m.
Flat-lay Photography Workshop
Flat- Lay Photography
Presentation and Workshop* – GCH and ROGC Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 10:00 – 11:30 am
River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics – 2503 Westheimer Road, 77098
*Optional Hands-on Workshop following Presentation – bring your DSLR or Mirrorless camera and tripod with capability to hold camera facing down, macro lens and/or kit lens.
Signup on website. No fee.
Questions? Margaret Pierce 713-854-8049
Come make jewelry like a pro! Make a cuff bracelet!!
Joint GCH/ROGC Botanical Arts Workshop
Thursday, November 21, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics 2503 Westheimer Rd., 77098
Questions? Call Debbie Robinson 281-414-4959
Or Email debbieDrobinson@comcast.net
Participation fee $30. Email Angie Reckling for your reservation! First Come, first served. Send your check made out to Florescence to: Angie Reckling, 5300 Shady River Dr., Houston, Texas 77056-1326
Horticulture Happenings
Shirley Meneice Conference
Laura Cureton was sent as our GCH club representative to the 2024 Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference held this year in Chicago, IL. The conference was held at the expansive and stunning Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, IL. The CBG is on 385 acres and one of the top 10 botanic gardens in the country. Various speakers such as Fred Spicer, Carrie Waterman, Jack Pizzo, Dr. Christie Klimas, and Lydia Scott all gave informative and thought-provoking talks on horticulture matters. Tours were taken of gorgeous private gardens, local area farms and a nature preserve, and workshops were provided by areas of focus at the Chicago Botanic Garden. There were lovely cocktails and dinners at the Exmoor Club and the Skokie Country Club. It also provided a great opportunity to meet and discuss current issues going on with our own Zone IX people, in addition to observing the different growing zone area of the greater Chicago area with a very big emphasis on conservation and using native plants and grasses to return the original prairie diversity. The two main areas of focus were restoring native prairie and seed banking and sharing.
For November:
Garden Crawl: On November 14th, Lucia Benton is opening up her incredible garden for a Garden Crawl. This will be a more casual experience where we will get to see a member’s garden as a snapshot in time. No fluffing or filling in allowed! Sign up will be online. Also, please let Laura Cureton or Laura Kelsey know if you would like your garden to be shared with our members in the future!
What’s happening in your garden in November:
Seeds and Bulbs: Sweetpeas are so fun to plant in Houston! Soak them overnight then plant them around Halloween to grow up a trellis. You will be rewarded with wonderfully smelling lovely blooms in the spring. If we have a freeze, you might have to replant the seeds in January. Plant anemones, ranunculus, allium and other small bulbs between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Plant paperwhites in pots by November 11th for Christmas blooms. Refrigerate tulips for about 6 weeks. Sow wildflower seeds through November.
Plant: Plant trees, perennials, shrubs and roses so they are strong in spring. Plant pansies, snapdragons, alyssum, kale, cabbage, fall herbs and veggies.
Perennials: Plant, move and divide now.
Lawn: Re-sod in dead or weedy patches. Winterize with organic fertilizer.
Compost and mulch to get ready for cooler weather
SPOTLIGHT ON GCA CLUBS HELPING BIRDS
Real Dirt is an online publication of the GCA Horticulture Committee. The Fall 2024 edition focuses on birds, and our own Carol Price was asked to write an article about the GCH Partners 4 Plants project with Hermann Park called “Ground Control Houston,” with a focus on birds. She noted that 70% of all North American bird species migrate through Texas, and Houston is a major flyway for the migrating birds. This P4P project removes invasive species from the park and scatters native seeds to create pocket prairies to attract birds and other wildlife. A link to the article is here: https://www.gcamerica.org/_uploads/ filemanager/publicationsresource/24FallTRD.pdf.
ANNUAL GCH PRIVATE TOUR OF SOUTHERN FLORAL
Tuesday, November 5th at 10 a.m.
Southern Floral Wholesale 1313 West 20th Street
Get a behind the scenes tour, learn about mechanics and supplies and get some tips on how choose the right flowers for any design Mandatory for Provisionals – All are Welcome!
Junior Gardeners’
Christmas Paperwhite Potting & Holiday Cheer
Saturday, December 7, 2024 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the home of Elisa Pye
Bring your children, grandchildren, or special young friend to pot paperwhites and make pinecone birdfeeders. They make wonderful gifts! All ages are welcome, from tots to teens.
Bring a favorite potting container in which to plant your wonderful paperwhite bulbs. You can use pots, dishes, glass containers, containers covered in ribbon, or a holiday tin with a liner. Get creative and have some fun at this festive event. If you would rather plant a different bulb or plant, you may bring it with you.
Please RSVP on the website. Please bring your container and we will have food, paperwhite bulbs, and supplies for everyone at this fun event. Questions? Please contact Kathryn Bragan or Elisa Pye
Spotlight on a Houston Neighborhood:
A history walk with Jim Parsons, Carol Price and Doris Heard Tuesday Dec. 10th, 9:30-1:30pm
We will park and meet at Cindy Fitch’s home (see the Green Book for address).
Jim Parsons of Preservation Houston will lead GCH ladies on a walking tour through the historic Turner Addition Neighborhood and then we will enjoy a Dutch Treat lunch at a neighborhood restaurant. Cost: $15 per person.
Please sign up on the GCH website, space is limited to 20 people.
The story of Turner Addition began in 1871 when Nathaniel P. Turner platted the neighborhood more than two miles outside the Houston city limit, apparently anticipating that the city's growth would soon fill the gap between his subdivision and civilization. As it turned out, development in Turner Addition didn't begin until the late 1910s, when an extension of Montrose Boulevard finally linked the area with the rest of Houston. With Rice University, Hermann Park and the Museum of Fine Arts located nearby, Turner found itself at the epicenter of fashionable development in the interwar period.
Today, the Museum District neighborhood contains a fascinating variety of 20th-century residential architecture ranging from picturesque 1920s suburban homes to modern and postmodern townhouses from the 1970s and '80s. Join us for a walking tour that traces the development of the neighborhood and includes work by prominent architects such as William Ward Watkin, Alfred C. Finn, Howard Barnstone and Carlos Schoeppl.
Tis te Season for Christmas Cheer! Wednesday, December 11 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Home of Jeanie Cartr
Photo: William McIver Streetman House (1926, Carlos Schoeppl) / by Hester + Hardaway
Donations
August — September 2024
Community Fund
In memory of Almeria Thompson Cottingham from Josie and Michael Jones
In honor of Mike and Gail Hendryx’s Anniversary from Mr. and Mrs. John McClymonds
In memory of Ann Wise Pullen from Liz Rotan
In memory of Almeria Cottingham and Mary King from Nancy Etheridge
In memory of Ann Wise Pullen from Sharon Bryan
Endowment Fund
In memory of Liz Schwing from Judy and Charles Tate
In memory of Ann Wise Pullen from Ann and Tom Kelsey
Letters of Condolence:
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY’S REPORT
As of September 30, 2024
Liz Schwing for the loss of her mother and GCH member Anne Wise Pullen. Pat Gano for the loss of her sister Carol Isbell Patterson Marianna Brewster for the loss of her mother Editha Marianne Hawley. Bonner Ball for the loss of her sister and GCH member Anne Sewell Thomson. Chris Athon for the loss of her husband Merrell Athon. Melissa Moss for the loss of her sister-in-law Louise Andrews Moss.
Status Changes:
None
Contact Updates which can be found on the GCH website:
Kathleen Panus – updated cell number
Lucia Brandt – updated zip code
Green Books are no longer mailed to Active, Affiliate and Associate members who live in town. They have been distributed at the past two general meetings.
If you have not received your Green Book please contact Contact Corresponding Secretary Claire Curtin to plan for pick up.
Fri. 1 Deadline for December/January submissions to The Garden Path
Tue. 5 Tour of Southern Floral
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Mandatory for Provisionals - Open to All 1313 W. 20th St., 77008
Wed. 6 Advisory Board Meeting
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Home of Dianna Patterson
Tue. 12 Weed Wrangle
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Mandatory for Provisionals - Open to All Houston Arboretum
4501 Woodway Dr., 77024
Wed. 13
Julia Picton Wallace Lecture with Guest Speaker Christopher Spitzmiller
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Lecture Free and Open to the Public
MFAH - Wyatt Theater
1001 Bissonnet St., 77005
Wed. 13
Mary Louden Spencer Workshop with Christopher Spitzmiller
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
MFAH - Farish Classroom
1001 Bissonnet St., 77005
Registration and fee required on GCHouston.org
Thu. 14 Garden Tour
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Home of Lucia Benton
Mon. 18 Floral Design Happy Hour and Demonstration
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Home of Elisabeth Bickham
Tue. 19 Joint GCH/ROGC Photography Workshop
Lay Flat Photography
Led by Margaret Pierce and Helen Chambers
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics
2503 Westheimer Rd., 77098
Tue. 19 Rienzi Garden Subcommittee Meeting
9:30 a.m.
1406 Kirby Dr., 77019
Led by Debbie Robinson & Laura Levenson
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics 2503 Westheimer Rd., 77098
Thu. 21 Community Contribution Committee Meeting
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Home of Ruthie Kelly
Mon. 25 Christmas Decorating at Rienzi
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 1406 Kirby Dr., 77019
Submissions to The Garden Path may be sent to Christine Underwood and Patty Porter Thu. 21 Joint GCH/ROGC Botanical Arts Workshop
4212 San Felipe, PMB 486 Houston, Texas 77027-2902 Member, Garden Club of America www.gchouston.org