The Garden Path May 2021 by The Garden Club of Houston

A Publication of the Garden Club of Houston, established 1924

May 2021

Along The Path As my term as GCH President comes to an end, I would like to thank my board members, chairmen, standing committees and subcommittees. This interesting year could not have been possible without your support. We managed to pivot successfully and stay engaged despite COVID restrictions. It has been my privilege to serve as your President! I look forward to seeing many of you in person at our May General Meeting on Thursday, May 13th at the Bayou Club. Please note this is a date change from our green directory. See you on the Path! Julie

Garden Bouquets The Salute Zone IX virtual Flower Show was a huge success thanks to all of our members who entered. Bouquets of roses to Meg Tapp, Margaret Pierce, Carol Price, Nancy Keely, Mundi Elam and Stephanie Shanks. Spring bouquets go to Clayton Erikson for hosting the GCH virtual watch party where we surprised our big winners, Gay Estes and Gail Hendryx. (Alice Thomas and Sue White as well). Dozens of roses to Nancy Keely and Estelle Lozmack for all their work on Graf ti! Bouquets to all of the staff at Silver Street/Sawyer Yards. Bouquets of roses to all the Graf ti Chairmen. Pots of pentas to Meg Tapp and Carol Price for their horticulture workshops, bouquets of roses to Liz Wozencraft, Sara Ledbetter, Gay Estes, Nancy Godshall and Ingrid Kelly for their oral design workshops and mentoring. Thank you to all who entered and volunteered to help make it a fabulous show! Bouquets of bluebonnets to Wendy Askew for organizing a pop-up eld trip to God’s Garden, to Patty Porter and Katherine Stacy for the eld trip to Bolivar Peninsula, High Island, and HBG, to Carol Price and Heather Firestone for the Mercer Botanic Garden Tour, and to Adele Bentsen and Mimi Kerr for the fabulous virtual Photography workshop with Joe Smith. A dozen roses to Lucy Chambers and Kingslea Von Helms for sending in wonderfully written articles to the GCA Bulletin. Bouquets to Tonya Judah, Sarah McMurrey, Elizabeth Dukes, Susan Cravens and Alix Nakfoor for their assistance with virtual meetings and our last in person May meeting! Lastly, I want to thank each one of you for participating however you could this year. Bouquets of gratitude to all!

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We all look forward to gathering together IN PERSON in May! Unlike in past years, this year’s event will be held completely outdoors. Both the General Meeting and the Lunch will be seated, in-place at tables poolside. Table con guration and spacing, unfortunately, limited capacity to 120 attendees. If you had RSVP’d but now nd that your plans have shifted, please let Tonya Judah (tgjudah@gmail.com) know so that another in our membership can attend.

Sign up at the May meeting for a day trip to the Painted Churches in Schulenburg. We will travel by bus on Monday, September 20th to tour some of Texas’ beautiful hidden treasures. There is room for 22 and we will be stopping for lunch. (There will also be a sign up sheet at the September meeting.)

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Upcoming Admissions Sponsor Meeting Do you have a friend who is passionate about conservation, has an interest in photography, holds a genuine appreciation for horticulture, or has been a dedicated volunteer at our Bulb and Plant Mart? Now is the time to give some thought to supporting worthy candidates for membership! If you would like to serve as a Sponsor for someone, please attend the Sponsor Meeting on Wednesday, May 19, from 9:30-10:30 am, at the home of Catherine Randall, 2907 Wroxton Road. A Lead Sponsor or a Second Sponsor must be present at this brief initial meeting, where we will go over the admissions process and hand out Admissions packets. The continued success of our club depends on our outstanding membership.

GCH Stitchers If you are currently stitching or are planning on stitching a needlepoint ornament for the GCH ornament collection, thank you so much! As you stitch, please be mindful that many of our local shops are posting as their Christmas nishing deadline the “date” of A.S.A.P. Comments or Questions? Kim Thomas – kjst1221@hotmail.com New ornament stitched and given by Kingslea Thomas von Helms

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Corresponding Secretary’s Report March, 2021 Submitted by Sheila May eld

Letters of Condolence To Letty Knapp on the loss of her nephew, Randall Grace To Vivie O’Sullivan on the loss of her cousin, Randall Grace To Almeria Cottingham on the loss of her cousin, Randall Grace To Gladys O’Neal on the loss of her husband, our honorary member, Merrill O’Neal

Contact Updates Dina Ormiston’s correct cell-phone number is 713-557-5056. Julie McIlheran’s new address is 4222 Whitman St., Houston, TX 77027. Michelle Frazier’s new (temporary) address is 6135 Lynbrook Dr., Houston, TX 77057. Claire Curtin’s new address is 3245 Avalon Place, Houston, TX 77019.

GCA NEWS

Gail Hendryx at the Zone IX Watch Party with her family. Gail received the Alice Kain Stout Mentoring Award.

Meg Tapp, winner of the Zone IX Rosie Jones Award, with Gay Estes, winner of the Zone IX Judging Award.

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Zone IX 2021-2023 GCA Appointments Committee Chairmen Conservation: Casey McAlister-Garden Club of Nashville Flower Show: Molly Adams- Lookout MountainGardem Club *2022 Stewardship: Cathy Mayton-Little Rock Garden Club * 1 yea Zone Leadership Zone Chairman/Club Presidents: Beth Whitney-Gertrude Windsor Garden Club Zone Chairman/Club Committees: Nancy Montgomery- Knoxville Garden Clu National Committees Zone IX VCs and Representatives Ad Hoc Committees: Catherine Freeman-New Orleans Town Gardeners - Virtual Meeting Committee Awards: Barbara Bush-New Orleans Town Gardeners-Rep Board of Associates: Marilyn Gregg-River Oaks Garden Club-Rep Bulletin: Melanie Dishman-Magnolia GC –Vice Chairman Advertising *2022 Mare Brennan-Monroe Garden Study Club-Rep Civic Improvement: Elizabeth Waddill-Magnolia Garden Club - Vice Chairman Partners for Plants Frannie Corzin-Garden Club of Nashville-Rep Communication: Quida Drinkwater-Garden Club of Jackson - Vice Chairman Carolyn Barnes-Monroe Garden Study Club-Rep Conservation/NAL: Carol Jordan-Founders Garden Club - Vice Chairman of National Parks Ginger Browning-Knoxville GC - Vice Chairman of Air Quality Lyn McMillin-Garden Club of Jackson-Rep Finance: Sarah Ledbetter-Garden Club of Houston Floral Design: Lee Easterly-Garden Club of Lookout Mountain - Assistant Editor of By Design Clare Nelson –Shreveport Garden Study Club - Floral Design Study Group Coordinator Jenny Kempner-GC Houston - By Design-Layout Editor

Gina Crenshaw-Magnolia Garden Club-Rep Flower Show: Gladys Whitney-Little Rock GC-Schedule Reader Liz Wozencraft- Garden Club of Houston-Rep Garden History and Design: Mary Lynn Faulkner-Gertrude Windsor Garden Club-Rep Horticulture: Martha Weissinger-Greenville Garden Club-Rep Judging: Polly Glotzbach-Little Rock Garden Club - Vice Chairman 2022* Nancy Keely-Garden Club of Houston-Rep Market Place: Jenne Williams-Memphis Garden Club Membership: Jenne Williams-Memphis Garden Club Nominating: Betsy Holleman- Garden Lovers of Natchez Photography: Karen McCormick-Magnolia Garden Club - Vice Chair “Focus” Ann Brookshire-Gertrude Windsor Garden Club Vice Chair Photography Study Group *2022

Margaret Pierce-Garden Club of Houston-Rep Program: Mary Call Ford-Little Garden Club of Memphis-Rep

Scholarship: Catherine Freeman-New Orleans Town Gardeners-Rep Visiting Gardens: Janna Webber-River Oaks Garden Club-Rep

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Congratulations to our GCH members who have accepted GCA positions

Conservation Update By Patty Porter

Conversation about Conservation over Cocktails On March 23, Cabrina Owsley hosted us on her patio for Conversation about Conservation over Cocktails. It was a beautiful setting with perfect weather, and we had a great turnout. We were fortunate to have Jaime Gonzalez of the Nature Conservancy in Texas join us for the gathering.

Trip to Bolivar Flats and High Island Friday, April 9th, we had a great tour of the Houston Audubon coastal sanctuaries of Bolivar Flats and High Island.

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, May 1, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Conservation family eld trip to Houston Audubon Sims Bayou Raptor Center. This trip includes a visit to see the birds at the Raptor Center and a bring-your-own picnic. There is no charge, but please RSVP to Patty Porter at porterbp@aol.com as we are limited to a total of thirty guests. Tuesday, May 18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Conservation eld trip to Houston Botanic Garden. We will meet at 10 and have a few minutes to wander on our own. At 10:30 we will split into docent led groups of no more than nine for a one hour guided tour. Anyone interested can bring a picnic lunch and we can wander some more on our own as long as we want. We can have as many as 27 participants with three docents. There is no charge, thanks to the generosity of one of our members, but please RSVP to Patty Porter at porterbp@aol.com by May 6 at the latest so we will know how many docents we need. Tuesday, May 25, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Joint Conservation/Horticulture 2021-2022 Planning Meeting to be held at the home of Patty Porter, 2200 Willowick Rd., Unit 3H. Please RSVP to Patty at porterbp@aol.com or 713-828-3266. The meeting will be inside.

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“Wild owers” Provisional Update by Greta Zimmerman This Wild ower Provisional year has been FULL! Full of learning, full notebooks and totes, Zoom General meetings, but also seeing new friends and FUN socially distanced small group gatherings. A Spring highlight was our March luncheon hosted by Lucia Benton at her beautiful, welcoming home. The Wild owers were able to put their feet up—talk oral design ideas as they met members from Lucia’s 2018 Provisional class. Thank you Lucia for your incredible kindness in reaching out to our newest members!

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Meet the 2021-22 Provisional Class The “Sun owers”

Names and Bios on next two pages…

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Sheri Beggins Lead Sponsor: Stephanie Shanks Sheri is from Houston. Sheri loves to garden and usually has home-grown tomatoes, peppers and cut owers in her kitchen. Sheri also loves to arrange owers and recently she helped a neighbor with owers for a wedding party. She loves hiking, biking, tennis, Farmer’s Markets and nature.

Tara Caldwell Lead Sponsor: Laura Crawford Tara grew up in Memphis, TN, but has been happy to call Houston her home for the last 27 years. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and labradors. Tara is interested in gardening, community service and oral design. She looks forward to learning new things through the lectures, workshops and projects of the GCH.

Wendy Dalton Lead Sponsor: Robin Burke Wendy grew up in Houston. She is the daughter in law of our late member Terry Park Dalton. Wendy enjoys growing bulbs, especially Amaryllis and gardening. She loves food, walking, Pilates and time with family. Wendy is looking forward to learning about our club projects and oral arranging.

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The “Sun owers”

Shirley Rouse Lead Sponsor: Cabrina Owlsey Shirley is a native Houstonian. Her mother, Fredrica Lake, was a GCH member for over 40 years. Shirley has retired from her environmental consulting business and is now a City Council member in Hedwig Village. Shirley is an avid gardener and is excited to improve her ower arranging abilities.

Melissa Schnitzer Lead Sponsor: Sally Giammalva Melissa grew up in Texarkana and has lived in Houston for over 30 years. She currently serves on the Bevo Beauti cation Council for UT Austin and is involved with the support and preservation of Rienzi and its gardens. Melissa is excited to learn more about horticulture and conservation. She loves pickleball, tennis and Mahjong.

Christine Underwood Lead Sponsor: Mundi Elam Christine was born in Michigan. Her father, an avid gardener, instilled a love of nature and gardening from a young age. Christine loves spending time with family and looks traveling. She is excited to learn more about ower arranging, horticulture and meeting all of wonderful GCH members.

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Kelly Montgomery Lead Sponsor: Paula Mentz Kelly was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and moved to Houston as a young girl. Kelly is interested to learn more about conservation, historic preservation and oral arranging. She loves to hike, ski, walk Buffalo Bayou and visit her far ung kids.

SAVE THE DATE

Bulb and Plant Mart will be returning to St. John the Divine October 14-16, 2021! Calling all shoppers! We are excited to offer several fabulous items in the Apparel Store at this year’s Bulb Mart. We will again feature last year’s popular (sold out!) rain jacket and gingham shirts (in brand new colors!) and we have selected fun new products to add to the lineup. In addition to the rain jacket and gingham shirts, look for a sleek medium weight zip up grey eece, a white baseball cap, a crisp chambray shirt and a cheerful, bright white BPM t-shirt. Don’t forget to stock up on fresh new gardening gloves as well. Happy shopping, all!

Greetings Gardeners, We are in the midst of working on the BPM Underwriting letters to mail out to past and prospective donors and would love your assistance in adding new potential donors. If you are a new member or provisional, please let us know of any new prospective underwriting opportunities - relatives, friends, neighbors, foundations, gardening gurus, etc. as well as considering being an underwriter yourself. We are hoping to have a banner year in sales, socializing and, especially, contributions to all of GCH’s Projects. We encourage and hope everyone can stop by to help sign & stuff the underwriting letters on May 10th and 11th at my home, 2217 Maconda Lane from 9-6. Refreshments served all day with libations during happy hour 4-6. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, Susan Solcher Underwriting Chair 713/444-1930 ssolcher@hotmail.com

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What to do in Your Garden - May

Inspect your outdoor hoses to be sure that they were not damaged over the winter. · Prune dead branches from shrubs and trees, and spring blooming vines and shrubs, such as azaleas and wisteria. May is the last month in which to prune and fertilize azaleas. · Weed by hand before weeds go to seed to avoid adding more weed seeds to your soil. · Avoid the use of chemical herbicides (except organic products). These are not good for us, our pets, for the environment, or for the birds, bees, butter ies, or the sh in our ponds. · Move your orchids outside for the summer. Remember to “water weakly weekly”. (Might need more water while outside due to evaporation from higher temperatures.) Place where they will receive bright light but no direct sun. · Trim back the tops of spent bulbs. Fertilized Louisiana iris after bloom cycle. · Replace Spring annuals with summer owers such as salvias, Black-eyed Susans, purple cone owers, zinnias, pentas, gaura, and milkweed. Natives and pollinator friendly plants are best. Mix in summer herbs such as basil, oregano and rosemary. · Fertilize with a foliar spray of liquid seaweed and/or molasses, to boost plant strength and deter sucking insects. Application rates for both are 1 TBSP/gallon. This can happen monthly during the growing season. Fish hydrolysate is another good choice but smelly! · Add a ½ to 1-inch layer of compost and a 2” layer of mulch to all of your owerbeds to deter weeds, protect your plant roots from excess heat, and to provide a slowly releasing source of nutrition for your plants. Avoid mounding compost and mulch against the base of a trunk on either shrubs or trees – be sure the root are is exposed and clean. · Adjust sprinkler frequency as temperatures become warmer. · Water your lawn deeply to encourage a stronger root system, but set timer so that no water runoff goes into the sewers. · Adjust lawn mower to high setting (3 inches is recommended) and do not bag clippings – allow them to stay on the lawn for “built-in” fertilization. · Pick tomatoes at the sign of rst blush color so that squirrels, birds and other unmentionable critters do not get to them rst. Ripen on windowsill. · Wash your birdfeeders and birdbaths frequently to reduce germs that could harm your avian visitors. · Enjoy being outdoors before the dog days of summer are upon us! •

Have a great summer! -Carol and Heather, your Horticulture chairs

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Donations during the 2020 - 2021 year (through April 15, 2021) Bulb and Plant Mart Fund In memory of Mrs. Ursula Aston from Tori Schroer

Community Fund In honor of Margaret Pierce from the 2019-20 Advisory Board In memory of Mrs. Ursula Aston from Anne Kennett In memory of Mrs. Ursula Aston from Carrie M. Horne In memory of William Reeder from Bonne & George Ball In memory of Carolyn Wallace from Anne Pullen In memory of Carolyn Wallace from Carol Price In memory of Marvin Pete Cluett from Courtney & Curtis Hutcheson In memory of William Faubion from Courtney & Curtis Hutcheson In memory of Dorothy Painter from Marianna Brewster In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Carol & Brian Duggan In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Anne Pullen In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Mr. & Mrs. Robert Whilden In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Pene Moore In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Jennifer & Paul Gregory In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Ann & Tom Kelsey In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Karen Thompson In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Harriet Rutland In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Shirley Flowers In memory of Robert Gordon Gooch from Mary Hale McLean In memory of Kay Walker from Courtney & Curtis Hutcheson In memory of Margaret Forrest Barrow from Courtney & Curtis Hutcheson In memory of Quince David Fulton from Courtney & Curtis Hutcheson In memory of Rebecca Brown Hutcheson from Mr. & Mrs. Frank C. Smith, Jr. In memory of Rebecca Brown Hutcheson from Mrs. Avon Smith Duson In memory of Carl Estes II from Mimi & Rob Kerr In memory of Carl Estes II from Alamo Heights-Terrell Hills Garden Club friends In memory of Carl Estes II from Ann & Tom Kelsey In memory of Carl Estes II from Josie & Michael Jones In memory of Carl Estes II from Margaret Pierce In memory of Carl Estes II from Sarah Dameris In memory of Carl Estes II from Mrs. Dorothea Faubion In memory of Carl Estes II from Sally Giammalva In memory of Carl Estes II from Louise Jamail In memory of Carl Estes II from Gentry Lee In memory of Carl Estes II from Susan Orsi Davis In memory of Jean Griffey Tuttle from Carrie Horne In memory of Ann Mays Hollingsworth from Courtney & Curtis Hutcheson In honor of Garden Club of Houston from Mary Cain & Frank Driscoll In honor of Garden Club of Houston from Janna Webber In honor of Garden Club of Houston from Stephanie Shanks In honor of Meg Tapp from the Founders Garden Club of Dallas Major Gift Fund In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Marianna Brewster In memory of Rebecca Brown Hutcheson from Leila & Walter Mischer Thomas Lecture Fund From Nancy Thomas Wallace Lecture Fund In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Katherine Shanks Dodd

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Endowment Fund In memory of Mrs. Ursula Aston from Liz Rotan In memory of Mrs. Ursula Aston from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Mrs. Ann Wier McNamara Jones from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Mr. Albert Smith, Jr. from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Mr. William Knox Brown from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Mrs. B. A. Bentsen from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Mrs. B. A. Bentsen from Gay Estes and Meg Tapp In memory of Virginia McFarland from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Carolyn Wallace from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Carolyn Wallace from Gay Estes In memory of Pete Cluett from Gay Estes In memory of Pete Cluett from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Hanna Pearson Adams from Gay Estes In memory of Juneta Jo Lebeaux from Laura Powers In memory of William Faubion from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Ann Mays Hollingsworth from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Ann Mays Hollingsworth from Meg Tapp In memory of Ann Mays Hollingsworth from Ruthie Kelly In memory of Kay Walker from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Quince David Fulton from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Robert Gordon Gooch from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Robert Gordon Gooch from Nancy & Bill Drushel, Jr. In memory of Rebecca Brown Hutcheson from Nancy & Bill Drushel, Jr. In memory of Rebecca Brown Hutcheson from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of William Faubion from Sara & Jim Ledbetter In memory of Marion Walter Spiers from Gay Estes and Meg Tapp In memory of Marion Walter Spiers from Liz Rotan In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Gay Estes and Meg Tapp In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Lynn Rutland Rafferty from Sara Ledbetter In memory of Carl Estes II from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of Carl Estes II from Carol Price In memory of Carl Estes II from Liz Rotan In memory of Carl Estes II from Mary Moretz In memory of Carl Estes II from Sara Ledbetter In memory of Carl Estes II from Eugene Glover In memory of Carl Estes II from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of William Bruce from Judy & Charles Tate In memory of William S. Cochran III from Judy & Charles Tate Jodie Hoffer Park Fund In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Rick F. Kraft In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Harriet & Bill Choice In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Ms. Jan R. Cohen In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Mrs. Amy Grenader In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Mrs. Ellie Francisco In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Mark Strum In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Mrs. Lyn F. Schmulen In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Ms. Helaine Lubetkin In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Jill & Barry Racusin In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Debbie & Alan Stanton In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Cindy & David Senior In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Barry & Sherry Sandler In memory of Edward Joseph (Jodie) Hoffer from Maureen & Ellison Wittels

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Horticulture Field Trip to Museum of Natural Science We had a lovely visit to the Museum of Natural Science greenhouses where we saw butter ies being raised and the plants they eat and lay their eggs on propagated. We also stepped outside to the Nine Native planting bed which GCH helped fund, where the blue Spiderwort was blooming like crazy.

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Sat. 1

Conservation Family Field Trip and Lunch Houston Audubon 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Sims Bayou Raptor Center 3997 River Dr., 77017

Thurs. 13

Annual Meeting and Changing of the Guard 9:30 a.m. The Bayou Club 8550 Memorial Dr., 77024 Paperless Post RSVP required

Wed. 5

Advisory Board Meeting Includes Outgoing and Incoming Chairmen 9:30 a.m. Virtual Meeting

Tue. 18

Conservation Field Trip Houston Botanic Garden Tour and picnic lunch 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 8205 N. Bayou Dr., 77017

Thurs. 6

Photography Study Group and Horticulture Enthusiast Photography in a “Secret Garden” 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Home of Lucia Benton 3 Waverly Court Online signup

Tue. 25

Conservation and Horticulture 2021-2022 Planning Meeting Open to all 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Home of Patty Porter 2200 Willowick Rd., Unit 3H, 77027

JUNE 2021 Tue. 1

Rienzi Garden Subcommittee Meeting 9:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 1406 Kirby Dr., 77019

THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON EST 1924 4212 San Felipe, PMB 486 Houston, Texas 77027-2902 Member, Garden Club of America www.gchouston.org

Submissions to The Garden Path may be sent to Elisabeth Millard and Melissa Rabalais

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MAY 2021