The Garden Path, May 2022 by The Garden Club of Houston

The Garden Path A Publication of the Garden Club of Houston, established 1924

May 2022

Along The Path My oh my…..this year has own by. Although I seem to talk a lot and get out a lot of words in any given day, I truly do not have the words to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for your having trusted me to guide this amazing group over the past year. I relied on GCH past presidents to give me advice, leadership from other GCA Clubs to give me navigational tips, friends to offer support, Verizon Wireless (self explanatory) and of course, my husband, Filson. He was as patient as any man could be while his wife basically left for a year. GCH ladies’ energy and enthusiasm knew no bounds! Look what we did: 13 Day eld trips 11 Workshops 18 Hands on workdays, including a Weed Wrangle 3 Movie nights 4 Overnight trips 4 Parties 1 Public Lecture 1 Flower Show (GCA) We gathered in churches, warehouses, homes, back yards, restaurants, and public parks. We were on planes, trains, automobiles, and boats. We stayed overnight in hotels and homes. We held our annual Bulb & Plant Mart which raised over $200,000 for us to give back to our community – we spend all the proceeds on local projects. This is especially important since our other fundraiser, Florescence 2021 was cancelled by GCA, impacting the nancial contribution we can make to our community over the next two years. GCH has 5 ladies who serve on GCA National or Zone Committees. We accepted 7 Provisionals who are on track to become Active Members, this month. This is quite a feat as there are many requirements involved. We expose them to all aspects of Membership in our Club and GCA, to make sure that they start off their Garden Club careers with a strong foundation. So, thank you all, truly, for a magical year!

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Please check your email for the above Paperless Post invitation and RSVP there. If you have any questions, email Wendy Askew at texaskew2@aol.com.

Dues are $350 for all GCH Members. Dues invoices will be emailed in early June, but we will be accepting dues checks at the May General Meeting.

Has your green GCH apron seen better days? Would you like a new one or an extra? Renee Davis can order a new one for you when she orders the aprons for the 2022-2023 Provisionals. Please email her at rdominguedavis@hotmail.com (or text 832-215-5766) no later than Friday, May 20 to place your order. Once she has the nal count, she will let you know the amount due.

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THANK YOU!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone for your tireless contributions to the success of COLOR! The show was amazing and we received rave reviews and many commendations from the Judges. A huge thank you and shout out to all of the entrants, committee chairs, volunteers, donors, supporters, and especially to the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston for opening their doors to graciously host our GCA show. Special thank yous to Lucia Benton and Susanne Pritchard for hosting the Judges in their extraordinary homes, to Mundi Elam for providing an exceptional Judges' dinner (complete with greenaproned GCH volunteer waitstaff!) and lovely boxed lunches for the Judges and Clerks after the show, and to Swift Events for meeting our every need. Now, CONGRATULATIONS are in order to all of the COLOR Award winners from GCH:

Photography: Novice Award: Doris Heard

Botanical Arts: Best Creative Response to Schedule: Kelly Moneyhan

Botanical Arts: Best in Show: Debbie Robinson

Botanical Arts: Creativity Award: Meg Tapp

Education Award: Meg Tapp, Ruthie Kelly, Margaret Pierce, Cabrina Owsley, Michelle Williams THE GARDEN PATH

Horticulture Awards

Best Plant for Flowers: Ruthie Kelly

Nancy Thomas Award and Best in Show: Marianna Brewster

Beattie Medal: Kinglsea von Helms

Willemsen Award: Nancy Keely

Best Cut Foliage: Meg Tapp

Novice Award: Christine Underwood

Best Plant for Foliage: Dana Parkey

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Floral Design Awards

Puckett Creativity Award and Ingrid Kelly Award: Marianna Brewster

Munger Award: Debbie Robinson

Best Use of Color: Mundi Elam

Baylor Novice Award: Sheri Beggins Most Unique Plant Material: Kelly Montgomery

Gay Estes Award: Tara Caldwell

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Welcome our new Provisionals… the Marvelous Mariposas!

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The Marvelous Mariposas!

Lisa Rowe Bates - Lead Sponsor: Elizabeth Dukes Lisa has lived in Houston since moving here in elementary school from the Dallas/Park Cities area. Gardening connects to her soul and gives her a constant appreciation for God’s creation of abundant beauty. She loves traveling and nds inspiration in architecture, gardens, and interiors. Her favorite gardens are those in France, such as Versailles and Villandry, because of their sculptural symmetry.

Elisabeth Bickham - Lead Sponsor: Jan Bres Elisabeth (with an s, not a z) is from New Orleans and "got blown" to Houston by Hurricane Katrina. Growing up she spent much time at her family farm in Mississippi where her late mother planted beautiful gardens and where she picked and arranged the plentiful wild owers. Elisabeth is fascinated by all types of gardens, wild, structured, French, English . . . . . She loves her hands being in the dirt and seeing things grow.

Courtnay Elias - Lead Sponsor: Paula Mentz Courtnay is a native Houstonian who enjoys being outside, planning, and creating. Her favorite garden design is a parterre garden or any garden with architectural elements. The Gardens at the Chateau de Versailles, including the Orangerie, and the summertime Water and Light Show, are most special to her. Courtnay wants us to know that she loves colors and having fun!

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Dana Hartwell - Lead Sponsor: Stephanie Shanks Dana is from Houston. She loves all types of gardens and nds gardening rewarding and relaxing. Dana really enjoys experimenting with propagating hard to nd bulbs and plants, something she gained from her grandmother with whom she spent many hours working with plants and owers when she was young. In addition to the many new friends, Dana is looking forward to supporting our community gardens and architectural gems as a GCH provisional.

Aynsley Letzerich - Lead Sponsor: Meg Murray Aynsley is originally from Huntsville. She enjoys preparing and arranging owers that become beautiful centerpieces for her family’s dinner table. Her favorite gardens are those of Bunny Williams. Aynsley is most inspired by nature and being outdoors, especially with her husband and two daughters. She is excited about the chance to learn new things and make new friends as a GCH provisional.

Annie Lovell - Lead Sponsor: Clayton Erikson Annie is from Corpus Christi but has lived in Houston the majority of her adult life. Annie spends time playing tennis and walking her rambunctious border collie but is happiest working in her garden -enjoying being outdoors in the sunshine, listening to the birds, digging in the dirt and creating a beautiful green space. She nds the seemingly haphazard placement of different owers in an English garden especially inviting.

Angela Peterman - Lead Sponsor: Karen Ytterberg Angela grew up in Austin but has lived in Houston since 1985. She enjoys growing herbs and lettuce -- "it’s fun to eat what you grow!” --and is learning to play golf. Angela has long loved casual French gardens (gravel, boxwoods, rosemary) but recently has found special beauty in the cactus gardens of the desert Southwest. She looks forward to her provisional year expanding her idea of what constitutes a beautiful garden.

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Houston Hospice Project Update What a difference a year, the GCA Founder’s Fund Grant and lots of caring gardeners, makes! Houston Hospice gardens look better than ever. While even during the darkest of days, families and loved ones found solace in the lovely dappled shade and ancient brick walkways, now the warm welcome of the garden offers respite to all. Hospice staff are using the garden more than ever, hosting a magical donor event under the twinkling lights of the garden oaks and welcoming families this spring under the owering camellias, red buds and tulip trees. Thanks to GCH and all of the wonderful members who’ve supported the garden since 1989, Houston Hospice received a grant of $10,000 from the Founder’s Fund of the Garden Club of America. Combined with a generous outside grant of $10,000 from GCH, Houston Hospice and the GCH Hospice Committee were able to re-sod most of the garden in accordance with the original plans.

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Houston Hospice Project Update (continued)

Combined with the lovely hardscaping and the family terrace built in 2020 which comfortably accommodates bedridden patients who want to spend cherished time in the fresh air, the sod was a major piece in completing the renewed master plan. The last pieces of the puzzle will be completed this summer — a formalized donor paver plan along the walk way from the chapel and ground cover in the heavily shaded areas where sod is impossible.

What better to show off the new sod than dozens of tulips and daffodils from the 2021 Bulb Mart lining the lawns? Thanks to all of our fantastic GCH volunteers who helped plant the beautiful bulbs in January. They sure gave Hospice visitors a lovely surprise. As we all know, of course, the glory of a garden, like the glory of the gardener, is that we are never nished. Come join the GCH Hospice Garden Committee and watch this spiritual space evolve as it offers solace, calm and peace to Houston.

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Garden Club of America Appointments Congratulations to these ladies who have been selected to serve in Garden Club of America positions for the coming year. The Garden Club of Houston is well represented. Sara Ledbetter: GCA Vice Chair – Floral Design Meg Tapp: GCA Treasurer – Visiting Gardens Nancy Davis Keely – Zone IX Representative - Judging Margaret Pierce – Zone IX Representative - Photography Liz Wozencraft – Zone IX Representative - Flower Show

Congratulations to our newest members in the GCA Judging Program! Judy Lee in Horticulture and Laura Levenson in Botanical Arts.

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Proposed Bylaws Amendments At the April General meeting the Policy Committee presented some proposed amendments to the club’s bylaws as well as a proposed update to the Articles of Incorporation. Proposed new or amended language is highlighted. These amendments are voting items and will be voted on at the May General meeting. -Cindy Wallace

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What to do in the Garden in May *Plant okra, peppers, melons, and cucumbers. *Move 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. *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, rosemary, and dill – swallowtail butter ies love dill. *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! *Mulch! Add a 3-inch layer of mulch to ower beds to deter weeds, to protect plant roots from excess heat, and to provide a slow releasing source of nutrition for plants and soil. This can be nely shredded hardwood mulch, compost, or pine straw. There is never a wrong time to mulch. *Adjust sprinkler duration as temperatures become warmer. Remember that it is better to water for a longer period of time, less often. This encourages a strong root system. *Wash birdfeeders and birdbaths frequently to reduce germs that could harm your avian visitors. A little splash of Clorox will keep algae at bay and won’t harm pets and birds. *Weed by hand a little each day. Be vigilant so weeds don’t have a chance to go to seed and take over. See Mulch! above. *Remove spent blooms on annuals to promote more blooms. *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. Have a Great Summer and THANKS for all who enjoyed the past Horticulture events!! With love from your Horticulture Chairs, Nancy Keely and Laura Levenson

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GCA Scholarship News

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Interested in a bit of international relevancy in today’s world as we approach the Queen’s Jubilee in London this June 2022? The Interchange Fellowship, founded in 1948, is an international exchange program sponsored jointly by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the UK, and The Garden Club of America (GCA) in the USA, in association with Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania. In 1989 Nigel Dunnant, an RHS Fellow, was a recipient of a GCA grant. Today Mr. Dunnant is collaborating with Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) to create the Superbloom display at the Tower of London. Beginning this spring, 20 million seeds will be sown in the Tower’s iconic moat. Superbloom kicks off a permanent transformation of the moat into a vibrant natural landscape at one of London’s most visited sites. This summer, in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, the Tower will be surrounded by millions of owers, weaving paths, and sculptural elements that will beckon visitors to explore and linger. The blooming landscape will continuously evolve, its patterns and colors changing through early fall. Nigel Dunnett, Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Shef eld, is a landscape designer, plantsman, author, and leader in innovative approaches to planting design. He has been instrumental in bringing the Superbloom project to fruition. Read more here: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/superbloom-at-the-tower-oflondon/#gs.qo6plp With help from the Garden Club of America’s various scholarships over the years, people in 2022 on a global basis are able to reap the bene ts and enjoy the fruits of study which may have taken years in the making. - Mathilde C.F. Hoefer

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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 Thursday, May 19th, from 9:30-10:30 am, at the home of Kelli Mize, 911 Briar Ridge Drive. 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.

Important Reminder: This is a reminder to any Member of The GCH who has incurred a reimbursable expense on behalf of the Club. Please turn your receipt(s) in to Ruthie Kelly before the end of May. I will not be able to reimburse expenses for this year after May 31. If you have any questions please contact me at ruthkelly5646@gmail.com. Thank you!

LEGISLATION: RECOVERING AMERICA’S WILDLIFE ACT The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has been approved by committees in both houses of the U.S. Congress, and the committees are pushing to present it for a vote and approval by Memorial Day this year. This act will provide nancial resources to wildlife professionals working to conserve the diversity of America’s native species. If you are interested in learning more and/or supporting this legislation, you can nd information at: https:// www.txwildlifealliance.org/take-action

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The Sun owers The Sun owers did a fantastic job with their entries for COLOR and are wrapping up their fun and ful lling provisional year! They are such a creative and talented group and have learned so much through the process. A special ‘thank you’ to the wonderful ladies who mentored them in oral design this year: Marianna Brewster, Gay Estes, Nancy Godshall, Gail Hendryx, Ingrid Kelly, Sara Ledbetter, Debbie Robinson and Liz Wozencraft. Thank you also to Floral Design Chair Stephanie Shanks and Asst. Chair Susie Green for hosting several workshops for their bene t. The Sun owers are nishing their year with ying COLORS!

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GCH Stitchers Seeking Information We have several lovely needlepoint ornaments in the GCH collection for which the provenance is unknown. We’d love to record in our archive book who stitched these beauties and in whose honor they were given. Please take a peek at the ornaments pictured at right and email Kim Thomas kjst1221@hotmail.com with any info you may have. Thank you!

This Summer Please remember to pencil in some time to stitch a needlepoint ornament for the GCH ornament collection. Also, please check with your favorite shop as to the date of their nishing deadline this year. Kim Thomas kjst1221@hotmail.com

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Shangri La and Beaumont Flower Show

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The 80th Bulb and Plant Mart will be here before we know it! Committee chairs, please join us at the underwriter letter signing – Thursday, May 12th and Friday, May 13th at the home of Claire Curtin. Clayton Erikson and Kelli Cravens are hard at work on our Hort Guide. It is a great place to promote your business, celebrate your provisional class and GCH friendships. ¼ page, ½ page, and full-page sponsorships are available. Our May meeting is the perfect place to gather your provisional class and snap a new photo! Contact Kelli Cravens when you are ready to reserve your spot. The popular Bulb Bar returns to BPM chaired by Dede Russo and Kelly Duenner. They will gladly accept donations of square glass vases to either of their front porches. Le Jardin would love to be the bene ciary of your spring cleaning! Drop off gently used household items at their storage unit. Contact Jane Broyles for more information and storage unit address. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU AT BPM 2022…OCTOBER 13th -15th!

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Initiating Our New President For those of us who have been lucky enough to see the smooth transition from President Elect to President, surely we have noticed the tradition of crowning our new President with owers at our Annual Meeting. Where is that procedure prescribed in the Bylaws? Or is it a sentimentalized tradition created by our club’s great grandmothers a hundred years ago? For those who wonder, I can provide the answer. And for those who have just taken it for granted, you will now know. Our multitalented former president, Mimi Kerr, was in charge of the May Board Meeting. Mimi never went half-way with a celebration and she didn’t disappoint. There on the porch of Susan Garwood’s home was a home-crafted throne and a scepter. The unsuspecting President Elect was curious about the set-up, but knew never to try to out guess Mimi. So rather than just a passing of the gavel, Mimi had arranged that the new president would be crowned with owers. The reason? The new president’s email epithet was Queeniewag, so in Mimi’s mind, she should be treated like a queen. And I have to say, once I quit laughing, I didn’t mind at all. -Gail Hendryx

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Corresponding Secretary’s Report March 2022 Letters of Condolence To member Clare Bruce on the loss of her mother-in-law, Maria Anne (Anne) Morgan Bruce. To member Mary Craddock on the loss of her father-in-law, John (Jack) Walton Craddock. Status Changes Liz Rotan from Active to Af liate. Carla Ohls Brower from Active to Af liate. Contact Updates Carla Ohls Brower’s new address is 2025 Park Street, Houston, TX 77019 Cheryl Monteith’s new address is 1202 Wynden Commons Lane, Houston, TX 77056. Her new email address is CEPMonte@gmail.com, and delete her home phone number. Mary Frances Monteith’s new address is 6336 Woodway, #1514, Houston, TX 77057.

GCH Donations The Major Gift Fund In memory of Alice Thomas from Margaret Pierce Community Fund In memory of Alice Thomas from Carol Price In memory of Patsy Cravens from Carol Price In memory of Alice Thomas from Marianna Brewster In memory of Katherine Stanton from Anonymous Endowment Fund In memory of John (Jack) Walton Craddock from Judy and Charles Tate In memory of Maria Anne Morgan Bruce from Judy and Charles Tate

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MAY 2022 Wed. 4

Tues. 10 Thurs. 12

Wed. 18

Advisory Board Meeting Includes outgoing and incoming Chairs 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Followed by complimentary lunch Home of Susan Solcher 2217 Maconda Ln., 77027

Thurs. 19

Admissions - Sponsors Interest Meeting 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Thurs. 19

Conservation & Horticulture Planning Meeting 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Home of Nancy Keely 3134 Newcastle Dr., 77027

Tues. 24 Tues. 31

Spring Trip: Great Gardens of the English Countryside

Tues. 31

Rienzi Garden Subcommittee Meeting 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 1406 Kirby Dr., 77019

Zone IX Meeting

Annual Meeting 9:00 a.m. Coffee, 9:30 a.m. Meeting “Changing of the Guard” Followed by complimentary lunch The Bayou Club 8550 Memorial Dr., 77024

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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