Oleander Leaflets 1

Oleander Leaflets Spring Sown by the Seeds of Oglethorpe… April 2014

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

2 Projects Throughout Oleander

8 Historic Preservation Lunch & Learn

10 Youth Award Winners

11 Upcoming Events

13 GCG Conference Information & Registration

-If you were unable to attend the Historical Preservation Lunch & Learn, you missed an outstanding program. Dean Norton, 30 year veteran horticulturist, from George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia gave an informative and extremely humorous presentation. Many thanks go to the wonderful people that helped make this a reality-especially Lisa Hall, The Landings Garden Club and Linder Suthers, Trustees Garden Club, who co-chaired the event.

*Even though we’ve had a busy winter with lots of projects, it is so nice to see things coming alive after a long cold winter. -Thanks to all of the wonderful ladies at Isle of Hope Baptist Church along with Anita Adair and Mary Nelson Adams for hosting the January Board Meeting. It was absolutely lovely; thanks for a job well done. -I’ve heard rave reviews on Deborah Hardage, Pine Forest Garden Club of Baxley and Phyllis Thompson, Glennville Garden Club for the super Basic Design Courses they’ve hosted. For more information on upcoming classes, email Deborah at PFGCbaxleyga@gmail.com. -The always active St. Mary’s Garden Club, has a new innovative youth program. Please contact their club to find out more as they are more than happy to share this creative program. More information on this great program to come later. -I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Native Plant and Wildflower Symposium in Tifton. I encourage everyone attend this worthwhile program next year. -Oleander District will be hosting the 2015 Garden Club of Georgia Convention on Beautiful Historic al Jekyll Island. Committees are forming now so please say yes when Geri Shaw/St. Mary’s Garden Club, chairman and Sara Lanier, co-chairman contact you to help. -I would like to thank all of those in the District that have been so helpful to me during this first year of my term; I have learned a lot and still have lots more to learn. -Many many thanks to June Thomas for her great job in doing the Oleander Leaflets. I owe her a debt of gratitude. Thanks again and sincerely, Marilyn Cheney

Happy Spring Outstanding Oleanders, Marilyn Cheney District Director Reidsville, GA

Oleander Leaflets 2

LISA HALL

Savannah, GA Corresponding Secretary and Scholarship Chairman

Ever

gree

n G

ard

en C

lub

Bro

okl

et, G

A

Juanita Newton, member of the Brooklet Garden Club, won the raffle at the Annual Bulloch Council Luncheon March 20th for a beautiful watercolor titled "Pears on a Napkin" by artist, Julie Bressler. Presentation of the watercolor by Julie Bressler. artist and Garden Therapy chairman (left) to Juanita Newton (right)

Evergreen Garden Club members who sponsored an art raffle were delighted to give the proceeds of $100 to the Tree Bank of the City of Statesboro to use for civic improvement and to thank Director Robert Seamans for his good work with beautification of the City's Parks. Presentation of the check, from left to right: Sandy Rakestraw, Civic Improvement Chairman; Robert Seamans, Director of City Streets and Parks; Tina Porter, Treasurer; and Carol Tripp, Raffle Chairman.

Oleander Leaflets 3

Are YOU…

collecting for

“Pull a Tab

& Save”?

Time to register for GCG State Conference-Details on pages 14-15. Early Bird Special ends April 30!!

Pine tree crosses. Our reminder

of the true meaning of Easter.

After Landings Garden Club member, Brigitta Nooney, passed away her husband, John, donated $1000 to the club in her memory. In his touching letter he remembers that “for Gitta, the Garden Club was the most important part of her life (more than golf).” Gitta passed away in June 2012, after sharing 55 years with John. She and John spent many hours establishing the oasis in the lot next to their home. Brigitta’s garden was famous around the island; it was always open for everyone to enjoy. The decision was made to use some of the money to commission a painting of Brigitta’s garden by local artist, Phyllis Tildes. The completed painting has been hung in the Landings Library. John has since moved back East and the garden is no more, but we will still be able to enjoy Brigitta’s lovely garden through the lovely painting.

Oleander Leaflets 4

Soperton Garden Club delegates at

the Oleander District Meeting were (R-L) Henrietta Barber, Susan Elaine Rachels

and Kathryn Rachels Fowler.

President, Kathryn Rachels Fowler, presents money from the Soperton Garden Club to purchase children’s' books to Treutlen County librarian, Mary Jane Smith.

Springfield Garden Club’s December meeting featured the gathering of handmade felt

stockings and gift wrapping with native plant life for judging; prizes were awarded. Fig Leaf donations were collected. Beth Mosley, president & hostess, held meeting at Effingham Judicial Complex.

Oleander Leaflets 5

Arbor Day at Fort Frederica Cassina Garden Club members met at Fort Frederica on February 21st, to join in the celebration of Arbor Day in Georgia by planting one of Cassina’s olive trees in the herb garden at the Fort. Mary Beth Wester, Superintendent of Fort Frederica, was on hand and Chad Thomas, Chief of Facilities Management, spoke with the members about the herb garden and how excited they were to have the olive tree for visitors to enjoy. Mary Beth and her staff served refreshments after the ceremony. A plaque will be placed by the olive tree acknowledging the gift from the Cassina Garden Club.

Odum Garden Club celebrated

Arbor Day with the Jesup Boys & Girls Club by planting a crab apple tree in the Wayne County Community Garden which is located on the club campus. The children had a blast digging and planting as Kay Koppedrayer, OGC Arbor Day Chairperson, shared the importance of Arbor Day and gave instructions for proper planting.

Arb

or D

ay C

ele

bra

tion

s 2

01

4

Oleander Leaflets 6

The Savannah Area Council of Garden Clubs and Botanical Garden will have their annual Rose Festival and Art and Craft Fair on May 3 from 10 AM to 3 PM. It will feature artists and crafters selling wonderful items, a plant and rose sale, Garden tours, ”Ask a Master Gardener” booth, face painting and kid’s activities in our new Children’s Garden, a food booth and of course our magnificent Rose Garden.

A few spaces are available for vendors. Contact: b.ward839@comcast.net for vendor form. The Botanical Garden is located at 1388 Eisenhower Dr. Savannah, GA 31406.

Pictures above and below are scenes from the beautiful Savannah Botanical Gardens which will be featured on the Tours.

Oleander Leaflets 7

Odum Garden Clubbers, Sharon Herrin

(middle) and Harriett Cooper (right) along with Jesup Healthcare caregiver are ready to serve a medley of goodies to the nursing home clients. OGC hosted the Valentine’s party as a part of their Garden Therapy project. The clients were so exuberant about the party that OGC will host an Easter Party at the nursing home in April.

Even in the cold and rain experienced this spring, the Odum Garden Club converged at the RJ

Reynolds Mansion on beautiful Sapelo Island to complete their Work Adventure VI to pot geraniums on the verandas as well as add hydrangeas, bottle brush and holly fern to the existing landscape. (Right-L-R) Michael Elliott, Jill Harris, Larry Cooper, Harriett Cooper, Beth Hatton, June Thomas, Marcia Carter, Betty Cason, Pat Giles and Diane Bruce in front of the Mansion main entrance. (Left-L-R) Diane Bruce & Beth Hatton are preparing the pots for the geraniums. Jill Harris and Larry Cooper are busy in the background.

OGC’er Betty Benner displays merchandise for the booth in Peaches to Beaches Yard Sale, OGC’s largest fundraiser which profited over $1200 to fund the club’s projects.

Oleander Leaflets 8

Scenes from

Historical Preservation Lunch and Learn

Featuring: Dean Norton

George Washington’s Mt. Vernon’s Horticularist Savannah Technical College

Savannah, GA

Mt. Vernon Garden Club representatives.

St. Mary’s Garden Club delegates. Lisa Hall & STC Chef

Oleander Leaflets 9

District Director-Marilyn Cheney & GCG President-Suzanne Wheeler

Sandra Johaneck & former District Director, Sharon Flores-Cassina Garden Club

Spartina Garden Club (Above) Front L-R: Martha

Price, GCG First Vice-President; Miriam Butterfield, Sylvia Woolard, Cindy Eldredge, Jo Godfrey, Linda Scott. Back-L-R: Winette Almon, Lee Dunn, GCG Historic Preservation Committee, Janet Lewis, Marilyn Cheney, District Director; Susan Kreuter, Ann Kennedy, Dean Norton, Kitty Sikes, Suzanne Wheeler; Garden Club of Georgia President, Bonnie Cobb, Beverly Jones, Beth Biehle & Alice McDonald.

Odum Garden Club representatives:

(Above L-R) Mary Ogden, Speaker Norton, Sharon Herrin, & June Thomas

Mo

re f

rom

His

tori

cal L

un

ch &

Lea

rn

Oleander Leaflets 10

Woodsy Owl Poster Contest First Grade

Honorable Mention Taylor Cook Odum Garden Club Second Grade

1st place Addison Tyre * Odum Garden Club Third Grade

3rd place Kayle Arnold Odum Garden Club Fourth Grade

1st place Jana Bowler * Landings Garden Club

Smokey Bear Poster Contest First Grade

2nd place Dekan Yeomans Odum Garden Club Third Grade

1st place Gelsey Cosco * Odum Garden Club Fourth Grade

1st place David Landin Miller Odum Garden Club Fifth Grade

2nd place Danya Cosco Odum Garden Club

3rd place Jack Ogden Odum Garden Club

* Posters sent to Deep South Youth Poetry Contest Seventh Grade

2nd Place Chloe Taylor Glynn County Council

All other Youth Awards will be announced at our Awards Ceremony in Macon at the Awards Banquet.

Oleander Leaflets 11

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Scholarship Equation:

Your Donations + Recipients #

Life Memberships + Scholarships

Calendar Sales + Scholarships

Scholarships = Our Future

To donate money to the general scholarship fund:

http://gardenclub.uga.edu/pdfs/whatsendwhere.pdf

EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!

BASIC DESIGN: “At Home with Flowers” Judy McWhorter, GCG Basic Design Chairman

What are Basic Design Classes? First Basic Design is not Flower Show School nor is it classes to become a Flower Show Judge. It is not about horticulture or classes to learn about Flower Show Procedure. Basic Design is… 1. A series of 5 workshops for anyone who wants to learn to do a simple floral design. 2. It is a study where 5 basic designs are stepping stones to cutting flowers from your garden and creating beautiful designs for your home. 3. It is a time where friends get together and have f-u-n. There is no test. In class 1 you will learn the basics of doing a line or line mass design, class 2 is a study of mass designs, class 3 teaches table designs, class 4 is the study of using fruits and vegetables, and in class 5 you will learn about creative design. A local Garden Club may sponsor these one day classes. For more information contact Judy McWhorter: judymc@nctv.com At this time we are want to certify more Basic Design instructors. Several have already been certified, but there is a need for even more throughout the state. If you are a Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judge, have attended at least three of the Basic Design classes, and are interested in teaching Basic Design, please contact Betty McKissick, GCG Basic Design Instructor Certification Chairman.

Oleander Leaflets 12

Garden Week in Georgia is April 20-26. Chairman, Betty Waller, bwaller606@comcast.net, encourages everyone to participate. Governor Deal has signed a proclamation establishing the third week in April as Georgia Garden Week. Clubs are asked to promote this event in your respective communities. The Georgia Department of Economic Development is partnering with GCG to encourage tourism by promoting garden tours and gardening events during the week. Advertise Garden Week in Georgia at your local nurseries, grocery stores, library and churches. Some promotional ideas include: •Organize public or private gardens open for tours during garden week. •Advertise Garden Week on Facebook, Twitter, etc. •Involve school children in the week's events—plant flowers at the school. •Take flowers and a poster to the local library, town council, etc. •Hold a home and garden tour. •Be a docent at a garden tour, hold a plant sale, have an antique show, a book signing, host a lecture, hold an art workshop in the garden, promote your town's local flower during Garden Week, produce a segment on local television, or one for the local paper.

April 20-26, 2014

Garden Week in Georgia April 20-26, 2014

Proclamation samples are available at the GCG website.-They are beautiful copied on pre-printed paper similar to the one on the left. Please read carefully & personalize for your club. Leave off “affix seal here”-ask your mayor to place the city’s official seal here. Garden Week in Georgia is a wonderful time for Garden Clubs across Oleander to “Toot Your Horns”!!! Let’s make a lot of noise & let our communities know who we are!!! Remember to take lots of pictures so you’ll have documentation for 2015 Awards applications.

Oleander Leaflets 13

Gard

en

Clu

b o

f Geo

rgia

Co

nfe

rence-T

he G

ran

d F

inale o

f 20

14!!

Oleander Leaflets 14

To

av

oid

late

fee

s, c

om

ple

te a

nd

ma

il be

fore

Ap

ril 30

th!!!