Click HERE to pay online, or click HERE for full information about where to send a check. We need to know THIS WEEK how many will be attending so we can let the Glen Ridge Country Club know.

Brigitte Padgett's Open Garden tomorrow Sunday, May 5 is still on from 3:00 - 7:00 PM in spite of the awful weather forecast, but we have added another day for those who have no umbrellas or who don't like the chance of getting wet. As well as Sunday, you may visit her garden on Monday, May 6 from 3:00 - 6:00 PM (one hour earlier than Sunday). Whichever day you choose, don't miss your chance to see this amazing garden. Click here for her address.

OPEN GARDEN of Brigitte Padberg Sunday, May 5, 2024.  3:00 - 7:00 See address High on the hill that rises above the Iris Garden is a secret place that unfolded to our gardeners three years ago.  Do NOT miss this one: an interactive experience so perfect for the brave and athletic among you. When a humble Brigitte mentioned that she had built terraces on the rocky hill behind her home and was awaiting the spring bloom of her azaleas, nothing could have been more of an understatement. This Rocky Mountain High rises several stories to join the cliff edge of Mills Reservation and Brigitte alone spent 10 years reassembling those rocks to form a series of winding terraces complete with resting and lookout stops. A clear view of the Manhattan skyline caps this breathtaking experience. With a salute to native gardening, Brigitte treasures her perennials and shrubs that accent her vivid yellow house and welcomes the families of wildlife who also enjoy terrace hopping. Come to climb or just to gasp and wear sturdy shoes. Friends are welcome. If poor weather makes it necessary to postpone,  an email will be sent the day before the Open Garden event. Coordinator: Marilyn Zaret ( marzaret@comcast.net)

We should have known, but many of us were awed to learn the full extent of the astonishing careers of three of our members in the fashion industry, (l-r, below) Tova Narrett, Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, and Lauren Zodel. On April 15, in the last program of the year, each told us her story and described her core values, and displayed a floral interpretation of her professional creations. Below are photos of the event and Karen Fricke's introductions (in the order they spoke) to each of these wonderful and powerful women. Tova Narrett began making and selling her clothing designs when she was 14. She earned a BFA in Fashion from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Tova worked as a fashion designer in Manhattan for 36 years, for many very upscale, contemporary design firms. Her specialty was highly adventurous and unconventional knitwear. Seven years ago, Tova made her very first flower design, for the Garden Club provisional requirement. She was totally amazed ― this was exactly like fashion design! So she just fell in love. Lauren Zodel studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, specializing in Childrenswear.  During her time at FIT, she interned at Oilily in Amsterdam, a Dutch company founded in 1963, and known for its original use of colors and innovative designs. Her time there greatly influenced her design aesthetic.  After graduation, she worked for DKNY Kids, Baby Gap, Calvin Klein Kids, Eddie and Stine, by Eddie Bauer and Tommy Hilfiger Kids.  She opened her own business, Blueprint Studios, in Maplewood, a creative place for kids and teens focusing on Fashion Design and Photography.  In 2011, she began teaching at FIT, and in 2018 she received full tenure. Lauren joined the garden club in 2021, and this past January she expanded her artistic reach to include creating floral designs for a restaurant in Montclair. Cynthia Corhan-Aitken graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She went on to have a successful career in the garment industry, first designing women’s jackets and coats for an outer wear company, and then for a private label collection, before ultimately opening Cynthia C & Company, a Couture Bridal house. In addition to creating custom designs out of her Soho Design Studio, Cynthia also designed and produced two collections a year which were carried in 25 stores across the country and Canada under the label Cynthia C. & Company. After moving to Montclair, she began studying landscape design at the New York Botanical Garden before opening Twig & Vine Design, a residential Garden and Landscape Design firm. She continues to run her business from her home studio, often volunteering her time to create landscape designs for Montclair’s public spaces and non-profit organizations.

On Friday, April 26, the Youth committee ― specifically Donna Karanja, Allyn Young, Sarah Olson and Sue Young ― led delighted fourth graders at the Kelly School in West Orange through a workshop in planting succulents and decorating their achievements. Many thanks to teacher Alicia Lampley who encouraged our green invasion of her class. The students had such a good time that she is setting up the same workshop for the rest of the fourth graders in the school so that they won't be jealous of her students' creations. Our club received a virtual hug from the happy kids. And for the benefit of Club members who are not too familiar with succulent husbandry, see a very short and illuminating introduction to the topic, below.

Join us to Celebrate You! Thursday, May 30th, 10:30 am at The Glen Ridge Country Club, 555 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge. All levels of Garden Club membership and their guests are welcome! Luncheon Country Club attire is requested (no jeans or sneakers). Tickets: Peony: $70 (base price) Dahlia $90 (+$20 donation) Rose $120 (+$50 donation) Click here to pay online (under "Business") and click here for the invitation explaining where to send a check if you prefer to pay that way.

Before even looking at the competition results, see a view of the crowded kitchen at Bnai Keshet at 8 in the morning as members prepare their specimens before the judges arrive. And now to the results. Flower Design The last Flower Design competition of 2023-24 proved to be a showcase of the talent in our Club. Designers from Provisional to Advanced Plus entered designs of differing styles and types. Horizontal Mass, Petite, Illuminary, and Abstract Designs were exhibited. The judges awarded the following: Provisional – Allyn Young (critique only) Novice – 1st Karen Fricke, 2nd Olga Bequillard Intermediate – 1st Susan Brady Advanced – 1st Floss O’Sullivan (see photo), 2nd Barbara Baletti, 3rd Suzy Straten Advanced Plus – 1st Fran Ackerly, 2nd Cynthia Corhan-Aitken Botanical Arts Section A: Cuff Bracelet 1st:       Karen Fricke (see photo) 2nd:     Debbie Moran 3rd:      Michele Tomasick HM:      Floss O’Sullivan Section B: This Section was divided into 2 classes. B1: Early morning Landscape 1st:      Debbie Moran 2nd:     Olga Bequillard 3rd:      Denise Silverman HM:      Barbara Baletti B2: Trees/Branches under early lighting 1st:      Michele Tomasik 2nd:     Floss O'Sullivan 3rd:      Celia Radek HM:      Sheila Oakes Horticulture Jacoba Coes was in first place with 48 points Celia Radek was in second place with 44 points Sue Straten was in third place with 42 points. Eighteen participants in the competition with one provisional included. Congrats to Allyn Young for completing her Provisional  Horticulture requirement. Our members displayed 96 specimens in 7 Classes. Of the specimens exhibited, 32 Blue Ribbons were awarded! Pretty impressive numbers all around. Jacoba Coes was in first place with 48 points Celia Radek was in second place with 44 points Sue Straten was in third place with 42 points. Eighteen participants in the competition with one provisional included. Congrats to Allyn Young for completing her Provisional  Horticulture requirement. Our members displayed 96 specimens in 7 Classes. Of the specimens exhibited, 32 Blue Ribbons were awarded! Pretty impressive numbers all around.

For a number of years now, members of the Garden Therapy committee have been visiting Oasis, the extraordinary nonprofit organization in Paterson that supports 1,000 women and children a day with all kinds of services from hot meals, emergency food, clothing, and social support to educational programs. On February 28, The Club held an aroma therapy workshop at the center, created, curated, and presented by Jacoba Coes. Club volunteers supported 25 Oasis clients as together they created aromatic jars of therapeutic scent using lavender, calendula, rosebuds and sunflower petals. This workshop was a brand new success for the Garden Therapy committee!

Suzanne Scott Price, also known as Mom, Susie, Gram, and G.G., passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Crane's Mill of West Caldwell, at the age of 93. She was born on July 12, 1930 in her childhood home in Glen Ridge and was graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 1948. She attended Wellesley College and then Bradford Jr. College, where she was graduated in 1951. She went on to graduate from the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in 1953. Susie worked for the Japan Society Inc. in NYC for the next three years, getting to know the Rockefeller family. During this time she married Douglas Price in 1955 and moved to Montclair, living in three different homes over the next 43 years. It was in 1998 that she and Doug would sell their home of 29 years to move into the newly-constructed cottage at Crane's Mill. While raising two children, Susie was extremely active in their lives and activities while immersing herself into community endeavors and volunteer work. She was proud of the organizations she participated in such as The Junior League of Montclair-Newark (1952-present Sustainer Emeritus); the Humdingers of the Junior League '75-'89; Girl Scout Leader; a docent for The Van Vleck House and Presby Iris Gardens; several committees on the Crane's Mill Residents Association; three terms on the Board of Directors of the CMRA; and the Crane's Mill Chorus. But she was probably most proud of her years spent with the Garden Club of Montclair where she won numerous awards in floral design and horticulture including The Kay Moelane Van Deusen Rose Award, The Presidential Award for Horticulture, The Bauer Horticulture Award and the Louise Mann Award. Susie had a huge enthusiasm for life that included but was not limited to her family, music, gardening, and traveling. She had a beautiful voice, was an accomplished tennis player, and knew every botanical name when asked. Her bags were always packed by the front door, ready for the next adventure. She was determined to keep herself healthy in body and spirit and lived with so much optimism that it was contagious. Generous, patient, loving, and giving were just some of the qualities that friends and family benefited from. But her family was her greatest joy and pride. Her life was truly well-lived and our lives have been made richer by her presence. Suzanne was predeceased by her husband Douglas Fleet Price (2009), a daughter-in-law Karyn Price, and a brother Harry B. Scott (Beatrice). She is survived by a daughter, Lyn Price Buck (Frank); a son, Scott Price; three grandchildren, Georgie Buck Penny (Forest), Amanda Price, and Ryan Price; two great grandchildren, Colton and Baylyn Penny; and six nephews, David, James, Thomas, Kevin, Robert, and Christopher with their spouses. A memorial service will be held in Hinman Hall of Crane's Mill 459 Passaic Ave. West Caldwell, NJ on Monday, May 20 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon there. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at act.alz.org, or the Garden Club of Montclair at www.gardenclubofmontclair.com/donate.

Meeting outside in the cool weather of early spring, Laura Roberts, the Van Vleck Gardens Director of Horticulture, led a very informative workshop to jump start the season that's beginning to unfold. First up, composting.  Learning about the ratios of browns to greens and what should and shouldn't be added to the pile, Laura made a good case for cold, not hot, composting as the way to go. While learning the how to and why of this regenerative, soil building gardening practice, an earthquake hit the area which passed unnoticed until cell phones started pinging! Then on to the Edible Garden where all that good compost is put to use.  Showcasing cool season crops to plant in the fall and in early spring, Laura pulled up carrots and radish that grew under row covers through the relatively mild winter and then planted peas for an early summer harvest.  The bounty is shared with Toni's Kitchen.  We're fortunate to have Laura Roberts share her expertise with us.  Now it's time to get growing!  Members are welcome to the workshop handout and notes here.

"Clothes aren't going to change the world. The women who wear them are." – Anne Klein We have amongst our members, a surprising number of women who have found their way to the glories of gardening after (or during!) careers in the garment industry. Is there a correlation between fashion and flora? On Monday, April 15, as early as 5:30pm, we will gather at Bnai Keshet for an evening program to hear from four of them: Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Sidney Milliken, Tova Narrett, and Lauren Zodel. Each designer will display a garment that represents her niche in the industry, as well as a floral design, inspired by her garment. She will share reflections on her career in the world of fashion, and ruminate on how she transferred that same creativity to the world of gardening and floral design. Join us for a festive evening as these four members share their fascinating journeys from hemlines to hellebores.

Our March program speaker was Horatio Joyce who introduced us to the story of The Garden Conservancy and the evolution of its mission to restore, rescue, and rehabilitate public gardens as well as to open private gardens to the public. Frank Cabot, a financier and passionate gardener and horticulturalist founded the Conservancy in 1989 after noting that two-thirds of America's great gardens had been destroyed by development. The Conservancy began with "four acres of giant cactuses, succulents and native species" in Walnut Creek, California, the life's work of gardener Ruth Bancroft. The Conservancy is now a nationwide organization, active in the preservation of 17 important private gardens for posterity, including the rehabilitation of the gardens at Alcatraz. Its Open Days program has introduced more than 300 private gardens to the public throughout the United States ― including the garden of our own Cynthia Corhan-Aitken whose garden will be open on Saturday, June 1 from 10am-4 pm. Click here to book a ticket and find out more about this special event!