Once again our Club, represented by Debbie Moran among other exhibitors and judges, shone at the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest show in the country. Debbie was awarded the Blue and Gold award from the Federation of  Pa 46, and Outstanding Miniature Design of the day: “Frosty.” The judges ― Arabella Dane NGC,  Debbie Stockstill GCA, Brenda Bingham, NGC ― wrote: “Masterful use of delicate materials, colors, and forms create a stunning interpretation of frost.” Of course we all concur.

Sunday, March 17 at 1pm Looking forward to a glorious display in your own garden? Then Sunday’s upcoming workshop is a must attend. Our Avis Campbell Gardens rosarian, Barbara Meyer, will share her expertise on the culture, care and pruning of roses. Barbara will discuss characteristics and the maintenance requirements of different types of roses. The workshop will include recommendations for supplies and a detailed seasonal work schedule. Then head out to the garden for a hands-on lesson where you’ll gain confidence wielding pruners. Wear garden gear and sturdy gloves, bring your pruning tools (bypass pruners only, please!) Tools will be available if you don’t have your own. The workshop will begin in the lower level Club room at 60 S. Fullerton at 1pm. All members are encouraged to attend.

Picking up garbage in Upper Montclair in the pouring rain: What could be more fun, as you can see from the photos above and below! Intrepid members of the Environment and Civic Beautification Committees and their families, spearheaded by Deborah Hirsch, downed coffee and doughnuts before heading out from member Amy South’s Moss @ More store into the dirty, cold, and very wet world of Upper Montclair. Clad in neon vests and armed with plastic bags and collapsible trash-pickers, our members spread out through the Upper Montclair Plaza parking lot and surrounding streets, filling up bags of trash ― including some somewhat unexpected objects ― much of which looked like it had been there for months. Passers-by thanked us, and told us stories of their own recycling efforts. Small children mastered the skill of snapping the jaws of the trash-pickers. After a while, as one member said, “You didn’t even notice the rain!” Thanks to everyone who showed up: Deborah Hirsch, Amy South, Marie Donnelly, Jacoba Coes, Sarah Olson, Karen Fricke, Denise Silverman and her husband Paul, Sheila Ochs, Sue Young, Allyn Young, and two enthusiastic junior helpers. It was our moment to show our love and concern for the world we live in. Stay tuned for more environmental projects!

... It's STILL February, but the flowers and birds don't care.

Celia Radek's account of our magnificent design workshops ― hosted by Debbie Moran and Florence Leyssène ― was posted TODAY on the National Garden Clubs social media page. Check it out, give it some likes, and add it to your own Facebook posts. The whole country is reading about us!

The snow has melted, and members of the Environment and Civic Beautification Committees are gearing up for Saturday's clean-up of Upper Montclair. Everyone is invited. The more of our members showing our commitment to our community, the better! Bring your kids and your friends. Meet at Amy South's Moss & More store ― also the project drinks center ― in Upper Montclair Plaza on Saturday, March 2 at 10:00 am. Deborah Hirsch is bringing: 10 Neon vests with our logo 6 picker uppers.  Bring your own if you have them Biodegradable work gloves for all A map to indicate ground covered Biodegradable hot cups for hot or cold drinks Recyclable bags for trash Brown paper bags for plant material “Cards” in case people ask who we are, with a QR code to our website, and the names of storekeepers (and members) supporting our efforts. Most of the snow should have disappeared by Saturday. There is a light rain forecast, but that should not deter us. Any questions, ask Deborah Hirsch.

It's that time of year again, time to renew your Garden Club of Montclair membership. Click here for information about completing this annual task online or by mail to our Membership Chair, Cheryl Slutzky. We are also asking you to complete our one-time waiver form if you have not done so already.

Click here to see your latest Potpourri. As always, Editor Terri Breen rounds up past and future events, including, among other articles, a news-packed letter from our President, stunning photos of awards, a teaser for next month's program, a lovely photo of long-time member Constance “Connie” Ritchie DuHamel, and Barbara Baletti's Grapevine of facts you almost certainly didn't know.

"Ice" was the theme of February's Botanical Arts and our members embraced the challenge. Here are the results, with photos of our winners' entries. Section A: Botanical Arts - Black and White Photography 1 - Olga Bequillard (shown below) 2 - Michele Tomasik 3 - Floss O’Sullivan HM - Sheila Oakes,Susan Straten, Barbara Baletti Section B: Botanical Arts - Invitation card 1 - Karen Fricke (shown below) 2 - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 3 - Floss O’Sullivan 4 - Carol Callahan

The theme this month may have been “Ice” but the flower designs that were showcased (see below) would have warmed your hearts. Resident Judges Florence Leyssène and Debbie Moran were on hand to assess each class of designs to determine “Best in Show” Blue Ribbon winners as well as 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention award designations.  Fourteen flower designs were submitted in addition to Fran Ackerly’s “Trial Run” Exhibition Table, a Tasteful Take-Out bistro themed pizza-for-one exhibit in stunning red, black, and white. Here are the results of the design competition: •    Advanced Plus (A Reflective Design) 1st Place - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 2nd Place - Fran Ackerly •    Advanced  (A Reflective Design) 1st Place - Suzy Straten 2nd Place - Floss O’Sullivan 3rd Place - Celia Radek Honorable Mention: Michele Tomasik, Susan Benner, Barbara Baletti •    Intermediate (Freedom of Style Design) 3rd Place - Cheryl Slutsky •   Novice (An American Traditional Horizontal Line Design) 1st Place - Karen Fricke 2nd Place - Olga Béquillard 3rd Place - Wendy Stahl •    Provisional (not judged) Ana Moore Angel Pollack Congratulations to all the flower designers this month.  We look forward to see what you might come up with in the March Competition when Multi-Rhythmic, Petite, and Abstract designs are on the menu! Fran Ackerly, Chair Barbara Baletti, Vice Chair Flower Design Committee

At our program meeting on February 12, Brian Rombough gave us some answers to the perils faced by our beautiful Montclair trees from sun and rain, greedy predators, mechanical behomeths, and ignorant town planners and developers. Brian is a Licensed Tree Expert and Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, as well as co-owner of American Tree Experts, Inc. of Montclair. He led us through some of the dangers and suggested ways to help our giant neighbors avoid damage and remain our companions for many more years. He told us that 90 percent of his work results from flooded roots and trunks and roots strangled with ties, cages, and burlap. Among some other fascinating facts: Too much and too little water cause the same symptoms from lack of oxygen to the roots. Dig down six inches to look at the soil to diagnose its state. Trees on a slope need extra water since heavy rainfalls simply slide off the hillside's surface. Regrading a slope means special care to ensure existing tree roots are not buried too deep. Watch where your drainpipes empty out in the garden. One or two drainpipes can focus water from the entire square footage of a roof. During construction, fence off the whole root area to protect from heavy, careless vehicles that can damage a tree for ever. The root line can sometimes be twice as wide as the leaf line. So-called "antlers," bare branches sticking up from the top of a tree, are warning signs of stress. When planting a new tree, remove the burlap, especially if it's nylon, and plant your baby one or two inches above ground level. You should be able to see the root flare at the base of the trunk. Mulch like a doughnut and not a volcano. Do not plant junipers anywhere near fruit trees to avoid juniper apple rust The disease needs both plants to thrive. Yellowing rhododendron leaves mean the bush needs iron. Brian comes from generations of tree experts, and had answers for all our questions, even if we didn't always want to hear them. Trees need as much care as any other plant in the garden.

We are asking all our Members to sign a general waiver.. You can do this in one of two ways. Either click here to read the waiver and sign it online, or download the form, print and sign it, and return it to Sue Young. You can scan it and attach it as an email to syoung@ibisnetwork.com, give it to her at the next program meeting, or mail it to her at her address in the directory.