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COASTAL GARDEN

CLUB

Officers for 2013-2014 Out with the old and in with the new! The May

membership meeting wrapped up the 2012-13 season with a great covered dish brunch. Judy Gregson created the festive centerpiece for all to enjoy.

Next year’s officers were sworn in. Many laughs were shared when Nancy Dickerson handed the board members candy bars to represent their duties. President - Rowena Sewell First Vice Presidents - Gail Aaron, Claudia PeruggiSecond Vice Presidents - Judy Gregson, Sherry JeffriesRecording Secretary - Dottie IsgrigTreasurer - Pam BlackAssistant Treasurer - Nancy DickersonCorresponding Secretary - Janine Piburn

The Awards Committee presented the club with the Garden Club of North Carolina awards. See the complete list on page two.

This is the last newsletter for the season. The next mailing will be before the September meeting. Be sure and check the garden club’s website throughout the summer for club updates. www.coastalgardenclub.org

Summer Schedule No Coastal Garden Club Membership meetings are scheduled for the summer. The next club meeting is September 23, 2013.

Summer schedule for care of Karen’s Butterfly Garden, Rourk Park, Shallotte

Week of:! NameJune 16-22! Suzanne Gurski/Janet LewisJune 23-29! Beth Naylor/Sandy FordeJune 30-July 6! Rowena SewellJuly 7-13! Dottie Isgrig July 14-20 ! Becky Hucks/Sherry JeffriesJuly 21-27! Jean Billie/Joan EccardJuly 28-Aug. 3! Gail AaronAug. 4 -10! Virginia Averil Aug. 11-17! Rowena Sewell Aug. 18-24! Aug. 25-31! Janet Dancy/Barbara CraneSept. 1-7! Rowena SewellSept. 8-14! Carole Tiskiewic/Sherry JeffriesSept. 15-21! Sept. 22-28! Nancy Dickerson

As you can see, there are still weeks that need volunteers. Please visit the garden during the week you selected. Deadhead the flowers to increase blooms. Weed as needed. You may coordinate with the other person listed for your week, or each can go on their visits separately. If you can volunteer more than once, that’s even better! For questions about the Butterfly Garden, please call Joan Eccard.

Rowena Sewell, Judy Gregson, Gail Aaron Back Row: Pam Black, Janine Piburn, Claudia Peruggi

Nancy Dickerson

A Sweet Swearing-In

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEGeorge Gershwin might have written “Summertime, and the livin' is easy,”

but if you, like me, are going to end of year games, recitals, school performances and gearing up for summer visitors (which includes getting your garden in order) you may be thinking, “Where is the 'easy' part of that equation!”

Your board and I have also been making plans for our next spectacular club year which includes hosting the District 11 meeting on October 23rd. Pass me a Margarita! I need to catch my breath! Have a wonderful, safe summer! See you in September!

With best regards, Rowena

The Garden Tour and Tea Committee needs your help. Our Garden Tour Event, which will be held either on Friday, May 16, or Saturday, May 17, will be called "A Taste of Southern Gardens." We need suggestions for gardens in Brick Landing and Sea Trail.

Please contact Jo Grow at 842-6116 with your suggestions ASAP. We would like to contact the homeowners as early as possible so they will have time to prepare their gardens for showing in May.

GARDEN TOUR EVENT 2014

The following information was sent to us from former Garden Club of NC president, Judy Barnes.

In the NC Senate Budget this year, page 381, money is being diverted #om the Wildflower program to a rest center in Randolph County.  If this continues NC wi% eventua%y have NO money for the roadside plantings.  Please contact your state senator about this issue.   We do have a voice and we should use it!!!

Members, if you contact your state senators, be sure that you do so as an individual and not as a representative of the Coastal Garden Club. We are a non-political organization and as such cannot reference contacts with politicians on items such as legislation, budgets, etc. as being from our garden club but we can (and should) contact them as constituents.

WILDFLOWER PROGRAMFOOD PANTRY DONATIONS

Beginning September 2013, the Coastal Garden Club has a new project.

We will once again be meeting at the Shallotte Presbyterian Church during 2013-14. They have a food pantry that is always in need of supplies. To thank the church for providing us with a great meeting place, please bring some canned food to each meeting to donate to the SPC Food Pantry.

Dues for next year need to be paid by June 30 in order to have your information included in the yearbook.

Please make your check for $45 payable to Coastal Garden Club and mail to:

Gail Aaron1548 Turnberry Lane SEBolivia, NC 28422

PAID?

A friend posted the following on Facebook. 

"If you want to be happy for a short time, get drunk; happy for a long time, fall in love; happy forever, take up gardening."

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On May 23 the non-member award was presented to Lynn and Jim Strandquist of Sunset Beach.

Janet Dancy and Rowena Sewell attended the town meeting of Shallotte on June 4 and presented the business award to Cindi Babson, her staff and the Town of Shallotte.

Pam Foerstch was presented with the member award on June 5 by Rowena Sewell, Jeanne Reopel and Janet Dancy.! ! ! ! Janet Dancy

CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS COMMITTEE

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ART IN BLOOM

HABITAT FOR HUMANITYWork has been progressing on the Leland home. Volunteers have

been trying to schedule work days around the rain. The first round of planting has been completed.

Home owner, Antoine, was a good student. Volunteers taught him deadheading on his new Knock Out Rose. Then he helped divide, plant, water, and mulch liriopes and irises. He will plant a wax myrtle, three beautyberries and day lilies in preparation for the next volunteer visit.

Susan Bridges brought the 100' hose, sprayer and sprinkler donated by the Coastal Garden Club. 

The plan for the next planting day is to plant many rain garden potted plants - Juncos, Muhly grass, Woodland/River Oats - and the lawn will receive shallow re-tilling.

HARD WORK HONOREDThe Coastal Garden Club received six awards from the Garden Club of North Carolina. 1st Place (District Winner) - Ethel Daughtridge Yearbook Award1st Place ($25.00 Awarded) - The Westridge Gardeners Herb Award (Based on the majority of membership participating and growing at least three different herbs; CGC members toured Shelton Herb Farm, a family owned and operated farm.) Scroll Awarded - Publications – Newsletter (Given to the club for the best newsletter, published at least three times a year under one editorship or management. Newsletters for January, March and October were submitted.)

2nd Place - Jenene Curtis Smith Bird Award (Awarded to members who actively strive to bring beautiful birds of NC into their gardens and yards; involvement of club members having the highest percentage of bird baths, bird feeders and bird houses in their gardens and yards.)

2nd Place - Slide, Power Point, Video Program Award (Our 2012 Garden Tour slideshow was submitted.)3rd Place - The Hummingbird Award (Awarded for the highest percentage of club members having at least one hummingbird feeder in their yard; Jim Parnell, Professor from UNC and co-author of “Birds of the Carolinas” presented a program to our members during a monthly meeting in 2012.) ! ! ! ! ! Peggy Harrison and Karen Beiger

I am seeking a volunteer to design our floral entry for the Franklin Square Art Gallery on Friday, October 4 in Southport. Please contact me at bobnjudygregson@aol.com for info or to volunteer.

! Judy Gregson

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YOUTH PROJECT

ELIZABETHAN GARDENSThe Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo has a

variety of workshops and events scheduled throughout the summer.

There are Minty Mondays, Storybook Tuesdays and Fragrant Fridays. You can even have tea with the Queen!

If your vacation plans include a trip to the Outer Banks area, be sure and check out their website elizabethangardens.org for details.

A white cardigan sweater was left at the church after our May membership meeting. If it’s yours, please contact Rowena.

SUMMER BIRTHDAYS

Gail Aaron 6/24

Sue Beebe 7/7

Katie Bodner 8/4

Barbara Crane 7/26

Pam Foertsch 8/20

Sandy Forde 6/13

Jo Grow 8/19

Linda Knerr 7/15

Claudia Peruggi 7/7

Janine Piburn 8/24

Suzanne Roseberry 8/20

Rowena Sewell 6/19

Each month we happily share photos of new family members for our Baby Bloomers segment. Please send picture and details to newsletter@coastalgardenclub.org

The end of the school year didn’t mean the end of learning for students at Shallotte Middle School.

Sixth Graders helped landscape the school’s courtyard on May 10. Joan Eccard and Marge Layden taught the students about plants that will survive in that environment. The youngsters were excited to learn about the light and water requirements for various plants, and what they will need to do to help the new plantings survive.

Seeing the enthusiasm and bright smiles on their faces, we might just have some new gardeners for our club in 2043!

The objectives of Coastal Garden Club are to educate members in all phases of home gardening and floral design; to promote mutual helpfulness among its members in the study of better horticultural practices; and to advocate civic beautification, preservation of native habitats, and conservation of natural resources.

GARDEN CLUB OBJECTIVES

Want ripe peaches, even if the ones you brought home from the store were still a little on the hard side?

Just find a ripe banana and brown paper sack. Place the peaches in a single row (don’t stack them on top of each other) in the bag and add the ripe banana. Close up the bag and be patient.

In 24 hours the peaches should be ready. If they’re still too firm, give them another day in the sack.

HOW TO RIPEN PEACHES

2013 DISTRICT MEETINGOctober 23 the District 11 annual meeting will be

hosted by our garden club at the View in Brick Landing. See the flyer on page 7 for details.

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In order to get to know each other, each month we introduce members of our group. This month we welcome our newest officers, Treasurer, Pam Black and Recording Secretary, Dottie Isgrig.

I was born and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut and have been married to my husband Dennis for 34 years. I currently have two grown children, Christopher and Kelly. My last “real” job was as a financial analyst for Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and subsequently became a stay at home mom while running a small decorating business from home. After my husband retired in April, 2008 we decided to move south to escape the traffic, fast pace lifestyle and winter weather in the northeast.Like my mother, I have always been interested in gardening. Prior to moving south, I was very active in the Brookfield Garden Club in Connecticut for 13 years serving

as chairwoman for various committees. Becoming a member of the Coastal Garden Club was important to me for the social aspect, but especially since I was unfamiliar with planting in this climate. I have enjoyed the tour and teas and flower shows and look forward to many years of service with the club.

MEET OUR MEMBERS

Pam Black

It is so nice to return to active participation in Coastal Garden Club. I am a charter member of the club and had been active until four years ago when I moved to Fletcher and then later to Weaverville, NC. I plan to spend most of my time in this area but will go back to Weaverville during the extremely warm and humid time of year in this area.I am from Ohio, graduated from High School in New Concord and then from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. I majored in Economics and minored in Fine Arts. At that time gardening was not on my agenda. I have lived in several areas of our beautiful country and have hiked and camped throughout California, Arizona, and a little in Mexico. I have three children and six

grandchildren and have been a widow for 14 years. I have lived in Sarasota, Florida, Beverly Hills, and San Clemente, California where I became fascinated

with poinsettia bushes (that bloomed in December) and the many camellias, tropical flowers, Japanese gardens in San Marino, and lighted landscaping. After a divorce, I remarried the brother of my best friend and moved to Greensboro, NC with three children in grade school. That was my introduction to acidic soil and azaleas, nothing like that rich, black soil of Ohio where anything can be grown without additives. The gardens in Greensboro inspired me when I scored for the Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament and walked the fairways of Sedgefield Golf Course in the Azalea season. The gardens all around the course were breath-taking.

After college I started as a teller in Citizens Bank in Sarasota and moved back to Columbus, Ohio where I worked for the Investment Manager of the Ohio Teachers' Retirement System. My husband and I were in the contract sewing business with 125 employees for 18 years in Greensboro. N.C. We retired to Brick Landing Plantation in 1995 to play golf and relax and adjust to retirement. Before my husband passed on in 2000 we were able to travel a bit and enjoyed other beautiful parts of the world. Hawaii was first, then Italy, Australia and New Zealand. While in Greensboro I had a lovely back yard with many beautiful flowers.

 I was ready for a Garden Club Experience when Marge Comer came along and started our club. I enjoyed the club so much when I was here and hope that I can continue to grow and learn and especially to enjoy the friendship with those that have the same interest. I am so very happy to see all of the progress that the club has made and am anxious to meet new gardening friends and hope that I can contribute to the club as Recording Secretary. 

Dottie Isgrig

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Unique Visitors

The Coastal Garden Club website just celebrated its one year anniversary.

The chart shows the number of unique visitors to the site. Counting unique visitors means you only get counted once per month when you visit, no matter how many times you visit. So, it’s the number of different people who checked out the website.

Our highest number of unique visitors (53) occurred in April 2013. Since we have a little over 60 members, that could mean that almost every member checked out the website at least once in April. But it might also mean we are having more visitors who are not yet members.

Don’t forget to mention the website to possible members. It’s so easy to remember - www.coastalgardenclub.org.

Each year the South Carolina Arts Commission presents The Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Awards to South Carolina arts organizations, patrons, artists, members of the business community and government entities who maximize their roles as innovators, supporters and advocates of the arts. This year Pearl Fryar was given a Special Award for his work. In 2012 a group from the Coastal Garden Club visited his home in Bishopville, South Carolina and saw firsthand the amazing topiary garden he has created.From the South Carolina Arts Commission website:“Fryar’s work as a topiary artist is well-respected among both artists and horticulturists. His popularity has brought visitors to Bishopville from all around the world, with more than 10,000 people visiting his garden annually. They come to see the amazing creations and to meet and be inspired by the artist himself.

His work has been displayed in museums and arboretums and has been featured in exhibitions at the South Carolina State Museum and Spoleto. He frequently gives presentations about his work throughout the United States. As an artist-in-residence at Coker College, he shared his skills and artistic vision with art students. In 2006 a documentary film about Pearl’s life and art, A Man Named Pearl, was released in theaters. It won positive reviews and awards at multiple film festivals and has been shown on cable television channels.”

PEARL FRYAR RECEIVES AWARD

WEBSITE UPDATE

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The Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc. District 11 Annual Meeting

Hosted By

The Coastal Garden Club Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Registration at 9:00 am

Overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway

at

“The View” Brick Landing Plantation

1882 Goose Creek Road, SW Ocean Isle Beach, NC Please plan to join us!