The Montana Federation of Garden Clubs recently hosted the 2010 National Garden Clubs' Fall Conference in Great Falls, MT. KFBB-TV, an affiliate of ABC-TV, featured the week-long event on a newscast:
http://www.kfbb.com/news/local/Green-Thumbs-To-Great-Falls-103889399.html
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Blue Star Memorials Now On Facebook
The Blue Star Memorial project began in 1944 with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. The following year, National Garden Clubs adopted and expanded the program by initiating the Blue Star Highway system, which involves placing permanent memorial markers along the nation’s highways. “The Blue Star Memorial program is our oldest and most revered program,” says Renee D. Blaschke, NGC president. “We are proud to play a visible role in honoring our nation’s servicemen and servicewomen.”
Since the program’s inception, more than 2,163 Blue Star Memorials have been erected across the United States. The large, handsome metal markers are placed in national cemeteries, parks, government facilities, veterans homes and hospitals, and along highways across the U.S.
To help NGC members keep up on Blue Star Memorial activities across the nation, NGC has
set up a special Facebook page named “Blue Star Memorial Project of National Garden Clubs.” On the page, you’ll find photos, discussions and links to news articles about new memorial markers, dedications, fundraisers and restoration efforts. You can also share your own Blue Star news and photos by posting to the site.
If you’re on Facebook already, simply search for the page by name and join in. You can also access the page at this URL: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Blue-Star-Memorial-Project-of-National-Garden-Clubs/311974175292?ref=ts.
Since the program’s inception, more than 2,163 Blue Star Memorials have been erected across the United States. The large, handsome metal markers are placed in national cemeteries, parks, government facilities, veterans homes and hospitals, and along highways across the U.S.
To help NGC members keep up on Blue Star Memorial activities across the nation, NGC has
set up a special Facebook page named “Blue Star Memorial Project of National Garden Clubs.” On the page, you’ll find photos, discussions and links to news articles about new memorial markers, dedications, fundraisers and restoration efforts. You can also share your own Blue Star news and photos by posting to the site.
If you’re on Facebook already, simply search for the page by name and join in. You can also access the page at this URL: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Blue-Star-Memorial-Project-of-National-Garden-Clubs/311974175292?ref=ts.
Share Your Garden Club Photos Via Flickr
You’re invited to visit and enjoy NGC’s new public Flickr site (or “photostream”) at www.flickr.com/nationalgardenclubs. The recently launched site--designed to create and nurture a photo archive for garden club members nationwide--showcases award-winning gardens, floral arrangements, conventions, news and projects. Anyone can view the NGC site simply by going to the link listed; you do NOT need to be a Flickr member. Photos on the official NGC photostream are licensed appropriately through Creative Commons; this allows the images to be used for publicity purposes in the news media as well as by NGC-affiliated clubs.
In addition to the official NGC photostream, the Flickr site features several affiliated “groups.” The groups, which can be public or private, offer garden club “photobugs” an easily accessible channel for uploading, pooling, categorizing and displaying their own photos. A major goal of these group pools is to make a wide variety of images available to garden club members everywhere for use in local, state, regional and national newsletters, brochures and websites, as well as educational demonstrations and training. High quality photos from the groups may also be selected for inclusion in the main public NGC photostream site and digital archive.
Initial groups include:
www.flickr.com/groups/NGC_conventions/
www.flickr.com/groups/NGC_flowershows/
www.flickr.com/groups/NGC_projects/
Additional groups will be created as interest in garden club photo sharing grows. Group rules and licensing information are available on the group sign-up pages.
To join a group and contribute photos and comments to the group pool, you need to have both a Yahoo!® email account (Flickr is affiliated with Yahoo!) and a Flickr account. Both are free, quick and easy to set up, and accessible on the Flickr sign-up page at www.flickr.com.
For more information on photo sharing through Flickr, please contact Robin Pokorski, NGC Photo Archives Chair, at robinp@juno.com.
In addition to the official NGC photostream, the Flickr site features several affiliated “groups.” The groups, which can be public or private, offer garden club “photobugs” an easily accessible channel for uploading, pooling, categorizing and displaying their own photos. A major goal of these group pools is to make a wide variety of images available to garden club members everywhere for use in local, state, regional and national newsletters, brochures and websites, as well as educational demonstrations and training. High quality photos from the groups may also be selected for inclusion in the main public NGC photostream site and digital archive.
Initial groups include:
www.flickr.com/groups/NGC_conventions/
www.flickr.com/groups/NGC_flowershows/
www.flickr.com/groups/NGC_projects/
Additional groups will be created as interest in garden club photo sharing grows. Group rules and licensing information are available on the group sign-up pages.
To join a group and contribute photos and comments to the group pool, you need to have both a Yahoo!® email account (Flickr is affiliated with Yahoo!) and a Flickr account. Both are free, quick and easy to set up, and accessible on the Flickr sign-up page at www.flickr.com.
For more information on photo sharing through Flickr, please contact Robin Pokorski, NGC Photo Archives Chair, at robinp@juno.com.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Anna-Jo Garden Club in Anna, Ill., honors service men and women with rededication of Blue Star Memorial
Thanks to the Gazette-Democrat of Union County, Ill., for this story of the rededication of the Blue Star Memorial by the Anna-Jo Garden Club.
http://annanews.com/articles/2010/09/02/news/doc4c7fe2f8d6e3e396261489.txt
http://annanews.com/articles/2010/09/02/news/doc4c7fe2f8d6e3e396261489.txt
Great Garden Club pix on Flickr
Check out National Garden Clubs' new Flickr page. There's great photos of flower shows, Blue Star Memorials, garden therapy, etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalgardenclubs/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalgardenclubs/
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Native plant idea: Butterfly Weed
This attractive perennial also attracts hummingbirds... here's more
Butterfly Weed as a Great Perennial
Butterfly Weed as a Great Perennial
Garden Clubs Dedicate Blue Star Memorials Nationwide
Dedicating and maintaining Blue Star Memorial Markers has been a major interest of National Garden Club members for decades. Here is a news story highlighting a recent project in St. Charles, Missouri, sponsored by the First Capitol Garden Club.
(With thanks to the St. Louis Suburban Journals, stltoday.com)
Blue Star Dedication in St. Charles
(With thanks to the St. Louis Suburban Journals, stltoday.com)
Blue Star Dedication in St. Charles
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Cool Season Vegetable Gardening Can Cultivate More Green In Your Pocketbook This Fall While Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
National Garden Clubs Says Home Vegetable, Fruit and Herb Gardening
Makes Sense in Today’s World
ST. LOUIS – Late summer may sound like the wrong time to start or extend a home vegetable garden. However, for Americans concerned about rising food and fuel prices, produce safety and environmental issues, planting a fall or cool-season vegetable garden in the heat of summer makes a lot of sense.
In fact, Renee Blaschke, president of the not-for-profit National Garden Clubs Inc., which is the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world, says that the surge in home vegetable, herb and fruit gardening that emerged across the U.S. this spring and early summer shows no signs of abating.
“As noted in many news reports, American seed companies and garden centers have experienced a banner year for selling vegetable, fruit and herb seeds and starter plants,” Blaschke says. “People are widely concerned about combating rising food costs, avoiding contaminated produce and reducing their ‘carbon footprints’ by eating locally grown food that eliminates fuel consumption associated with shipping. In this environment, interest in home vegetable gardening has really ignited and should continue to grow.”
Blaschke notes that novice vegetable gardeners may not realize how easily the home-growing season can be extended several months by using the proper techniques and planning for local soil and climate conditions. To help gardeners attain success in growing their own produce, National Garden Clubs offers these tips:
Start small. If you’re just getting started as a gardener, remember that your vegetable patch should be small enough to plant and maintain easily.
Think outside the pot. Vegetable and herb gardens come in all shapes and sizes, from raised beds to containers of all varieties. Herbs can be grown in small portable containers and brought inside during the winter. Tomatoes can be grown in containers, traditional beds or even bales of hay dotted with soil-filled holes. Urban gardeners can plant on rooftops or window boxes. Home gardeners are often adaptable, creative folks who are only too happy to swap ideas with fellow growers.
Take advantage of online resources. Information on growing vegetables and cool-weather crops in various regions and zones is available through university extension programs and a variety of online gardening sites and blogs.
Don’t go it alone. With some 200,000 members and 6,300 member and affiliated clubs, National Garden Clubs Inc. offers support and resources, including local gardening courses that are open to the public for minimal fees. To locate a garden club in your area or to check course listings, visit the NGC Web site at www.gardenclub.org.
Makes Sense in Today’s World
ST. LOUIS – Late summer may sound like the wrong time to start or extend a home vegetable garden. However, for Americans concerned about rising food and fuel prices, produce safety and environmental issues, planting a fall or cool-season vegetable garden in the heat of summer makes a lot of sense.
In fact, Renee Blaschke, president of the not-for-profit National Garden Clubs Inc., which is the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world, says that the surge in home vegetable, herb and fruit gardening that emerged across the U.S. this spring and early summer shows no signs of abating.
“As noted in many news reports, American seed companies and garden centers have experienced a banner year for selling vegetable, fruit and herb seeds and starter plants,” Blaschke says. “People are widely concerned about combating rising food costs, avoiding contaminated produce and reducing their ‘carbon footprints’ by eating locally grown food that eliminates fuel consumption associated with shipping. In this environment, interest in home vegetable gardening has really ignited and should continue to grow.”
Blaschke notes that novice vegetable gardeners may not realize how easily the home-growing season can be extended several months by using the proper techniques and planning for local soil and climate conditions. To help gardeners attain success in growing their own produce, National Garden Clubs offers these tips:
Start small. If you’re just getting started as a gardener, remember that your vegetable patch should be small enough to plant and maintain easily.
Think outside the pot. Vegetable and herb gardens come in all shapes and sizes, from raised beds to containers of all varieties. Herbs can be grown in small portable containers and brought inside during the winter. Tomatoes can be grown in containers, traditional beds or even bales of hay dotted with soil-filled holes. Urban gardeners can plant on rooftops or window boxes. Home gardeners are often adaptable, creative folks who are only too happy to swap ideas with fellow growers.
Take advantage of online resources. Information on growing vegetables and cool-weather crops in various regions and zones is available through university extension programs and a variety of online gardening sites and blogs.
Don’t go it alone. With some 200,000 members and 6,300 member and affiliated clubs, National Garden Clubs Inc. offers support and resources, including local gardening courses that are open to the public for minimal fees. To locate a garden club in your area or to check course listings, visit the NGC Web site at www.gardenclub.org.
Garden Therapy Makes a Difference...Here's How One School Uses It, with the Help of Garden Club Members
Enjoying the beauty of a leisurely stroll in a garden on a spring day is something most people take for granted. But, as members of National Garden Clubs across the nation can attest, for many individuals, the sensory delights offered by a garden can add up to much more than a pleasant way to pass the time. In fact, the concept of “garden therapy” as a tool to improve the lives of people of all ages and abilities is gaining ever-wider acceptance. Nowhere is this more apparent than at a well-respected school for visually impaired children in Raleigh, N.C., according to Renee Blaschke, of Smithville, Texas, president of the 200,000-member National Garden Clubs Inc.
Read more
Garden Therapy Success
Read more
Garden Therapy Success
Congratulations to Award of Excellence Winners!
ST. LOUIS (May 26, 2010)—National Garden Clubs Inc. recently announced the winners of its highest honor: the national 2010 Award of Excellence competition. The winners, who were recognized at NGC’s annual convention May 16 in Atlanta, are: Sydney Eddison, a nationally known gardening expert, lecturer and author; Chris Pendleton, president and chief executive officer of the Edison & Ford Winter Estates; and Laura Turner Seydel, a national environmental activist and eco-living expert.
Read about them and their accomplishments here.
2010 Award of Excellence Winners Announced
Read about them and their accomplishments here.
2010 Award of Excellence Winners Announced
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