First Blue Star Memorial in D.C. To Be Dedicated May 29

http://anacostia.wusa9.com/news/environment/dcs-first-blue-star-memorial/56408

Garden Clubs Bridging the Generation Gap

Thanks to Meg McConahey and The Press Democrat for this wonderful story about the California Garden Clubs, including interviews with Julie West, incoming president of California Garden Clubs.  The story's focus is how garden clubs have evolved.

Garden Clubs Undergo Metamorphosis

NGC National Convention May 27-29, Washington. D.C.

Per the Spring 2011 issue of The National Gardener:

Speakers include:

Walter Scheib- White House Executive Chef during Clinton and Bush years
Nancy Clarke- former White House Floral Designer who served for 30 years under six administrations
Thomas Tidwell, chief of the U.S. Forest Service--NGC has been partners with the forest service for 50 years;  the two organizations work cooperatively on such projects as Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl and Penny Pines.

The U.S. Forest Service Honor Guard will present the colors at the opening luncheon.

For more information on the convention program and how to sign up: Details from NGC website

Newport, Rhode Island, Flower Show June 24-26

For details http://www.newportflowershow.org/.

Whittier Garden Club Purchases Penny Pines Plantations

The Year Around Garden Club of Whittier, Calif. has purchased eight Penny Pines plantations in the Angeles Oaks area this past year to support the U.S. Forest Service Reforestation initiative. The program provides a plantation of 350 seedlings. Read the full story at http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_17763894

Garden Clubs at U. of Maryland Promote Sustainability, Beauty

Thanks to Kelly Farrell and diamondbackonline.com for this great story about student garden clubs, including an interview with Jeanne Nelson, National Garden Clubs' Community Gardens Project chairman.

U. of Maryland garden club feature from diamondbackonline.com

Petals for Patriots

Kudos to several garden clubs, per the San Diego Union-Tribune, including Carlsbad Garden Club and Fallbrook Garden Club of California Garden Clubs Inc., of National Garden Clubs Inc., for their heartwarming gestures to U.S. servicemen and servicewomen. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/19/petals-patriots-says-thank-you-troops/

Wildflower Weekend Coming Up with California Garden Clubs

Thanks to Jennifer Jewell for this nice article  in  anewscafe.com

Plans for 2011 Wildflower Weekend in California

Williamsburg (Va.) Area Council of Garden Clubs Co-Hosts Annual Arbor Day Awards

Williamsburgva.gov Article on Arbor Day Award Ceremony

Arbor Day celebration March 11 in Williamsburg, Va., includes awards ceremony honoring garden club members and other individuals and organizations that have enhanced the environment and promoted beautification, conservation and service.

Heritage Garden Club Flower Show Durham, N.C. April 9

Durham N.C. Garden Show coming

Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs Plans Memorial Garden at Dover Air Force Base

THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN DIRECTLY From the National Garden clubs website News page LINK TO STORY

One cannot drive past the Dover Air Force Base without thinking of the heart breaking ceremony that takes place there almost daily. For whatever other reason, Dover Air Force Base exists, it is still known to Delawareans and to the country as the place the bodies of those died fighting in foreign lands are received home.

Newspaper articles described a recently opened building at the base called the "Center for the Families of the Fallen." This building is used by the families who come to Dover to receive the bodies of their loved ones.

The Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs is planning to design and plant a Memorial Garden as a project at the Center. The Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs consists of 895 members in 28 garden clubs in Delaware.

The project consists of creating a garden in front of the Center to be accessed from the Center through the two sets of doors. With the generous donations of two of our Board members, we contracted with a well known therapeutic Landscape Designer, Rodney Robinson, to draw up a set of conceptual plans for this area and hope to be able to raise the money needed to proceed with the installation of the garden. Right now, it is a pretty dismal spot and needs to be enclosed to afford privacy for the families.  This is the area we are now focusing on since it needs immediate attention.

Our project is estimated to cost $120,000. Since the garden will be used year round a large portion of the cost will be in hardscaping. A wall will be built for privacy along with a water fountain that will relaxing and be emotionally healing.

Another section of the mortuary complex is being built by a Fisher Foundation donation of $4,000,000. The "Inn" is similar to the Ronald McDonald's houses. Even though it is in the same complex, Delaware is only landscaping the "Center For The Families Of The Fallen".     ##

2011 NGC CONVENTION - MAY 27-30, 2011

Mark your calendars now for the National Garden Clubs 2011 National Convention in Washington, D.C.!
Annual Meeting Information

Michigan garden clubs search for missing Blue Star Memorial markers

Many thanks to Traverse City (Mich.) Record-Eagle.com for publicizing the work of Elk Rapids Garden Club member Loraine Mottern and Lorrie Dyal, chairperson for the Michigan state garden club's Blue Star project.

Blue Star memorials, which honor American service men and women, are among the most popular projects sponsored by National Garden Clubs' local and state organizations nationwide.  According to the Record-Eagle article, 51 markers have been placed in Michigan  since 1946, mostly along highways, but 10 had gone missing. Seven have now been accounted for thanks to the efforts of Dyal and local garden club members.  Mottern is still on the hunt for a marker once placed near Elk Rapids that has been missing since the 1950s.

Here's the complete story:
http://record-eagle.com/local/x1644854839/Gardener-searches-for-missing-marker

Reprieve for U.S. National Arboretum's Azalea and Boxwood Collection

As the Washington Gardener blog reports, the USNA azalea and boxwood collection, which had lost its funding, has been given a reprieve, thanks to public outcry and support from National Garden Clubs and other organizations.

http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2011/02/usna-azalea-and-boxwood-collections-get.html

Reasons to Join a Garden Club

Early Spring is a great time to join a garden club!  Find out more here.

National Garden Clubs Membership Brochure

La Jolla (Calif.) Floral Designer Offers Tips

http://www.lajollalight.com/2010/11/23/floral-design-celebrity-shares-her-secrets-at-la-jolla-garden-club-meeting/

Thanks to La Jolla Light for this interesting story about a floral design celebrity!

National Garden Club Greens The Gulf Coast

NGC works to restore public spaces damaged by Hurricane Katrina as part of its national "Green The Gulf Coast" program. The Mississippi Press. http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-living/2011/02/making_gautier_golden_civic_groups_receive_donated_narcissus_bulbs_for_beautification_project.html

California Garden Clubs Landscape School Announcement

California Garden Clubs Landscape School News

Shout Out to Garden Club of Back Bay

Check out this excellent blog and the related Facebook page. Wonderful information of interest to all garden club members and gardeners.

http://www.gardenclubbackbay.org/

More scholarship opportunities from Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts

http://www.gcfm.org/Education/Scholarships/GCFMA.aspx

Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts offers additional scholarship opportunities.