Present: Adler, Archibald, Benavides, A. Collins, M. Collins, Coombs, Cremieux, Dillon, DiNardo, Donahue, Duncan, English, Finnis, Franck, Galgano, Gonzalez-Molina, Hoover, Julian, Kirkpatrick, Lambert, Macleod, Majeski, Mark, McClure, Murphy, Murray, Nace, O’Hare, O’Keefe, Parker, Porto, Shea, Straub, Taplett, Valla, Walsh, Watkins (37)
President’s Welcome: Rosario welcomed everyone to our first meeting of the year. She thanked Mary Julian for welcoming us to her home, and thanked Valerie Gonzalez-Molina, the new Hospitality Chair, who with contributions from Chris M., Chris D., Cheryl, Mary J., and Rosario, organized the coffee hour and luncheon. She thanked the new Board members for their enthusiasm and willingness to take on tasks.
Rosario congratulated Marilyn Donahue for her role as GCA President for 2023-5.
Rosario discussed plans for an active year, adding that Anna Parker has planned a rich set of programs. Rosario mentioned her own special interests in conservation and conservation photography as well as the hope to plant more trees in our area and encouraged members to come forward with their ideas and suggestions for the Club. She encouraged members to be involved in the Club’s programs however they can, finding their passions and trying new things.
Members approved the minutes of the June 13, 2023 Membership meeting.
Committee Chair Introductions and Reports:
Communications: Stephanie Watkins, a new provisional this year, will chair Communications. She is looking for volunteers to help with the Newsletter and Club social media, and encourages members to follow the Club’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Conservation/NAL: Rosario read a report for Pam McGuire, the Conservation/NAL Chair, who is away, explaining the missions of the GCA Conservation Committee and the National Affairs and Legislation Committee (NAL) to educate membership on protection of natural resources, encourage environmental stewardship, and support government policies related to conservation. Zone III Clubs this year plan to identify doable, practical conservation projects for Clubs to initiate in their communities. Pam asked members to give her their ideas about possible conservation projects in Rye. She’s looking for one or more members interested in attending monthly Zone Conservation/NAL Committee Zoom meetings, and members to become involved in local conservation projects once they are selected.
Membership: Chairs Cheryl Adler and Chris Murray welcomed our 13 new Provisionals this year, encouraging them to get involved as much as possible in Club activities. Chris M. asked members to send names of potential prospective members to her or Cheryl.
Horticulture: Chair Mary Julian began the year with a soft cutting workshop last July. She asked members interested in helping or participating in workshops including a winter seed sow, a seed exchange or a plant exchange to sign the Hort clipboard. She encouraged members to sign up for the Shirley Meneice Horticultural Conference, October 18, which will be virtual this year. And encouraged members to come to next month’s meeting on growing and caring for begonias and other house plants at McArdle’s on October 10. Mary talked about goldenrod, a keystone plant, encouraging members to have it in their gardens. She will investigate a group purchase for Club members.
Hospitality: Valerie asked for volunteers to sign-up to bring food for coffee hours and/or host a meeting at their home.
Photography: Rosario reported for Pam, who is away, asking members to sign the photography interest sheet and indicate what they would like this year’s program to be. She is looking forward to our February program with Chris Wood, an award-winning photographer and a GCA photography judge, on iPhone photography. Communications chair, Stephanie Watkins has volunteered to set up a LGCR Google Photos account for members to post their landscape and garden photos, as well as photos of Club events. Pam suggested that members start taking meadow-themed photos now in anticipation of our September 2024 GCA Flower Show. She offered to give members pointers and advice on entering the photography division of a GCA Flower Show, and pointed members to the fantastic resources available on the Photography Committee page of the GCA website.
Programs: Chair Anna Parker has scheduled a full year of programs for the Club, with some focus on preparing members for the Flower Show next September. The October program is a begonia workshop on October 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at McArdle’s. James McArdle will speak on growing and caring for begonias and other houseplants. McArdle’s offers members a 10% discount on purchases.
Visiting Gardens: Chair Victoria Dillon encouraged members to sign up for the trip to Hollister House Garden in Washington, Connecticut on September 29 through the Paperless Post that she has sent out. Possible plans for the future include adding a section to our website with information about visiting local gardens, visits to some members’ gardens, and a trip to visit English gardens, as well as visits to other local gardens.
Scholarship: Chair Marilyn Donahue explained the LGCR annual scholarship program, which awards a $2500 scholarship to a Rye High School student who has demonstrated a strong interest in the environment/ecology. She asked members interested in evaluating applications in spring 2024 to let her know.
WinterGarden: Chairs Kathy O’Hare and Mary Collins announced that the main LGCR fundraiser, WinterGarden, will be held at the Westchester Country Club on November 29, 2023. The theme is “Love that Red”. Kent Russell will be the speaker. They will hold an organizational meeting in the next few weeks and volunteers are needed to work mailing invitations and on the day of the event. Kathy asked that anyone with people to add to the invitation list send her their name, address, and email. Mary C. has signed up 12 vendors so far and asked for recommendations for a vendor of baby items. Mary said Kent will sell members chrysanthemums at Knapp House on September 28 from 10 to 12 noon.
Floral Design: Chair Chris Duncan will continue the teacup challenge and asked interested members to sign up to bring a teacup arrangement to one of four meetings this year. She asked members interested in participating in the flower flash crew, either to donate extra flowers or help set them up, to let her know. She encouraged members to visit the Hortulus Club Flower Show September 29-30.
Flower Show: Chris Duncan and Jean Taplett announced the theme “Meet Me in the Meadow” for the Club’s Flower Show scheduled for next September 2024 at the Harrison Meadows Country Club. Nadia Valla spoke about the show’s planned educational component, bluebirds.
Community Stewardship: Chair Jean Taplett asked volunteers to sign up to work in the Club’s community gardens. Site updates-- Rye City has approved the installation of irrigation at the Rockridge triangle and more sustainable plants have been installed at the Train Station. Jean is looking into having the Club do its own propagation and seed sowing for plantings at the community sites to save money that could be used to hire summer helpers.
Botanical Arts: Cheryl asked those interested in learning how to dry flowers using a microwave press and then using them in craft projects to sign her interest sheet.
The meeting ended at 12:15, followed by lunch.
Karen Coombs, Recording Secretary
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
"Beautiful Begonias" presented by James McArdle at McArdle’s Floral and Garden Design, 48 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT.