KELLY ARMSTRONG
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ELLEN BUOYER
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KATHY WATSON
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MEREDITH LAUTER
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LIZ CARDEN
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CAROLINE MARVEL
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DEE FERGUSON
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BETTY JENKINS
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CABELL WEST
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BETSY MITCHELL
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TRICIA SAUER
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SUSIE BENSON
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JENNIFER SISK
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RUTH HILL
THE BIG SHARE
IS HERE!
As you may recall, The Big Share was initiated in lieu of our monthly meetings as a way to keep us all connected. Many thanks to all who contributed so generously! You are smart, creative, BUSY and a wealth of inspiration!
So, sit back and enjoy! See what your fellow club members have been up to, get inspired, and maybe even provide some insight or advice! Click on a members name to the left to see their "Big Share!"
Thanks a bunch!
Anne and Renee
A Couple of Members had questions and comments!
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Betsy Mitchell
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I am writing wondering if anyone has had experience with Aegopodium podagraria, more commonly known as Ground Elder, Bishop’s Weed or Gout Weed.
Sadly, I bought this plant 2 years ago, reading on the card it was an easy to grow perennial. The picture showed airy panicles of white blooms emerging above the foliage , reminiscent of QueenAnne’s Lace. I thought this would be great! HA!
Now I’m reading how terribly difficult it is to eradicate. If any one has had experience getting rid of it, I’d love to hear. All others ... BEWARE!
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Sue Thompson
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We are opened for Garden Week on the 20th so have been working on that...
One thing I am doing this year is planting native plants in an area that visitors will see as they come up to the house...It is in its infancy, but I hope to make it a teaching tool!
ELLEN BOUYER
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My submission for the Big Share are my starter “pots” for sunflowers that I made to share with my co-cooks at an Easter potluck today. It combines my love of gardening (growing from seed) with my love of conservation by reusing egg shells and containers to make the pots. Eggshells go right into the ground once the seed sprouts. Carton can be recycled.
Kathy Watson
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In late February all roses in my garden were pruned back to knee height. I must admit that I no longer do that myself! Witherspoon Rose Culture does that for me now which is part of my contracted service with them. I photographed my garden today and it looks quite sad with leaves just beginning to pop out. We also pruned back 2 enormous American boxwood (on either side of the arbor) this winter. They were totally out of control. We are hopeful they will come back and we will shape as we go this time. I have also attached a photo of my rose garden from May 17 last year. What a difference 6 weeks make!!
I have also attached a photo of my favorite climbing rose which was cut back in late February as well. It is a miniature called Jeanne Lajoie. I also attached a photo of it from May 2020.
Kathy Watson
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Lastly, I have attached a photo of one of my Blue Angel clematis vines. It is a group 3 pruning group which means you prune back to almost the ground in late winter. Group 3 clematis bloom on new growth each season which means they generally bloom a bit later. I love group 3 clematis because they start fresh each season and are easier to control Again the before from today and a photo from last season.
Another Group 3 clematis I love is Betty Corning. I have several growing in pots and several in the ground. I pruned them all back in late February. I have included photos from one in a pot.
MEREDITH
LAUTER
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In preparation for GCV's Daffodil Day 2021, Peyton Wells gave a terrific Botanical Arts webinar which inspired me to give it a try for the very first time. The assignment was to create an egg or eggs, with accessories allowed as long as they were also created from dried natural plant materials. A photograph and a key card listing all exhibit "ingredients" were required. Since I wrote the Daffodil Day Schedule, I could not in good conscience enter the show so I submitted my "first try" For Exhibition Only. I learned SO MUCH from Peyton, stuck my fingers together more times than I have digits, and developed an even greater respect for those intrepid souls who create and exhibit Botanical Arts. I am absolutely full of awe for what they do!!!!
Dee Ferguson
(Left)
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Hellebores continue to bring joy even after Lent!
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Tricia Sauer
(Right)
Last Fall, as a gift to our neighborhood, we had our garden helper plant over 800 daffodil bulbs in a natural area beside our townhome in Lockgreen. They are gorgeous and we can see them from the window of our sunroom, where we have our coffee every morning! Happy Spring!!
Betty Jenkins
(Left)
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I just love my arbor laden with Lady Banks Rose and the pathway to my back garden. And the gambion covering my rain barrel. It is so pretty this morning after the overnight rain!
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Cabell West
(Right)
I forced Forsythia from my garden. It truly lifted my spirits knowing that spring was right around the corner!
Jennifer Sisk
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(Left)Being inspired over these years by the beautiful naturalized daffodils out at Tuckahoe, I took a crack at planting loads of daffodil bulbs under our tulip magnolia this winter. Fruits of this labor...! (Center) Inspired by Christin Geall and our GCA Program... (Right) I have taken on collaging- both digitally and manually- with some of the thousands of nature images that live in my cloud!
Ruth Hill
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This cactus came up on its own. It was not planted. It’s name is Kalanchoe Diagremontiana - Devil’s Backbone or Mexican Hat Plant is the common name. It is native in Madagascar. Nancy looked it up and found lots of information.
Martha, it is hard to see the top flowering plant in some of these pictures. Look closely to see them! Love, Ruth
