IT'S ALMOST TIME . . .  

for the FIRST MEETING of the 2021-22 Garden Club Season!

WHEN:  Friday, September 10th

WHERE:  Oyster Catcher Community Center

TIME:  9:45 am

• Refreshments

• Membership renewal

• Preview of the year ahead

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THIS KICK-OFF MEETING.

INTERESTED, BUT NOT CURRENTLY A MEMBER?

For more information, email:  

www.seabrookislandgardenclub@gmail.com

 

A Fond Adieu to 2020-21 Garden Club Season

On May 7th, more than half of our Club members gathered at Seabrook Island Club for the traditional End-of-Year Luncheon.  The Club also celebrated 33 consecutive years as an organization.  

Two orders of business were conducted to conclude this season, including introduction of the new Officers for the upcoming season.  We welcome Karen Nuttall, President, Laura Simpson, Corresponding Secretary, Carol Price, Treasurer, and Ann Zielinski, Recording Secretary.

Everyone who contributed to this year's success by serving on the Executive Board and on our Committees was acknowledged by name.  Especially meaningful was the attendance of eight prior Club Presidents dating back to 2000.

We thank our talented and dedicated Committee Co-Chairs, Karen Sewell and Deb Wiehn, for planning and delivering a festive event.  The lovely table settings, spring-inspired menu, and many surprises and delights made it a truly memorable occasion.

We appreciate all of our members--those returning from previous years and those joining for the first time--whose support, participation, and generosity made this year possible.  We hope to see everyone back in September.  Bring a friend!

 

 

POP-UPS!

Wednesday, April 14^th, provided a lovely morning for two pop-up events.

We met at the POA community garden plots where our members were treated to an insider’s view.  Recently transitioned to the spring gardening season, promising yields of herbs, vegetables and flowers were already in evidence.  The Seabrook Island Community Garden Group and Seabrook Island Garden Club are sometimes confused by Seabrook residents as being one and the same.  While we are separate entities, many Garden Club members have, over the years, tended these plots.

Three of our current Club members were on hand for our visit. Ann Zielinski, Karen Babb, and Patricia Schaefer discussed and answered questions about their experiences planting, harvesting and maintaining these 14’ x 40’ (approximately) garden plots. It’s a great deal of work, but clearly rewarding for the committed.  We were impressed with their gardening expertise, and envious of the farm-fresh bounty their efforts produce.

Leaving the community garden plots, members headed over to visit the private garden of Lee Hurd.  Sometimes referred to as her secret garden, there are no physical barriers between passers-by and a street-side path leading into Lee’s garden, but a natural pond follows the contour of much of her property.  What cannot be seen from the street are the sun-dappled paths among her plantings that lead into a shady clearing under towering trees.  Beyond the clearing, more of Lee’s gardening prowess is on display.  A truly unique spot, it was easy to imagine the many lively hours Lee enjoyed with her guests over the years, and also the quiet times she spent listening to birdsong while drifting in thought.

Lee is a long-time Garden Club member who served two terms as club President.  We were delighted to see the talent of a dedicated gardener, and many of us were inspired to perhaps take our own gardens to the next level.

Thanks to everyone whose participation made our morning interesting and enjoyable.

     

 

PHILANTHROPY & OUTREACH

Our Garden Club has a history of giving.  In 1995, the Club decided to seek opportunities to support the greater community beyond our gate.

This 2020-21 Garden Club year, we are pleased to announce the following awards:

Our contribution will provide window boxes and plants for a Johns Island resident moving into her soon-to-be-completed new home.

We will contribute financial assistance to a student studying horticulture.

Our contribution will be funds-matched by Mike Gorski & Friends 2021 to provide weekend food supplementation for children, and weekly grocery bags for nearby food-insecure households.

We join the ongoing effort to help fund the installation of wells and water filtration systems desperately needed for clean, healthy water for in-need residents of Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.

        We are grateful for the efforts of our Philanthropy & Outreach Co-Chairs, Christine Dennis and Anne Bavier, for their dedication to researching candidates, recommendations to the Club's Executive Board, and follow up coordination.  The work of Chris and Anne has required patience and commitment in working with recipient organizations during this unusual year.  They continue their interactions with the contacts they've made, and will no doubt present the Club with worthy candidate matches in the Garden Club season ahead.

        We likewise acknowledge our members who, when surveyed at the beginning of this season, told us of their interest in Outreach initiatives with other Seabrook community-sponsored organizations.  With that in mind, we chose to expand our awards this year beyond traditional candidates.  As a result of our members' support and generosity, we are pleased to announce these awards on the Club's behalf. 

 

"White by the Gate" . . . 

known as one of the purest white flowers grown in gardens, Club member Amelie Geiger has a spectacular specimen of this evergreen camellia.  After reading about Camellia Bowls in last month's blog post, Amelie clipped some of her blooms and shared the photo.  

The flowers are so perfect, they don't seem quite real.  But, real they are and Amelie invites our members who are interested in these seasonal blooms to stop by and walk onto her driveway to view them close up.  More tree than bush, it's on the right, just before you reach her front steps.  She has been told that it might be the only white camellia plant growing on Seabrook.

By way of research, the closest match to Amelie's plant is named "White by the Gate" Camellia.  Its primary characteristics are pure, formal white blossoms, blooms in winter and early spring, grows well in partial shade, and remains dense and neat without pruning, once established.  This plant typically grows to about 6 to 15 feet tall, and 6 to 8 feet across (although 2 feet on the smaller side and up to 20 feet on the larger, depending on the environment).  With our March meeting speaker (who guided our recent camellia garden tour at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens) coming up, what a nice invitation to see this specimen up close.  Thank you, Amelie.  

You will find Amelie's address in our Club member directory.

Research source:  The Tree Center     

Did You Know . . .

. . . you can create new plants by snipping leaves from your succulents?

Club member Deb Duerr submitted this article as follow-on to the live Zoom presentation, Succulent Gardening, at our january meeting.  To learn how, click here:

https://www.gardenista.com/posts/diy-root-succulents-from-leaves/? 

Let us know if you’re successful!   

Deb, a Master Gardener, was featured in the Yard Debris To Holiday Treasure video at our december meeting.  She exhibited several ways to use greenery and plant material from our yards and local byways—accented with items on hand, found objects, and repurposed finds—to create lovely holiday centerpieces, planters, and decorations.  Some of our Club members were inspired by Deb’s spontaneous designs and decided to give it a try.  For photos, click here:

https://sigardenclub.blogspot.com/p/gallery.html

 

. . . there is a plant known as the Corpse Flower?

Most of us generally associate flowers with having a pleasant fragrance.  Well, not this one—it is best described as putrid!  And yet, it attracts thousands to botanic gardens whenever it blooms.  Club member Lynn Miner came across this article.  The plant is dwindling in the wild and is challenging to preserve outside its native environment.  Read more here: 

 https://www.wired.com/story/can-this-group-revive-the-finicky-corpse-flower/

Do you think Seabrook’s ravenous deer would pass it by? 

 

. . .  a flowering Apricot Tree blooms in a nearby Secret Garden?

Club member Lee Hurd invited our members to stop by her secret garden to see her flowering Apricot Tree.  It blooms every year in late January for a brief time, and grows well on Seabrook.  The tree is resplendent in small pink blossoms, and is still in bloom if you haven’t seen it yet—but don’t wait too long.  Lee invites us into her garden for a close-up view, and it can also be seen from the street as you drive by. You can find Lee’s address in our Member Directory.  Thank you, Lee.  🌸

 

. . . what a Camellia Bowl is?

No, it’s not the big championship football game. Our members who grow camellia bushes, and those who participated in the private camellia tour at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens recently, might be interested in this lovely idea for displaying the flowers.  From an article in Southern Living magazine featuring a Charleston native, learn more here:

 https://www.southernliving.com/home/camellia-bowl?

Do you own a Camellia Bowl?         

 

We are delighted to welcome all of our members back

for Garden Club ~ Part II.  May the new year present many opportunities to learn, share, and gather!