Looks like We Made it!

We're in the news!  Many of our clubs have submitted articles that have been published in the GCA Bulletin. The articles reflect the diverse interests of the 22 clubs that make up Zone III.  The articles on this page appeared in the January 2005 and December 2004 editions of the GCA Bulletin. Articles appearing in previous issues of the Bulletin are listed below.

February, March 2004

• Essex County Adirondack GC
  75th Anniversary  
  

• Fort Orange Garden Club
  Daffodil Planting
  

• GC of Orange & Dutchess Counties
  90th Anniversary

April, May 2004

• Bedford Garden Club
  Conservation & Preservation  
  

• Garden Club of East Hampton
  Flower Show 
  

• Little Garden Club of Rye
  England Garden Tour
  

• Fort Orange Garden Club
  GCA Dahlia

June, July 2004

• Syracuse Garden Club
  Conservation

August, September 2004

• Bedford Garden Club
  In Memoriam Wilhelmine Waller

• Allyns Creek GC
  Conservation Retreat in the Adirondacks

• Fort Orange GC
  Bloomer from Zone III

June, July 2005

Bloomers

To get yellow lily pollen off clothing, press gently with scotch tape. Start a new little piece of tape after each press. Eventually it will all lift off. Don't rub!

Sally Cummins
Millbrook Garden Club

Where you think there might be moles, plant fritillarias in with the tulips, and the skunk smell of the fritillaria bulbs will chase the varmints away.

Joanne Lenden
Fort Orange Garden Club
 

April, May 2005

A Legacy of Clean Air for Long Island's Next Generation

Left to right, Katherine Cuddleback, Ellen Hull, Irene Gachot
Liz Marshall inspect a 2004 Prius, Toyota's new hybrid car.
Inform, Inc. photo by Barbara Hoover.

On a blustery cold February morning, North Country GC and Three Harbors GC, with the support of GC of East Hampton, GC of Lawrence, North Suffolk GC and Southampton GC, hosted a joint meeting to present Ms. Joanna Underwood, Founder and President of INFORM, Inc. Her talk, "A Legacy of Clean Air for Long Island's Next Generation" focused on pollution free transportation.

Before an audience of more that 350 garden club members, local political and business leaders and Long Island citizens, Ms. Underwood discussed the threats to this country posed by its heavy and steadily growing reliance on oil-based fuels (gasoline and diesel) in transportation, threats to human health, the environment, the US economy, and to national security. Against this backdrop of a nationwide problem, Ms. Underwood spoke at length on the transportation challenge facing Long Island residents. Ms. Underwood cited studies linking vehicle emissions, especially those of soot and smog produced by diesel trucks and buses, to a variety of health problems including asthma and increased risks of cancer. She closed with the thought with each AFV (alternative fuel vehicle) we put on Long Island's roadways, we acknowledge that we are part of a global family of six billion and growing and we want to help conserve our resources for future generations. All who attended Ms. Underwood's talk came away feeling empowered with our own personal ability to change the future of Long Island. As a grand finale for the presentation, we were encouraged to inspect the 2004 Prius, Toyota's new hybrid car, conveniently parked in front of the building. The future is ours!

Katherine Cuddeback
North Country GC (NY), Zone III

What can Long
Island citizens do to help?

Based on the findings
of INFORM's research
into what Long Island's
citizens can do, Ms.
Underwood stressed
three important steps:

Get out of our SUV's and into new hybrid electric vehicles .

Let county representatives
and other local leaders know that we would like to see clean fueled vehicles used for all county vehicles and other local fleets,

Support the continued
and expanded provision of economic incentives at the stateand federal level that are necessary to cover
the higher initial cost of alternative fuel vehicles
(AFVs) and of refueling
infrastructure.

February, March 2005

A Tip 'o the Trowel in Fort Orange

At Fort Orange GC's annual meeting, several club awards were presented to individuals for outstanding achievements or contributions in a particular field. A first-time award was presented to Mark Enright, age 5, for his hard work at the Pruyn Garden, which the club maintains. (Mark is the son of member Kathy Enright.) Mark, on his own, deadheaded a HUGE number of daffodils! He is the first junior and male member of the Fort Orange GC.

Ginny Kopp, Fort Orange GC (NY), Zone III

December 2004

Zone III Meeting
June 1-3, 2004
North Shore, Long Island

"Return of the Native," the theme of the Zone III Annual Meeting hosted by North Country GC, brought members and guests together for three days on Long Island's spectacular North Shore. Mary Beth Donohue and Lisa Ott chaired a fast-paced meeting which offered lectures, tours, seminars, and venues for exchanging ideas. Nan Berger, after much hard work, introduced the new Zone III website, www.zone3gca.org.

Cindy Zipf, a new Member at Large and Director of Clean Ocean Action, made us aware of new initiatives to use Long Island Sound for dumping. Laurel Pierpont, a Summer Environmental Studies Scholar, and daughter of Leslie Pierpont, Conservation Vice President, told of her water quality work with the St.John's Riverkeeper. Carol Large, NCGC member and Director of Old Westbury Gardens, greeted us as we arrived at the gardens for Conservation and Horticulture meetings. Featured speakers were Dick Lighty, former Mount Cuba Center Director and GCA Member at Large, and Dr. Alan Armitage, garden writer, researcher, head of Horticulture Department, University of Georgia, and former GCA medalist.

Kathleen F. Stradar, GC of Orange & Dutchess Counties, Zone III Chairman

 ZONE AWARDS 

Zone III Horticultural Arts Award to Francesca Anderson, Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Conservation Certificate of Acknowledgement to Kevin McAllister, Peconic Baykeeper; Historic Preservation Certificate of Acknowledgement to Susanne Brendel Pandich, Director of Lyndhurst; Civic Improvement Award to Judith Coste Chapman, North Country GC; Civic Improvement Award to Allyn's Creek GC; Historic Preservation Award to Carol Swiggett, Three Harbors GC; Historic Preservation Award to Mary Stone Phipps, North Country GC; Horticulture Award to Suzanne Bullock, GC of East Hampton; Creative Leadership Award to Joanne Cowan, Syracuse GC.

Christmas - GCA Style means creativity...
in wreaths , arrangements, decorating... in Allyn's Creek, NY

Armed with wreaths, ribbon, pine cones, ornaments, berries and other trimmings, Allyn's Creek Garden Club members visited Wilson Commencement Park to help residents decorate wreaths. "The Park" is a 50-unit town house facility in downtown Rochester, NY, for single parent families transitioning off welfare dependency. Allyn's Creek GC has a seven year volunteer history at "The Park." Residents are eager to sign up for this evening workshop to learn and to enjoy. The atmosphere is enhanced with holiday music playing in the background. Above, a resident of The Park and Laura Hayden enjoy the fruits of a day's fun.  Punch and cookies are served, which is always popular. Each participant works with a partner but makes her own decoration selection.

Led by workshop coordinators Susan Rapp and Cathy Westerfeld, the residents select a theme for their wreath and learn glue gun and bow-tying techniques. This workshop is a first for many residents. Not only have they never had a holiday wreath, but they have never created one on their own. And the spirit of holiday giving abounds as many create a second wreath for a neighbor unable to attend or for the receptionist's desk. This workshop is a most rewarding experience for all.

Ruby Morse, Allyn's Creek GC (NY), Zone III           Photo by Robbie Baltzer

sharing ... with those less fortunate...  in St. James, NY

Members of North Suffolk GC spread annual Christmas cheer at the St. James Health Care Center, St. James, NY. 

Frannie Pistell and Libby Smith, North Suffolk Garden Club ( NY), Zone III

fundraising... to support in-club and community projects... in Long Island

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet could deter the members of Side South Side GC from attending their annual "Winter Solstice," most recently held at the home of Becky Halleron in Brightwaters, NY. For the last six years, after the busy holiday season is over (but a few decorations are still evident), the members gather at someone's home for a luncheon and gift exchange. The beautifully-wrapped gifts range from topiaries and other trained plants to forced bulbs or handcrafted items. 

Although most of the local schools were closed that January day due to a very heavy snowstorm, the South Side ladies carpooled it. The long driveway was plowed and by the time they left (gifts in hand), the sun was shining.

Since most of the South Side GC members are so involved in December, concentrating their time and efforts on the annual Christmas Luncheon/Chinese Auction, this "Winter Solstice" is a welcome reward.  The club's annual fundraiser proudly realizes and $8,000 profit. "Winter Solstice" has become a timely tradition, a relaxing way to enjoy a social time in the quietude of winter. And this past year, it really was a winter day.

Joan Raynor, South Side GC of Long Island (NY), Zone III

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