“America’s Treasures – Our Native Azaleas” – we welcome Don Hyatt, national authority on azaleas and rhododendrons, to the Club on Thursday, February 16, 2012.  Our business meeting begins at 10 AM, and our exciting educational program begins at 11:00AM.  Lunch follows at noon.  Our meeting is held at Little Falls Presbyterian Church, 6025 Little Falls Rd, Arlington, VA 22207.  Our meetings are free and open to all, but please RSVP  by clicking ‘contact’ above, or email us at [email protected]

The Botany, Horticultural History and Future of Chrysanthemums

     On Sunday, February 12^th, The Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society will present a 3/4 hour pictorial program and discussion.  Drawing on publications from the early 1800s from Europe and the United States, Todd Brethauer will cover  the “Botany, Horticultural History and Future of Chrysanthemums.”  The meeting will be held at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street, Falls Church, VA starting at 2:30PM. Open to the public. Free Admission and refreshments.

Call Jim Dunne (703-560-8776) for more information.

Here’s the link:  http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Click this link to find out more about gardening seminars being held at Merrifield Garden Centers:http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com/What-s-Happening/12-01-eBlast.aspx

Keep busy with your gardening interests until Spring let’s us back into our gardens!

Join us!  RSVP using our ‘contact’ button above.  (Photo courtesy of Flickr.com)

Thursday, January 19, 2012, at 10 a.m.

at Little Falls Presbyterian Church

for a program on

Raptors (Hawks, Owls and Falcons)

presented by

Kent Knowles of The Raptor Conservancy of VA

            The birds are coming!  Raptors, to be precise.  They are bringing their friend Kent Knowles so he can tell us why raptors are valuable to gardeners, their place in our local ecosystem, and how we can help protect these beautiful birds and conserve their habitat.  In addition, we will learn about the work involved in caring for over 200 new raptor patients each year in addition to the Conservancy’s resident birds that are too handicapped to return to life in the wild.  This is your chance to see some of our native Virginia birds of prey up close and to appreciate just how magnificent and special these birds are.  And yes, these will be live birds.

design by Ann Kelly

Click our ‘Newsletter’ page above to see current and previous Gardenzettes – these are our Club’s monthly member newsletters.  Find out more about what our Club activities are.  Enjoy!

January 19, 2012 : Kent Fowles, from the Raptor Conservancy – “Meet Live Hawks, Owls and Falcons”

This meeting is free and open to the public. Lunch follows our presentation.  Please RSVP using our contact button of email us at [email protected]

The business portion of our meeting begins at 10AM.  Our Raptor presentation begins at 11AM.  Lunch approx. Noon.  We hope to see you!

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/habitat/landowners/infosheets/owls_in_virginia.html

After a very busy Fall here at the Club – Garden of the Year and our Holiday Floral Design Event – we are more than ready to settle into that cozy, family-oriented time of the Winter Holiday Season.  But before we say au revoir to 2011, our Club got together for a (members only) Holiday Tea.  Our delightful challenge: to decorate our hostess’s home using a Colonial Williamsburg theme.  Here’s some photos you might enjoy!  From all of us to all of you, garden blessings to you this holiday season! 

Our Holiday Design event, a wonderful, educational program hosted by Rock Spring Garden Club, received raves from our audience.  A big THANK YOU to all those who attended.  Our guest floral designer, Sarah Von Pollaro of Washington DC’s Urban Petals, awed the audience with several fabulous designs and lots of inside tips for creating exquisite yet easy arrangements in your own home.  Backing up Sarah’s work were three of our Club’s Member designers: Renee Bayes, Susan Foulke and Sallie McHugh.   I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our Club members for their contributions towards hosting such a successful event.  Enjoy these photos! (Photo credit: Ann Stevens Kelly)

Sarah's finished 'twist' design

Sarah Von Pollaro, floral designer, Urban Petals