By Carole Corlew

The Iowan came in the other day and announced, “It looks like you have gourds
growing on the fence out there.” He had not found gourds, but produce from the
same family, cucurbits, or muskmelons in this case. I had fogotten about the
small transplants I put in early in the summer. I thought they had been devoured
by the ground-eating squash plants.

But there were multiple green orbs peeking from vines climbing through chain
links in the fence a previous owner had installed to keep the dogs in the back
yard. The Iowan had wanted to take out that fence. “It’s just so ugly,” he said.
But I wanted that fence as garden trellising.

But now I had the problem of figuring out when to harvest the muskmelons. I
have never grown them. I know to choose watermelons with a yellow patch to show
they are ripe, and to recognize the precise hollow sound made when thumped with
my fingers. Also, a piece of vine remnant is nice. But what about the
muskmelon?

I didn’t have to wait long. I found one of the ovals, a burnished netted
golden color, lying on the driveway. I thought I could hear it speaking to me.
“Hey, garden expert so-called. I am RIPE OVER HERE!” I scooped it up and carried
it inside, took a knife and sliced, with trepidation.

The flesh was firm, juicy, a lovely coral shade. I took a taste. The
sweetness sent a thrill through me. It tasted of honey. Of course. I had seen
honeybees all over that garden patch during the summer. I thought they had been
after the cleome. I had “planted” a whole, fresh catfish in that plot in late
spring, to fertilize. And everything that came up there grew like crazy.

I took a slice of the melon to the Iowan, the person I rely on to tell me the
truth, unvarnished. The chunk quivered on the knife, dripping juice drops. He
tasted. He looked at me, shocked. And in that moment the fretting and sweating
in the dirt with the bugs and the worms made it all worth it.

Because in those startling blue eyes I saw someone I had not before had the
pleasure of meeting: a tall, skinny blonde boy, standing in the garden with a
long-gone grandmother, tasting the fruits of her labors in the too brief,
unparalleled beauty of an Iowa summer day.

And that is the real reason why I garden.

On a recent trip to the San Diego, CA area, I had an opportunity to visit the beautiful San Diego Botanical Garden.

Photo top left: This is a Pelican Vine or Giant Dutchman’s Pipevine (Aristolochia Gigantea), native to Brazil. It’s similar to our Eastern US native pipevine. Leaves have a rubber-like feel and it grows on structures like a

morning glory vine. Amazing!  Photo top right: an unusual topiary – all succulents! Photo second row left: the famous Torrey Pines.  Torrey pines only grow two places in the world:  The Torrey Pines area of San Diego, CA and off the San Diego coast on Rosa Island.  They have longer needles than our Eastern pines, but their branches are shaped more like our stately oaks. The photo below is of a Cork Tree also found in the SDBG! So, that’s where cork comes from!  Enjoy – Renee

Cork Tree

Summer isn’t quite over yet, but already I hear the hum of a new garden year starting up. I took several small trips these past two months, and my latest trip took me to an area around Hartford, Connecticut. Unlike our mid-Atlantic region’s steamy heat, it’s a cooler damp which is obviously conducive to lush, green gardens throughout the summer months. On the way back from a visit to lovely Canton, Connecticut, I spotted a sign marking something significant so I couldn’t resist stopping. Along the Farmington River is the oldest tree in New England and Connecticut, the Pinchot Sycamore. We pulled off into a park nestled along the river, a popular place for fishing, canoeing and sculling. But the big draw is one of the biggest trees I’ve ever hugged (yes, I hugged it!) The tree’s circumference is more than 25 feet and believed to be over 200 years old. It is magnificent to behold. Protecting a tree of that size is a challenge for any community and as I stood under the canopy, I could see a discreet network of cables intertwined amongst its massively heavy limbs. Without taking away from the tree’s beauty, the cables provide support and stability so it can weather storms throughout the seasons. In a way, our Club, almost 58 years old, is like that grand old Sycamore. And we serve as those cables, supporting it through the seasons with talent, service and joy. Why? Because it is worth caring about, preserving and nurturing its wonderful traditions. We may change, we may grow, we may continuously blossom, we may set seed, and in so doing we support the Club and each other, just like those cables hidden in the Pinchot Sycamore. Discovering this beautiful old tree was one of the highlights of my trip – that and visiting Mystic, Connecticut, a wonderful old seaport not too far from where the Long island Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean. And yes, there really is a Mystic Pizza!! Have a wonderful September and a great garden club year! – Thea McGinnis

Thank you for stopping by to find out more about Rock Spring Garden Club. If you are interested in gardening and gardening related activities in and around Arlington, Virginia, this is the place for you.  Whether you are a veteran gardener or you are new to the idea of a garden of your own, Rock Spring Garden Club is a great place to land.  Gardening, landscape design, environmental concerns, floral design and community involvement are just some of the areas we focus on.  Our meetings are designed to provide a place where gardeners can share their ideas. Our guest speakers are experts and provide a wealth of information. Our meetings are free and always open to the public.  We are a member of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. and National Garden Clubs, Inc.  Come see what we’re all about.

In addition to our regular monthly meetings our upcoming events include ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF OUR ANNUAL GARDEN OF THE YEAR COMPETITION FOR 2011!! AND on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 6:30PM, we are hosting a fabulous HOLIDAY DESIGN DEMONSTRATION  WITH GUEST DESIGNER SARAH VON POLLARO AND THREE OF OUR IN-HOUSE FLORAL DESIGNERS!  Learn new ideas in floral design just in time for your own party!  Door Prizes and Raffles plus delicious refreshments! This is an event not to be missed.  Click our Events button for further information.

The 58-year old Rock Spring Garden Club of Arlington, VA, will be announcing the winner of its second annual countywide Garden of the Year Award competition at its September 15th meeting. This year’s competition had 49 entries from all parts of Arlington County, nine more than last year’s event.

One of this year's many entries

The gardens were judged on site by a set of criteria that included first impression, functional aspect of design, aesthetic aspect of design including originality and distinction, implementation of structures and plant materials, maintenance, and final impression.

The judging was done on June 29 in two teams by six judges who are members of the Capital Area’s Landscape Design Council and are part of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs.  One of the judges commented that she was “pleased to see the variety of landscapes submitted for consideration for the Rock Spring Garden Club’s Garden of the Year Award,” and considered “the quality of the submissions overall very high, making it a pleasure to have such a difficult job choosing a winner.”

Another beautiful entry

Following the winning announcement at the September meeting, lunch and a tour of the top rated gardens will be provided.  The countywide competition is a great way for the Rock Spring Garden Club to promote gardening, county beautification, and membership.

Next year’s Garden of the Year Award competition will start earlier, in March 2012 running through May 31, 2012, with the announcement of the winner taking place at the Club’s year-end June meeting.