Garden Club of Ohio Inc.
A Presidents Diary
Luisa Bird and
Victoria Bergesen
Victoria Bergesen
Out and About April 2007
From the President’s-eye View
Each month I will recount my itinerary with photos I have taken. There may not be photos of some people and events, because the conditions were
not right, I didn’t have the opportunity or my photo skills need improvement.
I am enormously impressed by all the activity GCO members shared with me this month. The month started off with the convention. Please take
the time to enjoy the convention photos elsewhere on this web site. This is my favorite photo. Luisa Bird has been a dear friend and mentor to me
for years. It was very special for us when she installed me as President of GCO.
On April 11 I attended the Worthington Hills Garden Club meeting. Jane Martin of OSU Agricultural Extension brought us up to date on the
Emerald Ash Borer and showed us how to make a rain garden. On April 14 I judged the design division of the Central Ohio Daffodil Society along
with Nancy Heber and Mickie Marquis. Most of the designs were provided by members of the Serendipity Garden Club.
Afterwards, Mickie convinced me (or maybe I volunteered) to go to the Baker’s Acres nursery in Alexandria (near Newark). I purchased Virginia
Bluebells (Mertensia virginiana) as gifts for the incoming District Directors. The Bakers are famous for their coleus.
Before each District Meeting I held a meeting with Club Presidents or representatives. It was wonderful to
meet so man y of them and share ideas. I hope to see even more of you in the Fall. If your club was
not represented and you would like an agenda, please E-mail me. On Monday April 16 I attended
the Jackson District Meeting Spring in the Country held at the Cantor’s Cave 4-H Camp. Mrs. Deanna
Tribe CFCS spoke about Appalachian culture. Nineteen Ohio Counties are considered Appalachian.
The Cincinnati District meeting was at the Western Hills Country Club. Michele Williams of the Civic Garden Center gave a really interesting
program about weeds and how to prevent them in an environmentally friendly way. Most of us were especially intrigued by the blow torch method,
but half of us worried that our husbands would get hold of one. The other half thought our husbands would worry about our burning down the
house!
There were also some pleasant
surprises,like these Tulipa clusiana
‘Lady Jane.
On April 23 the Cleveland District meeting was at St.Michael’s, Broadview Heights. The morning speaker was Cheryl Harner who urged us to
landscape with wildlife in mind She showed many native plants and the birds and butterflies who feed upon them. Tuesday the Youngtown District
meeting was held at the Davis Center at Mill Creek Metropark. Cleo Lehman presented new hybrid introductions for this spring. The Youngstown
District asked Bev Patrick and Millie Campean to recreate their top award winning designs from the GCO Convention Flower Show. Both ladies are
newly Accredited Flower Show Judges, students of the recent Youngstown Flower Show School (and my classmates).
On to Milan for the Mansfield and Toledo District meeting. We were greeted by torrential rains, but that did not dampen the spirits of the
members.
Especially those who won the Pelargonium centerpieces!The next day we attended the Canton District meeting where the Akron District members
were
welcomed as guests. Here Derra Scharver shows GCO Past President Carmie DeVito how to sand cast a leaf.
Second Vice President Aggie Goss watches intently while modeling one of her handmade felted bags!
Friday April 27 was the Ohio Judges Council Meeting in Columbus and I also attended the dedication of the Presidential Oak Grove, a project of the
Westerville Garden Club. They were assisted by a National Garden Clubs grant from First Principal Financial Group. Each of the eight Ohio
Presidents was honored with a different species of oak and an educational plaque. A ninth oak was dedicated to the next Ohio president, whoever
she may be!
It has been a very busy month, and May promises even more activity: Landscape Design School in Mansfield, Flower Show School in Brecksville
and National Garden Clubs Convention in Boston.
Thanks to all of you for your warmth and hospitality as we visited your Districts. Now I had better get working on that lawn.
From the President’s-eye View
Each month I will recount my itinerary with photos I have taken. There may not be photos of some people and events, because the conditions were
not right, I didn’t have the opportunity or my photo skills need improvement.
I am enormously impressed by all the activity GCO members shared with me this month. The month started off with the convention. Please take
the time to enjoy the convention photos elsewhere on this web site. This is my favorite photo. Luisa Bird has been a dear friend and mentor to me
for years. It was very special for us when she installed me as President of GCO.
On April 11 I attended the Worthington Hills Garden Club meeting. Jane Martin of OSU Agricultural Extension brought us up to date on the
Emerald Ash Borer and showed us how to make a rain garden. On April 14 I judged the design division of the Central Ohio Daffodil Society along
with Nancy Heber and Mickie Marquis. Most of the designs were provided by members of the Serendipity Garden Club.
Afterwards, Mickie convinced me (or maybe I volunteered) to go to the Baker’s Acres nursery in Alexandria (near Newark). I purchased Virginia
Bluebells (Mertensia virginiana) as gifts for the incoming District Directors. The Bakers are famous for their coleus.
Before each District Meeting I held a meeting with Club Presidents or representatives. It was wonderful to
meet so man y of them and share ideas. I hope to see even more of you in the Fall. If your club was
not represented and you would like an agenda, please E-mail me. On Monday April 16 I attended
the Jackson District Meeting Spring in the Country held at the Cantor’s Cave 4-H Camp. Mrs. Deanna
Tribe CFCS spoke about Appalachian culture. Nineteen Ohio Counties are considered Appalachian.
The Cincinnati District meeting was at the Western Hills Country Club. Michele Williams of the Civic Garden Center gave a really interesting
program about weeds and how to prevent them in an environmentally friendly way. Most of us were especially intrigued by the blow torch method,
but half of us worried that our husbands would get hold of one. The other half thought our husbands would worry about our burning down the
house!
There were also some pleasant
surprises,like these Tulipa clusiana
‘Lady Jane.
On April 23 the Cleveland District meeting was at St.Michael’s, Broadview Heights. The morning speaker was Cheryl Harner who urged us to
landscape with wildlife in mind She showed many native plants and the birds and butterflies who feed upon them. Tuesday the Youngtown District
meeting was held at the Davis Center at Mill Creek Metropark. Cleo Lehman presented new hybrid introductions for this spring. The Youngstown
District asked Bev Patrick and Millie Campean to recreate their top award winning designs from the GCO Convention Flower Show. Both ladies are
newly Accredited Flower Show Judges, students of the recent Youngstown Flower Show School (and my classmates).
On to Milan for the Mansfield and Toledo District meeting. We were greeted by torrential rains, but that did not dampen the spirits of the
members.
Especially those who won the Pelargonium centerpieces!The next day we attended the Canton District meeting where the Akron District members
were
welcomed as guests. Here Derra Scharver shows GCO Past President Carmie DeVito how to sand cast a leaf.
Second Vice President Aggie Goss watches intently while modeling one of her handmade felted bags!
Friday April 27 was the Ohio Judges Council Meeting in Columbus and I also attended the dedication of the Presidential Oak Grove, a project of the
Westerville Garden Club. They were assisted by a National Garden Clubs grant from First Principal Financial Group. Each of the eight Ohio
Presidents was honored with a different species of oak and an educational plaque. A ninth oak was dedicated to the next Ohio president, whoever
she may be!
It has been a very busy month, and May promises even more activity: Landscape Design School in Mansfield, Flower Show School in Brecksville
and National Garden Clubs Convention in Boston.
Thanks to all of you for your warmth and hospitality as we visited your Districts. Now I had better get working on that lawn.
How easy it can be to make friends with other club members!
Deanna and Aggie were wonderfully organized Vice President
Aggie Goss and Deanna Stearns. Deanna instantly became
Aggie’s “new best friend”, an example Celebrating the Days of
Our Lives was informative and fun. Here are some of the
designs she presented:
Deanna and Aggie were wonderfully organized Vice President
Aggie Goss and Deanna Stearns. Deanna instantly became
Aggie’s “new best friend”, an example Celebrating the Days of
Our Lives was informative and fun. Here are some of the
designs she presented:
Here is the Best of Show won by
Janet Hannaway
Fiesta Ware for
Cinco de Mayo.
St. Patrick’s Day.
Did you know he was
born and died on
March 17?
Did you know he was
born and died on
March 17?
Forget breakfast in bed on
Mother’s Day. I want those
dishes!
Mother’s Day. I want those
dishes!
landscape architecture.
We celebrated the 75th
Anniversary of the
Garden Lovers Club of
Jackson.
Anniversary of the
Garden Lovers Club of
Jackson.
Trick or Treat?
Cheryl Winkler, retiring Cincinnati
District Director (2005-2007),
Wildflower Chairman (2007-2009).
District Director (2005-2007),
Wildflower Chairman (2007-2009).
On to Dayton where we
stayed at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel, checking it out as the
venue for our 2008 GCO
Convention. If our visit was
anything to judge by, you
should enjoy your stay there
next April. The Dayton
District meeting was held at
the NCR Country Club.
stayed at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel, checking it out as the
venue for our 2008 GCO
Convention. If our visit was
anything to judge by, you
should enjoy your stay there
next April. The Dayton
District meeting was held at
the NCR Country Club.
They had especially
pretty centerpieces
and suet blocks for
birds were wrapped in
cellophane as party
favors.
pretty centerpieces
and suet blocks for
birds were wrapped in
cellophane as party
favors.
Carole Stephens of Wild Birds
Unlimited told us that the best
way to feed the birds is to use
native plants in the landscape!
Unlimited told us that the best
way to feed the birds is to use
native plants in the landscape!
Then it was home to
Columbus.
This is what your President’s
lawn looked like when she
returned!
Columbus.
This is what your President’s
lawn looked like when she
returned!
Freedom Gardens and the marker were the Freedom Gardens and the marker were the
Willoughby Evening Garden Club’s project. They were assisted by a National Garden
Clubs They were assisted by a National Garden Clubs grant from First Principal
Financial Group. For grant from First Principal Financial Group. For more pictures see
the Blue Star Memorial Page.
more pictures see the Blue Star Memorial Page.
Willoughby Evening Garden Club’s project. They were assisted by a National Garden
Clubs They were assisted by a National Garden Clubs grant from First Principal
Financial Group. For grant from First Principal Financial Group. For more pictures see
the Blue Star Memorial Page.
more pictures see the Blue Star Memorial Page.
Species tulips like these
naturalize and
do not decline. They are
great in rock gardens.
naturalize and
do not decline. They are
great in rock gardens.
Millie is the new
Youngstown
District Director.
Youngstown
District Director.
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