Author: seabarb2

Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead Members gathered recently for a delightful evening of Designing with Dahlias presented by Jocelyn Cook ‘s The Fleur de Mer flower bar. Jocelyn impressed us with her enthusiasm and technique of propagating, growing, and harvesting her garden-fresh flowers.

Although we all started with the same glass vases, every finished arrangement was unique. Some members subscribe to the ‘less is more’ philosophy, while others favor the ‘bigger is better’ style. Every floral arrangement had a different color palate and different fillers. In addition to the greenery supplied, many members brought in clippings from favorite plants in their own garden to make their arrangement personal and unique.

Having freshly-harvested blossoms from The Fleur de Mer flower bar makes such a difference. Jocelynn cut her dahlias that morning! These arrangements still look perky days later!

Hats off to our Program Chairpersons for coordinating this wonderful hands-on event for Driftwood Garden Club members and guests.

The Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead’s 2023 Cocktail Party at Hollyhock Cottage was a warm success on a cool autumn evening. We were treated to a magical night in our current Vice President’s home to renew friendships, talk shop, and discuss the upcoming programs in ’23 and ‘24.

Many thanks to our host for providing such a cozy setting on a fall evening. And many thanks to our volunteer hostesses for passing endless trays of delectable appetizers and sweet treats.

The Driftwood Garden Club was established in 1952 as a volunteer, nonprofit organization and we proudly continue seven decades of gardening and support of the environment. We look forward to our educational, as well as hands-on, programs in the upcoming year.

In early autumn 2023, eight members of the Driftwood Garden Club visited glorious gardens and gilded-age mansions in the Hudson Valley of New York. Starting with a gourmet lunch at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, we proceeded to tour the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion followed by a guided tour of Beatrix Farrand’s private garden. Beatrix was a woman trailblazer in landscape gardening and architecture whose work defined American taste in gardens in the first half of the 20^th century.

Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, NY, is alive with native woodland plants tucked along winding paths and vivid groupings of stunning flowers. The stone ‘bothy’ cottages and glass conservatory hold all sorts of gardening treasures and supplies. Renowned for their collection of alpine plants, Stonecrop began in 1958 as a private garden built by Frank Cabot and his wife Anne, and opened to the public in 1992.

Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, NY, offers stunning views across the Hudson River to West Point Academy. The estate has a storied history, home to both loyalists and patriots during the American revolution era. The neoclassical mansion was built between 1804 and 1806 but fell into disrepair in the 1950s. Preservationists saved many architectural features, and the house was rebuilt and restored to its original grandeur. The grounds contain 68 acres of lush gardens and trails.

We were awed by the stained-glass windows in historic Union Church of Pocantico Hills in Tarrytown. The Rockefeller family commissioned these glass masterpieces in memory of family members. The dramatic Rose Window was Henri Matisse’s last commissioned work. Nine windows by artist Marc Chagall create a powerful combination of light and color. One member of our group got married in this very church!

Our tour of Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown, NY, covered two floors of the opulent mansion and access to the expansive grounds. The views of the Hudson River were gorgeous, despite it being an overcast day.

Even in the rain, the New York Botanical Garden is a magical place to visit. We enjoyed the outdoor gardens as well as explored the Conservatory containing plants from around the world.

Although rain canceled our first reservation, on the following day we were fortunate to have an extended tour of Kykuit Estates in Sleepy Hollow. The estate, with sweeping river views, was home to four generations of Rockefellers. The gardens, stone hardscapes, sculptures, and outbuildings were spectacular.

We felt we just scratched the surface of treasures that Hudson Valley offers. We hope to return!

Now is the time members of the Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty! 

While the Abbot Public Library on Pleasant Street is under renovation, we are sprucing up the library’s temporary home at the former Eveleth School at Brook Road. We also have taken on courtyard garden work in Farrell Court, a Marblehead Housing Authority site.

Shoutout to Lisa Biggio, Civic Beautification Chair, along with Beth Manusco and Heather Martin, members of the Civic Beautification Committee, for keeping us on task. Many hands make light work, and our members are smiling while they work together!

Thank You to all our gardening friends and the north shore gardening community for supporting the 2023 Driftwood Garden Club plant sale, making it our most successful sale ever!

It takes a village to orchestrate this event. We are grateful for the plant contributions dug from our host gardens, and appreciate all the ‘man hours’ of our fabulous DGC members!  A shout-out to Louise Moore at Every Little Breeze catering for keeping us caffeinated, to Discover Marblehead’s Spring Celebration, and to Marblehead Gardens for the luscious annuals.

We had over 1,300 plants representing 100 varieties. May all your new plants bloom and thrive in their new homes.

See you next year!  And yes, ‘You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Garden!’

Art in Bloom is the Museum of Fine Art’s signature spring event highlighting the interpretive floral arrangements of 45 different art works.

Driftwood Garden Club members Ginny von Rueden and Laurie Boggis were assigned to interpret the large marble sculpture ‘Orpheus and Cerberus’ by American artist Thomas Crawford. Crafted in 1843, this statue reflects the 19^th century fascination with the classical mythology of ancient Greece and Rome. According to the legend, Orpheus rushes to the Underworld to rescue his wife Eurydice, and lulls the three-headed dog Cerberus to sleep.

Like the sculpture, the floral arrangement displays movement from every viewpoint. The arrangement tells the story of love, loss, and mourning, using plant material representing different parts of the statue.

Ginny and Laurie chose plant material according to the language of flowers:

• White roses symbolize love and loyalty.
• Carnations signify purity and also Orpheus’ head of hair.
• Ruscus mimics the laurel wreath on his head.
• Orchids denote eternal love and also the curving shape of his arms.
• Dusty Miller mimics the dog’s fur and gray tones in the marble.
• Fantail Willow branches indicate the shape of the lyre and the importance of music in the story.
• Sago Palm branches represent the classical theme of the tale.

Members of the Driftwood Garden Club enjoyed a guided tour of floral arrangements created by many other garden clubs. We were fortunate to have two knowledgeable guides: one was an expert in the chosen piece of art, and the other was an expert in floral design.

Some other favorite pieces include:

Congratulations to fellow DGC members Laurie Boggis and Ginny von Rueden on their 2023 Arts in Bloom floral masterpiece.  Brava!

The Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead’s March ’23 meeting offered a hands-on Spring Floral Arrangement Workshop led by our own Susan McMullen. Susan (along with other DGC members Laurie Boggis and Ginny von Rueden) regularly contributes artistic arrangements to adorn the historic Jeremiah Lee Mansion.

Susan started us off with tips on proper preparation of the oasis foam and plant material. Our greenery consisted of the contrasting textures of soft Asparagus Fern and the smooth leaves of Ruscus.

And now we add flowers! Keeping to the Rule of Three, our flowers consisted of the contrasting shapes and textures of purple Veronica, coral Spray Roses, and yellow Solidago.

Here’s creative magic at its best. All participants started with the same materials, but every finished arrangement is unique!

Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead members gathered at the Abbot Public Library to listen and learn about native plants versus invasive species. The Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) defines invasive plants as “non-native species that have spread into native or minimally managed plant systems in Massachusetts.  These plants cause economic or environmental harm by developing self-sustaining populations and becoming dominant and/or disruptive to those systems.”    

In the presentation by Suzanne Mahler, who has been sharing her passion for gardening for more than 30 years, we learned that many invasive plant species alter the surrounding soil to make it more difficult for native plants to survive. Suzanne described various ways to battle invasive plants and reminded us that those should only be disposed of in your trash, not in the compost pile!

Bad Guys, definitely bad guys, include: garlic mustard, creeping Charlie, buckthorn, barberry, burning bush, bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, purple loosestrife, phragmite common reed, and Japanese knotweed.

Some Good Guys, very good guys, include: native aster, coreopsis, turtlehead, beebalm, Joe Pye weed, sweet pepper clethera, winterberry holly, American dogwood, red cedar juniper, milkweed, bloodroot, black-eyed Susan, phlox, and liatris.

Presenter Suzanne Mahler recommends several resources: grownativemass.org; www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife; www.mass.gov/service-details/invasive-plants, as well as visiting the Garden in the Woods, home of the Native Plant Trust, in Framingham, MA.

According to Garden in the Woods, “The ultimate goal for the ecological gardener is a beautiful garden that provides year-round interest, supports local wildlife, absorbs and filters rainwater, and improves air quality.” 

So let’s plant more Good Guys!

On a cold January evening, Driftwood Garden Club current president Ginny von Rueden delighted the audience with highlights of the group tour she organized of Great Houses and Gardens of Yorkshire and the Lake District of England.

This was our first gathering held in the meeting room at the temporary library while Abbot Public Library undergoes extensive renovations. Many thanks to our hostesses and to the staff of the library for such a warm welcome.

The Tour! Planned in honor of Driftwood Garden Club’s 70^th Birthday, the travelers were led by head gardeners in such exquisite sites such as York Minster, Littlethorpe Manor, Castle Howard (of ‘Brideshead Revisited’ and ‘Bridgerton’ fame), Harlow Carr Gardens, Parcevall Hall, Levens Hall, Lowther Castle, and Holker Hall. Tour members enjoyed a private lakeside cruise along Windemere and a visit to Beatrix Potter’s home at Hilltop Farmhouse.

Please note that Ginny von Rueden will also present ‘A Tour of English Gardens’ for the Council on Aging Marblehead Speaker Series on Wednesday, February 15^th at 12:30 pm.

Making Seasons Bright! Members of the Driftwood Garden Club gathered at the Jacobi Community Center to adorn over 50 fresh holiday wreaths and swags which are distributed by the Council on Aging to Marblehead residents.

DGC bow-making experts demonstrated their technique while the others decorated the fresh greenery with ornaments, pinecones, dried flowers and glitter.

Wishing all a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!