Bloomin’ Times -- April 2014 -- 1

Upcoming Activities . . .

Community Projects & Service

4/7 Spring cleanup at Shadowlawn

4/11 Spring cleanup at Miller-Cory

4/17 Spring cleanup at Train Station

4/23 Trip to Rutgers Gardens

5/7 Mini-arrangements for Mobile Meals

5/9 Spring cleanup at Claire Brownell

5/15 Spring cleanup at Shdowlawn

5/30 Lyons flower service.

Juniors

4/16 “Playing with the Butterflies”,

at Beth S’s

Meetings

4/9 General Meeting at the ‘Y’

5/2 Board Meeting at Kris L.’s

5/14 General Meeting at the ‘Y’

Trips & Tours

4/23 Horticulture trip to Rutgers Gardens.

5/16 Miller-Cory House Tour for R&H

members

5/28 Secret Garden Tour

Workshops

5/7 Flower Design for Novices, at

Barbara M’s

5/21 Spring Plant Exchange & a ‘Gardening

Vignette’ at Inge B’s. (5/22 rain date).

More To Do (more details inside . . .)

4/13 “Afternoon in Newark”, Tour

arranged by GCW

4/15-17 Landscape Design School

at Holly House. Exam on 4/18.

5/7 1924 Tea at Liberty Hall celebrating

the Elizabeth GC 90th Anniversary.

6/4 Trip to Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn

& Staten Island by the GCW

6/9 Garden Tour & Greenwood Gardens by

Short Hills GC

www.rakeandhoe.org Member of the Garden Club of NJ and National Garden Clubs, Inc

april 2014

Bloomin ’ T T imes

March Program

“All You Ever Wanted to Know About Chocolate”

Prof. Thomas Gianfagna from Rutgers University gave a

wonderful presentation on the origin and propagation of

the cocoa tree. We learned about it’s delicate nature, the

unusual way it is fertilized and bears fruit

(on the stem), and post-harvest processing

to produce the chocolate we all know and

love!

April Program

“Are You A Tree-Hugger?” For this month’s program, we are reaching into the talents

and expertise present in our own club! Master Tree

Stewards will educate & entertain us about trees. You’ll

learn things you never knew about trees, things made from

trees, and even a game of ‘Tree Jeopardy’!

Thoughts of Spring. . . . And Branch Brook Park

Condensed & adapted from NYT, 3/25/14 (D. Hammond)

Blossoming cherry trees are like giant, pink pompoms of spring. With every breeze they seem to cheer the arrival of warm weather, . coaxing it to triumph over the chill of winter once and for all. Most people associate orna- mental cherry trees with Washington, D.C., But an even better association is Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark. More than 4,500 trees turn the park pink, topping D.C.'s count by several hundred. This collection ranks as the world's largest and most diverse display in a single location. Branch Brook Park sprawls across 360 acres and was largely conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York. Work began in 1895 (making it the first county park in the country), but Branch Brook didn't start blushing in springtime until 1927 when philanthropist Caroline Bamberger Fuld gave an initial 2,000 cherry trees to the park. Aside from cherry trees, Branch Brook Park distinguishes itself with meandering water features, unique bridges and architectural gems such as the park administration building, which dates back to 1916. Both building and park are listed on The National Register of Historic Places. www.essexcountynj.org/jestival contains a full festival schedule as well as a blossom-watch webcam.

- submitted by Pam K.

Bloomin’ Times -- April 2014 -- 2

Committee News . . . .

Birds . . . .

The De Korte Park Meadowlands

walking bird tour scheduled for May

12th, has been postponed until

September 16th. More information to

follow.

The Bird Count is due at the May

general meeting. We hope that many

are participating - keep counting!

Photo Contest/Exhibit - Pls. bring 2

or 3 of your best photos for display

and brief review to the April & May

meetings [note schedule change due to

cancellation of the last meeting]. Photos

should be of elements in your garden

(any season), e.g. birds, wildlife,

flowers, leaves, plants/trees and

landscape. Photos will be included in

the June competition. They should not

exceed 8X10” and preferably be

mounted on a white 11x14” frame;

some will be available at cost at the

April meeting or contact Inge B. Any

questions? Pls. call Inge or Linda P.

Flower Arranging & Design . . .

Come to a design workshop for novices

or those wishing a refresher! Presented

by Barbara M. at her home on Wednes-

day, May 7th at 10:30am. There will be a

sign up sheet at the upcoming general

meeting. Cost for the workshop is $15

and covers all materials. Bring your own

scissors.

Space is limited, so sign up right away.

This is the different teaching technique

used in a similar workshop in Fall of 2012.

Barbara will show how each step is done

and the student will do each step along

with her until a design is completed.

An angle design will be demonstrated. A-

fter the design is completed, Barbara will

show how

this can be

converted

into a

Triangle

design.

Awards . . .

Congratulation to

Marylyn Straight, winner

of the Judy Kampe

competition last month!

For the Nancy Wallace

competition at the May

meeting, design criteria are as follows:

At least 3 rooted herb plants in a

container up to 10” in diameter.

Additional fresh plant material may be

used. There is no limit on length of

time plants have grown together.

There is no height restriction

requirement. Containers will be

displayed on a table covered with

green tablecloth.

Please bring your design entry before

12:30pm to be set up. - Erica Fried

Communications . . .

Rake & Hoe has joined the social net-

work! We now have our own FaceBook

page, which is currently under construc-

tion. Please take a peek and ‘like’ our

new page on Facebook: https://

www.facebook.com/rakeandhoe ! Also

share it with your friends and ask them to

‘like’ it! Thank you!

-Jeanne Ryan

Community Gardens . . .

Finally! Spring has arrived! And with it, it’s

time to spruce up our

community gardens.

Please look at the

‘Upcoming Activities’ col-

umn, pg. 1 to see the

cleanup schedules. Thanks

for your help!

Horticulture. . .

Please join us on a trip to The Rutgers

Display Gardens scheduled for

Wednesday, April 23; rain date is on

Friday, 4/25. We will be given a tour by

the Director of

the Gardens,

Bruce Craw-

ford. Our walk

through the Gar-

dens will include

learning some of

their history and

how they evolved

over the years. If

we’re lucky, there

will already be some rhododendron in

bloom! Wear comfortable shoes and

dress for the weather.

Sign up is at the April general meet-

ing. The cost of the tour is $10 (pls

make check out to Margot Partridge);

our tour fee goes toward the upkeep

and development of the Gardens. We

will meet at Lee Perry's house at

9:30am for carpooling. Lunch will be a

local Greek Restaurant after the tour.

Questions ? Contact Margot or Inge

Get ready for the Annual Spring

Plant Exchange! Scheduled for

Wednesday, May

21 at 10am at Inge

B.’s house. Put

aside divided plants

in containers and

bring them to share

with your fellow

gardening friends -

pls. remember to label! Weather per-

mitting, bring a sandwich, enjoy the

garden, and catch up on your garden

news with fellow R&H’ers. Drinks will

be provided.

For those interested, we will also have

a mini-workshop about pollinator-

friendly plants for your garden!

- Margot P.

Bloomin’ Times -- April 2014 -- 3

More Committee News & Announcements . . . .

Deck the Halls

“Pinterest”

Now that groups are starting to meet,

check out ‘Pinterest ‘online as a way to

find ideas and to share them. You'll

find fabulous pictures of all types of

holiday designs.

Here's how to get started:

1. Go to Pinterest.com and click "Join

Pinterest".

2. Choose how you want to sign up--

either with your email address or

through Facebook.

3. Just follow the prompts for entering

username, email address and password.

Then click "Create Account".

4. Once you're in, use the search box

to search for categories like

"Christmas natural designs". You can

also find the Rake and Hoe boards set

up by Beth S. and Diane G. by using

their email addresses.

It takes some experimenting but it's a

lot of fun and has loads of ideas you

won't see in magazines.

- Beth S. & Pat W.

Membership. . .

Pls. welcome our new members and

update your directory!

Paula Long

908-654-1874 cell 908-451-0231

Email LUVART5@aol.com

2 Floral Court, Westfield

Cathy Becker

908-756-2822 cell 908-377-2237

Email cathymbecker@gmail.com

1056 Oak Lane, Plainfield

Juniors . . .

Juniors had a banner GCNJ Flower

Show, winning numerous ribbons and

sweeping 5 of the 9 top Youth Awards

for the entire show. [pls visit the R&H

photo gallery, this issue].

Following the motto, "you have to be in

it to win it," they submitted a total of 30

entries across Flower Design, Artistic

Crafts and Horticulture categories. A

group effort also put together an

educational display. The Juniors

Committee received huge support from

our club members who prepared

materials and assisted the girls as they

worked on their designs.

-Beth S.

Juniors . . .

The Juniors celebrated their flower

show awards at the March meeting.

Then Clare M. made tree huggers of

them all in a fun interactive program

good for all ages.

The girls will be back at Miller-Cory in

April for Spring clean-up. They will also

start parsley seeds for transplanting to

the Shadowlawn butterfly garden in

May. Parsley is a host plant for the cat-

erpillar stage of many butterflies and

including it in the garden is a way to

promote pollinators in New Jersey.

- Beth S.

Publicity . . .

Memorabilia and related items are need-

ed for the June display at the Westfield

Library. Jeanie P. will be collecting

these items at the April and May meet-

ings.

Items should be related to the activities

of the Rake & Hoe Garden Club, e.g.

community projects such as flower ar-

rangments for Mobile Meals, flower

service and Holiday bags for Lyons Hos-

pital, ornaments for Jardine Academy,;

also Juniors’ activities, Deck the Halls

(past and upcoming), and work at the

community gardens. Please include a

brief description of the item(s) you are

lending for the display.

All items will be returned to each mem-

ber. Items will be displayed in a glass

cabinet at the Westfield Library, from

June 2 -30.

Any questions? Contact Jeanie

Secret Garden Tour

Mark You Calendars! The annual

R&HGC Garden

Tour is coming

soon - on

Wednesday, May

28th at 9:00 am.

If you are planning

to attend this fun-filled Club event, please

bring a CHECK ONLY for $10.00 made

out to Carole Smillie to the next meet-

ing.

R&HGC Annual Luncheon

Please sign up for our annual luncheon,

June 11th at Echo Lake Country Club.

Cost is $30. (cash or check), to Adah L.

GCNJ Courses

Landscape Design School, Course II, Series

XVII, is scheduled for April 15-18.

See The Newsleaf for more details.

GCNJ Annual Luncheon

Pat W. will collect checks & registra-

tion forms for the GCNJ Annual Meet-

ing and Luncheon, Thursday, June 5th,

9:15am at the Bridgewater Marriott.

This year’s theme is, "Bee-You-Tify

Your Garden".

Cost is $48. (checks ONLY, made out

to GCNJ). Deadline for registration is

May 19; forms will be available at our

April meeting or online.

Bloomin’ Times -- April 2014 -- 4

GCNJ Courses

Landscape Design School, Course II,

Series XVII, is scheduled for April 15-

18.

See The Newsleaf for more details.

Announcements & More . . . .

News from

Hetfield House

On Sunday, May 4th the Historic

Committee of Hetfield House (& Levi

Cory House) will host a fundraiser “My

Doll and Me” tea between 1-4pm. Doll

expert Jonathan Green is the speaker

and he brings his vintage doll collection

that includes antique and German dolls.

Mr. Green will appraise dolls at the tea

and speak about the American Girl doll.

A silent auction will include a doll

donated by Mr. Green and a wood doll

house that has been refurbished by

Mary Brader. Young and old are

welcomed to this event, and are

encouraged to bring a special doll in

keeping with the theme. For your

garden, we will also have our annual

geranium sale outside. All donations will

go to the restoration of the Levi Cory

House.

Please save the date! June 7 is our

first ever fundraiser tour of

Mountainside gardens! The garden tour

includes a boutique, art show, and herb

pots for sale; many items will be

supplied by R&H members. A Mardi

Gras themed dinner will follow the tour.

More information follows in the May

newsletter, or contact Alice C.

R&H Cookbook,

“Well-Seasoned”

Need a gift?

. . . a good recipe?

R&H Cookbooks

are still available!

Contact Karen J-G.

This month, we sadly lost a friend & fellow

R&H’er, Letty Hudak. Below is the recipe of

one of her favorite dishes that she shared

with many of us.

Letty’s Coronado Salad Ring

Ingredients

1 pkg. lime Jello (four serving size)

1 pkg. lemon Jello

2 c. hot water

10 oz. small curd cottage cheese

1 can crushed pineapple, drained

2 2/3 c. chopped walnuts

1 c. heavy cream, not whipped

1 c. mayonnaise

1 Tbs. horseradish

Directions

Dissolve both Jello’s in hot water. Add

remaining ingredients in the order giv-

en. Place in ring mold and refrigerate

until firm. When ready to serve, un-

mold onto a platter and fill center with

fresh strawberries. Serves 8, needs no

dressing. - Inge B.

Thanks to the photogra-

phers who contributed to

this issue of the Bloomin’

Times:

Jeanie & Richard P. ,

Anna Daurio & Elise

Morano.

The R&H Photo Gallery

can be viewed online or in your e-mail. - Inge B.

LJB PROGRAM

Plant Sale at the LEONARD J. BUCK

GARDEN in Far Hills, Saturday 4/26

from 10am to 5pm; Sunday 4/27, Noon

to 5pm. Featuring perennials, ferns and

woody plants.

Garden Lectures on, “Creating a

Winter Garden” Saturday 4/26 at 1pm,

and “Native Plants vs. Invasives” on

Sunday.

Guided Tours of Buck Garden begin at

2pm.

Program sponsors:

www.somersetcountyparks.org and

the Watnong Chapter of the North

American Rock Garden.

SHORT HILLS GARDEN TOUR

8 private gardens and Greenwood Gardens

Monday, June 9th. Tickets $30 if preordered by June 1; $40 after. Purchase at

Gero Park parking lot, 315 White Oak Ridge Rd. Short Hills (tickets picked up or

bought on the day)

checks payable to Short Hills Home Garden Club

mail to: Mrs. Sharon Riva

393 Wyoming Avenue

Millburn, NJ 07041

Lunch at the Carriage House Bistro and Bar at Paper Mill Playhouse. Prix fixe $25.

Reservations required. Call 973-609-2429 by May 31.

more info www.shorthillsgardentour.com or call 1-973-761-7263

Bloomin’ Times -- April 2014 -- 5

Community Projects . . .

Mini-Designs for Mobile Meals

On May 1st, we made adorable ar-

rangements in cat food cans and deter-

gent bottle tops for the trays for Mo-

bile Meals. Pat W. did a great or-

ganizing job and eleven members had a

wonderful time making 63 arrange-

ments. Thanks to all who participated!

We hope to make moss terrariums for

the classrooms at Jardine. Information

will be forthcoming.

- Kris L.. (Find more pictures in R&H Photo Gallery, this issue)

More Announcements. . . .

Bloomin’ Times -- April 2014 -- 6

Community Projects . . .

Mini-Designs for Mobile Meals

On May 1st, we made adorable ar-

rangements in cat food cans and deter-

gent bottle tops for the trays for Mo-

bile Meals. Pat W. did a great or-

ganizing job and eleven members had a

wonderful time making 63 arrange-

ments. Thanks to all who participated!

We hope to make moss terrariums for

the classrooms at Jardine. Information

will be forthcoming.

- Kris L.. (Find more pictures in R&H Photo Gallery, this issue)

Features. . . .

Bits ‘n Pieces

Many of you have noticed that some robins are year-round visitors,

while others head south for the winter. Why?

Food availability is probably the major

factor influencing the number of American

robins that overwinter in an area, says

Steve Kelling, a developer of BirdSource,

joint project of the Cornell Lab of

Ornithology and the National Audubon

Society. Heavy snow and ice may also play

an important role, limiting the fruits and berries that the

robins depend on during winter and early spring.

For example, a comparison of maps of snow-covered areas in January and February 1999 with maps showing the reports of robins during the Great Backyard Bird Count of Feb. 19-22, 1999, clearly showed a sharp decrease in reports in areas where there was snow cover. A similar comparison for the western Great Lakes region found only three reports of robins in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan where snow cover exceeded five inches, while some areas with less cover had many more robins, even flocks of up to 1,200. Interestingly, in metropolitan areas like

Minneapolis-St. Paul and Detroit, many robins did overwinter

that year, because ornamental fruit trees like hawthorns and

mountain ash provided a generous food supply.

-Adapted from C. CLAIBORNE RAY , NYT 3/25/14

April Tips for the Garden Finally! Spring may actually arrive in April - the tips of daffo-

dils and even some perennials like daylilies are beginning to

appear in our gardens.

Now is the time to start cleaning up your flower beds, clear-

ing away decayed foliage and stems from last year. For ex-

ample, the browned leaves of hellebores should be cut away

to create room for new green growth. It seems as though

winter and snow came much too early last fall, even before a

final fall clean up of dead foliage and leaves. It’s now time to

finishing the job to allow the new growth to push through.

When we have some pleasant days, go out with your gloves

and tools and start clearing. As you do, if you see any early

weeds, pull them out before they become large and en-

trenched.

When the soil dries out a little more you may want to pre-

pare the bed by working compost or manure into the soil,

especially if you will be putting in new plants. Mulching will

help to prevent new weeds from starting, and keep soil from

drying when summer comes.

Walk around all of your shrubs and check them for damage;

many plants suffered during this past severe winter. Prune

away brown growth and see if the warmth of spring brings

out enough new growth to revive the shrubs, otherwise you

may need to replace them, usually no later than May before

the summer heat begins.

And of course, now is the time to plan

which new plants you want to put in

and where to obtain them. For immedi-

ate impact you can purchase pansies to

put in outdoor containers and enjoy this

very colorful harbinger of flowers to

come.

- Karen J-G

. . . ‘for the Birds! Horticulture Tips

“Insightful Sprouts”

Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm

holding up until your back gets used to it.

~Author Unknown

Eagle Cam for “Eagle Eyes”

Visit the Duke Farms website to watch a nesting pair of bald

eagles hatch, then raise their family of 3 eaglets

www.dukefarms.org/en/Stewardship/WildlifeCams/eagle-cam/