1 Official Newsletter of Marathon Garden Club The President’s Letter Dear Members, Happy holidays to everyone. What a great beginning to our garden club season. The fall festival was a huge success, thanks to the extra efforts of Mary Ann Worthington and Loi Baltes. Our next event is coming up on December 11th - Holiday Cocktail Party. I'm very pleased that so many members will be attending. We have added a Silent Auction to the evenings festivities (fun items for everyone). Ann Reams has worked hard to organize three exciting workshops in the next few months. Make sure you sign up for the plant propagation workshop in early January. Next month is very busy at the club with preparations for our yearly Jamboree. Lots of helpers will be needed, so plan to sign up at the January membership meeting. Also start setting aside your gently used items for the sale. Please don't bring these items into the club until the week of the sale, as we have no storage for them. I wish each of you and your families the Merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years!!!!!!! Sande Club Theme “Inspire Community Awareness” MARK YOUR CALENDAR Wed., Dec. 9, 9 am MGC Board Meeting Fri., Dec. 11, Holiday Cocktail Party, 6-8 pm. Sat., Dec 19. 21, 9 - noon, UF/IFAS Plant Clinic at Home Depot garden center by MGC Master Gardeners. Bring plants for ID and/or pest or disease issues in a zip-topped bag. Wed., Jan 6, 9 am MGC Board Meeting Tues., Jan 12, 10 am, Sex in the Garden Workshop. Plant Propagation...see page 2 Fri, Jan. 15, 1 pm, Membership Meeting... All About Bromeliads Sat., Jan. 23. January Jamboree, 8:30 am see page 2 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Table of Contents 1st Vice President’s Report ......................... 2 2nd Vice President’s Report ........................ 2 MGC Board ................................................. 5 Condolences/Bill Thomas............................ 4 Exotic Plant Workshop ................................ 6 Fall Festival/Holiday Bazaar ........................ 3 Fall Festival -Treasurer’s Notes .................. 5 Gift Shop ..................................................... 5 Horticulture Tip -Christmas Cactus.............. 5 January Jamboree....................................... 2 Membership Report ..................................... 7 My Wife, The Gardener ............................... 5 President’s Letter & Event Calendar ........... 1 Tropical Short Course Registration ............. 8 Tropical Short Course Program ................... 7 Workshops .................................................. 2 December 2015 Volume 18 No. 8
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Official Newsletter of Marathon Garden Club
The President’s Letter
Dear Members,
Happy holidays to everyone. What a great beginning to our garden
club season. The fall festival was a huge success, thanks to the extra efforts of Mary Ann Worthington and Loi Baltes. Our next event is coming up on December 11th - Holiday Cocktail Party. I'm very pleased that so many members will be attending. We have added a Silent Auction to the evenings festivities (fun items for everyone). Ann Reams has worked hard to organize three exciting workshops in the next few months. Make sure you sign up for the plant propagation workshop in early January. Next month is very busy at the club with preparations for our yearly Jamboree. Lots of helpers will be needed, so plan to sign up at the January membership meeting. Also start setting aside your gently used items for the sale. Please don't bring these items into the club until the week of the sale, as we have no storage for them. I wish each of you and your families the Merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years!!!!!!!
Sande
Club Theme
“Inspire Community Awareness”
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Wed., Dec. 9, 9 am MGC Board Meeting
Fri., Dec. 11, Holiday Cocktail Party, 6-8 pm.
Sat., Dec 19. 21, 9 - noon, UF/IFAS Plant Clinic at Home Depot garden center by MGC Master Gardeners. Bring plants for ID and/or pest or disease issues in a zip-topped bag.
Wed., Jan 6, 9 am MGC Board Meeting
Tues., Jan 12, 10 am, Sex in the Garden Workshop. Plant Propagation...see page 2
Fri, Jan. 15, 1 pm, Membership Meeting...All About Bromeliads
Sat., Jan. 23. January Jamboree, 8:30 am see page 2
Table of Contents 1st Vice President’s Report ......................... 2 2nd Vice President’s Report ........................ 2 MGC Board ................................................. 5 Condolences/Bill Thomas ............................ 4 Exotic Plant Workshop ................................ 6 Fall Festival/Holiday Bazaar ........................ 3 Fall Festival -Treasurer’s Notes .................. 5 Gift Shop ..................................................... 5 Horticulture Tip -Christmas Cactus .............. 5 January Jamboree ....................................... 2 Membership Report ..................................... 7 My Wife, The Gardener ............................... 5 President’s Letter & Event Calendar ........... 1 Tropical Short Course Registration ............. 8 Tropical Short Course Program ................... 7 Workshops .................................................. 2
December 2015 Volume 18 No. 8
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1st Vice President’s Report The Plant Propagation demonstration by Sue Casey of Casey’s Corner in Homestead was postponed due to cancellation of the November meeting. It has been rescheduled for January 12th at 10 am. See the 2nd Vice President’s report for more details. See you soon!
Sandy Bourgeois
2nd Vice President’s Report
WORKSHOPS, WORKSHOPS, WORKSHOPS
We are happy to report that we have three workshops planned this season. Our first workshop is Sex in the Garden. It will take place at the Club on January 12
th at
10:00 am. Sue Casey of Casey’s Corner in Homestead will demonstrate a variety of techniques of plant propagation; including by seed, by cuttings, by clipping and snipping. You are encouraged to bring your questions and any plant photo or sample which you hope to propagate. Sue will let you know if and how you can propagate it. Since Sue will be at our January Jamboree on January 23
rd, you may take this
opportunity to order specific plants that Sue will bring with her to the Jamboree. Tuesday afternoon, February 23
rd , will
feature Beth Nagle Griffin with What’s Cooking. (Exact time of the workshop is still being determined.) Beth is a chef with a background in herbs and uses both culinary and medicinal herbs in her cooking. She is also interested in incorporating more plant-based protein in recipes and in cooking with local produce. She will be speaking at the
Club on these topics and will be sharing some of her recipes—including some yummy samples. March 22
nd will give members a
chance to practice informal flower arranging with Flower Power. Several of our talented members will be our workshop leaders and help participants create their own arrangements using materials from our own homes, gardens and local grocery stores. You won’t want to miss this “fun with flowers” event. More information will be available shortly. All workshops are free to members, but you must register at least a week in advance. Please email Anne Reams if you plan to attend: [email protected]. There will also be a sign up sheet available at the Club.
Anne Reams
January Jamboree
Be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, January 23, 2016 from 8:30 am to 3 pm. This is our largest plant sale of the year, with lots of vendors from the ‘mainland’ and the Keys, in addition to plants from our own nursery. Janet Oechsle is coordinating the vendors and Linnea Cunningham and her crew will be selling plants in the Club nurs-ery. Carole Gieck & Dee O’Shea are in charge of the Flea Market. The Club interior will be filled with gently used treasures. Plan to deliver your donations the week of January 18th. Dates and times will be announced at the January Club meeting. Additional vendors will have jewelry, craft and assorted gift items available. Local non-profit organizations will be represented, as well. And we understand that the Marine Bank Wiener Wagon will be there!
Kudos to our amazing friends in the Marathon Garden Club! The results of the Fall Fest/Holiday Bazaar exceeded all expectations. We earned $1,100.00 more than last year thanks to your contributions and hard work. Every year we continue to be amazed that we receive enough gently used and beautiful holiday decorations to make the room look full and festive and to make some money for the club. Please remember at the end of this holiday season to keep this event in mind and put aside those items that no longer work for you. And, tell your friends to do the same. Last year we had one lovely lady (not a club member) who sold her home bring us all of her gorgeous holiday decorations. Well, this year she is in a rental, had nothing, came to our sale and bought some of them back! Word is spreading that we have beautiful, quality merchandise and that this is a fun event that helps get you into the holiday spirit. Let’s keep up the good work! Merry Christmas To All!
Follow up re: MGC Scholarship Fund We initially began Fall Fest with 2 separate raffles because we were concerned about making budget. We surpassed our 2015 Fall Fest goal of $2,000.00 by $1,100.00; therefore, we would like all of the raffle money ($ 586.00) applied to the MGC Scholarship Fund.
Mary Ann & Loi
Deborah Smith, District XII Director, and her friend, Julie Marshall, from the Town & Country GC drove all the way down from Miami to attend our Bazaar. Thanks, ladies!
“Save, Nurture and Love Our Earth”.
Some Photos before it Opened
Lots of MGC Volunteers in Green Shirts
Getting Ready for Doors to
Open
Co-Chair, Loi Baltes & her terrific helper, Jay Carvotta with Gourmet Goodies
Great Donations made our day a Huge Success
Above: President Sande & Fest co-chair Mary Ann Left: Living succulent wreaths, created by Mary Ann & Loi
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Condolences to Rosemary and All Friends of Bill Thomas
We all grieve the loss of Rosemary’s husband, Bill. He was a consummate gentleman and a friend who was always willing to help. He will be greatly missed. With Rosemary’s permission, we are re-printing the obituary which was in the Keynoter. William Thomas (10/23/51 - 11/11/15) William (Bill) Thomas, Age 64, of Marathon, FL and Sodus Point, NY, passed away on November 11, 2015 at Kendall Regional Medical Center, in Miami, FL. He was born in Ashland, PA on October 23, 1951, to William H. Thomas and Leona (nee Kimmel) Thomas. Bill was the Manager of worldwide Tooling for Eastman Kodak, where he worked for 35 years. He retired in 2005 and has spent the last 10 years fishing the Keys and Upstate NY; an outstanding fisherman who was a delight to all his fishing friends. Bill was a member of the Matecumbe Anglers, where he was 2013 Offshore Angler of the Year and in 2014 was club Tournament Champion. He was also a member of the Marathon Yacht Club; active in the Marathon Garden Club and the Sodus Bay Historical Society. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Leona Thomas. He is survived by Rosemary Thomas, his loving wife of 41 wonderful years; Sister Maureen Herr (Jim); Sister-in-law Janice Bradt (Les); Brother-in-law Tom Felice (Karyn); Neph-ews: Donald Bradt (Jenny and little Joey), Daniel Bradt, Ryan Felice, and Kyle Felice, Doug Herr (Deb, Amanda, and Kristen); Scott Herr (Margie); Nieces: Meghan and Kayla. Bill loved life, his wife, and fishing. He was a great friend, uncle, and husband; always willing to help people and very outgoing. He will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held on
Friday, November 20, 2015 at ll:00 a.m. at San Pablo Catholic Church, in Marathon. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Bill Thomas to: Sodus Bay Historical Society, P. O. Box 94, Sodus Point, NY 14555.
Rosemary & Bill Thomas at
MGC Christmas Dinner 2014
Thank You
Dear Marathon Garden Club Members: Thank you all so much for the flowers, cards, and kind words over the last few weeks. As you can only imagine, this has been the most difficult time of my life and it is with the help and support of friends like all of you that I will make it through. Bill was a wonderful person and he made me a better person for 41 years. He knew how much the garden club meant to me and he was always there to help and support our efforts. Thank you all for being my friends; you are a very special group of people. Love, Rosemary
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The poem below appeared in the Spring, 1998 issue of The Florida Gardener.
My Wife, The Gardener
She dug the plot on Monday the soil was rich and fine, She forgot to thaw out dinner so we went out to dine… She planted roses Tuesday she says they are a must, They really were quite lovely but she forgot to dust… On Wednesday it was daisies they opened with the sun, All whites and pinks and yellows but the laundry wasn’t done! The poppies come on Thursday a bright and cheery red, I guess she really was engrossed she never made the bed… It was dahlias on Friday in colors she adores, It never bothered her at all, all the crumbs upon the floors… I hired a maid on Saturday my week is now complete, My wife can garden all she wants the house will still be neat! It’s nearly lunchtime Sunday and I can’t find the maid, Oh no! I don’t believe it! She’s out there with a spade!
Horticulture Tips
CHRISTMAS CACTUS BLOOM FOR YEARS AND YEARS. It is an easy care plant that blooms in late fall and winter for decades if you follow a few simple steps. Keep the soil evenly moist while it's in bud or blooming. After that, cut back watering to once a week, needs good drainage. When it is finished blooming you can move it outside in the shade. Feed twice in the Spring or Summer.
Pat Greeley
A BIT MORE ABOUT FALL FESTIVAL
As Mary Ann Worthington stated elsewhere, our November 28 Fall Festival sale was a great success. Mary Ann and Loi Baltes worked all week to accept and arrange donated sale items. Loyal Eldridge, Dr. Charlie Neiditz, Dick Cunningham, and possibly others, assisted the vehicle traffic with access and parking. Many (20 or so) other members helped inside the building, others outside with vendors, members, raffles and plant sales. THANK YOU ALL! We had the Holiday/Christmas items, a baked goods sale, specially decorated wreaths and conch shells, MGC nursery plants, 2 raffles and income from vendor rentals. Total income was $3,536 vs. approx. $2,400 last year. Included in that amount is $586 from the 2 raffles, which is being assigned to our scholarship fund.
IT WAS A GREAT EFFORT BY ALL! … by Carl Miller, Asst. Treasurer
MGC ‘15 - ‘17 Board of Directors
Sande Neiditz, President Sandy Bourgeois, 1
st Vice President
Anne Reams, 2nd
Vice President Dale Chorebanian, 3
rd Vice President
Sarah Lytle, Recording Secretary Cindy Wooten, Corresponding Secretary Loyal Eldridge/Carl Miller, Treasurers Directors: Loi Baltes, Scarlett Duffy, Janet Oechsle, Sally Wood Past President, Rosemary Thomas
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This event is open to the public and totally free to attend. Please share the flyer with anyone you think might be interested in helping our conservation and restoration efforts in South Florida and the Florida Keys. There will be free herbicide for all participants to take home! Adriana Olavarria Phone: 305-504-1690
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Membership Report We are delighted to introduce 2 new members since the Yearbook was published in October. Carol Clark, a retired computer programmer, and her husband, Lou, spend most of the year in Marathon, returning to their Maryland home in the summer time. She offered to help with the Fall Festival and the January Jamboree. We’ll share her photo when we get one. Suzy Curry just completed the Master Gardener’s training and looks forward to helping with plant sales, nursery & grounds and the January Jamboree. She is the retired owner/Manager of Stouts Restaurant. She and her husband, Rich, live in Marathon year around. Another new member, Karen
Contreras, who resides in Key West, joined in time to be in our Yearbook. Karen has attended MGC floral design classes and other activities in previous years.
I would like to invite members of our garden club to reach out to friends and neighbors in the Marathon community to get more guests to come to our next meeting on January 15, 2016. Our club has something of interest for everyone. From plant propagation in our nursery to groomers and landscape designers in our extensive gardens. From Gift Shop managers and workers to Hostesses and dessert makers. Just to name a few of the fun activities here! But the best part of coming to a meeting is making new friends. I hope to see new faces in January .
Donna Barnes Membership Chair
NOTE
Yearbooks and paper copies of the MGC Bylaws will be available at the Holiday Party and future meetings. Any member wishing to
receive an electronic version of either document, should contact Nancy Miller.
Tropical Short Course A National Garden Club Opportunity
A number of our MGC members have attended previous Tropical Short Courses at Mounts Botanical Garden. They have all raved about the experience. In past years, it has often conflicted with our Jamboree or other local activities. This year is a great chance to take advantage of the program, featuring Heed your Weeds, Coastal Dune Management, Native Bees, Using Tropicals in the Sogetsu School of Ikeana, Common Plant Disease Problems in South Florida, Creating a Pocket Size Paradise, Landscape Design and Travel the Trail with Gina & Tina: A Floral Travelogue. For details see: http//ffgc.wildapricot.org/events.
MARATHON GARDEN CLUB
www.MarathonGardenClub.org
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 500826
Marathon, FL 33050-0826
Member of National Garden Clubs, Inc. & Deep South Region
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. & District XII ****************************
