The Garden Path December 2021/January 2022

A Publication of the Garden Club of Houston, established 1924

December 2021 / January 2022

Along The Path Winter is here! In December, our General Meeting is replaced by the beloved tradition of The GCH Christmas Coffee. This year, Melissa Grobmyer is hosting us in her beautiful home. I know that we will all be happy to kick off the Christmas season by being with friends at this event.

We’ve had a full calendar this rst half of the year, to be sure. Many hands work behind the scenes to make it all happen. Jackie Wallace gave us a fabulous trip to Little Rock; Cabrina Owsley and Michelle Williams showed us the bats at the Waugh Drive bridge. Adele Bentsen and Susan Cravens created a lovely dinner in honor of our November speaker, Nola Anderson, with Lucia Benton hosting in her lovely home. Thank you to all who came to decorate the Christmas trees at Rienzi with Kim Thomas. If it has been a while since you have gone to Rienzi to see the GCH Christmas trees, it is most de nitely a fun outing. And thank you to Kate Gibson for opening her home for the December Advisory Board meeting.

Our Committee Chairs are doing a great job of providing opportunities for us to come together to learn, laugh, share ideas, and have fun! The GCH calendar is updated regularly with new events at they pop up, so please check in there, often.

Speaking of the calendar, December 11 (a Saturday) is the runoff election for HISD Trustees. Early voting runs through Dec 7.

Looking ahead to January, we have a treat in store for our January General Meeting. Todd Fiscus, owner and creative director of Todd Events will share his talent with us. We’ll be at St. Martin’s for this meeting.

Wishing you joy, love, and peace this Christmas season and much happiness in the New Year -

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Todd Fiscus, head of the highly acclaimed design team at his namesake company, Todd Events, has become synonymous with extraordinary events around the globe. From exquisite weddings, to corporate affairs, to charity galas, to intimate occasions, the company has been the premier source for special events for over twenty years in locales from Maine to Mexico.

Known for creating contemporary “life excursions” that capture the client’s personality, Fiscus has established himself as the expert authority to ring up when you want to celebrate with style. He never fails to provide a unique and memorable experience through artful detail and awless orchestration—from concept to completion. With an impressive client roster that includes the likes of powerhouse brands such as Tom Ford, Salvatore Ferragamo, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, the Dallas Cowboys, amfAR, Audi, and Neiman Marcus – just to name a few – it’s no wonder Fiscus has received major accolades in the event industry.

He has been named one of the Top 35 Event Designers (2013) and a Top Innovator (2012), by special event industry giant, Biz Bash. His work is so revered, he was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal for his creative work and as a leader in the eld. He also speaks at numerous wedding and event industry events around the country each year. Fiscus’ clients also include prominent private individuals around the country, a bevy of noteworthy professional athletes, and several distinguished civic organizations.

He is unquestionably the “man with the plan” when it comes to unparalleled events.

Fiscus and his work have been featured in numerous publications including Elle Décor, Town & Country, Better Homes and Gardens, The Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, Gourmet, Vanity Fair, The Robb Report, The London Times, InStyle Weddings, Western Interiors, Condé Nast Brides, Veranda, and Texas Monthly. He is also a member of The Knot’s Luxe List, an exclusive circle of top celebrity wedding and event designers.

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January General Meeting Speaker Todd Fiscus

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Big on Little Rock!

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We all love beautiful gardens and parks!

The Garden History and Design Committee promotes this appreciation though research and education. Gardens are documented and recorded in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens, interns are hired to study design, and lectures and eld trips are promoted for members. What an inspired and fun group.

GCH has documented seven gardens over the years for the Archives and the committee is presently photographing a member’s enchanting native garden for submittal later this year.

The GCH participated in the 2020-21 Garden Club of America initiative, Parks: Where Nature meets Community. Our club has many gardening projects at Memorial Park, and, as you know, we are propagating Natives in the City at the Memorial Park Conservancy Greenhouse and Lath House. This work has stimulated a new interest in the outstanding newly designed park.

We have discovered and worked on a new land bridge, explored wetlands, and found new winding trails through piney woods. Join this group and explore!

The Committee is always looking for suggestions from Club Members. Do you know a garden that should be documented for the Archives at the Smithsonian? Do you have a eld trip to a new garden or park that you would suggest? We are always in search of an inspired speaker…

Do you know of one? Please let us know.

See you at our next outing.

Alice Thomas Garden History and Design Committee

Photo credits: Fran Brennan

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Winning!

GCH Members have been on the road, entering in ower shows around the country.

Congratulations, ladies!

Renee Davis – • 1st place in Floral Design in Dallas Mundi Elam – • 2nd place in Botanical Arts in Denver • 3rd place in Botanical Arts in Dallas Gay Estes – • 1st place and Best Conformance to the Class Award in Floral Design in Dallas Dodie Jackson – • 1st place and GCA Puckett Award in Floral Design in Denver • 2nd place in Horticulture Design in Denver

Gay Estes

Nancy Davis Keely – • 1st place in Horticulture in Greenville, MS Ruthie Kelly• 3rd place in Photography in Knoxville Jenny Kempner – • 1st place and GCA Novice Award in Botanical Arts in Denver

Dodie Jackson

Sara Ledbetter – • 1st place Botanical Arts (needlepoint) in Charlottesville, VA • 3rd place in Floral Design in Dallas • 1st place in Botanical Arts in Knoxville Susan Lummis – • 3rd place in Horticulture Design in Denver Jenny Kempner

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Winning, continued!

Margaret Pierce – • 1st place (2) in Horticulture in Dallas • 2nd place in Horticulture in Dallas • 3rd place in Horticulture in Dallas Debbie Robinson – • 2nd place in Floral Design in Dallas • 2nd place in Botanical Arts in Dallas Stephanie Shanks – • 2nd place in Floral Design in Dallas Meg Tapp – • 2nd place in Botanical Arts in Denver • 1st place in Photography in Dallas • 1st place (2) in Horticulture in Dallas • 2nd place (4) in Horticulture in Dallas • 3rd place (3) in Horticulture in Dallas • 1st place in Photography and GCA Photography Creativity Award in Knoxville • 1st place in Photography and GCA Photography Creativity Award in Greenville, MS

Meg Tapp

Kim Thomas – • 2nd place in Botanical Arts (needlepoint) in Dallas Kingslea von Helms – • 3rd place in Botanical Arts (needlepoint) in Dallas

Meg Tapp

Liz Wozencraft – • 2nd place in Floral Design in Dallas

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Audubon Prints in Looscan Library GCH Archives In 2017, an opportunity arose for GCH member Elizabeth Howley to bid on a folio of small Audubon prints at the Houston Audubon Society’s annual gala. These prints commemorated the designation of Vingt-et-un Island in Galveston Bay as a bird sanctuary by the Texas State Legislature. The title plate has this inscription: This title page is a reproduction from one of the original portfolios. This folder contains prints of birds native to Texas and is presented to you by The Garden Club of Houston and The River Oaks Garden Club. It is interesting to note that there are ten bird sanctuaries in the state of Texas. Vingt-et-un Island, in Trinity Bay, a few miles from Houston, a refuge for the Roseate Spoonbill and 14 other rare marsh and water birds, was established as a sanctuary through the efforts of The Garden Club of Houston.

Elizabeth Howley bought the prints and proposed to then President Adele Bentsen, the project of framing the prints to hang in the Archives Room. GCH would cover costs of framing and Elizabeth would donate the prints and cover installation costs.

GCH member Mary Lou Swift, GCH Looscan Library Chairman, worked closely with the Looscan Library management and the City of Houston SPACES group to ensure the installation would take place. A city approved installer hung the prints with Mary Lou and Elizabeth in attendance, this past October.

Now this project is complete! These Audubon prints commemorate the signi cant conservation work early members of The Garden Club of Houston were able to accomplish to preserve the nesting grounds for the beautiful native Texas marsh birds that were being decimated by the millinery trade (using the feathers for ladies’ hats).

When a group of GCH women decide to achieve a goal, they get it done! And a special thank you to Elizabeth Howley for seeing this endeavor through, from concept to completion.

Please visit the garden room at Looscan Library to see the prints. They feature the following birds: Roseate Spoonbill, White-throated Sparrow, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Flicker, Kentucky Warbler, Parula Warbler, Wood Pewee, Wilson’s Snipe, and Cedar Waxwing.

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Join Us!

Christmas Un-decorating at RIENZI Monday, January 3rd 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

1406 Kirby Drive Please park on Lazy Lane Sign-up gchouston.org member event calendar Questions? Kim Thomas

Saving GCH History Dear Members: We are trying to put together as complete a Book of Remembrance for our Garden Club as possible. To do this, it could be extremely helpful for us to borrow any ancient directories or documents listing membership from as far back as possible. If you have anything really old, say of your mother’s or grandmother’s, and if you would trust us to handle the items with utmost care and respect, we truly need them just to photograph the pages and then would promptly return them to you. Even sending in a deceased GCH family member’s full name would be of some use, to help ll in as many names of past members as possible.

Please contact Homoiselle Bujosa to describe your archival treasure, to see if it can be of use. hbujosa@att.net or call: (713) 906-8516 and leave a message please! You would also be listed as a contributor to the effort.

Thank you in advance for rummaging through your old keepsakes to see what treasures you can nd!

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Longleaf Pine Restoration Project January 17th, 9:00am-2:00pm Join us as we partner with others to help restore the longleaf pine trees to their original numbers. These majestic trees, 90-110’ at maturity, and 100-500 years old, were once the most predominant tree species from east Texas to Virginia. They numbered anywhere from 30-90 million, and now there are only 3 million in existence. Each year, on MLK day in January, we gather together to plant saplings on planting day. It’s a fun and rewarding day to be together, and lunch is usually provided.

We will meet at St. Martins Church at a time to be determined, and carpool/caravan to the planting site, (app1.5 hr drive). Teens are welcome due to the school holiday. All tools are provided. Dress in garden work clothes, and layers.

Sign up on The National Park Service website is required, forms are accessed from sign up, and space is limited.

Please also sign up on GCH website so we can communicate details. https://www.tcatexas.org/event-details/plant-longleaf-pines-at-big-thicket-national-preserve-jan-17

Brookwood Greenhouse Tour and Lunch Carpool and meet at The Brookwood Community to visit their greenhouse operation, buy some poinsettias, and eat lunch! (Lunch is dutch-treat for those who would like to stay and enjoy their lovely café). Tuesday, December 7, 2021; Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Gift Shop. Sign-up on gchouston.org. There is no fee with the tour, you just pay for your own lunch.

Through the grace of God, the Brookwood Community provides an educational environment that creates meaningful work, builds a sense of belonging, and awakens genuine purpose in the lives of adults with disabilities. Located in Brookshire, Texas, 40 miles west of downtown Houston, the Brookwood Community is a 501(c)3 residential facility and vocational program for adults with disabilities.

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2022 Nancy Stallworth Thomas Horticulture Lecture Series The Garden Club of Houston is pleased to announce renowned Entomologist and Wildlife Ecologist, Doug Tallamy as the speaker for the 2022 Nancy Stallworth Thomas Horticulture Lecture Series. Doug will be presenting his 2020 New York Times Best Seller, Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach To Conservation That Starts In Your Yard.

Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he authored 104 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants, and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014; Nature’s Best Hope was released in February 2020, and his latest book The Nature of Oaks was released by Timber press in March 2021.

Doug has received The Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation, the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B. Y. Morrison Communication Award, and the 2019 Cynthia Wescott Scienti c Writing Award.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 9:30 A.M. Doors Open 10:00 A.M. Lecture St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | 717 Sage Road, Houston, Texas 77056 Book Signing This event is free and open to the public

Horticulture Movie Night

A New Leaf January 6, 2022 6:00- 8:00 pm Home of Liz Rotan 413 Longwoods Lane, 77024

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Thomas Woltz, Principal of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW), will discuss the role of landscape architecture civic spaces. He and his team have developed a body of work that responds to complex ecological systems and ampli es the historical and cultural narratives of the landscape. Thomas will discuss Memorial Park here in Houston, Lakeshore Park in Knoxville ~ a 185 acre park along the Tennessee River that had previously been the site of a mental institution, and Naval Cemetery Landscape in Brooklyn ~ a former cemetery transformed into a memorial meadow and an urban oasis. This event is free and open to the public.

ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ~ DECEMBER 1st The December GCH Advisory Board will meet on December 1st at Kate Gibson’s home. The meeting starts promptly at 9:30.

Questions: Laura Cureton lalanders@gmail.com

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SADIE GWIN BLACKBURN ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINAR Wednesday, January 26, 2022 COFFEE 11:30 am and LECTURE noon Museum of Fine Arts, Houston / Brown Auditorium

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What to do in your Garden in December & January composed by Nancy Keely & Laura Levenson *Continue to plant cool weather color: pansies, petunias, snapdragons, and cyclamen.

Sow seeds for Winter vegetables. *Water your lawn less frequently but keep trees and shrubs hydrated, especially if we are getting a freeze. A well hydrated plant holds up to frost and freezes better than a drought stressed plant. *Bring in container tropicals: plumerias, crotons, dracaenas, etc. Check for pests and treat accordingly. *Poinsettias - water well but allow to dry between waterings. Apply water to soil and not the leaves or blooms/bracts. *Don’t forget to feed the birds! Extra protein helps keep them warm in winter months. *Apply compost to the top couple of inches of your garden beds; it is never too late to add compost as mulch. *Have your frost cloth purchased and on hand to cover tender plants in case of a freeze. *January is a great time to plant spring owering trees and shrubs: redbuds, fringe trees, Mexican plums, azaleas and spirea.

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Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Photography Workshop Photographing Architecture and Design Elements Thursday, February 3, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

We have a wonderful workshop designed to highlight the history of the CAMH and a study of the architectural elements there in anticipation of our COLOR Flower Show. We will focus on techniques for shooting that will highlight architecture and design. The second half of the workshop will give participants an opportunity to photograph at the CAMH during the “golden hour”.

Registration for the workshop is required through GCH calendar - GCHouston.org

GCH Donations October 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021 Community Fund In memory of Lollie Cluett from Mariana Brewster In memory of Nancy Hoover from Mary Hale McLean In memory of Katherine O'Sullivan from Mary Hale McLean Endowment Fund In memory of Honorary GCH member Carl Estes II from Meg Tapp

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Vicarious Visiting Gardens: Cuba #2 The second Garden Club of America trip to Cuba in December 2015 was as unique as the rst. (Cuba #1 was featured in September’s Vicarious Visiting Gardens issue).

These stunning pictures were taken by photographer Avery Brighton (Rumson Garden Club, Zone IV), and shared with our thanks. If you missed or loved the rst trip, be sure to join us for a second armchair adventure to that alluring island just 90 miles from our US shores.

To access this trip and see some Cuban recipes, go to www.gcamerica.org and login, then go to GCA Committees tab, scroll to the very bottom to Visiting Gardens. * Kingslea von Helms, GCH Visiting Gardens Chairman

Exploring Houston by MetroTrain – Field Trip Thursday December 9th, 9:30am-1pm Jim Parsons from Preservation Houston will lead us on a tour!

Meet at the parking lot of St. Paul’s Methodist Church, corner of Binz and San Jacinto. We will get tickets for the MetroTrain, learn how to take the train to the Medical Center and take a quick peek at the MD Anderson Prairie. Then we will head downtown to see the new Bird Wall via University of Houston Downtown, take a walking tour of various historical spots from White Oak Bayou to Market Square, and end with lunch together at a Market Square spot. We’ll take the train back to our cars and be done by around 1pm. $20 for tour + Dutch treat lunch.

Registration required. Sign up through the calendar at www.CGHouston.org Questions: Carol Price csprice2020@gmail.com or Doris Heard hearddd@aol.com

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Houston Museum of Natural Science - Cockrell Butter y Center Project Update Our Club supports the work of the Houston Museum of Natural Science in growing and maintaining plant material for use in the Cockrell Butter y Center in the Museum’s own greenhouses. Additionally, we provide funds for brochures for the public and for a college intern to work for the Butter y Center every summer.

Recent Developments at the Cockrell Butter y Center: · Early next spring, the demonstration garden is getting a full renovation. After suffering damage during last year’s winter freeze, this as an exciting opportunity to expand the garden, open it up to the community, and create a citizen science garden! · Our tiger orchid (Grammatophyllum speciosum) bloomed this year. It's the tallest orchid species in the world and was quite spectacular! See photos, including one of the orchid with Theresa Lancaster, the Conservatory Horticulture Manager, for scale.

· An unforeseen “butter y effect” of the pandemic: receiving our international shipments of butter ies that populate the CBC has been challenging. However, we were able to recently receive an order of beautiful green birdwings! (note that the below photo is a royalty-free image, not taken by a CBC staff member)

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· The glasswing butter ies (photo below) were a huge hit during the last large tour we gave for the Garden Club in the greenhouses. Everyone will be happy to know that we will be able to raise them in large numbers again with the cooler weather.

· The CBC continues to conduct educational outreach to children, schools, and families, on a nearly weekly basis, both in person and virtually, through its “Bugs on Wheels” program. For information on booking a lesson, please visit https://www.hmns.org/education/educators/outreachprograms/bugs-on-wheels/ It is important to note that all of the above is made possible, in one way or another, because of the Garden Club of Houston's support. We are incredibly grateful!

Upcoming events in the Cockrell Butter y Center: · Saturday, January 22nd: The CBC is hosting “Breakfast with the Butter ies” where we will be serving coffee from their very own resident coffee tree · Thursday, February 3rd: The CBC is teaching a “Growing Orchids and Companion Plants” class. Attendants will learn proper care and even get to take home an orchid! · Saturday, February 26th: Bring your budding scientists and social butter ies to the CBC for a day of fun at Critter Crawl: A Butter y Flutter & Bug Bash. Children can explore the Cockrell Butter y Center, engage in “papillio” arts and crafts, “metamorphic” face painting, a squirmy insect petting zoo, a bug-centric scavenger hunt, and so much more! For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.hmns.org/ support-hmns/give/donor-events/critter-crawl/ To sign up for events at the Cockrell Butter y Center, please visit HMNS’s event calendar at www.hmns.org/calendar/

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JANUARY 2022

(No General Meeting this month) Wed. 1

Advisory Board Meeting 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Home of Kate Gibson 3379 Inwood Dr., 77019

Wed. 1

Floral Design Hands on Workshop Instructors Liz Wozencraft and Sara Ledbetter 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

4888 Loop Central Dr., Ste. 500, 77027 Registration and fee required through calendar at GCHouston.org

Tues. 7

Horticulture - Brookwood Tour & Lunch 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The Brookwood Community 1752 FM 1489, Brookshire, TX 77423 Registration and fee for lunch required through calendar at GCHouston.org

Wed. 8

Christmas Coffee 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 am Home of Melissa Grobmyer 3435 Meadow Lake Ln., 77027

Thurs. 9

Exploring Houston by Train Guided Tour 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Registration and fee required through calendar at GCHouston.org

Sat. 1

Deadline for Feb. The Garden Path

Mon. 3

Christmas Un-decorating at Rienzi 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

1406 Kirby Dr., 77019 Park on Lazy Ln.

Thurs. 6

Hort Movie Night - A New Leaf 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Home of Liz Rotan 413 Longwoods Ln., 77024

Fri. 7

Bulb Planting at St. John the Divine 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

The Church of St. John the Divine 2450 River Oaks Blvd., 77019

Wed. 12

General Meeting 9:00 a.m. Coffee, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Meeting St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Bagby Parish Hall C 717 Sage Rd., 77056 Speaker: Todd Fiscus/Todd Events

Thurs. 13

Floral Design Workshop I “Preparing for the Flower Show” Mandatory for Provisionals, Open to all 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

4888 Loop Central Dr., Ste. 500, 77027

Fri. 14 Sat. 15

Rockport Cranes Overnight Trip 10:00 a.m. Fri. - 6:15 p.m. Sat. Registration and fee required through calendar at GCHouston.org

Mon. 17

Conservation Field Trip Longleaf Pine Restoration Project 7:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Big Thicket National Preserve Registration required through calendar at GCHouston.org

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Tues. 18

Houston Hospice Bulb Planting 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Houston Hospice 1905 Holcombe Blvd., 77030

Weds. 26

ROGC Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Seminar 11:30 a.m. Coffee, noon Program

Wed. 26

Horticulture Workshop - “Entering Horticulture in a Flower Show” Provisionals Only 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Home of Meg Tapp 3736 Tangley Rd., 77005

Corresponding Secretary’s Report October, 2021 Letter of Condolence Chris Athon on the loss of her mother, Cherrie Howard Garrett

THE GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON EST 1924 4212 San Felipe, PMB 486 Houston, Texas 77027-2902 Member, Garden Club of America www.gchouston.org Submissions to The Garden Path may be sent to Elisabeth Millard and Melissa Rabalais

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