1994

Death of Gene Fox: The club was saddened by the death of Gene Fox. Gene and Muriel graciously loaned the use of their greenhouse to the garden club starting in 1990. The greenhouse was home to many seedlings which helped make the plant sales of 1991/2/3 a success. Gene used his engineering expertise to keep the mechanical and electrical problems associated with the greenhouse to a minimum. 

Bowie-Crofton Garden Club Scholarship: It was suggested by Jonas Bassen at the January Executive Board meeting, that the club establish a scholarship in  horticulture at the U. of MD in the name of Gene Fox. This suggestion was approved at the March meeting. The $250 scholarship would be open to an undergraduate Bowie or Crofton resident majoring in horticulture. The scholarship was renamed and revised in June 1999.


Library Display
A colorful display at the Bowie Public Library had as its theme, the varied types of gardens that interest our members. It also featured the Plant Sale and 10th Anniversary Open House. Steve Hall and his wife Irene, Beverly Landymore, Jessie Smith and Jonas Bassen assisted in the preparation of the display.


The 10th Anniversary of the BCGC was celebrated at the monthly meeting on April 26th. The public was invited to take place in a panel discussion entitled "Open Forum of Garden Experts". The newly-elected Mayor of Bowie, Gary Allen, read a proclamation honoring the BCGC for all its efforts in the beautification of Bowie.


Plant Sale: The club annual (and perennial) plant sale was held on April 30 in front of the Bowie Public Library on Belair Drive, Bowie, MD. A net profit of $734 was added to the treasury.
Sitting: D. Hayward, Pat Scheirer. Standing: John McKenna, Sherry Glass, Marianne Klatt, Evelyn Svoboda, Jessie Smith, Steve Hall, S. Weiss.

Several new officers and committee members where elected in May. The officers and committee members were as follows:

President: Kent Winterson
1st V.P. , Programs: Glennis Curlen
2nd V.P., Membership/Plant Sale: Steve Hall
3rd V.P., Plant Exchange< Phyliss McNeill
4th V.P., Publicity: Sherry Glass
Treasurer: Harriet Feldman
Secretary (newsletter mailing): Dorothy Nusser
Field Trips: John McKenna
Historian / Library: Beverly Landymore
Newsletter: Harold Moline
Greenhouse: Charles Bender
Sunshine: Jessie Smith
Social Activities: Frances Moyer
V.P. Special Projects: Kent Winterson
Gardening Information Services: Jonas Bassen

Picnic: The annual club picnic was held on June 25th at the hillside estate of Pat Scheirer. 

Garden Visits: The following garden visits were scheduled:

  • Kent Winterson: Aquatic Gardens & Perennials -- July 30
  • Jonas Bassen: Raised Beds -- July 30
  • Jessie Smith: Perennials -- July 30
  • Harold Moline: Aquatic Garden & Dahlias -- August 27

PG County Beautification Committee Awards: On September 28th, Harold Moline, Pat Scheirer, Bob and Jessie Smith received awards from the PG County Beautification Committee, at an awards ceremony held at Queen Anne's School. The awards are presented annually in recognition of gardening excellence as judged by a committee of distinguished landscape designers and architects.

Newsletter Masthead: The November newsletter featured a new masthead which was designed by Steve Hall.

The speakers for this year were:

  • 1/25: Robert Stewart -- "Cacti & Succulents"
  • 2/22: Misako Close -- "The Art of Japanese Flower Arrangement (Ikebana)"
  • 3/29: Joan Feely, Curator of Fern Valley, U.S. National Arboretum -- "Native Plants in Landscaping Home Gardens"
  • 4/26: "Open Forum of Garden Experts" with the public invited. The experts were: Robert DeFeo (Trees), Charles Hanners (Azaleas), Robert Stewart (Vegetables), Jessie Smith (Perennials)
  • 5/31: Pat Kenny, Herbalist and Medical Illustrator at the National Library of Medicine  -- "Incredible Edibles; Herbal Foods on all Levels from the Ground Up"
  • 7/26: Bill Strickland, TLC Inc. of Crofton, MD -- "Designing and Installing a Lighting System in the Landscape"
  • 8/30: Brenda McKelvin, MNCPP, Watkins Nature Center -- "Designing a Garden to Attract Butterflies"
  • 9/27: Wilco Vandenberg, Holland Bulb Co. -- "Planting and Designing with Bulbs"
  • 10/25: Jeff Edwards, Home Harvest Garden Supply, Woodbridge, VA -- "Hydroponics for the Home Gardener"
  • 11/29: Susan Martin, Curator of the Conifer Collection, National Arboretum -- "Evergreens; How to Prepare them for Winter , Pest Management, Fertilizing, etc."

1995


Plant Sale: The club's Spring Plant Sale took place on April 29th at the Bowie Public Library parking lot. That's Kent Winterson in the foreground.



Picnic: The annual club picnic was held on June 24th and the home of Pat Sheirer. Shown are Harriet Feldman, John & Eileen McKenna (standing), Dorothy Nusser and Dorothy Gibbs.

Garden Tours: On July 1st, the following members opened their gardens for tours: Marianne Klatt, Bill Preston, Harold Moline, Charlie Bender, Mildred Bleile, Saul Weiss, Kent Winterson, Jessie Smith, Donna Hayward, Eleanor Leshinsky, Jonas Bassen, Carole Kerr.

Charlie Bender's patio planting.


Harold Moline's Garden


Jessie Smith's Garden

Several new officers and committee members where elected. The officers and committee members were as follows:

President: Martha Workman
1st V.P. , Programs: Glennis Curlen
2nd V.P., Membership/Plant Sale: Steve Hall
3rd V.P., Plant Exchange: Phyliss McNeill
4th V.P., Publicity: Sherry Glass Treasurer: Marianne Klatt
Secretary (newsletter mailing): Dorothy Nusser
Field Trips: John McKenna
Historian / Library: Eleanor Leshinsky
Newsletter: Harold Moline
Gardening Information Services: Jonas Bassen
Sunshine: Jessie Smith
Social Activities: Frances Moyer
V.P. Special Projects: Kent Winterson


Holiday Party: In lieu of the December meeting, the annual club Holiday Party was held on December 17th at the St. Matthews Methodist Church on Route 450 in Bowie, MD.

Rieg School Greenhouse: The club was considering entering into an agreement with C. Elizabeth Rieg School in Pointer Ridge that would allow use of their excellent greenhouse. In exchange the club would assist the school with gardening projects around the school.

Some of the speakers for this year were:

  • 1/31: Arbec Orchids of Laurel -- "Growing Orchids in the Home"
  • 3/28: Homestead Gardens -- "Container Gardening"
  • 4/25: Dr. Gene Galletta, USDA, ARS Fruit Lab -- "Growing Berries in the Maryland Garden"
  • 5/30: Bill Johnson, Staff Horticulturist for the Hillwood Museum --"Cutting Gardens"
  • 7/25: George Pierce of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation -- "Gardening for the Bay"
  • 8/29: Representative of the County Extension Office -- "Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables"
  • 11/28: Topic Review of Club Videos