On Feb. 11, under the aegis of the Adult School in a sold-out class, our president and noted designer Fran Ackerly, assisted by photographer (and noted designer) Barbara Baletti, demonstrated the step-by-step procedure to create a lovely American Traditional Galentine’s Day design with carnations, mums, veronica and ferns. The class carefully followed Fran's expert instructions and enjoyed every moment ― as was evident as they proudly and carefully carried their creations out

Workshop Chair Karen Fricke (l) and presenter Dani Scannella Soil preparation doesn't seem like the funniest topic for a workshop, but nine of us met in the club room on Feb. 20 for a hilarious workshop with Dani Scannella, our January program speaker, and owner of The Backyard Gardener . With a dizzying array of her kitchen mixing bowls, spatulas, spackling tools, toothpicks, cell trays and other bizarre instruments, Dani demonstrated how to create a enormous batch of what l

Our January competetion was postponed to February due to a snowstorm, but the creations were as beautiful as ever. As usual, firsts are pictured next to the list, and all the others are shown in the slideshow, below. Flower Design Advanced Plus 1st - Fran Ackerly 2nd - Sarah Stransky 3rd - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken HM - Barbara Baletti Due to the number of entries, Advanced was divided into two sections. Advanced Section 1 1st - Olga Bequillard 2nd - Cheryl Slutzky 3rd - Michele

What a great opening presentation for our first program meeting of our 100th year! Dani Scanella led us clearly and simply through the creation of a backyard kitchen garden. She covered everything from what to plant and ― very important ― when, to ensure a year-long supply of fresh vegetables. Using the example of her own backyard, she showed us how to set up your raised beds and thwart the critters. She shared some of her favorite local suppliers with us, as well as her to

A Deron student watches closely as his instructor shows the correct placement of a daffodil bulb. From Committee Chair Jacoba Coes ― We all joined the Garden Club because we believe in its 100-year-long mission to spread the joy of gardening and creating beauty with plants and flowers. The Youth Committee is well positioned to promote that goal by involving the next generation in garden projects and art with nature.  Our mission ― ignite a life-long passion for gardening!   O

In another of a season of fascinating Workshops this season, 22 Members braved the sub-freezing weather to manipulate dried leaves and flowers into their own interpretations of a hovering hummingbird.   Presenter Karen Fricke provided her expertise in this art as well as pressed leaves, petals, pine needles, grape vines, and an array of brushes, swabs, toothpicks, tweezers, textured paper, and special glue. The results were ready to take flight! What a great way to spend a dr

As we do every year, our Members got together on December 11 for a wonderful Holiday Tea where warm company, out-of-the-box creative flower designs, and good eats combine to bring the third of our three goals ― Fellowship ― to life. Thank you so much, Cynthia Corhan-Aitken and Murray Aitken, for opening your beautiful house to us all, once again. And who knew that Murray was such a gifted piano player, allowing the more musical among us to celebrate in song. Thanks are due, a

Kudos to Kadus! She did it again. She arranged for around 16 of us to visit the New Jersey Governor's mansion ― Drumthwacket ― in Princeton to take part in a tour of this gorgeous, elegant building with its holiday decorations celebrating the Revolutionary War this year, created in each room by a different New Jersey garden club. Most of us in front of the giant fireplace in the library at Drumthwacke t Unfortunately, we could only take this one photo inside due to the ban on

Once again, the Club gathered on December 4 at Crane House for the annual decorating party. This year, we were much more careful about ensuring the decorations would be in keeping with the times that the house was in use, from its first days as a fancy farmhouse built in 1796 to its new life when, in 1920, African American women in the community bought the home as headquarters for a YWCA, a segregated space. Thank you, Karen Fricke, for your extensive research into historical

Crane House's basement was jammed with Members this afternoon, cutting and snipping and wrapping wire around fragrant fir and pine, ready for hanging tomorrow. This annual tradition has been part of the Club's history for nearly 30 years with some of the attendees reminiscing about all the changes that have taken place during that time. This year, as we learned during the "Honoring History" workshop, the decorations will strictly mirror the customs of each of the House's time

Hot chocolate and cookies kept all 17 of us warm during today's workshop, Honoring History at the Crane House.   After a slide presentation on the history of Christmas decorating trends and traditions   (you can watch it here! ),   the museum staff took us on a comprehensive tour of the house, explaining how the information from the slide show applies to each room or area.   New purchases have been made by the museum to help us get the historic aspects correct: an authentic g

Botanical Arts 1st  - Clare Kuch 2nd 90+ - Michele Tomasik 3rd - Debbie Moran HM Floss O'Sullivan Flower Design Provisional Alexandra. Kildiff Guitar Behbin Novice 2nd - Clare Kuch Intermediate 1st - Kathy Bachmann 2nd 90+ - Pam Turre Advanced Group 1 1st - Cheryl Slutzky 2nd - Susan Benner 3rd - Sarah Olson HM - Susan Brady Advanced Group 2 1st - Michele Tomasik 2nd - Olga Bequillard 3rd - Fricke HM - Floss O'Sullivan Advanced Plus 1st - Barbara Baletti 2nd - Cynthia

Lindsey Vandevier,  owner of Rosaspina , an artisanal floral and event design studio on Montclair's Church Street, calmly led us through her creative design process using no foam at our monthly program meeting on November 16. As she plucked seemingly random colored blossoms from brimming containers, she shared conditioning tips and strange techniques like spinning roses upside down to open them up while her rich design took shape in front of our eyes. She describes her work

What would Montclair be without its Spring carpets of tulips and daffodils? Get ready, Montclair!  Over the past few weeks the Garden Club planted over 1,000 bulbs all over town. Daffodils and tulips will greet us this Spring along Church Street, outside the YMCA, Sawtelle Learning Center, Mountainside Hospital and, of course, Avis.  Thank you to our rejuvenated Youth Committee, our loyal Church Street and Avis Committees, and all our youth volunteers.

Smiling in front of their lovely designs are, (l-r), Deb Hirsch, Olga Bequillard, Marie Donnelly, Barbara Baletti, Florence Leyss è ne, Brenda Bingham, Celia Radek, and Sarah Olson. Not shown because the photographer couldn't get them in the frame are Claire Kuch, Tova Narrett, and a very shy but excellent Member. Sue Young provided coffee and compliments. Last Wednesday our talented flower designers gathered en masse in the Garden Room to create the centerpieces for the loca

The brick purchased by the Club. Visit the gardens to view the many messages scattered throughout the new paths, ranging from formal to tender. All week long Avis has been filled with contractors ― under the hawk eye of Cynthia Corhan-Aitken ― translating the vision of a brand new Avis into reality. The new paths with their clean edgings have been under construction since the middle of October, and, on Thursday, Nov. 6, the workers placed the named bricks with their wonderfu

We are so proud that our own Deborah Hirsch is co-honoree with Toni's Kitchen at the Montclair Foundation's "Deck the Hall"s annual fundraiser . We all know her as an indefatigable Member and ex-President creating giant projects in the town or quietly supporting everything we do for so many years, but you may not be aware of her other achievements with the Montclair Foundation and the Montclair Art Museum, among other projects. Many of us will be attending the event at the M

Ethan Dropkin Our first very well-attended meeting of the year on October 20 featured Ethan Dropkin, landscape designer and lover of native plants. He gave a fascinating talk on the similarity of challenging urban situations to equally challenging natural situations. For example, city tree pits share the same horrible conditions as forests in a flood plain. He also suggested some really interesting and unusual trees that work well in specifically terrible conditions and adap

Recently, Montclair Garden Club members were pleased to meet with leaders of the Montclair Township to discuss potential opportunities...

A screenshot from the beginning of a reel (tiny movie) on our Instagram page where Amy (left) and Tracy introduce themselves. Click on...

Eleven Active Members gathered together on September 25 to welcome four Provisionals, plus two guests interested in the club, who enjoyed...

The Garden Club of Montclair has joined the Pollinator Pathway , an international program that works to connect green spaces, both public...

"Great Escapes" Small Standard Flower Show Results Note: Photos of winners appear throughout the text and a slideshow of photos appears at the bottom of the page.   The Club Room became our favorite vacation destination over the two days of our September show, “Great Escapes.” Opening the show up to the community brought in many enthusiastic visitors.   Horticulture Results Horticulture presented 26 classes with a total of 43 entries.  Members were awarded 20 first places, 11

On this sad day of remembrance for our town and the whole country, the following photos show how the Avis Campbell Committee has been...