On February 22, many of our new provisionals met committee chairs at the Montclair Library to ask questions and and find out what the club is planning for 2023-2024. You provisionals are the heart of the Garden Club. You bring new ideas and new enthusiasm and we are so happy that you have joined us. We want to welcome you, and to share the joy that our club has brought to so many of us.

Constance “Connie” Dey Perdue, a longtime Montclair resident died on Feb. 2, 2023 at Canterbury Care and Rehabilitation Center in Cedar Grove. She was 97. Connie was raised in Fairfield. Her father was president of the Little Falls Bank. She met her husband, Bob, through friends in Ocean Grove, a place special to her where she and Bob vacationed after retiring. She sang in the choir in the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove and loved to bike on the boardwalk and swim in the ocean, no matter how cold it might be. Being outgoing and loving to sing and dance, she sang in several Junior League follies and participated in children’s theater in Montclair. In addition, she was an accomplished tennis player and won the women’s tennis championship at the Montclair Golf Club. For 30 years, Connie was an active and emeritus member of The Garden Club of Montclair. Having lived next door to Van Vleck House & Gardens since 1953, she proudly became one of its founding members. She was the volunteer coordinator for its Deck the Halls Christmas fundraiser and worked on the annual plant sale. Connie also enjoyed volunteering at Toni’s Closet at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Montclair Art Museum. Kind, loving and vivacious and a friend to all, she will be missed. Connie is survived by her daughter, Renny, and her son, Joe. She was predeceased by her husband Bob in 2018. Donations in her honor may be made to the Montclair Foundation/Van Vleck House & Gardens, 21 Van Vleck St., Montclair,

This month's Program, held today at Union Congregational Church, was led by Eileen Hyland, a passionate beekeeper and Montclair resident. With the help of her family, she has built up a thriving business — Stately Hyland Apiaries — selling all kinds of honey products as well as gentle queen bees and hives for starter beekeepers, It was one amazing fact after another. Did you know that: Dark colored clothes freak out the bees. Lemongrass oil in a box on a known swarm route will help lure them in. Don't put your nose in a hive. Bees do not make the classic hexagonal shapes you see in a honeycomb: They create soft round cells that squish down into the hexagonal cells we are used to. The Spotted Lanternfly produces honeydew that allows honey production through the late summer. (Nectar is from plants; honeydew from aphids and other sap-sucking insects.) On a warm winter day, the huddled up. shivering, but very sanitary bees will leave the hive to do their business before returning. Japanese knotweed produces sweet flowers loved by bees. Putting "site:edu" after a Google search will bring up academic entries rather than shopping items. Leftover honey can be mixed with bourbon for a delicious cocktail. See also the winners of the equally amazing exhibits this month, from gorgeous masks in the newly announced Botanical Arts section, to our, as always, incredibly beautiful flower arrangements. Below: Eileen Hyland captures her audience with her tales of the apian world.

Once again, our members showed how happy we all are to be meeting together post-pandemic with the enthusiastic and beautiful entries in our monthly competition — including in our brand-new section: Botanical Arts. Here are photos of the winners, and the full results. Flower Design Division Class 1: An American Traditional Vertical Line Design (Provisionals) Angela Gardner (left); Olga Bequillard right) Class 2: A Creative Design 1st: Barbara Baletti (pictured) 2nd: Fran Ackerly 3rd: Celia Radek HM: Cynthia Corhan-Aitken HM: Carol Callahan HM: Virginia Woo Class 3: A Challenge Design 1st: Floss O'Sullivan (pictured) 2nd: Denise Silverman 3rd: Cheryl Slutzky HM: Sheila Oakes HM: Wendy Stahl HM: Nancy Stroud Botanical Arts Division Class 4: A Mask 1st: Floss O'Sullivan 2nd: Michele Tomasik 3rd: Terri Breen HM: Susan Benner HM: Marie Donnelly HM:Betty Murphy HM:Suzy Straten Provisional Entry (critiqued): Jacoba Coes Provisional Entry (critiqued): Kem Louie Provisional Entry (for display ): Melody Brown Provisional Entry (for display): Pamela Turre Intermediate Entry (for display): Marilyn Zaret

If you recall the great time we had learning to create decorated gift boxes with Florence Leyssene (or you missed the opportunity), you'll want to join Florence as she demonstrates techniques for creating Masks, Hats, and Jewelry with fresh and dried flowers and plant material. Botanical Arts Division competitions, open to all levels in February, March, and April, will feature one of these Artistic Craft types. You won't want to miss this workshop. Please note: This is a demonstration workshop, just bring your interest and enthusiasm! Supplies will be available for purchase following the workshop. Wednesday, February 1, 10:00am at 60 S. Fullerton. RSVP to Celia Radek.

Kicking off the month of February, 32 members, including eight from the provisional class, were inspired by the workshop on Botanical Arts: Artistic Crafts presented by Florence Leyssène. Sharing her wealth of creative experience, dozens of hats, masks, and jewelry examples were on display, including a few in progress to show detailed structure of these accessories. With a demonstration of techniques, discussion of plant material and components, and books of images she assembled, Florence provided a comprehensive, engaging lesson for creating these wearable crafts. Anticipate lots of participation in upcoming monthly competitions!

We have made several interesting changes (from what appears in the Yearbook) in the Flower Design/Botanical Arts Divisions for our February 13 competition that you need to be aware of before brainstorming for your designs. The Vacation Destination for February is New Orleans and our focus and theme will be Mardi Gras. In two of our three Flower Design Classes we are asking you to incorporate the traditional colors of Mardi Gras — Purple, Green, and Gold/Yellow, in your design. The colors signify Justice (purple), Faith (green), and Power (gold). Flower Design Division. Here are the specific changes/requirements: Class1: (Provisionals only) An American Traditional Vertical Line Design. See Handbook for Flower Shows p.71. Design will be staged on a pedestal 42" H with a 14" square top. No height restrictions but an underlay is required. Choice of flowers is yours but feel free to use Mardi Gras colors if you wish (Just a head’s up to all you Provisionals that this is a good opportunity to submit a design and meet that requirement. Remember, it is NOT judged but critiqued. Class 2: A Creative Design using Mardi Gras colors (Purple, Green, and Gold/Yellow) (see Handbook for Flower Shows pp. 71-72.) Design will be staged on a 30” table and your allowable space is 24”W x 18” D. No height restrictions but a staging panel and underlay are required. Some fresh plant material must be included. This class is open to Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Advanced + levels Class 3: A Challenge Design. (See Handbook for Flower Shows, p. 78) staged on a 30” high table with allowable space 24”W x 18” deep, no height restrictions. Identical components will be supplied to exhibitors by committee chairs. A minimum of three (3) components MUST be used. Fee for exhibitors is $20. which includes the container that you can keep. This class is open to Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Advanced + levels Botanical Arts/Artistic Crafts Division: Artistic Crafts (See Handbook for Flower Shows, pp. 94-95). This class is open to all levels. Class 4: A Mardi Gras Mask.* Provided by exhibitor and embellished using fresh and/or dried plant material and other components, staged on a white styrofoam head 11” high and 20” circumference placed on a table 30” high. Styrofoam head provided by committee. Judged by Artistic Scale of Points, p.131. *Mask creation will be covered in a Workshop given by Florence Leyssène (Accredited Master Flower Show Judge) on February 1 at 10am in the Garden Club Room. Email Celia Radek, cradek8796@aol.com to register. Keep in mind that there is a limit of six (6) entries per class so we encourage you to email Fran Ackerly, fackerly1@gmail.comNO LATER than February 6 if you plan to submit a flower design or a Botanical Arts/Artistic Crafts Mask. The program and competition will again be at Union Congregational Church, 176 Cooper Ave in Upper Montclair. We look forward to a fun and festive competition as we celebrate our talented designers and Mardi Gras. Laissez les bon temps rouler! -Fran Ackerly and Barbara Baletti, FD Chair/Co-Chair

A bounty of beauty for our nurses at Mountainside this month. Betty Murphy's creation glows at right, while Suzy Straten and Imke Oster went wild with not one but five lovely arrangements, below. .

Dear Garden Club of Montclair members, It is with great sadness that we share the news that Virginia “Ginny” Demoreuille passed away on Wednesday evening, January 4. In her four years as a member of The Garden Club of Montclair, Ginny touched the hearts of so many of us. Her lovely, caring, personality accompanied by her intellect endeared her to all who knew her. Recently, as Vice Chair of our Program Committee, Ginny made substantial contributions for the educational benefit of our members. As a talented flower designer, Ginny offered an interpretive design for Art in Bloom May 2022. Sincerely, Sarah Stransky Read more about Ginny's life in her obituary. Relatives and friends are invited for memorial visitation on Wednesday, January, 11th from 4 pm through 7 pm in the Shook-Farmer Funeral Home, 45 Roseland Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068, A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, January 12th at 10am at St. James Episcopal Church, 581 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043, where Ginny was a member for over 40 years.

A Holiday Tea not to be forgotten. Susan’s warm hospitality in her festive home With rooms decadently decorated by star designers Perfect party planners, Betty and Michele delivering every detail Just for fun … creative chocolates and scented soap shopping. The mingling of new members, vintage members, and active members Creating the buzz of laughter, chatter and love A table abundantly set with handmade sweets and savories And the Silver Tea service ever glistening. How sweet it was! With my best Holiday Wishes and Gratitude! Sarah Note from Communications: Sorry for the delay, and thanks to Barbara Baletti for her wonderful photos. If you have more you would like to add, send them to Sue Young. If you already did, please send them again! Too much celebration at our house!

Check out this month's 19-page GCNJ newsletter "Newsleaf," packed with useful information and news. See if you can spot the names of our own respected national judges! The photo, by the way, is Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion, decorated every year by GCNJ.

Garden Therapy members spread good cheer for the holidays by designing four arrangements this month for the nurses at Mountainside Hospital.

Twenty of us gathered again in our old space at 60 South Fullerton on December 4 to create over 150 holiday arrangements (a new record) which we gifted to the Human Needs Pantry and Park Methodist Food Pantry. The mood was festive and we had so much fun. We think each arrangement conveys an abundance of heartfelt good cheer to the home-bound patrons who will receive them. Deliveries were made on Tuesday to both organizations.

Once again, Karen Kadus led a group of members today with hot credit cards in their hands to the wonderful Morris County Farms in Denville with its extraordinary collection of plants, flowers, leaves, wreaths, holiday gifts of all kinds and more holiday ribbon than you have ever seen in one place. When our purchases were stored in the backs of the cars, we went to the warm and inviting Tabor Road Tavern in Morris Plains, where this photo was taken showing some very happy Garden Club of Montclair members.

It was a fun, focused design day on November 30 as the Club came together to decorate the Crane House and Historic YWCA for December’s holiday festivities. (See the photos below, mostly taken by Susan Yu with some by Lauren Zodel and Celia Radek.) Thirty-seven Garden Club members contributed their time and talent to this annual 'deck the halls' event carried out in collaboration with the Montclair History Center. The rooms came alive with an abundance of evergreens and a veritable feast of apples, oranges, lemons, pomegranates, cranberries, walnuts, and gingerbread woven through with ribbons and bows. Christmas trees (vintage and modern), festive staircase garland & kissing ball, and distinctive wreaths provide a seasonal welcome to visitors. Tours begin this weekend with the Essex County Holiday House Tours on Saturday and Sunday (December 3 and 4) and continue through December 18. The schedule includes a Winter Wonderland Open House, Candlelight Tours, and Sugar Plums & St. Nick's Children’s Tours, all opportunities to visit with your family and friends. The talent of GC members makes the house shine, and camaraderie makes the workday easy and enjoyable. All in all, a wonderful gift from the Garden Club to the community.

The Hospitality Committee invites you to this year's Holiday Tea on Dec. 14 from 1-3. Click here for our hostess's address.

Twenty-four of us gathered in our old space at 60 South Fullerton on Nov. 20, to create 140 gorgeous designs to decorate the Thanksgiving tables for the homebound and at Toni’s Kitchen in what has become an annual tradition. (See photos on this page.) And it only took us an hour and 20 minutes in spite of all the talking and sharing and endless good advice. Each arrangement was its own gem — stacked up together they created an autumnal garden of beauty and one that was received gratefully and happily the next day by the folks at Toni's Kitchen. At the beginning of this joyful season, we are thankful for the inspired, creative, decorative, innovative members of our floral community.

On November 10, Garden Therapy met with seniors at Freedom Village in Paterson which is a part of CUMAC. Fran Ackerly kicked the program off with a demonstration and then everyone dug in and created their own arrangement (see below). The Activities Coordinator thanked us by saying "You can come anytime you like! It was a beautiful scene for the seniors. The moment was lovely and I have never seen the seniors so happy before. Thank you so much for all your hard work and effort." This is why we do this!

Flower Design Division Class 2: A design, freedom of style and type using analagous colors. First: Sarah Olson (shown here) Second: Michele Tomasik Third: Barbara Baletti HM: Susan Brady HM: Carol Callahan Class 3: A functional tray for one. First: Floss O'Sullivan (shown here) Second: Fran Ackerly Third: Susan Straten Botanical Arts Division Botanical Artistic Crafts A Box, provided by exhibitor and embellished using fresh and/or dried plant materials and other components. First: Barbara Baletti shown here) Second: Floss O'Sullivan Third: Fran Ackerly HM: Tova Narrett

Once again, we held a highly successful program meeting, featuring Deb Ellis who talked about how to extend the gardening season throughout the fall and winter with native flowers, evergreen ferns and berry-producing bushes. She also discussed how “leaving the leaves” can nurture a garden, and how native plants can serve as a home and winter food source for pollinators and birds. We encourage you to visit the Native Plant Society of New Jersey's website for more information on everything she talked about. And stay tuned for more information about the beautiful flower design and horicultural exhibits! They were amazing.