Open Garden of Kathy and John Bachmann Tuesday, May 20 5:00 to 7:30 PM Address If you follow the adventures of Kathy Bachmann on social media, as I do, you may be surprised to learn that she grew up on a farm. But it makes sense when you see her potager/kitchen garden and the stunning heirloom bearded irises handed down through generations in her Ohio family. When you visit, ask Kathy and John to share "before" photos of the family Covid project ― that lovely pool where you will be enjoying drinks and snacks. See photos below. This hostess shared her garden with our Club when she was a provisional and also on a Van Vleck Garden Tour, and welcomes us again with extended evening hours of 5 to 7:30. ― Marilyn Zaret

Our new provisionals sample the fellowship of the Garden Club of Montclair See the profusion of color at Floss O'Sullivan's home where she, organizer Barbara Baletti, and other Club members welcomes our provisionals with flowers. We are happy to have you join us!

FLOWER DESIGN Novice - Pam Turre, 1st PROVISIONALS Lisa Schweitzer Alexandra Kilduff Clare Kuch   NOVICE 1st - Pam Turre Intermediate - Susan Brady, 1st INTERMEDIATE 1st - Susan Brady 2nd - Karen Fricke 90+ 3rd - Olga Bequillard   Advanced - Barb Baletti, 1st ADVANCED 1st - Barb Baletti 2nd - Floss O'Sullivan 90+ 3rd - Tova Narrett 90+ HM - Suzy Straten HM - Michele Tomasik   Advanced Plus - Sarah Stransky, 1st ADVANCED PLUS 1st - Sarah Stransky 2nd - Fran Ackerly 90+ HM - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken   BOTANICAL ARTS Prom Corsage - Floss O'Sullivan, 1st Prom Corsage Floss O'Sullivan Karen Fricke   Pot-et-Fleur - Karen Fricke, 1st Pot-et-Fleur Karen Fricke Cynthia Corhan-Aitken HORTICULTURE The photos in the Gallery below show how many of our members entered this month's competition. Hort Chair Heidi Muschick announced that over 20% of the entries received blue ribbons. A big thank you to Floss O'Sullivan who, through the years, can always be relied on to keep track of these awards and take such great photos to memorialize them.

Our last program of the year, “Designing Women,” was held on Monday, April 21.  Three intrepid advanced or advanced plus designers agreed to a friendly face-off challenge design.  Fran Ackerly, Barbara Baletti, and Sarah Stransky gamely took on the challenge.  Plant material and additional decorative components, as well as a container and non-Oasis foam mechanics were provided at tables, and the designers created magical floral arrangements while members strolled around the room to observe (but not distract!) them as they worked.  At the end, each designer briefly explained her process, and members asked questions.  It was a fun way to see how some of our top designers create, and a great finish to a wonderful year of programs. We’re looking forward to next year!

Open Garden of Marie Donnelly Address TOMORROW April 24, 2025  5:00 to 7:00 “Weep not for me” I imagine Marie’s beautiful old weeping cherry tree would say if it knew it would soon be removed for the crime of root invasion of her home’s foundation. Let’s take a break from our own spring clean-ups and celebrate our first Open Garden of 2025.  Friends are welcome. Look for Marie's beautiful contemporary style home in this cul-de-sac and park head-in to accommodate more guests. Call Marilyn ( marzaret@comcast.net ) for details.

On March 10, CeCe Haydock, landscape architect and devotee of literature and historic gardens, gave a fascinating lecture at 60 South Fullerton on the fabulous gardens of the North Shore of Long Island, a favorite retreat of the rich and famous, where they created elaborate gardens to accompany their grand houses.  She showed us the gardens as they were originally built, and taught us about their history, landscape design, and present conditions.

As you can see from the results, below, the judges had a hard time on March 10 figuring out to whom they should award the blue stickers. Once again our Members showed their passion and skill as they created imaginative responses to the strict and dry words of the schedules. At right, Florence Leyssène's stunning response to " A Framed Spacial Design using no floral foam but employing alternative mechanics. Open to Club designers who are nationally accredited judges. To be exhibited for educational purposes. Staged on a 42” high dark green pedestal with a 14” square dark green top ." Flower Design Novice No entries Intermediate: A Multi-Rhythmic Design 1st - Karen Fricke 2nd - Marie Donnelly 3rd - Susan Brady HM - Olga Bequillard Advanced: A Challenge Design Committee will provide 6 identical components to designers who must use a minimum of 4 in their design. 1st - Floss O'Sullivan 2nd - Susan Benner 3rd - Michele Tomasik HM - Carol Callahan HM - Suzy Straten Not judged - Barbara Baletti Advanced Plus Same requirements as Advanced 1st - Sarah Stransky Provisional: An American Traditional Design Clare Kuch Amy Poster Val Slimka Botanical Arts Birdhouse 1st - Debbie Moran 2nd 90+ - Karen Fricke 3rd - Michele Tomasik HM - Floss O'Sullivan Plaque 1st - Karen Fricke 2nd 90+ - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 3rd 90+ - Fran Ackerly And here are all the other entries, in no particular order:

But Estelle Leibrecht narcissus competition POSTPONED until March 25. After much discussion, it was decided to cancel the scheduled horticulture competion for this month.  Mother Nature just is not cooperating. See the Horticulture Schedule page for full details of the Estelle Leibrecht award requirements. Contact Heidi Muschick or Suzy Straten with any questions.

Beyond Gatsby: The Fabled Gardens of the North Shore of Long Island March 10, 1PM  60 S Fullerton Ave in the auditorium Old Westbury Gardens A life-long passion for literature and historic gardens led landscape architect CeCe Haydock to write and lecture on historic Italian, French, and American gardens.  In this lecture, she focuses on the North Shore of Long Island , a favorite retreat of the rich and famous, who built elaborate gardens to accompany their grand houses.  CeCe will show us the gardens as they were originally built, and teach us about their history, landscape design, and present conditions.

Garden Therapy committee members presented a special Galentines Day flower design event on Feb. 13 for clients of Oasis. Enthusiastic participants created Valentines Day themed arrangements,  complete with decorative hearts and  beautiful bows! This is the second of four events planned in this season’s Garden Therapy program designed specifically to provide therapeutic, educational programs for clients of Oasis. Our programming has been thoughtfully designed to bring Oasis clients in contact with soil, plants, flowers, aromatics, and scent, promoting social interaction and improving mood, sense of wellbeing and satisfaction. See some photos below of the Galentines Day event, and the earlier visit in January, all organized by Karen Kadus and Susan Dumont.

Chester Township in Morris County Friday May 16 Morning House and Garden Tour followed by Lunch   Join us for a lovely day at “Mansion in May”, a designer showhouse and gardens fundraiser for Morristown Medical Center. This rambling country estate with a rich history, known as Wildfair, is located in Chester Township in Morris County. The home and gardens are designed by professional interior and landscape designers. Take a self-guided tour in the morning, shop in the boutiques and then enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant. Tickets for the house and gardens tour are $53.50 per person. Carpools will be arranged. If you wish to attend, please contact Cynthia Corhan-Aitken no later than April 1. She will purchase tickets for our group. There are no refunds.

Many of us remember Yulia B ellinger 's stimulating presentation on native planting at our October Program meeting. On March 13 at 7 p.m. , she will be hosting a free webinar on the topic. CLICK HERE to sign up. She has partnered with the Brookdale Park Conservancy to guide you through every step in creating a native garden, from choosing the perfect location to selecting plants, installing them, and ensuring long-term maintenance—all covered in the webinar and takeaway materials. This webinar is so timely in light of our exciting planned projects in partnership with our township as well as the amazing fact that spring is actually on the way ― in spite of doubters, such as myself.

Flower Design Provisional Clare Kuch Novice 2nd - Florence Sinovsky Intermediate 1st - Olga Bequillard 2nd - Karen Fricke 3rd - Wendy Stahl Advanced 1st - Barbara Baletti 2nd - Floss O'Sullivan 3rd - Cheryl Slutzky Advanced Plus 1st - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 2nd 90+ Fran Ackerly Invitational Debbie Moran Botanical Arts Brooch 1st - Debbie Moran 2nd 90+ - Karen Fricke 3rd - Fran Ackerly HM - Floss O'Sullivan Mobile 1st - Sarah Stransky 2nd - Florence Leyssene 3rd - Karen Fricke HM - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken The pictures above show the winners in each category, but the runners-up are -- in the minds of most of us -- just as good. See a selection below.

Our Loving Mother, Michele Cusack Conlin, left this world on Sunday February 9th. Michele passed peacefully at home in the company of loving family, cherished friends and wonderful neighbors. Michele enjoyed a happy childhood in Jersey City, NJ arriving on June 14th, 1932 to the proud new parents Michael and Laurette (Jennings) Cusack. Being the first child of three, Michele was joined by her dear brother Michael Harry and her beloved sister Maureen (Cusack) Vigna. Michele studied history at The College of Saint Elizabeth's and was fortunate to make several lifelong friendships before graduating with honors in 1953. She enjoyed teaching as a young graduate in Jersey City and Syracuse, NY. She also worked as a counselor at a summer camp on Long Island. This is where she met another counselor, Edward J. Conlin, over the dessert bar, we were told. It was love at first bite. Michele and Ed married in 1958 and were blessed to enjoy another 54 summers together. Their lives were filled with joy, family, friends, travel and as many days on the beach at the Jersey Shore as possible. Ed's Basketball career brought them to Syracuse, Detroit, and Saint Louis before returning to Jersey City with two young daughters. With the family getting ready for one more addition, Michele and Ed moved their growing family to Montclair in 1964. Michele delighted in meeting and making new friends through her career as a realtor. She collaborated with colleagues at JoAnn Eagan, Ladendorff Associates, Schweppe, Burgdorff, and Stanton Company, where she worked until 2015. She took pleasure in her engagement with The Garden Club of Montclair, the Iris and Van Vleck Gardens, her treasured friends in The Investment Club and her fellow parishioners at Saint Cassian Parish. Michele was a smiling optimist who looked for the best in people and life. She was particularly devoted to the intergenerational community of her neighborhood on North Mountain Avenue. She relished in friendships from all chapters of her life: the early days on Stegman Parkway in Jersey City, where her father was the Police Chief, to high school, college and her many happy years in Montclair. Michele enjoyed the design aspect of real estate and the history and variety of the architecture of her town. She appreciated its parks and public spaces and delighted in supporting local businesses and community members. She was extremely fortunate to age in place in her home where she was lovingly cared for by her son, Ed Conlin of Montclair. She is survived by her son and two daughters and their families including: Carole (Conlin) Wedge, Jerry Wedge, Morgan & Aynsley Wedge of Concord, Massachusetts and Jane Conlin, Jackson & Sally Zieper of Far Rockaway, Burlington, Vermont, and Brooklyn. A celebration of her life will take place on April12th at 11am Saint Cassian Church in Montclair, New Jersey. Donations in Michele's memory may be made to The Montclair Foundation/Van Vleck House & Gardens . To plant trees in memory, please visit the  Sympathy Store .

Just look at the maple tree twigs surrounding a fluffed-up, very cold Mourning Dove waiting for food in Sue Young's garden today. Every single twig ends with a pinkish flower bud. Don't give in to frozen January despair! We are already at the beginning of the new year. HOUSEKEEPING NOTE: Notifications about new "In the News" posts will now come from an email from the Club. We are doing this to defeat the spam filters that have been preventing many of you from receiving the automatic notifications.

"I always enjoy judging your in-house shows," stated Gail Bassolino, one of the judges from our January Flower Design and Botanical Arts competition.  This month's theme of "Shouts and Whispers" featured designs from Traditional to Tubular to Tapestry.  Florence Leyssène created an elaborate Armature Design of Torka Willow sticks, bindwired water tubes, yarn-covered aluminum wires, and lights with striking Anthurium, Gerberas, Hydrangeas, and Aspidistra leaves (shown here).   Botanical Arts featured striking black and white winter landscape photographs, as well as dried and preserved plant material, lovely reminders of Nature's intricate design. For garden club members, it was a delight to view the always inspiring creativity of our talented colleagues and in the words of another judge Teddie Falcone: "I admire all the effort that goes into your monthly shows." Flower Design   Tea Table Design Betty Murphy Provisional Amy Poster Kathy Bachmann Novice Kathy Bachmann 1st Karen Fricke Intermediate Karen Fricke 1st Olga Bequillard 2nd/90+ Barbara Baletti Advanced Barb Baletti 1st Michele Tomasik 2nd Floss O’Sullivan 3rd Susan Straten HM Cynthia Corhan-Aitken Advanced Plus Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 1st Fran Ackerly -2nd/90+ Botanical Arts Marilyn Zaret Photography Marilyn Zaret 1st Barb Baletti 2nd Olga Bequillard 3rd Sheila Curry Oakes HM Cynthia Corhan-Aitken Dried and Preserved Flowers Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 1st Celia Radek - 2nd/90+

Monday, January 13 is competition day for Botanical Arts and Flower Design. (The photo at right shows a page from Emily Dickinson's Herbarium.)   Remember, to compete you MUST sign in by THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 with Florence Leyssene at florenceleyssene@gmail.com for Botanical Arts and Barbara Baletti at bbaletti@me.com for Flower Design.   Here are some important notes from the chairs. BOTANICAL ARTS   Botanical Horticulture: Dried and Preserved Specimens: HB p.92 3 to 4 of the same dried, preserved or pressed specimen (the schedule on website says by mistake 3 to 4 different specimens but they must be from same specimen. Pressed plant material (3 or 4 of same) is not artistically arranged as a 'design' or 'artwork’ but displayed on a white cardboard 11” x 14”. Any other dried or preserved specimen  (3 or 4 of same) exhibited on a white cardboard 11” x 14”. ALL plant material must have been grown by the exhibitor. ALL plant material must be identified by the current scientific / binomial designation.  (Genus, specific epithet, variety/cultivar.) No artificial treatment is allowed EXCEPT to prevent shattering of seed heads, etc. on Dried/Pressed material.   Judges will/should look at:    Did the Exhibitor actually grow the specimen? Is it exhibited as a specimen and NOT as Botanical Arts Artistic Craft? How is it exhibited? Can you pick up the specimens? Is there more than one? Are they uniform?   Botanical Photography: HB p.95-96 A Black and White Photo of a winter landscape. Must be 8” x 10”, matted in white with a maximum size of 11’ x 14” including the mat provided by exhibitor. Staged on a table 30”high using an easel provided by the exhibitor.   Be familiar with the Scale of Points for Photography in HB p.131 as judges will look at these criteria: Conformance = 5; Interpretation of title class = 10; Composition = 25; Artistry/Creativity = 25; Technical Achievement = 25; Distinction/Wow factor = 10. FLOWER DESIGN Instructions for Flower Design can be found on the main Flower Design page .

Mary McGeown January 10, 1934 - December 14, 2024 The family of Mary Margaret McMahon McGeown is saddened to share the news of her passing. A cherished mother, wife, and grandmother, Mary died peacefully on December 14th at the age of 90. Born on January 10, 1934 in South Orange, New Jersey, Mary was a graduate of Benedictine Academy High School and the College of St. Elizabeth. She met the love of her life, John "Jack" R. McGeown, while they were working summer jobs at the Warren Hotel in Spring Lake. Mary and Jack wed in 1957 and eventually settled in Montclair, where they lived for more than 25 years and raised their five daughters. Upon retirement, Mary and Jack moved from Montclair to live full-time in Mantoloking. Throughout her life, Mary embraced every opportunity to learn, create, and connect with others. Whether she was cultivating friendships, transforming her garden, or traveling around the world, Mary approached life with enthusiasm and a positive spirit. For almost two decades, her Montclair floral design store, By Special Arrangement, allowed a team of family and friends to create a bustling hub of fresh flowers and laughter. Mary's interests extended to participation in a variety of communities. In Montclair, she was an active member in the Garden Club, Junior League, Art Museum, and Golf Club. On the Jersey Shore, she was involved with the Mantoloking Yacht Club (MYC) and the Seaweeders Garden Club. Her faith and daily Mass were also central to her life, and she was a devoted parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair and Sacred Heart Church in Bay Head. Above all, Mary will be remembered for her love of family. She nurtured strong relationships with her twelve grandchildren and instilled in them a deep connection to the Jersey Shore. Mary was the heart of her family, fostering a close-knit bond that continues to this day. As a dear friend reflected, "She somehow pulled you along until you were having the time of your life!" Mary is survived by her daughters Elysia Gudas (Tom), Maureen McLam, Anne Rethmeyer (Craig), Michelle Gerli (John), and Mary Kay Caricato (John), and her twelve grandchildren. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Jack, and her son-in-law, Scott McLam. A funeral will be held on Friday, January 24th, 10:00 AM, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bay Head, NJ. A Celebration of Mary's Life will take place on May 31st at Mantoloking Yacht Club in Mantoloking, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to: 1) Seaweeders Garden Club, Attn: Mary McGeown Youth Scholarship Fund, PO Box 191, Bay Head, NJ, 08742 or 2) Columbia University Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain at givenow.columbia.edu .

First of all, Happy New Year! Well ― half-way through our gardening year. It is time, once again, to ask you all to let us know how you feel about our Club, and what you would like to see happen in the future. Please CLICK HERE  to fill out our questionnaire. The only questions that are "required" are simple ones, but we welcome any longer thoughts and suggestions you may want to add, too. Here’s looking forward to a wonderful new year of the Garden Club of Montclair.

CLICK HERE to view the last issue of Potpourri. This should not be a sad moment: new methods of communication have covered everything that was once only available through Potpourri. And we are making sure that those few members who do not have access to the internet will still be informed about everything that we do. CLICK HERE to view all back issues of Potpourri.