The Garden Club of Montclair held its first in-person meeting in two years on March 21, and 13 members brought in their designs to be assessed by official judges. No more uploading photos! But we took pictures anyway, see below, underneath the results. The speaker at the meeting was Jennifer Bakshi, an avid gardener, landscape designer, and owner of Oasis Landscape Design. She challenged us to take a new and questioning look outside our windows, and showed us how she has transformed many Montclair gardens, using basic principles of design. A horticulturist and Master Gardener, Jennifer also teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, where she received her Certification in Landscape Design and Horticulture. We are so grateful to Union Congregational Church for opening its doors to us. What a splendid space, and what a pleasure it was to gather with our friends again! RESULTS Novice Maria Martesanz - 2nd Intermediate Sarah Olson - 1st Denise Silverman - 2nd Tova Narrett - 3rd Marie Donnelly - Honorable Mention Advanced Suzy Straten -1st Michele Tomasik - 2nd Advanced Plus Fran Ackerly - 2nd

Led by Barbara Meyer, our fearless members braved the snow flurries, wind, and chill (see, below) to prune the rose beds at Avis Campbell Gardens Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed a delightful workshop with expert tips on caring for roses, solutions to problems that arise with pests or plant diseases, and hands-on pruning guidance. What usually takes a week, we accomplished in an afternoon, thanks to the 13 attendees. There was a spirit of joy and camaraderie as we worked together and caught up with one another. Thank you Barbara for so generously sharing your expertise!

Wondering what to plant in your own garden this year? Don’t miss the Annual & Perennial Garden Planning Workshop Tuesday, 4/5/22 at 10am in Avis Campbell Gardens. Join Maureen Sprong and the Bed Captains to find out what they are planting this year and get their expert advice on what you can do at home in your garden. Some terrific takeaways from this workshop will be: A schematic of the “Wheel of Life” design illustrated in Avis Campbell Gardens A list of all the best garden centers where the Bed Captains find their treasures A take home planting experiment Priceless advice and expertise Please RSVP to Floss O'Sullivan and join us outside and in person Tuesday, April 5 at 10am. For a reminder of how beautiful these gardens are in full bloom, check out Peter and Marilyn Zaret’s drone footage.

Once again, Garden Therapy organized its popular flower arranging class at Oasis, the haven for women and children in Paterson, NJ. (See photos, below.) Fran Ackerly led the demonstration for us and did a fabulous job of instruction. The Oasis women really enjoyed themselves and worked so hard to follow her direction. Members from the GC were: Sarah Olson, Kathy Bachman, Christine James, Laura Burtha, Betty Murphy, and Susan Dumont. We had a blast! Oasis's mission is to carry out educational and social service programs that help women enter and succeed in the workforce and help children flourish academically. It also operates a soup kitchen and provides emergency food, clothing, and social support to city residents in need.

On March 23, Amy South opened up her wonderful new Moss & More studio in Upper Montclair Plaza to curious members who wanted to learn the Japanese art of koke (moss) dama (ball). See Barbara Baletti's photos on this page to see what fun they had as they learned a new skill. Thank you, Amy!

We are asking our talented Garden Club members to produce an original artistic interpretation of flowers in the Avis Campbell Garden to sell at the September Flower Show. Your work can feature a single flower or a full garden view. You are the artist! Please contact Susan Benner to sign up by May 1, 2022. Art should be no larger than 8"x10".(Smaller sizes were very popular last time.) Any medium may be used: acrylics, oils, pencil, collage, pastels, etc. (No photographs). Pictures must be of flowers/plants found in AVIS Campbell Garden. Completed works (with or without frame) due by September 1, 2022 to Susan Benner. MORE than one can be donated! Items will be sold for $25 each. Members who signed up in 2020 include the following – please email Susan Benner to confirm. Sydney Milliken, Carol Callahan, Marilyn Zaret, Tova Narrett, Cynthis Corhan-Aitken, Nancy Foster, Donna Uher, Celia Radek, Barbara Baletti .

The Awards Committee would love to hear from you with your member recommendations for: The Bauer Horticulture Award Till Beatty Flower Design & Education Award Louise D. Mann Award which may be given May 25 at the Annual Awards Meeting in Avis Campbell Gardens. Email your suggestions by April 1 to Sarah Stransky Information about Awards may be found in the Yearbook pages 32-34 or on this website by clicking here.

It might have been snowy and freezing outside...but nothing but the Irish sunshine of smiles inside! Seven intrepid GC volunteers travelled through rain and snow Saturday, March 12, to lead a workshop with clients of Nassan's Place at the Newark Museum of Art. Young people with autism enthusiastically created their own St. Patrick's Day arrangements in the beautiful museum space. See more photos, below.

Please join Barbara Meyer, our resident expert rosarian, for a Rose Revival workshop in Avis Campbell Gardens. It's happening Sunday, March 27 from 1:00-3:00pm. Bring your pruners and long gloves, and dress for the weather, as we will be outside. P.S. This is a great way for any Provisionals to get their gardening hours and workshop requirements done! Please RSVP to Floss O'Sullivan and click here for a sneak peek.

Please join us Wednesday, March 23 at Amy South's studio for a workshop on Japanese Kokedama or "moss balls." Choose an ornamental plant, create a moss ball, and either keep it in a saucer or design a macrame rope holder for it. Enjoy a night out in Upper Montclair! Meet at 7pm at The Studio located at 42 Upper Montclair Plaza. Only 8 spots remain, so RSVP to Floss O'Sullivan soon. Click here for a sneak peek.

In September, we are once again hosting a Flower Show for members and the general public at at Van Vleck. Our committees are working hard to make this a memorable event. To find out more, and to see pictures from the last time we hosted a show in 2017, see the new Flower Show page on this website, under “What We Do.”

Two changes to "In the News" The most recent four posts will now appear on the home page as well as "In the News." You can sign up here to get the posts in your email inbox as soon as they appear on the website. If you don't choose to sign up for this feature — don't worry. You will still get all the news in the weekly email and Potpourri, as well as by continuing to visit the website whenever you choose.

June 9, 2022 - Garden Club of New Jersey Annual Meeting. Registration by May 18, 2022. (Form will be posted later on GCNJ website. Plan to join fellow GCNJ members for the in-person Annual Meeting at the Bridgewater Marriott. In addition to the Awards ceremony, the program will be presented by a talented floral designer. GCMontclair members can ride together. Email Sarah Stransky if you are interested in attending.

EXCITING NEWS!!!! The March Flower Design Competition will be in person. The schedule for March has been changed to A Petite Design, Freedom of Style. Design not to exceed 12" in height, width and depth, underlay required. The design is the same for all levels. Provisional designs will be critiqued and Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Advanced Plus designs will be judged. For a refresher on how to create a Petite Flower Design, watch Debbie Moran's tutorial here. Design entries can be dropped off at Union Congregational Church, Montclair on Monday, March 21 between 9:30am and 10:15am and must be picked up by 3:00pm the same day. Please enter through the East door. Masks must be worn. To guarantee a space for your design you must register your entry no later than Wednesday, March 16.

Back at last in our old home at 60 South Fullerton, Debbie Moran showed us how to create terrariums, large and small, ready to grow and be exhibited and judged. Click here for the link to Debbie's workshop instructions (members only), and click here to see our members in action.

For the past two years, Garden Therapy has been collecting the best of our members' photographs to create a meditative video for some of the facilities we visit. You can see and listen to "Botanical Journeys with the Garden Club of Montclair" by clicking on the link on our video page. So far, we have sent it out to three places: Connections At Home, Canterbury Village, and Job Haines. They will be sharing it with their shut-in clients and residents. We're waiting to hear how they like it. This work of art owes thanks to many: Photographers: Claire Stepleton, Donna Karanja, Sarah Olson, Sydney Milliken, Maria Matesanz, Sue Young Photos curated by: Michele Tomasik Technical Assistance: Floss O'Sullivan

March horticulture procedures are as follows: Narcissus (daffodil, jonquil) — 1 cut stem, no foliage. Muscari (grape hyacinth) — 3 cut stems, no foliage. Saintpaulia (African Violet) — Container-grown plant, must be in bloom, pot size not to exceed 8" diameter. Entries are limited to one entry per class per member. Pre-registration to Debbie Moran is required no later than 4:00 pm, Sunday, March 20. Entry cards may be picked up at Debbie Moran’s house at 10 Elston Road in Upper Montclair by request, or members may use a printed facsimile available upon request to Debbie. Entry cards must be completely filled out prior to drop off and no assistance on identification will be available on site — no exceptions. Members must stage their cut specimens at home in clear, recyclable, appropriately sized bottles or containers with clear wedging because all specimens will be discarded at the conclusion of the Program — no exceptions. No containers or wedging will be provided on-site by the Committee for cut specimens. Specimens can be dropped off at UCC on Monday, March 21 between 9:15 am - 10:15 am through the east door near the handicap parking area to avoid interaction with children at the church.

We have two new events set up for March. 1. March 12, 10 am to 11:30 am Floral Arranging at Nassan's Place. 222 Main St., West Orange "Nassan's Place is helping to make a difference in the lives of children and families affected by autism in and around under-served communities by providing educational and recreational programs, social outings, and resources." Volunteers, please click here to sign up. 2. March 26, 10 am to 12 pm Flower Arranging with Oasis clients 59 Mill St., Paterson "The mission of Oasis is to change the lives of women and children by breaking the cycle of poverty through compassionate programs designed to feed, clothe, educate and empower women and children in need." Volunteers, please click here to sign up.

What a fun Galentine’s Day celebration we all had together in our nighttime workshop! Florence Leyssène introduced us to Botanical Arts: Artistic Crafts, reviewing techniques to create jewelry, wearable apparel, and decorations using fresh and/or dried flowers. Our garden club members came up with amazing interpretations for beautifully decorated gift boxes. Take a peek at the results, below, and get inspired to explore artistic crafts as your new creative outlet. Thanks to all who attended. Gift Boxes Created by GCM Members

If you had a chance to meet Bonni Babson in this life, there is a good chance you would not soon forget this unique and special lady. Bonni passed peacefully in her sleep at home on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Bonni was born in New York City and was the only child of Andrew and Anna Charmec. She lived most of her life in New Jersey settling in Essex County in the 1980s. She graduated from Rutgers University in 1970 with a B.S. in Management. Early in her career she held several positions in administration, product information and publicity. Bonni retired as a Publications and Training Coordinator from the Westinghouse Elevator Company in 1985. Her decision for early retirement was necessary for the next chapter and many adventures in life. In 1985 she married the late Rea Norton Babson and together they made a beautiful life together and moved to Norton’s childhood home in Essex Fells. Bonni was active in her new town and community especially as a member of The Garden Club of Essex Fells where she enjoyed many years in several positions including club treasurer. In 2014 the club conferred upon Bonni an Honorary Membership for her extraordinary service. Along with her late husband, Norton, she was a dedicated member of the Montclair Art Museum. The lovely couple enjoyed music in many venues including churches, local schools and especially with the Montclair Operetta Club / Mel-O-Chords. Surviving are her friends at Cranes Mill, especially John C. Kern, MD, stepson, Jeffrey Babson and his family, members of her church and garden club and many more.