Blue Star Marker update

We have a home for our blue star marker - and considerable enthusiasm from the city of Federal Way parks department. It will be in one of  the raised beds shown in photos below.
Update: At our meeting Tuesday, members indicated a preference for the bed on the left.

 This is a photo of our marker:

photos of table settings from holiday show

Here are some of the table setting designs:

photos of exhibits from holiday show

Here are some of the impressive exhibits:

photos from WSFGC Holiday Show

Here are some photos of designs from the State Holiday Show.

November club meeting - creating table centerpiece designs

At our November meeting, we each get to create a centerpiece flower design. Diane Green will teach us how to create a mass design, demonstrate one, and then we will each be able to make our own.

The club will provide oasis (the green blocks that hold the flowers), flowers, and greenery. Feel free to bring additional greenery and flowers if you wish.
Each of us needs to bring scissors, pruners, and a low container (such as a bowl) that is about 4 - 7 inches. (You may decide to echo the shape of your table with the shape of your container, e.g.  round, oval, or square).

WSFGC Holiday Show

Debbie Angel entered a creative illuminated design and 15 horticulture specimens in the state holiday show in Everett Nov. 6 - 7. She received a second place for the design, and 13 blue ribbons and 2 reds for the horticulture. Her Fuchsia 'Constance' received an Award of Merit (best in section), and her Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon' received Elfin Award.
While the drive to Everett is long, especially in November, I encourage you to participate in the next big show.
At the Feb. 5 and May 7 Chinook District meetings and flower shows, we can all enter horticulture. Bring up to six specimens to each show. We can also enter crafts in any show. We enter designs in the one show for which we are designated each year.

Chinook District Christmas Luncheon

Chinook District Holiday Luncheon and Fashion Show, Holiday Splendor”, will be held December 4, 2013, at Grace Lutheran Church. There will be silent auctions, raffle baskets and a fashion show by “Chicos”.  

Our club needs to put together a raffle basket. We will have a table that seats eight, and we can add additional if needed to other tables. We will be decorating and setting our club's table.

WSFGC Holiday Show

WSFGC Holiday Show:  November 6-7, 2013 at the Everett Holiday Inn.  The theme is Winter Dreaming and the show colors are blue, silver and white.  Tickets cost $8.00 in advance or $10.00 at the door.  The complete Schedule for this Show is available on the WSFGC website, www.wagardenclubs.com.

Design Awards from Sept. 11 Chinook District Meeting

Here are photos of two blue ribbon designs by Debbie Angel from the flower show. For some reason, some photos I download from my phone won't rotate, so I'm afraid these are shown sideways! (These wins also combined for the design sweepstakes award.)

This is the best creative design:

 This is the best traditional design:

We have a lot to talk about at our first meeting of the year! I am looking forward to seeing everyone!

Foundation House hanging pots

Here is a photo of some of the hanging baskets we potted at Foundation House.
Also, a photo of the rose garden (not at the best time for roses). I trimmed them yesterday: deadheaded and removed the diseased leaves.

September 17 club meeting at Tina's house!

Please note the location change for the September meeting. It will be held at Tina Moore's house. See your yearbook or e-mail from Tina for address, as I don't like to post personal information.

Our meetings this year will begin promptly at 6:45. Feel free to arrive at Tina's at 6:00 to tour her garden before the meeting.Tina's garden was featured on the Federal Way Symphony Garden Tour a couple years ago, so it will be a treat for us to meet at her house.

By starting our meetings early, we will be able to adjorn earlier (by 8:45 pm). And if you arrive at Foundation House by 6:30, you have a better chance of getting a close parking space!

Awards 2012 - 2013

Marine Hills received a number of awards at the Chinook Awards luncheon June 19. The photo below shows the award certificates.

National Garden Clubs:
Participation Citation for Plantings for Public and Special Places Container Gardens - for the containers at the Federal Way Historical Society

Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (WSFGC) awards:
1st place (club with 24 members or less) for Garden Therapy - Active- for the Foundation House hanging pots
1st place for Garden Club Growing Project - for the 'Genii' hardy fuchsias we grew in 2012
1st place for Landscape Design Project - for Debbie Angel red, white, and blue garden area
1st place for Horticulture Essay - Debbie Angel "Gardening for Pollinators"
3rd place for Leaflet - Debbie Angel "Garden Pollinators"

Chinook District awards:
Marine Hills celebrating 50 years as a garden club
Directors Award for Attendance - most members in attendance at district meetings (21-35 members)
2nd place Past President Award for recycled garden art - Debbie Angel

Photos from Soos Creek Botanical Garden Tour

What a great tour! Here are some photos I took June 1:

 I loved the color and texture combinations here:

 Beautiful yellow Robinia:

 The Kalmia (mountain laurel) were just starting to bloom:

June 1 Garden Tour - Soos Creek Botanical Garden

Our club has a guided tour scheduled for Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m. Carpoolers meet at Maxine's at 9:15.
http://sooscreekbotanicalgarden.org/

Plant Sale Pics

Through the Garden Gate Show Awards

Donna Mansfield received an award of merit for a pot of three varieties of fritillarias. I'm sorry the photo is turned, but that sometimes happens with photos I've downloaded from my phone.

 Debbie Angel received the Director's Award for this all-green traditional design.

Garden Club News

Here is the spring article I submitted for the Chinook Winds, summarizing our activities this spring:


At our March 19 meeting, the Marine Hills Garden Club appreciated an informative presentation by Cass Turnbull on Pruning Difficult Plants. We pruned the rose garden at the Foundation House (the retirement/nursing home where we have our meetings), and we added 11 rose bushes.

Members Judy McDonald, Maxine Ranta, and Donna Mansfield presented our April 16 program on fuchsias. We also had our member plant exchange at the April meeting. Our plant sale is April 26 – 27. We will also have a table at the Nautilus Elementary spring carnival event. We also provide support for the community garden based on the school.

We look forward to a special meeting May 21 with a presentation by Laura Watson on Clematis. We will be planting hanging baskets at the Foundation House on May 7. Some of their residents have a great time joining us for this activity, and it is rewarding for the members who participate.

On June 1, we will have a docent-led tour of the Soos Creek Botanical Garden.

We will have several members volunteering to help at the Federal Way Symphony Garden Tour. Two members will have gardens featured on the July 21 tour.

Our elected officers for the coming year are:

·         President – Tina Moore

·         1^st Vice President – Programs – Diane Goss

·         2^nd Vice President – Plant Sale – Judy McDonald

·         Secretary – Maxine Ranta

·         Treasurer – Judy McDonald

February District Garden Show Awards

Along with getting the overall horticulture award at the February 6 Flower Show, our club members received special awards. Donna Mansfield received the best horticulture award with this lovely hellebore:\

Unfortunately, I can't get this photo of my design rotated. It won best novice and best traditional design.

Through the Garden Gate Flower Show

Chinook District is putting on a big flower show at the Cove in Normandy Park April 3 and 4. If you haven't got your tickets yet, Debbie Angel has some for $4. The tickets are $5 at the door.

Several of our members are entering designs and horticulture. So attend to support your fellow club members and the district.

I encourage you to bring horticulture, just like for the regular district flower shows. Bring up to 6 specimens in a simple clear vase (I use tall salad dressing bottles). Clean the specimens (remove bugs and dirt), remove leaves that would be under water, and select a container that is the right size for the specimen.

We won the horticulture award at the last show!