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The changing of the guards: Outgoing president Stephanie Keehn passes the torch to incoming president Lenore Macdonald.
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A Letter From Our Past-President:
Have you heard about a phenomenon called the optimism bias? I recently heard about it on NPR. Optimism bias is the belief that the future will be better than the past. Apparently humans are inherently more optimistic than realistic. Who knew? Even if we grow pessimistic about some aspects of the world around us - pretty easy to do these days! -- "private optimism" about our personal futures remains remarkably resilient. We are, they say, "hard-wired for hope."
I love that!
Hard-wired for hope. Think about it -- being optimistic allows us to take chances and try new things and be in the world in such a different way than if we were not optimistic about the outcomes. Taking your first steps...riding a bike...driving a car...going to college...getting married...planting bulbs...becoming president of a garden club...entering your first flower show(!)...(see where I'm going with this?
). When we are thinking positive thoughts and feel good about ourselves and our futures, we can do anything. Or we can at least try. And we're all old enough to know that failure is often more valuable than success. So why not go for it?
If we keep in mind, too, the notion that each person's task in life is to become an increasingly better person (creds to Leo Tolstoy, not me) -- well, we've just been given the tools for a very productive and gratifying life.
This is my last note as President, and I'm leaving office feeling productive and full of gratitude, indeed. I know Lenore will lead us forward with great skill and enthusiasm, and I look forward to rejoining the ranks of the KGC membership...and who knows what the next adventure will be. I can't wait!
Cheers to all of you, and thank you for a wonderful two years!
Gratefully,
Stephanie
Endings are almost always a little sad, even when there is something to look forward to on the other side.
-
Emily Griffin
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Upcoming KGC Board Meetings
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Welcome all new Board members!!
We look forward to seeing you at the
Old & New Board
Meeting
Monday, June 11
10:00 am at
Church of the Holy Comforter
There might be a few items that the old board will need to vote on, so it is important that as many Board Members as possible attend this meeting.
July Board Meeting
Monday, July 18
10:00 am
Church of the Holy Comforter
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KGC June Meeting &
In-House Flower Show
9:30 a.m.
Skokie Country Club Paddle Tennis House*
701 Prairie Rd., Glencoe
"Honeybees, Chickens and Veggies, Oh My!"
A Tour of the Skokie Country Club Organic Garden
&
KGC Flower Show
Can a 120-year-old country club really be at the cutting edge of conservation and food trends? Yes, indeed! Audubon-certified Skokie Country Club is home to an organic garden, buzzing beehives and a thriving chicken coop. Jeanne Nolan of the Organic Garden designed the gardens with Grounds and Greens Head Don Cross. KGC's Heather Blackwell is very involved with the beehives! Don and Heather will dish the details with us, as we tour the gardens, commune with the chickens and visit Heather's bees. We'll see first-hand how farm-to-table and conservation practices are going strong in the most unexpected of places. While we enjoy the tour, judges will huddle in the Skokie Paddle House, evaluating the entries in our flower show.
Watch your inbox for your Evite.
Click below to read what the local media is saying about SCC's Organic Garden and farm-to-table movement:
* Note: the SCC Paddle Hut is NOT located at the main clubhouse. Click
here for a map.
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"Shadow Play"
Reflecting Back on Our Centennial Year
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A KGC Flower Show
June 15, 2016
Skokie Country Club Paddle Tennis House*
701 Prairie Road, Glencoe
9:00 am Drop-Off
Following are the links to the complete
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Just as in 1929, "each club member is urged to exhibit in one or more classes." With Show of Summer coming up next year, this is the perfect opportunity to get some practice before the big event. Enter solo or pair up with a fellow KGC member and get those creative juices flowing!
We also encourage everyone to enter the Photography Show, even if you have never exhibited before! Note: Photography Class 4 is a designated smart phone class; however, images taken with a smart phone or point-and-shoot camera are acceptable in all of the classes. This is simply intended to be for practice and for FUN!
If you have any questions about Floral or Hort, please contact Shelley Galloway at flowergenius@gmail.com Questions about photography? Contact Stacey De Luca at sdeluca13@yahoo.com.
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* The Skokie Country Club Paddle House is
NOT
located near the main clubhouse. Please see the map below to determine its location around the west side of the golf course.
701 Prairie Road, Glencoe
You reach Prairie via Sycamore off of
Forest Way, which you may access from Dundee Road
from the North or Willow Road from the South.
If arriving from Green Bay Road, take Lincoln Avenue west to Prairie Road.
Click on the link below to print the map and take it with you:
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KGC 2016 Annual Meeting & Luncheon
A Heartfelt Thanks to Stephanie Keehn!!
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The proverbial passing of the gavel.
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At the Annual Meeting and Luncheon on May 11th, Kenilworth Garden Club welcomed Lenore Macdonald as our new KGC President for the 2016-18 term. Introduced by outgoing president Stephanie Keehn, Lenore was heartily welcomed by the meeting attendees and ushered into her new term with a delicious and downright artistic luncheon prepared by Skokie Country Club's Executive Chef Richard Stanton and his team.
The meeting also served as a platform to acknowledge and appreciate Stephanie for all of her hard work and dedication over the past two years. Under Stephanie's guidance and leadership, KGC is primed to move confidently into the future. The list of all of Stephanie's accomplishments is much too long to include in its entirety, but here are a few examples of the many successes KGC achieved during her 2-year tenure: KGC celebrated the club's Centennial anniversary with a BANG; hosted the GCA Zone XI meeting with style and grace; successfully hosted two highly profitable benefit events, improving our financial health and structure; launched a brand new club website; revitalized Ware Garden; updated the club Bylaws; reviewed and amended the club's Policies and Procedures; created a historical KGC brochure; and welcomed six new members! Stephanie was an organized and effectual president, and her accomplishments will be remembered for many, many years to come. We all look forward to working with Stephanie in other capacities long into the future.
Other Annual Meeting News & Updates:
∞ The successful 2016 benefit raised net proceeds of at least $10,000 for our KGC-sponsored projects and philanthropic endeavors.
∞ The membership approved the proposed slate of the new KGC Board of Directors (see below).
∞ Kathy Elmer was announced as the recipient of the 2016 President's Award, a recognition that was
created last year as part of KGC's centennial celebration. Lenore Macdonald was the first recipient.
∞ Mary Lois Hakewill received special recognition for the exceptional job she did as co-chair of the 2015 GCA Zone XI meeting, as well as her role in the upcoming GCA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis.
∞ The following KGC members were recognized for celebrating milestone years with the club:
- 5 years: Stacey De Luca & Stacey Van Metre
- 10 years: Katherine Buehler
- 15 years: Leslie North & Stephanie Keehn
- 25 years: Courtney Boyd Davis
- 30 years: Judy Keller & Pam McClamroch
- 35 years: Marcia Hines, Judy Petrie, Willie Ramsey
- 40+ years: Liz Armstrong (42), Terry Butler (46), Betty Engelmann (52), Jennet Lingle (42) & Jo Louis (51)
Thank you to all who were involved in coordinating and orchestrating this time-honored annual tradition. Individual thank yous are listed below.
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ON BOARD WITH KGC
Introducing the new 2016-17 KGC Board of Directors:
Executive Committee
President - Lenore Macdonald
Vice President - Mary Lois Hakewill
Club Administrator - Leslie North
Communications Chair* - Chris Wiedrich
Membership Chair - Jeanne Daniel
Recording Secretary - Beth Glass
Treasurer - Diane Phillips
Assistant Treasurer - Katherine Buehler
Standing Committee Chairs
Advisor - Stephanie Keehn
Awards/GCA Liaison - Shelley Galloway
Conservation - Ann Jones
Floral Design - Terri Lorenz
Floral Design Assistant - Marty Shaw
Garden History & Design - Julia Kyle
Horticulture - Heather Blackwell
Horticulture Assistant - Joan Dodson
Kenilworth Civic - Cheryl Anderson
Magnolia Garden - Katherine Buehler
Interim Programs Chair -
Elizabeth Dugan
Programs Assistant - Kelly Chestnut
Ware Garden - Elizabeth Dugan, Sara Morgan, Barbi Paine, Wendy Yamada
Special Committee Chairs
Benefit - Beth Glass, Amy Thompson
Historian - Cissy Crawford
Nominating Chair - Stacey De Luca
Outreach - Tina Rice
Philanthropy - Kathy Elmer
Photography - Cristy Laier
Visiting Gardens - Karin Balsbaugh
Yearbook - Leslie North
Special Events Chairs
SOS Photography Chair - Shelley Galloway
SOS Photography Committee - Stacey De Luca
SOS Floral Committee - Terri Lorenz
SOS Horticulture Committee - Heather Blackwell
Fundraising Chair - Mary Quinn Gordon
* Includes Public Relations and Newsletter
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KGC April Meeting
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Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
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"
Gardens of France: From Paris to the Provinces"
Presented by Tish Robinson
Tish Robinson has traveled to France more than 45 times and has commemorated her experiences in a series of eight diaries. A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in French Literature and an independent scholar for over 25 years, Tish has a deep well of experiences and information from which to draw. For our April 13th meeting,Tish discussed the range of styles and trends represented in gardens throughout France -- from traditional formal French gardens to parks and appealing kitchen potagers found throughout the French countryside.
When one thinks of French gardens, there are a few that often pop to the front of the mind -- Versailles, Jardins des Tuileries and Giverny, to name a few. But there are many, many different styles of gardens from Paris to the provinces, and Tish took us on a lovely garden tour throughout France, explaining the history, significance and prominent features of a variety of extraordinary French gardens, many found in unexpected places in the French countryside.
Originally, French garden design was influenced by, and even directly copied from, the formal Italian style of gardening. European designs dominated French gardening for a century or more. The gardens at the
Palace of Versailles characterize that distinctive French classical gardening style with rigid, geometric designs illustrating "man's domination of nature." Designed by Andre Le Notre, the gardens of Versailles are grand indeed. King Louis XIV, infamous for his over-the-top grandeur, hired Andre Le Notre after seeing the impressive work he had done for Nicolas Fouquet at
Chateau de Vaux-Le-Vicomte in Ile de France. The gardens at Vaux-Le-Vicomte employ a grand, symmetrical arrangement of
parterres, pools and gravel walks.
Le Notre used a similar scheme for the gardens of Versailles but on a much grander scale to completely utilize the nearly 2,000 acres. In addition to the meticulously manicured lawns, parterres of flowers and sculptures, there are many fountains located throughout the garden. Still using much of the same network of hydraulics as was used during the Ancien Régime, the fountains contribute to making the gardens of Versailles unique.
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(L-R) Vaux-le-Vicomte, Les Jardins de Versailles, Versailles detail
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18th century French gardening, a departure from the classical rigidness of earlier landscapes, became more informal, relaxed and romantic. In the 19th century, Paris was transformed by Napolean III with the introduction of public parks and botanic gardens, bringing that beauty and accessibility, once only enjoyed by the elite, now to the commoner. Rethinking the urban landscape, two new public gardens -- Jardins des Tuileries and Jardins de Luxembourg -- were developed, providing outdoor living areas for all to enjoy. Jardins des Tuileries was originally the site of a tile manufacturing factory. Sixty-three acres in the center of Paris were converted into a promenade of gardens, pools, statuary and even a carousel.
Across town, the 57-acre Luxembourg Garden sits on the grounds of the 17th century Luxembourg Palace (today the French Senate), originally built in 1612 as the royal residence of the regent Marie de Medici, the widow of King
Henry IV and mother of Louis XIII. The original gardens, designed by Tommaso Francini, were in the Italian style she had known as a child in Florence. Francini planned two terraces with balustrades and parterres laid out along the axis of the chateau, aligned around a circular basin. Later monarchs largely neglected the garden, and it ultimately went through a succession of alterations over the subsequent centuries that followed.
Today, Le Jardin du Luxembourg is a public garden famed for its calm atmosphere. It covers 56 acres and is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, the model sailboats on its circular basin, and for the picturesque
Medici Fountain, built in 1620. Surrounding the basin on the raised
balustraded
terraces are a series of statues of former French queens and saints. In the southwest corner, there is an orchard of apple and pear trees and the théâtre des marionnettes (
puppet theatre).
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Les Jardins de Luxembourg - "the living room of Paris"
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The appeal of the Luxembourg Gardens is timeless, as is exemplified in this photo of Stacey's daughter pushing a sailboat in the pond in 2005.
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Over the centuries, French gardening expanded to include a multitude of design styles, from the formal elegance of the earliest examples to informal landscapes, chateaux gardens, pleasure gardens and potagers. Bagatelle in Bois de Bologne is a lovely landscape pleasure garden designed in 1777 in the English style with a wisteria- laden formal garden, a rose garden and whimsical follies throughout. The 4-acre Roseraie du Val-de-Marne (below) just outside of Paris is a confectionery of a garden, personifying the living history of the rose with its 11,000 individual plants representing 3,000 different rose varieties in chronological order.
It was only natural that French gardening would spread to the provinces, particularly to the west and south, with their agreeable terroir and suitable climate. In Brittany, Normandy, the Loire Valley, Dordogne, Provence and the Cote d'Azur, gardening flourished in the lush growing conditions. Giverny, home to Claude Monet in the late 1800s, represented a complete departure from the formal palace gardens of Paris. Designed by Monet himself for his own specific uses, the gardens are seemingly informal, yet meticulously planned. Consisting of two unique gardens - one Japanese in feel and the other featuring lily ponds - Giverny emotes a sense of "luxuriant anarchy," quite suitable to Monet's painting style.
Chateau de Brecy in Normandy is a dazzling 17th-century formal garden often referred to as "Little Versailles" due to its extraordinary shaped hedges and geometric designs. Spanning just 3 acres, it is much smaller in scale that many revered French gardens, but its grandeur makes up for its diminutive size. Designed in the classic formal French style, Brecy incorporates an array of parterres, terraces and grand stone work, yet also blends in an air of casualness with its monochromatic gardens and herb gardens.
The Loire Valley is infamous for its string of lavish chateaux built by French kings for their own folly and that of their queens and their royal courtiers. One of the most stunning and unique of the Loire castles is Chenonceau, a medieval chateau on the river Cher, presented as a gift from King Henry II to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. In an endeavor to make Chenonceau her own, Diane extended the original structure
across the river to the opposite bank with a distinctive arched bridge. Additionally, she commissioned lovely walled strolling gardens
upstream from the castle, consisting of fruit trees, rustic shrubs, hawthorn and hazel trees, strawberries and violets. After King Henry's death, however, his widow, Catherine de Medici, forced Diane out of Chenonceau and claimed the chateau as her own. Renouncing Diane's "simple" tastes, Catherine proceeded to outshine Diane by creating a garden of "wonders" on the south side of the castle, including an aviary, a menagerie, a sheep barn, a man-made cave and the rock fountain, as well as exquisitely maintained formal gardens with shaped yews.
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(L-R) Diane de Poitiers garden; Catherine de Medici's garden; Chenonceau Chateau
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Also in the Loire Valley, Villandry (below) boasts some of the most enviable gardens in France. Covering 12 acres, there are three main gardens -- an ornamental garden, a water garden and a potager (or kitchen garden) -- consisting of 10,000 tulips, 45,000 flowering plants and 60,000 vegetable plants!
The arid conditions and Mediterranean influence in Provence resulted in a different style of gardening. The abundant Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild features nine different gardens - formal, medieval, Japanese, rose, Spanish, water, garden rooms and more.
Near Grasse, the former medieval fortress Chateau de Gourdon (below) incorporates the ruins of the fort walls to create a unique Italian parterre garden, as well as a profusion of container gardening due to the rocky soil.
Trish designs personalized destination trips to France, as well. For more information, go to tishrobinson@comcast.net.
Thank you to Terri Lorenz for inviting us into her home and for the incredible floral arrangements (see below); and to the meeting hostesses: Wendy Yamada, Amy Thompson, and new member Kelly Chestnut!
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| (L and R) Close-up detail of floral topiary (center). |
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The Philanthropy committee is seeking suggestions from club members for worthy recipients of our philanthropical support. If you have a nominee you would like to put forth, please contact Ann Jones at rannjones@me.com.
All Philanthropy Funding Request Forms are due by June 15th.
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UPCOMING KGC DATES
Mark the following date(s) on your calendar for these exciting upcoming
Kenilworth Garden Club events and activities!
New & Old Board Meeting
Monday, June 11; 10:00 am
Church of the Holy Comforter
June Meeting & In-House Flower Show
A Tour of Skokie Country Club's Organic Garden
Wednesday, June 15; 9:30 am
Skokie Country Club Paddle Hut,
701 Prairie Rd., Glencoe
July Board Meeting
Monday, July 18; 10:00 am
Church of the Holy Comforter
July Membership Meeting
Stay Tuned for Details!
Wednesday, July 20
(Please be respectful and RSVP for all KGC meetings and events. Thank you!)
 (COPY & PRINT THIS PAGE, SO YOU DON'T MISS A THING!)
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KGC FLORAL DESIGN WORKSHOP & SOS TUNE-UP
WITH GINNY NOYES
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Ginny Noyes provides guidance and insight for the upcoming
2017 Show of Summer.
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Floral Pow Wow With Our Guru Ginny Noyes
A lively group of club members interested in learning more about the "delicate" art of preparing for flower shows met at Terri Lorenz' house in May. Ginny Noyes, exemplary floral designer, GCA floral judge and our Zone XI Vice Chairman, was our design guru of the hour. She engaged us with her self-deprecating humor, graciousness and her floral wisdom.
Ginny prepared a primer of her tips and tricks for show preparation. Comparing several flower show schedules and studying the "Shadow Play" schedule for our upcoming show, she was able to give us insight into the minds of judges and the "ins and outs" of schedule writing and interpretation. She said that over time they have evolved to leave more creative interpretation to the entrants but that it is essential to
ALWAYS re-read class descriptions and general rules about how entries are to be displayed in order to thoroughly understand the requirements.
She also stressed that your statement of intent -- no more than 25 words -- should help illuminate your interpretation, but that sometimes you may have to lobby at "Passing".
We asked many questions, and she fielded them all with grace and aplomb. It was an inspirational morning and one we would like to repeat during the coming year for the larger club membership leading up to SOS. Some of the topics we discussed were as follows:
- What is the zeitgeist of the show? Or as Tomas de Bruyne would say, the w's - who, what, when, where, and why?
- What is allowed and what is not?
- Staging rules
- Botanical Nomenclature
- Statement of Intent, Entry Cards
- "Passing" - what does this mean?
- Standards of Judgment and Point Scoring by Judges
The final word:
Do your research - read the schedule and then reread it again!
For questions or to sign up for any floral workshop, contact Shelley at:
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WHAT'S WHAT AT WARE?
Time to Dig In!
Just because you haven't heard about Ware Garden for the last 4 months, doesn't mean nothing has been going on! A lot has been happening behind the scenes in preparation for the upcoming season at Ware Garden! In February, a request was submitted to the Kenilworth Park District for $17,000 from the Marguerite L. Storch Memorial Garden Fund. The request was granted and the funds will be used to replace the stone wall around the perennial beds which surround the fountain. The wall has deteriorated to the point where some of the blocks were falling off or very wobbly, posing a danger to the children who sometimes walk on them - not to mention the weeders!! At the same time, the bluestone chips which surround the fountain will be replaced with bluestone pavers. After careful consideration, Nature's Perspective was chosen from among 3 proposals; they have scheduled the work to begin on May 18.
Wendy Yamada is working on setting up our weeding schedule for Ware Garden this season. We will be working on Mondays from 9-11am, with a couple of Saturdays selected for those who cannot work on Mondays. Members who have signed up with SignUp Genius in the past should get an email once the schedule has been set up. Regular members are required to work AT LEAST 2 hours during the season; if a member cannot work, she is required to pay $50 to the treasurer which goes to the Ware Garden account.
We are eagerly awaiting the warm, sunny days to see how all the new native plants have survived the winter! We have also ordered more plants for the area along Kenilworth Avenue which was roto-tilled last fall.
We all greatly appreciate your participation in making Ware the most beautiful garden in the village. Working in Ware Garden is an important part of our club's history, and it's F-U-N!! Hope to see you at Ware Garden soon!
Let's dig in!!
Elizabeth Dugan, Sara Morgan, Barbi Paine and Wendy Yamada
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KENILWORTH COMBINED COUNCIL
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| Photos by Cheryl Anderson |
Beautification Meeting - April 4, 2016
Lois Stanley shared the drawings of beautiful pale stone pillars, or entry monuments, designed by Nick Patera of Tesla Associates; the drawings were provided at no cost to Beautification. Along with his drawings, he included pictures of exactly where the the entry monuments could be placed at village entry points along Green Bay Road adjacent to Maggi Park and the east side entry to Kenilworth. It was noted by Lois that "Patera has the artistic vision."
Of course, the entry monuments, along with the proposed curved walls, are part of a "long-term" plan to enhance our Village. Both ideas will have to be floated by the village's governmental entities. People are reaching out to determine interest in funding which will further clarify feasibility.
We are advised that plantings, shrubs, trees and mulch can be installed in Maggi Park before the walls at no risk to their survival; work is scheduled to begin in 2016.
Spring was difficult to imagine at the time of this meeting as we had just gone through a weekend of on and off snow showers; however, ongoing preparations for the Plant Sale heralds in our confidence it will arrive.......someday.
Beautification Meeting - May 2, 2016
Kenilworth Council of Garden Clubs:
Present at this month's meeting were program chairs from three of the clubs informing us of their programs for the past year. One of the most intriguing events came from Kenilworth Home and Garden. Their speaker, Connie Yonan, raises Monarch Butterflies in her home. I had never heard of someone doing such a thing, but the images in my mind of what that may look like were beautiful.
Kenilworth Club:
They continue to have major "water issues" and these issues are damaging the structure. Ideas as to what the solution is to remedy it are being discussed.
Tree Program:
This program is going forward. The Village continues to have a keen interest identifying problems with some trees and determining what and where to plant more.
Green Bay Road Swale:
The location, in the early stages of development, is north of Park on the railroad side of the GBR. There are certain species of trees and grasses that do well in a swale. Determining the right combination of both trees and grasses is important.
Plant Sale:
The Plant Sale was only ten days away from the date of this meeting and things were moving along smoothly. I will report later just how successful was the outcome!
Cheryl Anderson, Kenilworth Civic Co-Chair
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CONSERVATION EDUCATION
Scientists have been
warning for decades that
climate change is a threat to the immense tracts of forest that ring the Northern Hemisphere, with rising temperatures, drying trees and earlier melting of snow contributing to a growing number of wildfires. The near-destruction of a Canadian city last week by a fire that sent almost 90,000 people fleeing for their lives is grim proof that the threat to these vast stands of spruce and other resinous trees, collectively known as the boreal forest, is real. And scientists say a large-scale loss of the forest could have profound consequences for efforts to limit the damage from climate change.
To read the article in its entirety, click the link below:
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The Spring 2016 Issue of The GCA Bulletin is Out
...And, yes, that is KGC's own Ann Jones featured front and center on the steps of the Capital at the February NAL Conference in Washington DC. To read more about the conference, check out pages
8-13 of this issue (click on the link below). The article summarizes the position papers, the speakers and the whole process in a very readable and interesting format.
The Bulletin - Spring 2016 Issue
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Carpe Diem!!
Attending
GCA conferences is one of the great benefits of KGC membership.
Among the best is the
Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference in Brooklyn on September 19-21, 2016. They will be celebrating the centennial of the famed Brooklyn Botanical Garden and experiencing so much more. If you are interested in attending this conference, please contact Lenore Macdonald at
mail@macdonald.in asap! The conference always fills quickly!! KGC will cover the cost of one member's registration fee plus up to $500 in related expenses. More information can be found
here. Past attendees include Cheryl Anderson (Birmingham) and Shelley Galloway (Texas). What are you waiting for!? Carpe diem!
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Lenore brought these lovely cookies to our last Board meeting, and everyone swooned, so she agreed to share the recipe from one of her favorite cookbooks, "A La Mere de la Famille" (which is also a bakery and confectioner in Paris). These delicious almond cookies are light and airy, yet crunchy and chewy
all at the same time. And, with only four ingredients, they're a cinch to bake!
2 egg whites
1 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups slivered almonds
In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg whites and sugar using a spatula. Sift in the flour. Finish by gently folding in the almonds, being careful not to break them.
Adjust the oven racks to the upper- and lower-middle positions and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, drop mounds of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool before removing from the baking sheets. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to a week.
Tip: You can also flavor these cookies with orange flower water or a little citrus zest.
Makes 30 cookies.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
KGC is thrilled to have six fabulous new members! Over the next few issues, this column will feature each of these new members in an effort to help you get to know them a little better. This month, the spotlight is on new member and incoming KGC Communications Chair
Chris Wiedrich.
The owner of her own interior design firm,
All The Comforts of Home
, Chris is also a very involved member of the community. She is past president and current chairman of the New Trier Fine Arts Association, was PTO president for Harper Elementary, and a board member at Willow Wood Preschool. She is also an active member of Holy Comforter, where she has served on the Flower Guild, the Housewalk committee and was one of the founding organizers of the church's preschool, All Things Bright and Beautiful.
What is your favorite season?
My favorite season by far is fall -- I love the changing leaves, cooler
temps and fires in the fireplace.
What is your favorite plant or flower?
I can't pick one favorite flower, as too many have sentimental meaning. But when choosing scented soap, my favorite is Lily of the Valley or Lilac. Growing up, my bedroom was surrounded by Lilac trees and the scent was heavenly, and out front we had a huge patch of Lily of the Valley. These days, I can't wait for spring in order to pick a big bundle of each at our cottage in Michigan - even if they do only last a couple of days.
How would you describe your gardening style?
My gardening style is to plunge in and hope that I know, by osmosis, what I am doing. I have a lot to learn and hope to do so through my involvement in KCG. Thank you for this membership opportunity!
What garden has made the biggest impression on you?
I think it has to be the English one at the Botanic Garden. I love to wander through each "room," sit in the corner structure looking out on the lake, and finish by walking down the allee of trees outside the garden wall. Bit by bit, I am trying to recreate some of that charm in my own backyard.
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FOCUS ON PHOTOGRAPHY
Attached is a flyer with information about an exciting photography contest sponsored by National Garden Clubs to honor the National Parks System. All garden club members are eligible to enter. The contest is juried and the 30 photographs making the final cut will be displayed at the Fall NGC Board Meeting in Portland, Maine. The photographs on display will then receive a final judging and the winners announced. A special twist to the contest is that the photographs will be available to NGC for its use in publications and on the
web site. The photographers will retain copyright, but NGC will be able to use them.
To print this flyer, click
here.
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Summer is a great time to explore new facets of photography. Check out these classes offered by Jack Carlson at Chicago Botanic Garden. All classes are certain to fill up in no time -- especially the new ones -- so don't wait! I would consider joining a class with you. If interested, contact me at sdeluca13@yahoo.com.
June
NEW! Mettawa Manor Photo Workshop (1 Thursday) June 9 10-3 p
Photographing Butterflies & Blooms (1 Thursday) June 23 7-10 a
Photographing Butterflies & Blooms (1 Saturday) June 25 7-10 a
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In this column, we will share pertinent information about the Village of Kenilworth for residents who may have missed it or for non-residents who may just be interested.
Village Water Contract
At the February Kenilworth Village Board Meeting, the Trustees authorized the execution of a contract with the Village of Wilmette for the purchase of potable water. In order to begin receiving water from Wilmette, construction of a booster pump station will occur in the area between Kenilworth Avenue and Glendenning. The Village has selected a contractor and work is expected to begin in April.
As part of a separate project, the Village will also be making improvements to our water distribution system by connecting the main near Melrose and Green Bay to the main on Kenilworth Avenue. The Village was able to save on project cost by performing both projects at the same time.
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Happenings Around Town
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Saturday, June 4; 10:00 am
World Environment Day
A daylong schedule of activities and programs will explore how people of all ages can take care of the earth through awareness and action.
Fee: Free*
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe
June 11-12, 10:00 - 4:30 pm
Ikebana International Exhibition
The Ikebana International Society presents an exhibition of traditional Japanese flower arranging. There will be demonstrations on both days at 11:30 and 2. Join us to learn more about this wonderful floral art form.
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe
June 11-12
; 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
The Old Town Art Fair AND Garden Walk
The Old Town Art Fair includes a wonderful, winding, self-guided Garden Walk throughout historic Old Town. Approximately 60 gardens will be on display during the Old Town Art Fair, many open to the public only during this weekend. It is a great opportunity to see what can be done with small spaces. Complementary maps are included in the Fair program available at all entry gates. You can visit the gardens in any order and at your own pace.
Fee: Free
The Old Town Triangle in Lincoln Park is bounded by North Avenue, Clark Street, Wisconsin and Orleans.
June 18 & 19; 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Father's Day Canoe Adventure
In partnership with Friends of the Chicago River, the Chicago Botanic Garden invites you to participate in a rare opportunity to canoe the lakes of the Garden. Herons, ducks, small fish, and maybe even a few turtles and frogs will greet you as we explore their watery habitat. No experience with canoeing is necessary; instruction, canoes, life jackets, and paddles are all provided. Please choose one of the start times that are scheduled. You'll enjoy a full hour canoeing the lakes of Chicago Botanic Garden. Be sure to register early, as this event always sells out!
$57 per person; members receive 20% discount. Children must be at least 5 years old to participate.
To register, click here.
Saturday, June 26; 10:00 - 2:00 pm
Model Sailboat Sunday
Bring your child (and childlike wonder) and watch model sailboats race across the North Lake! Demonstrations are organized by the Chicago R/C Model Yacht Club
and held at the Waterside Terrace on the Esplanade. Admire spectacular views of the North Lake and Smith Fountain as you watch the race, and learn about building and operating model sailboats. Weather permitting.
Fee: Free*
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe
Sunday, June 26, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Garden Conservancy Open Days
Tour four private North Shore gardens, including Northwestern University's Shakespeare Garden, Thornewood and Pond Ridge in Lake Forest. Admission to each private garden is $7. Don't forget to buy discounted admission tickets in advance.
For tickets, go to: Open Days
Sunday, June 26; Noon - 5:00 pm
Evanston Garden Walk
Hosted by the Evanston Environmental Association, Evanston's 27th Annual Garden Walk is a showcase of 8 private gardens, plus a grouping of several scenic public gardens located within the grounds of Presbyterian Homes. Proceeds from the Garden Walk benefit the educational programs of the Evanston Environmental Association.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of.
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
* Chicago Botanic Garden charges a $20 parking fee for non-members
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KENILWORTH CELEBRATES
The 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the
Chicago Bulls Basketball Team
by Dick O. Klein, former Kenilworth resident
June 18, 2016
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Kenilworth Park District Village House
Cookout, Free Throw Contest and Autograph Signing
guest appearance by Chicago Bulls' 3x NBA All Star BOB LOVE #10
Open to All
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Cocktail Party, Auction items and Celebratory Recognition
Kenilworth Assembly Hall
with Chicago Bulls Management and the Klein Family
$100 per person
Special Recognition Gold Member Sponsorship for groups of 10: $1000
** A portion of the proceeds will benefit Friends of the Kenilworth Club, 501c3
for the preservation of the Kenilworth Assembly Hall**
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Beyond The Garden Gate
Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire
June 17-18, 2016
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tour the gardens of three outstanding Barrington Hills estates
Find bargains at Avant Garden, an upscale flea market
Visit the boutique - a quaint cottage of fashion and home accessories
Shop the French Market, featuring home & garden accessories
Attend exciting home & garden party vignettes
Home & Garden Presentations:
"Tried and True Summer Bloomers" - Friday, 12:30 pm
"Gardening With God's Creatures" - Saturday,12:30 pm
"British Bouquets and English Displays" - Friday and Saturday, 2:00 pm
Tickets are $45 through June 12th; $55 June 13th and after.
Tickets may be purchased online through June 15th.
For ticket and event information, visit
Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire
or call (847) 381-7367
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
GCI
Summer Meeting "Red, White & Bloom"
July 18th is the date of the GCI Summer Meeting
"Red, White
& Bloom" hosted by District IX. The meeting will be held at Cantigny in Wheaton - a unique park filled with amazing gardens, museums & a stately mansion once owned by Robert McCormick. There will be time to see everything plus vendors, raffles awards, lunch & a program "Kiss My Aster" by Amanda Thompson. Registration is in Garden Glories & on the website.
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Originally tulipieres were not intended for arranging flowers, as some believe, but rather for forcing tulip and other bulbs indoors by inserting the bulbs in each funnel/tube. During the Tulip Mania period in Holland in the 1630s, a tulip bulb could cost 10 times the yearly income of a skilled craftsman. The flowers became a status symbol and containers were created to display them; in some instances the containers were huge.
Delft potteries were influenced, in great measure, by the foundation of the Dutch East India Company established in 1602; many forms of oriental ceramic art pottery flooded Holland at that time. Trade with Asia introduced Europe to tulips, crocus and hyacinth bulbs; all three varieties of flowers were considered luxury items and "remained an exotic novelty until the end of the 17th century."
Tulip Mania
coincided with the ascension of Delftware, soon noticed by the aristocrats, royals and elites of the day. Co-regents, William and Mary, were enthusiastic patrons of the potteries. Mary, especially enamoured with the Delft art, can be credited with the great popularity of the "sprouted" flower vases, commissioning many during her lifetime.
The Netherlands had been producing tin-glazed pottery with its white sheen for about 100 years. Dutch potters soon "became familiar with the intricate patterned designs (of the new Asian pottery arrivals) and began replicating them"; mainly decorated with blue paint like the Chinese porcelain, but multi-colored patterns exist, as well.
The astronomical price of tulip bulbs did eventually collapse, but the popularity of the tulip did not during the 'Dutch Golden Age', generally the entire 17th century. It was during this period that tulipiere vases were produced to display tulips and force bulbs. The Delft sprouts (funnels) were usually smaller and in greater number on one single vase than their Chinese counterparts.
The tulipiere is now used to hold flowers, especially tulips. In my opinion, they look just as beautiful sans fleurs; an objet d'art you can display for the shear joy of looking at it. I've seen elaborate ones that are very valuable in museums and grand homes in Europe. They come in all sizes, shapes, colors and detail; some are very dear in price, not for sale, then again others, comparatively speaking, are not so prohibitive in price. I've found them on ebay, etsey, Williamsburg Marketplace and Juliska.
The first time I saw a flower vase with the funnel/sprout configuration was in Williamsburg, Virginia, the "five finger posy holder"; Williamsburg was founded in 1632. Oh, that may not be the official name for such a vase, but it is what I knew it as. Five long funnels in a fan-like arrangement. In the homes of Williamsburg, the funnels were stuffed with flowers, no separation between them, forming a beautiful flower fan.
I was recently given an antique blue and white tulipiere made in Asia. There are no well-defined "funnels" per se, but to my mind, the five distinctive bulbous protrusions forming the base is the designer's interpretation of them; there's a hole in
the top of each protrusion as well as in the top of the long funnel situated in the center to insert flowers. The tulipiere lends itself to whatever tulip arrangement you can imagine. There's a bit of whimsy when a tulip is allowed to flop-over a bit. I look forward to experimenting with all kinds of flowers; cut short or kept long, one color or complimentary mixed colors, sturdy stems or flexible. Now that I think about it, what a perfect way for the flower arranging novice to have fun with flowers without being intimidated. You can't go wrong with a tulipiere! P
erhaps you'll want to purchase a tulipiere and see just how perfect it is for displaying tulips...or whatever other bloom that makes you feel happy.
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Green Tree Garden Club
Kettle Moraine Garden Club
Lake Geneva Garden Club
Town and Country Garden Club
Member clubs of The Garden Club of America
Present
A GCA Major Flower Show
September 27 and 28, 2016
Hosted at the Harley-Davidson Museum® Garage, 500 W. Canal Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Open to the public
September 27, 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.
September 28, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission and parking are free of charge
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AND SPECIAL THANKS TO...
Lenore Macdonald for working so diligently with the amazing staff at Skokie Country Club to ensure that everything ran smoothly at both the Benefit and the Annual Meeting/Luncheon.
Julia Kyle for manning the front table and welcoming everyone so graciously.
Jeanne Daniel and Shelley Galloway for all of the beautiful centerpieces (complete with adorable cards listing the plants) and the lovely roses with which to honor our special members - you outdid yourselves.
Grace Harley for somehow finding time to buy the beautiful hydrangeas and create the lovely list of our "special recognition" tenured members; it was a huge help and I'm so sorry you couldn't be at the event - we missed you.
Marty Shaw & Lenore Macdonald for working with SCC to come up with a fantastic menu, complete with our "custom" desert - everything was delicious (and practically too pretty to eat!). Thank you also for taking the time to make sure the room was arranged perfectly and appointed so beautifully.
Marty Shaw for putting together that fantastic running slideshow with Stacey De Luca's photos; it was the perfect touch to the morning, and so fun to see a play-back of so many fun club events.
Marty Shaw & Lenore Macdonald for tackling yet another aspect of the meeting...working with the club to handle one of the most nerve-wracking pieces of any event -- the tech stuff! It worked great!!
Ann Jones for your very informative and very interesting summary of the NAL meeting. After hearing what you had to say, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who put my current GCA Bulletin back on the top of the reading pile!
Leslie North for the gorgeous invitations. Many members commented on how pretty they were this year.
Kathy Elmer for taking on the arduous job of tracking RSVPs when you already had several other KGC tasks taking up your time!
Joan Dodson, Tina Rice, Joan Senko, Heather Blackwell for making weekly deliveries of flowers from Mariano's to JourneyCare.
It takes a village to pull these events off, for sure, and I will be forever grateful to each of you for your help.
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To submit material for inclusion in the Kenilworth Garden Club newsletter, please contact:
sdeluca13@yahoo.com
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