Updated 11/20/2020
PLEASANT HILLS GARDEN CLUB
Pleasant Hills Garden Club
410 East Bruceton Road
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236
Email: pleasanthillsgc@gmail.com
Affiliated with
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Central Atlantic Region
The Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania, District X
Organized 1940; Federated 1955; Currently 27 members
We meet the second Monday of each month unless otherwise specified, with desserts and coffee at 12:30 and the
Program beginning at 1:00 in the
Pleasant Hills Municipal Community Room,
410 E. Bruceton Road, Pleasant Hills.
The Garden Club is welcoming new members.
Guests are welcome at all meetings unless otherwise stated.
PHGC March 2020 Newsletter
Good March everyone!
I am so looking forward to spring and getting outside! I want to plant the Burpee seeds that were available to us from District X. Plant America, Plant a Burpee Seed Garden program donated seed packets to promote Burpee Garden and is using Pennsylvania as a test state. We are requested to take photos of our results from the seeds for the District X Board meeting in August. The photos will be mailed as a district to the NGC, Inc. Sponsorship Committee.
The Pleasant Hills Garden Club received a donation from Dorothy Hayes in memory of her mother, Jeannette Rowland, in celebration of her birthday on January 10th. Also, a donation was also received from Angie Raitano in remembrance of Gloria & Don.
Mark your calendars for…
1) Monday, March 9th for the PHGC meeting. The speaker on beneficial insects has cancelled. The new program is The Landscape and Arboretum of Jefferon Memorial Park with Zowie Merril, Horticulturalist, presenting.
The Design Assignment is Creative Design Using Fruits and/or Vegetables
2) The Orchid Society of Western PA will be hosting its annual orchid show March 14-15, 2020, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel across from the South Hills Village. Admission is free and there is ample free parking available. Each year it offers orchid re-potting services by experienced orchid growers for a donation of $5 per re-potted orchid (exceptions may apply for especially large orchids).
3) Wednesday, March 18th for District X Spring Tea at the Mon Valley YMCA 101 Taylor Run Rd, Monongahela, PA 15063. There will be a signup at our March meeting to send to District X. Be sure to sign up.
* Registration – 9:30 AM Coffee and Rolls upon arrival.
* Business Meeting – 10:00 A.M. President’s Reports; Judging of the Trash to Treasures Entries Theme: “Any Way You Slice It.” Each club participating should bring ONE entry. The winning entry will be chosen to go to the 2020 GCFP Convention.
* Lunch – NOON District X Board Members provide lunch, free of charge.
* PROGRAM 1:00 PM Beth Exton of the Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens will give an update on the Botanic Gardens.
Helen and I spoke with Amy at the Borough Building about having a link on the borough’s web page to the Pleasant Hills Garden Club. (Both Helen and I have been working on this for a while.) We should have a new link soon. (As of 2/24/20, I did not see a link on the borough’s home page.) The Facebook page is being recreated as well. Anyone who knows the owner of the old page let Helen, Kim, or me know.
How about another meet, chat, and network at Panera? I am considering Tuesday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day!). We would meet at 10:00. I will mass email everyone once the date is definite.
Louise
PHGC February 2020 Newsletter
Good February everyone!
The program in February, Wildlife in Your Backyard, was quite interesting! The speaker, Douglas Bergman, was informative and entertaining.
Also, during February’s meeting, Elaine’s son-in-law was gracious enough to provide feedback on members’ photographs that were on display for the design assignment. We have some very talented members!
Two new members attended the February meeting, Cheryl and Carolyn. Welcome!
In March, Barbara and her husband will be doing a stained-glass presentation at the Pleasant Hills Library. I don’t have the date, but I’m sure Barb would provide details if asked.
On a social note, on Tuesday, January 28th, some of us gathered at Panera in Southland to talk to other patrons and to socialize. Patty, Joyce, Barbara, Jan, Helen, Marie and I had a very pleasant time and had the opportunity to talk to one of our past members, Sue Wright. A friend who was with Sue, Nina, is an expert on mushrooms and is willing to host a program next year.
We discussed going again to Panera and to perhaps expanding our efforts of recruitment (and socialization) to include a happy hour gathering at Atria’s. I think we should!
Regarding a link to the PHGC on the Pleasant Hills Borough’s web site: Amy, who works in the office, did some research and sent me the following information:
===========
Louise,
I wanted to let you know how to find the garden club link on the website. You can go to the top menu, select Services, go to the drop down menu and select General Borough Information, then scan through the article that comes up until you get to Community Organizations (the 3rd green titled portion of the article) and click on the link there. However, there is a much easier way. You can go to the Site Search field at the top of the far right menu titled with Alerts an Observed Holidays. If you type the work "Garden" it will take you to an option to select the article with the link.
I did email the webmaster for the website and asked him to possibly add a link to community Groups on the Home Menu so that people won't have to search as extensively. I'm awaiting his response. If there are any more questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Have a great day!
Warmest Regards, Amy Martin, Borough of Pleasant Hills
============
Please note that Jxx Oxx’s correct cell phone number is 412-xxx-xxxx
Send me your photographs! I can post some on our web site’s gallery page.
See you at the March meeting… or sooner!
Louise
PHGC January 2020 Newsletter
Hi all! Welcome to my inaugural newsletter for the Pleasant Hills Garden Club! I am still learning what I will need to do as full-time president next year, but I have a competent (and very nice and friendly) teacher and good example in Helen. Plus, everyone in the club is accommodating and supportive. Thank you!
Since I was unable to make January's meeting, I hosted a get-together to use the food that I didn't get to take to the meeting. I want to thank those who came to my "cucumber sandwiches and wine and bourbon" afternoon get-together on the 19th. I had a really good time and hope you did, too. For those of you who couldn't make it, well, that just gives an excuse to do it again! (I emailed everyone an invitation. If you did not get the invitation, please let me know.)
One of the ideas that circulated at the get-together was to meet at Panera on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 to socialize as well as promote the PHGC. We could enjoy our coffee/tea and circulate information about the club. (I will check with Helen about fliers.) So, let's do it! Let's meet at Panera in Southland on Tuesday, January 28th at 10:00am. I will be there!
Marie has provided information about the February Design Assignment:
++ For our photography assignment at the February meeting, please bring in one or two photographs that you have taken. If possible, photographs should be about something from nature (horticulture, insects, environment, etc.…) would be best.
We will have John Jennings, a real photographer, come and give us tips on how to improve our photos. I suggest that you bring in something large enough so several people can view it. I will have my photos printed to an 8” x 10” size. For this exercise, it does not have to be on photographic paper, or matted, but for a flower show it would.
What a great learning experience this will be, not only for flower shows, but for our personal photos as well. ++
Also, as per an email from Helen, at the February meeting we will be addressing the following by-laws change:
++ Change to ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS on Section 4 on page 63, 64 in the yearbook. There should be 30 days notice, but we did discuss this
change briefly at our January impromptu meeting after installation. It currently states “by purchasing a book for the Pleasant Hills Library, in memory of that person.” That should be replaced with “by purchasing a brick to be placed in Let Freedom Ring Garden.”
Section 4- When Club Members pass away, as a Club we will not send flowers for the deceased, but instead, the Club will memorialize the deceased member of the Club by purchasing a brick to be placed in Let Freedom Ring Garden. ++
OK! I think I’ve said enough for my first newsletter. I hope to see you at Panera next Tuesday and/or at our February meeting.
Louise
PHGC April / May 2020 Newsletter and News
Good spring everyone! Because of covid-19 the Pleasant Hills Garden Club has not been having its monthly meetings and, unfortunately, had to cancel the annual plant sale.
However, we have had 2 tele-conference meetings and we are looking forward to when Pennsylvania goes into the green phase and we can get back to life more-or-less as it was before the pandemic.
Members continue to actively maintain the Let Freedom Ring Garden, the Pleasant Hills Library grounds, and the Arboretum.
The club will be presenting (and are always on the look out for) Garden of the Month. If you see a beautiful, interesting, or otherwise note-worthy yard, let us know!
And, we are working on starting a butterfly garden in the Arboretum!
Louise
PHGC July 2020 Newsletter
Good July everyone! We had a Board meeting on July 21 at the Arboretum. Ten garden club members attended. We social distanced and most of us wore masks.
Sadly, because of pandemic restrictions/cancellations there have been no “regular” meetings and activities have been curtailed. However, there is some news!
We have gotten four new member this year: Cheryl, Christine, Carolyn, and Cathleen. Welcome!
Our August meeting, Art in Bloom, has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for next year.
The September meeting has also been cancelled. Instead we will have a Board meeting on September 14th at 2:00 pm in the Arboretum. The meeting will be open to all members. Bring a problem plant or a mystery weed!
Pamela reported that 39 bags of mulch were spread at the Arboretum, three Bottle Brush Buckeye shrubs were planted, and that she would like to plant a Mountain Laural (PA state flower) at the Oakcrest entrance (but would need to protect it from the deer). She also reported that several other fences are to be installed but estimates still need to come in.
Charlene and her helpers have been doing a great job maintaining the Let Freedom Ring Garden, as well as the Library grounds. Charlene reported that as she was working on LFRG, a passerby donated $15!
Linda suggested we put markers to identify plants. (I think that’s a good idea!) Does anyone want to investigate garden markers that we could use for LFRG? Pamela thought copper ones.
Linda has been making a Garden of the Month album. She reports that people are excited when they win! (Thank you, Linda!)
And, finally, we talked about Japanese beetles being a problem this year, and, of course, how the deer are eating EVERYTHING!
Helen was helpful in supplying District X Information for the newsletter:
There are TWO meetings coming up. Both at the Lions Club Park -- different dates – different pavilions.
The first one is the District X BOARD Meeting – August 17th at the Moose Pavilion in Lions Park Waynesburg
The second one is The District X ANNUAL Meeting for all clubs on September 21st at the Jaycee Pavilion in Lions Club Park
Whichever meeting you hope to attend, please follow the same protocol as if you are going to a doctor’s appointment. If in the past two weeks before each meeting you have traveled for business or pleasure, had any flu like symptoms, or have been around a person with Covid-19 -- Stay Home and quarantine yourself.
Temperatures will be taken on arrival. Please bring your face mask to use when not eating. You can bring your own hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes. The picnic tables are to be sanitized before we get there. We will have access to a bathroom and running water.
Note: We have V-neck T-shirts for sale for $20. Lots of us wear them when working in the gardens.
Hope to see many of you at the September Board meeting!
Louise
PHGC September 2020 Newsletter
Hi!
We had a meeting on September 14th at the Arboretum.
It was good to see 10 of us in attendance (with masks!).
Our next meeting is on October 5th at 2:00 in South Park so that we can
see the Cascades. Park in the lot for Oliver Miller Homestead. The nearest
shelter is reserved for us. A ranger will talk to us there, and lead us to the
Cascades, which are very close by. He will also talk about their wildflower
meadow and any other park topics we find of interest, as time allows.
We will not serve refreshments or have a design challenge.
There will be a short meeting to pass out awards. Also, Helen will have the
Garden Club T-shirts for those who ordered them.
Helen talked to Amy at the borough building who confirmed that GARDEN
the building will not be open in October, hence our next meeting OF THE
will be in South Park. November and December are still up in the air. MONTH
SEPTEMBER
Kim gave away packets of milkweed seeds. Thanks, Kim!
Following are the explanations of the recent awards our Club’s members
received at the District X Annual meeting:
DAFFODIL AWARDS are a District X Award. Daffodils are awarded for a special project, or for recognition of a special member. There are no specific categories and three can be awarded. The members who received the Daffodil awards are Louise Humphreys (special project of her hard work in setting up and designing the club’s website), Barbara Latterman (special project of donation of handmade stepping stones for the library garden) and Marie Mueller (for being a special member and sharing her knowledge of design and display).
DISTRICT LAUREL AWARDS are a non-competitive award that can be given to any qualified District or individual club member. These awards encourage and recognize outstanding accomplishments that are "above and beyond" the regular duties of office or committee. There are specific categories for these awards, but no limits on how many can be given. For complete information go to www.pagardenclubs.org. The member who received this award is Pamela Kavelman.
BUTTERFLY AWARD is a District X Award created to recognize one member yearly in our District for their outstanding efforts, on behalf of their own club. The member who received this award is Helen Galluppi.
And, thank you Helen, Marie, Pamela, and Kim for all the information and updates contained in this newsletter.
Louise
Following is information for events that are of interest:
1) Master Gardener “Growing a Greener Garden”
and
2) 2020 CAR-SGC BLOOMING-ZOOM FESTIVAL October 18-22, 2020
1) Info for Master Gardener “Growing a Greener Garden”:
WEIRD AND WACKY VEGGIES
Join us as Washington County Coordinator, Laura Delach discusses lesser known and rarely planted veggies that are not only delicious but beautiful. Get off the beaten path and reap great satisfaction from learning about these weird and wacky vegetables. Recipes will also be shared for each vegetable.
PIZZAZ UP YOUR PERENNIALS
Tired of planting the same perennials season after season? Need help dividing perennials correctly? Do you know you can plant perennials in the fall? If you have these or other questions, join Mandy Smith, Westmoreland County Master Gardener Coordinator, who will give you the latest planting scoop on perennials.
WHAT LIES BENEATH
Healthy soil is necessary for healthy plants. In this presentation Glen Bupp, Allegheny County Master Gardener Coordinator, will simplify the complexities of soil science. We’ll breakdown how pH influences nutrient uptake in plants, how components of soil influence water movement, the benefits of soil microbes, and some of the signs your plants are telling you they want a change in their soil.
WINTER SOWING
Winter sowing is an easy way to start many plants, especially perennials that require cold stratification, from seed in the winter. Some people use it to start annuals and even vegetable plants in the early spring. Join Mary Ann Efron, Master Gardener from Cambria County, as she explains the mechanics of winter sowing through viewing her photographs as she shares her own experiences using this method over the last two winters.
https://extension.psu.edu/growing-a-greener-garden
2) 2020 CAR-SGC BLOOMING-ZOOM FESTIVAL October 18-22, 2020
BLOOMING ZOOM FESTIVAL is a package of presentations and workshops created to educate and entertain our members without leaving the comfort of their homes.
Use this link: CAR-SGC ZOOM Festival to find all the information and details.
