2022 Programs & Activities
Presentations and handouts are made available with approval from guest speakers.
Postings may be removed at the discretion of the GGC or the speaker.
DECEMBER PROGRAM - Black Bear Happenings in NH
DECEMBER ACTIVITY - Breakfast with Santa
On Saturday, December 3rd, volunteers from the Grantham Garden Club helped out at the
Grantham Recreation Department’s annual BREAKFAST WITH SANTA held at the Town Hall.
To see more photos and learn the rest of the story, be sure to read Terri's blog
Breakfast with Santa that chronicles all the fun they had!
Grantham Recreation Department’s annual BREAKFAST WITH SANTA held at the Town Hall.
To see more photos and learn the rest of the story, be sure to read Terri's blog
Breakfast with Santa that chronicles all the fun they had!
NOVEMBER PROGRAM - General Membership Meeting
SEPTEMBER ACTIVITY - Member Appreciation Party
Little did anyone know that the GGC’s year-end party in 2019 would be the last one for three years. The club was thrilled to host the Member Appreciation Party on September 24th at the South Cove Activity Center. Members were finally able to meet some of the new folks and catch up with old friends. (Louise Rauh, the membership lead, had a heck of a time keeping up with name tags for all the folks.)
Elise Kendall, GGC president, thanked everyone for supporting the club in so many different ways. Terri Munson led an enthusiastic ‘hip hip hooray’ to acknowledge Elise’s amazing job as president for the past three Covid-challenging years. Civic Gardens team leads, Amelia Lantz and Bill Weeks, talked about how much adding flowers and color to the town is appreciated. They handed out thank you cards to all the volunteers who planted or took a week to water the ten civic gardens throughout town. Our head of hospitality, Kathy Houghton, recruited volunteers to prepare a very popular array of tasty treats including jalapeno popper egg rolls, stuffed mushrooms, quinoa buffalo bites, grilled pineapple and sausage bites, and individual apple crisps. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who helped:
And for the many members who asked for Kathy’s Quinoa Buffalo Bites recipe.....here it is!
|
|
Ingredients 1 cup cooked quinoa 2 large eggs ¼ cup finely grated carrot ¼ cup finely chopped celery ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese |
Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees Spray 12 mini muffin pans Combine all ingredients Scoop into mini muffin pans Bake 30 to 35 minutes Transfer to a cooling rack |
Blue Cheese Dip ½ cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon crumbled blue cheese Combine and mix well Kathy's tip: Change the flavor profile to suit any theme |
SEPTEMBER FUNDRAISER - Daffodil Bulb Sale
Thank you to all who participated in this SOLD OUT fundraiser! Members interested in helping plant daffodil bulbs around Grantham in mid to late October should email president@granthamgardenclub.org.
Be sure to read Terri's blog about the Garden Angels who planted 380 donated daffodil bulbs!
SEPTEMBER PROGRAM - Spirit of Place
AUGUST ACTIVITY - Grantham Village School Garden Cleanup
In July, Terri Munson, Janie Clark, and Maryellen DeJong met with Sydney Leggett, the Superintendent of Schools, to learn about the Grantham Village School’s upcoming playground construction project and to see if the Garden Club could help in any way. In talking with Ms. Leggett, they found the project was well under control and learned the only gap in the plans was the funding for the cement foundation for the pavilion that Yankee Barn was donating to the school. That was not going be within the scope of the Club’s mission but Ms. Leggett also shared with them the effort to spruce up the school’s Star Garden. Bingo! Right up our alley!
The garden is triangular and situated so that anyone going into the school’s main entrance passes by it. The creation of the garden was an Artist-in-Residency project. The cement sculptures were designed and created by the students along with instruction from Emile Birch, a NH artist whose many sculptures are featured all over the state. The cement artwork badly needed cleaning and repainting. School Board member Denise Sullivan, along with her husband, Brian, and the Superintendent of Schools, took on that job over the summer.
Along with refreshing the artwork, the shrubs and trees desperately needed pruning, many of the plants needed dividing, a Burning Bush needed to be extracted due to its invasive nature, and A LOT of weeding needed to happen. A call for volunteers went out and on August 19th and 23rd, Maryellen DeJong and Janie Clark coordinated a group of 9 additional volunteers to weed and prune. GGC member and Master Gardener, Bill Weeks, was also enlisted to work on a garden design. The school secured a tractor and the bush was extracted. And much to our surprise, a teacher at the school who was a recipient of a GGC grant several years ago, asked if we could use any additional plants. She explained that she works for Henderson’s Nursery Garden Center in VT during the summers. She spoke with the owner and voila, a donation of 30 perennials and shrubs arrived at the garden! And another surprise occurred late in the summer with Kathan Gardens donating trays of annuals to brighten up the garden! We are very grateful to Kathy for her garden advice and to the garden centers for their donations to the school.
For the future, we hope to develop an ongoing partnership with the school’s parent group in the maintenance of the garden and in other ways that GGC members can share their time and expertise. We think this has been a great step towards establishing another GGC community connection and we want to thank the volunteers who dug into this project to help!
Along with refreshing the artwork, the shrubs and trees desperately needed pruning, many of the plants needed dividing, a Burning Bush needed to be extracted due to its invasive nature, and A LOT of weeding needed to happen. A call for volunteers went out and on August 19th and 23rd, Maryellen DeJong and Janie Clark coordinated a group of 9 additional volunteers to weed and prune. GGC member and Master Gardener, Bill Weeks, was also enlisted to work on a garden design. The school secured a tractor and the bush was extracted. And much to our surprise, a teacher at the school who was a recipient of a GGC grant several years ago, asked if we could use any additional plants. She explained that she works for Henderson’s Nursery Garden Center in VT during the summers. She spoke with the owner and voila, a donation of 30 perennials and shrubs arrived at the garden! And another surprise occurred late in the summer with Kathan Gardens donating trays of annuals to brighten up the garden! We are very grateful to Kathy for her garden advice and to the garden centers for their donations to the school.
For the future, we hope to develop an ongoing partnership with the school’s parent group in the maintenance of the garden and in other ways that GGC members can share their time and expertise. We think this has been a great step towards establishing another GGC community connection and we want to thank the volunteers who dug into this project to help!
Janie Clark Anke Clews Maria Dahlman |
Maryellen DeJong Doug Houghton Kathy Houghton |
Sue Johnson Alecia Manning Michael Mulcahy |
Susan Terwilliger Bill Weeks |
AUGUST FUNDRAISER - Secret Garden Tea Party
The location for the Secret Garden Tea Party was revealed to be the lovely home of garden club member Jane Verdrager
On Saturday, August 6th, Jane Verdrager’s spectacular garden set the stage for our first-ever, secret garden tea party. A total of forty-four guests attended the morning and afternoon seatings. Everyone gathered at beautifully set tables to enjoy conversation with friends while being served tea, savories, and sweets. Many guests sent delightful notes about the party. Here are two:
The tea party lifted my spirits so high. Everything was so elegant and thoughtful and done with love and care.- Michèle Dominy, 2022 club member
The garden tea event was just perfect. I realize all the work that must have gone in to creating such a perfect tea. The garden with all the beautiful flowers, the setup, the absolutely delicious savory and sweet treats went beyond my imagination. Then my glass was continuously filled with delicious, iced tea. I loved being able to visit with new and old friends. Thank you for your caring thoughtfulness. - Carolee Shevelin, longtime club member
The secret garden tea party was the brainchild of Vice-President, Terri Munson. Our Hospitality Chair, Kathy Houghton, and Program Chair, Jane Altobelli, joined Terri, Tina Gleich, and Elise Kendall in planning this fundraiser. Kathy handled the menu planning, Tina was her food-preparation sidekick and sous chef, and Jane and Elise pitched in and contributed every step of the way.
Terri sends a big thank you to the busy club members who volunteered to pull weeds and spread mulch, helping Jane’s garden beds look their absolute best! A very special shout-out to Kathy’s hospitality team, who prepared and served all the delectable treats, and to all who volunteered on the day of the event to ensure the setup, parking, and cleanup happened flawlessly.
|
|
|
Terri also wishes to thank the many folks who lent awnings, tablecloths, teacups, and more. We can’t thank Jane enough for being such a generous hostess, sharing her lovely garden, and allowing the entire team to take over her house as the “backstage” to the party. Lastly, we wish to thank all the wonderful guests who came and enjoyed the event, and thanked the garden club volunteers so graciously.
JULY / AUGUST FUNDRAISER - Music in the Meadows
Membership's Louise Rauh is ready for customers
|
This summer, many garden club members responded to the call to bake treats for us to sell at Grantham’s MUSIC IN THE MEADOWS summer concert series which was held at the town recreation field on six consecutive Tuesday evenings in July and August. We had great weather for the first five weeks, and despite canceling our sale for the last week because of rain, our volunteers sold hundreds of delicious, sweet treats to our many very appreciative customers.
Terri Munson commented that the added bonus was meeting lots of wonderful folks each week and having the opportunity to tell them about our club! 
President Elise Kendall serving two young customers
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR MANY GENEROUS AND TALENTED BAKERS AND EVENT VOLUNTEERS WHO SOLD THE SWEET TREATS EACH WEEK and many thanks to Grantham's Recreation Director, Emily Rinde-Thorsen, for inviting us to participate this year.
|
JULY ACTIVITY - Daylily Farm Field Trip
Be sure to read Terri's blog Baskets, Berries, and Beautiful Lilies
as well as her earlier blog about Milk Can Corner Farm!
as well as her earlier blog about Milk Can Corner Farm!
JULY FUNDRAISER - Grantham Old Home Days
|
On Saturday, July 2nd GGC members enjoyed participating in the GRANTHAM OLD HOME DAYS, held at the Grantham Town Recreation Field.
|
EVENT VOLUNTEERS Jane Dean Clark, Michèle Dominy, Martha Gearhart, Leah Krikorian, and Terri Munson, sold flower note cards, flower vases skillfully crafted from wine bottles by Tina Gleich, Kathy Houghton, Elise Kendall, and Terri Munson, and Tina's succulents.
Many thanks to Grantham's Recreation Director, Emily Rinde-Thorsen, for inviting us to participate this year. |
JUNE FUNDRAISER - Grantham Town Wide Yard Sale
|
The GGC participated in the GRANTHAM TOWN WIDE YARD SALE, held outside the Town Hall on Saturday, June 11th. Vice-President, Terri Munson, and President, Elise Kendall, took charge of gathering and organizing the items donated by garden club members, before setting up for the early morning sale.
EVENT VOLUNTEERS Jane Altobelli, Chris Bachrach, Linda Edwards, Sue Johnson, Betty Kargacos, Elise Kendall, Mark Kendall, Terri Munson, and Bob Munson, manned the table. 
|
Terri and Elise wish to thank the numerous garden club members who rooted through their basements and garages and cleaned and dusted off gently used plant containers, garden tools, and various gadgets to donate for the sale. A special thanks to Tina Gleich who prepared and donated the succulents which were very popular and sold out quickly!
|
JUNE PROGRAM - Hosta Garden Field Trip
Be sure to read Terri's blog Hosta Heaven!
MAY ACTIVITY - Planting Civic Gardens around Grantham
|
On Saturday, May 28th, garden club volunteers gathered to weed and mulch the Triangle Garden at the intersection of routes 10 and 114, and plant the fourteen containers we maintain each summer that are located around town at the Town Hall, Historical Society, Library, Post Office, and Fire Station.
We want to thank Bill Weeks, who prepared our 2022 planting design, and Amelia Lantz, who along with Bill, will be coordinating the efforts of close to 30 garden club volunteers who will care for the containers on a daily basis through the end of September by watering, deadheading, and fertilizing the plants as needed. We are proud of this effort to help make our town more colorful each summer! |
|
MAY PROGRAM - Climate Change
MAY ACTIVITY - Townwide Cleanup Day
|
|
The GGC appreciates the efforts of Diane Bilotta and Maryellen DeJong who stepped up to organize this public service activity again this year, as well as all the garden club volunteers who assisted them at the two registration locations.
Our thanks to the New Hampshire the Beautiful-Litter Free Blue Bag Program, associated with the New Hampshire Department of Transport Sponsor-A-Highway Program, for supplying us with those great blue litter bags! Thank you especially to all the residents who joined us Saturday to pick up litter throughout Grantham! |
APRIL PROGRAM - Dragonfly Presentation
|
Dr. Pamela Hunt was thrilled to discover a wonderful new SCARLET GLASSFLY species! Many of you joined our Dragons and Damsels of New Hampshire program about the fascinating world of the insect order Odonata. Pam’s humor and gorgeous pictures inspired one of our members, Kathleen Curwen, to use her artistry with stained glass to create this very special new species to say thank you on our behalf. Pam was gratified to hear how much we all enjoyed her slides and stories, and we think it's pretty cool that the NH Audubon's Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation is now proudly hanging Kathleen's sun catcher in her office window! This lovely picture shows how she used textured glass to simulate the veins on the dragonfly's wings. Thank you Kathleen, for promoting the GGC in such an artistic way!
|
MARCH PROGRAM - Herb Gardening
FEBRUARY PROGRAM - Garden's Galore!
2022 Programs & Activities
Presentations and handouts are made available with approval from guest speakers.
Postings may be removed at the discretion of the GGC or the speaker.
FEBRUARY ACTIVITY - Nordic Nibbles
As part of the celebrations marking Eastman’s 50th Anniversary, on Saturday, February 5, 2022, the Eastman Community Association brought back an event from years gone by, called Nordic Nibbles, where participants ski or snowshoe along a one-mile stretch of the golf course while stopping at food stations along the way. Each opportunity to nibble was hosted by an Eastman group or local organization, and our Hospitality Chair, Kathy Houghton, jumped at the chance to have us participate.
Kathy thought Nordic Nibbles would be a great way for us to once again connect with the community after the past couple of years of isolation during the Covid pandemic. She reached out to our members looking for volunteers to bake, cook, and work at the event, and was overwhelmed with the positive response! We had plenty of food, and even though the day of the event was frigid, garden club members bundled up and worked as a team to ensure that we had a successful station.
Everyone had a great time chatting with old friends and meeting new folks, so we want to thank Kathy and her team for their efforts!
Kathy thought Nordic Nibbles would be a great way for us to once again connect with the community after the past couple of years of isolation during the Covid pandemic. She reached out to our members looking for volunteers to bake, cook, and work at the event, and was overwhelmed with the positive response! We had plenty of food, and even though the day of the event was frigid, garden club members bundled up and worked as a team to ensure that we had a successful station.
Everyone had a great time chatting with old friends and meeting new folks, so we want to thank Kathy and her team for their efforts!
JANUARY PROGRAM - NH Master Gardener Program
