The St. Mary’s County Garden Club has been in existence since 1938.  Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 11:00 a.m. at the location selected by the hostesses.  The general meeting may be preceded by a Board meeting at 10:00 a.m. and a social gathering for members at 10:30 a.m. Lunch is served at 12:00 noon, followed by the program.  Invited guests are welcome at all programs unless otherwise specified.

2019 General Meetings

March 18
Program: Daffodils, Just in Time for the April Daffodil Show!
Presenters: Nicki Schwab; former President of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, current Vice President of the Maryland Daffodil Society, a Master Flower ShowJudge, American Daffodil Society Judge, and a Horticulture Judge for the Garden Clubs of America.
Joan Bender is a Master Flower Show Judge, an American Daffodil Society Judge, and a Horticulture Judge for the Garden Clubs of America.
Location: Avenmar Clubhouse in Leonardtown
Hostesses: Monika Lee, Joyce McFadden, Karen Wood

April 15 ***SILENT AUCTION
Program: Floral Design for Flower Shows: An Introduction to the Newer Designs Introduced in the Latest Flower Show Handbook!
Presenter: Ingrid Swann; Member of St. Mary’s County Garden Club for 30
years, former Flower Show Judge, past President of St. Mary’s County Garden Club, Current First Vice President of St. Mary’s County Garden Club , Expert Designer and Chairwoman of the Standard Flower Show for Design for St. Mary’s County Garden Club.
Location: Tolerance Hall at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds
Hostesses: Marie Frankllin, Karine Ingersoll, Maggie Slingluff, Barbara Stellway

May 20
Program: Flowers and Herbs; How to Dry and Create with Them
Presenter: Susan Johnson; Grows her own flowers and herbs on the Family Johnson Farm in Helen and dries them to create charming wreaths and a variety of decorations. She runs a lovely little store called “Floral Creations” across from “Keepin’ it Local in Helen, Maryland.
Location: Trinity Church Hall; St. Mary’s City
Hostesses: Pat Cole, Nell Elder, Judy Moe, Mary Jane Palmby

June 17
Program: Creating a Beautiful Landscape : Trip to the gardens of Shahla Butler
Presenter: Shahla Butler; President of Calvert County Garden Club, is one of the initiators of the annual Art Blooms at Annmarie Gardens. She has designed and created exquisite gardens to surround her magnificent octagonal Persian home.
Location: The home and gardens of Shahla Butler or Kingfisher’s Restaurant, Solomons, Maryland (Weather depending)
Hostesses: JoAnn Coombs, Barbara Martin, Barbara Raley, Carolyn Siebert

July 15
Program: How to Recognize Amphibians in Your Back Yard
Presenter: Kyle Rambo, BS in Wildlife Biology and Forestry from North Carolina
State University, Director, Environmental Planning and Conservation Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Expert on Amphibians and Raptors.
Location: Tolerance Hall at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds
Hostesses: Lisa Donely, Helen Dorsey, Julie Kemp, Pat Smith

August 19
Program: Interpretation of SMCGC 2019 Flower Show: “Animated Films and Flowers”
Presenter: Anna O’Kelly, First Vice President of the Federated Garden Clubs of  Maryland, former District II Director of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Master Flower Show Judge and creative designer.
Location: Trinity Church Hall, St. Mary’s City
Hostesses: Lorie Brown, Pam Herold, Genise Rondina, Alicia Smith

September 9 *** Please note that this is the SECOND Monday!
Program: From Farm to Fabric
Presenter: Christina Allen, Degree in Art from the Rhode Island Institue of Design,
expert in landscape design, gardening, composting, and homesteading.
She is a well known area artist, farmer, book and author/illustrator who
has won numerous awards for her work. She grows, spins, weaves and
knits her own wool and cotton.
Location: Stoney’s at Clarke’s Landing, Hollywood
Hostesses: Beth Bonifant, Kathleen Kirby, Judy Roa, Marcia Shapiro

October 21 ***SILENT AUCTION
Program: Composting and Vermiculture
Presenter: Luke Gustafson, Charles County Master Gardener Coordinator will present a wonderful visual journey through the process of using worms to decompose organic food waste, turning the waste into nutrient-rich material.
Location: St. George’s Episcopal Church Hall, Valley Lee
Hostesses: Stu Egeli, Kathy Glockner, Billie Mattingly, Suzanne Patterson

November 18
Program: Multi-Media Presentation of St. Mary’s County Garden Club (SMCGC) Member’s Holiday Decorations with Demonstrations of Christmas Arrangements and Decorations by Club Members
Presenter: Kathy Glockner, before retiring, had a long and extraordinary professional career in management on the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. A former pilot, accomplished equestrian, Baywise certified former First Vice President for Programs, current Corresponding Secretary and long standing member of the SMCGC, Kathy is an accomplished and talented designer and speaker.
Location: Lighthouse Restaurant, Solomons Island
Hostesses: Gerri Frazier, Jean Illingworth, Debbie Kole