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.
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2026 General Meetings March 16
Program: Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Mission and Impact Presenter: Daniel Bornstein, Director of Planned Giving Location: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Hall Leonardtown, MD Hostesses: Macy Hovland, Trisha Post, Kathy Shubert, Sherry Whittles Daniel Bornstein is the Director of Planned Giving at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, where he works with donors interested in including CBF in their estate plans. He is leading CBF’s, Our Bay Our Legacy, campaign aimed at securing more estate gift commitments. His work has taken him across the Bay watershed to meet with individuals and organizations. He has previously conducted field research on agricultural development in West Africa. Daniel holds a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. April 20 Program: The Life of the Eastern Bluebird Presenter: Captain Don Schwikert Location: St. Andrews Episcopal Church Hall, Leonardtown, MD Hostesses: Gina Hersh, Judy Moe, Genise Rondina, Anne Ridenour Capt. Don Schwikert’s 31-year Naval Aviation career began in the RA-3B Sky Warrior during the Vietnam War. He also flew in the EA-6B Prowler. In addition to numerous shore assignments, Capt. Schwikert was selected as the Commanding Officer of a field activity in Southern Maryland (the Naval Electronic Systems Engineering Activity). Capt. Schwikert’s last duty was as a Program Manager for all the Navy’s Ship and Shore Air Traffic Control Systems. Capt. Schwikert has always had a love of wildlife. He became very interested in Blue Birds when he was asked to monitor the bird boxes (17) on the Breton Bay Golf Course. For 5 years he maintained and monitored the boxes. Capt. Schwikert’s backyard has been designated a “Certified Wildlife Habitat” by the National Wildlife Federation. He currently has 5 active nesting boxes in his backyard. May 18 Program: Exploring Lost Worlds: The Archaeology of One of Marylands First Homes Presenter: Dr. Henry Miller, Historic Archeologist Location: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Hall Leonardtown, MD Hostesses: Nell Elder, Sarah Houde, Ann Hunt, Robert Jackson The nature of life in the founding era of Maryland is poorly known. There are few letters, no diaries, only some legal records. Archaeology is thus key to revealing this significant formative time. This talk presents work on one of the first plantations established in the colony at St. Mary’s City called St. John’s and built in 1638. It is where life in the new colony was first revealed by excavators. Dr. Henry M. Miller is an historic archeologist who has worked in the Chesapeake Region for over 50 years. Copies of his resume will be available at the meeting. June 15 Program: Field Trip to Ferdows Foundation, Persian Garden in Huntingtown, MD Presenter: Shahla Butler Location: Huntington, MD Hostesses: Fran Munley Ferdows (meaning Paradise in Farsi) is a house and garden on 9.7 acres in Calvert County, Maryland. The property was originally raw wooded land with oaks, beeches, hickories, tulip trees, and pines. The house was designed by Baratloo-Balch Architects of New York City, NY. The garden was designed by Shahla Butler and features several specialty gardens and corners, including the Persian garden for ornamental plants, the waterfall, fish and koi ponds, the walled garden for vegetables and cut flowers, and smaller gardens such as the rock garden, the rose garden, the Japanese corner, and the woodlands. The native canopy trees define the woodland areas and have been underplanted with numerous, though not exclusively native, flowering shrubs and trees. The garden also houses over 100 tropical plants that winter in the greenhouse. The Butlers have traveled extensively, and the house and garden incorporate global influences, but the unifying theme remains Persian. July 20 ***Scholarship Presentations Program: Ed’s Plant World Presenter: Paul Morin, General Manager and Alexis Moretti, Plant Broker Location: St. Andrews Episcopal Church Hall, Leonardtown, MD Hostesses: Lynne Lansberg, Monica Lee, Jennifer McDevitt, Kimberly Westcoat Paul & Alexis have a ten-acre farm in Southern Charles County, growing landscape trees, fruits, vegetables, and lots more. Paul is the general manager at Ed’s Plant World in Brandywine and Alexis works for a Plant Broker where she sells plugs, seeds, cuttings, tropicals, etc., to garden centers and growers in MD and VA. They have many years of experience between them in the horticulture industry and still enjoy learning new ways to garden and grow new things. August 17 Program: Design Presentation in Preparation for the Flower Show Presenter: Anna O’Kelly Location: St. Andrews Episcopal Church Hall, Leonardtown, MD Hostesses: Amy Henderson, Lee Lacy, Patty Teague Anna O’Kelly enjoys the creative outlet of floral design and is a self-taught floral designer. She is an NGC Accredited Life Flower Show Judge and has presented floral design programs to clubs across Maryland. A past President of Ikebana International, Baltimore Chapter #118, Anna is a student of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. She has exhibited at the National Arboretum Ikebana Spring Festival, and she has also assisted with creating Lunar New Year designs at the Japanese Embassy. Anna served as FGCMD State President from 2021-2023 and is currently the State Treasurer. She is a member of all four councils and serves as Treasurer for Landscape Design and Gardening Consultants Councils. She serves on the National board as a Regional Accrediting Chairman for Landscape Design School, and is President of Crofton Greenery Garden Club. September 14 *(Second Monday) Program: Water Quality and Aquatic Life in the Potomac Presenter: Michael Nardolilli, Executive Director Location: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Hall Hostesses: Sheryl-Marie Dunaway, Priscilla Hayes, Joyce McFadden ICPRB was established in 1940 for the specific purpose of solving the Potomac’s water pollution problem. While the worst pollution issues of yesterday have been addressed, today’s pollution concerns focus on restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the basin’s waters. The United States Clean Water Act of 1972 and subsequent laws call for these same efforts. In regard to the resent sewage spill; members will have the opportunity for a question and answer period at the end of the presentation. October 19 Program: Faux Floral Design, Bringing the Beauty of Fall into Our Homes Presenter: Kristi Atkinson Location: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Hall, Leonardtown Hostesses: Pat Cole, Nancy Graf, Cherie Heely, Carol Perrie Kristie Atkinson is a wood flower florist and owner of, Three Little Birds Bloom, specializing in seasonal décor, weddings, homecoming, prom flowers, and other wood flower creations. She also leads hands-on workshops that invite creativity and experimentation with floral materials. In this program, Kristie will transform a pumpkin into a vibrant autumn arrangement using wood flowers and dried natural fillers, sharing practical tips for incorporating late-season garden materials into seasonal décor. Members will leave inspired with fresh ideas and approachable techniques for bringing the beauty of fall into their own homes and projects. November 16 Program: Bulb Lasagna, Container Presenter: Trish Reynolds - Container Focused Fall Planting with Bulbs Location: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Hall Hostesses: Kathy Glockner, Donna Harrigan, Jean Illingworth, Kathy White-Thorne Come join us for a demonstration by Trish Reynolds, Talbot County Garden member, of the technique called “Lasagna Gardening”. It is a container focused, fall planting, that layers bulbs based on bloom time that will result in a continuous, months of long spring color in a container. After the completion of her demonstration, we will raffle off the container! Trish has over 40,000 bulbs, mostly daffodils and tulips, growing in her yard in Oxford, MD , as well as roughly 24 containers with various other spring bulbs! Trish has held multiple positions on both the State and Local level. She currently chairs multiple committee’s for the Talbot County and Oxford Garden Clubs. |
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