CGC members, Rita Koczela, Maxine Levine, Helena Gillmore, Kitty Sparrow, Sue Kelly-Cochrane Elaine Willingham and Gretchen Ashton attended the Palomar District Meeting. Our president Ellen McGrath-Thorpe was out of town, so Rita and Sue attended the business meeting. Our club was represented in the hat contest by Gretchen and Sue. The sales table was set-up and attended by Kitty, Maxine and Elaine, with help from Helena and Gretchen. Rita created the BEAUTIFUL pumpkin center piece pictured to the left. All in all it was an enjoyable day.
Casa Romantica and Plant Depot October 2, 2009 Club Field Trip
We visited Casa Romantica for our October Meeting. It was a beautiful day as you can see. We toured the Casa and its gardens and enjoyed a brown bag lunch with spectacular ocean views. A special thank-you to Barbara Manzano for planning our day.
San Clemente is one of the first master-planned cities in California. Co-founder Ole Hanson came to the site to create his ideal community, a "Spanish Village by the Sea." In 1927, Hanson built the Casa Romantica as his family home, and expression of his version of the California dream. The seven-bedroom, seven-bath house was designed by Carl Lindbom, who also designed La Casa Pacifica (the former Western White House).
Turn up the volume and enjoy. Music: "In a Little Spanish Town" 1927 by Paul Whiteman with Jack Fulton Photographs: Gretchen M. Ashton
After lunch we drove to Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano. We received a warm welcome with a special discount for our club. While some of us took a leisurely stroll through the lush displays, others found and purchased items for their gardens.
Club Meeting September 4, 2009
Highlights by: Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, President
Photos by: Ellen McGrath-Thorpe and Gretchen Ashton
Our first club meeting at Dove Library was great! Membership turnout (50%) and a number of enthusiastic guests. Timing was perfect: my part of the meeting was "draggy", but necessary for 1st meeting of the year, while the demonstrations by Cindy, Barbara D. and Gretchen were wonderful, interesting, appealing and delivered in a relaxed and amusing manner...see pictures!
Congrats to Barbara M. for a wonderful start to the year with that Program...I think Kitty's explanation for Pennies for Pines brought in quite a full container...
Thanks to Melody for offering her home for the simultaneous drop off of plants and kick off for October field trip/club meeting...and to Dee for alternate option for the future meeting place for trips to the North @Melvyn's on Vista Way (always like options)
and...to Anne for her wonderful donation and those great pop-ups (I love mine!) and the crack sales team of Janet and Sally for selling $120.75...which combined with the auction of craft sales, a great and fun start to our fund raising...
Good thinking, Susan, on quickly suggesting that we put off Gretchen's largest creation to a later date, instead of letting the auction fever die...
Thanks to Elaine and Barbara D. for the attractive "goodies" tables...
And to all of you for the good spirits all around which made the whole mtg so delightful...and the helpful ways that made the "teardown" quick and painless.
I hope to see many of you at Mary H's Discovery Fertilizer Workshop. Please RSVP me and/or Mary...
Meanwhile I'm going outside to watch the moss grow on my pot!
CGC members donned beautiful hats to celebrate Summer at the home of Sue Kelly-Cochran. Our menu prepared and contributed by members included:
Finger Sandwiches and Savories: cucumber, cream cheese on sweetbread, turkey and basil on raisin bread, salmon salad, sausage rolls, havarti cheese, chicken salad and curried egg pastries.
Sweets: thumbprint cookies, cream cheese petit fors, Irish soda bread, chocolate nanaimo bars, tarts, brownies, chocolates, scones, sweet breads and assorted cookies.
Accoutrement: fruit, assorted jams and preserves, clotted cream, cream cheese, honey, lemons and lemon curd.
The following members graciously hosted tables: Cindy Phillips & Ellen McGrath-Thrope, Jeanette Sweringen & Wendy Morris, Elaine Willingham & Jan Cannon, Marilyn Kasperick, June Johnson, Kitty Sparrow, Jan Willrich & Sally Partner, Sue Kelly-Cochran.
Garden Tour 2009
Our Garden Tour was well attended. After touring the following gardens, members and guests enjoyed lunch at Benihana in Carlsbad. Many thanks to all the members who made the Garden Tour a success; Anne, Barbara D., Barbara M., Jan, Kitty and Wendy.
The Rosten Home
The Rosten Home reflects the very artistic owner's creations, starting with the toad at the entrance to the driveway. This lush garden with its many tropical plants lures your onto a bridge and around the side of the home to the wonderful views of the golf course.
The Callaghan Garden
The Callaghan Garden reflects their need for privacy with easy to maintain organic and dog friendly plants. Many of the grasses and trees come from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The Grimstad Family
The goal for the Grimstad Family is to have a variety of easy maintenance plants. As you circle their home and garden, you'll see a combination of children's play areas with adult areas for entertainment. You could live outside in this lovely garden.
The Copen's Garden
The Copen's goal was to experiment and learn from their first garden. They selected mature trees and you would never know they have only lived here for a year. Their lovely garden enhances their view.
The Chapman Garden
The Chapman Garden reflects the owner's need to create a view from every window in his home, as well as a garden room with a view. This garden displays his love of Tuscany. You'll see on of three known vineyards in Carlsbad.
