Kingman Island

Cultural Tourism DC led a walking tour September 29 of Heritage and Kingman Islands in the Anacostia River northeast of RFK Stadium. Kingman Island stretches from above Benning Road to below East Capitol Street. Bridges lead from the northern RFK parking lot to the smaller Heritage Island and then across "Kingman Lake" to Kingman Island.

As part of the competing plans to preserve, restore and develop the Anacostia River, these man-made islands are to become an environmental education center with native plants. Nobody has explain how any flora on a man-made island can be considered to be "invasive species."

First Day of Bulb Sales

David Healy (l) greets bulbseller Ellen Davis (r) at the club springflowering bulb stand on the Farmer's Line on 7th Street SE since last summer's fire at Eastern Market. New this year are bearded iris rhizomes from Connecticut.

Chrysanthemum Moon Festival Arrangement at USNA

NCA State Fall Meeting

On September 25, US National Arboretum director Dr. Tom Elias thanked National Capital Area Garden Clubs members for their various work at the Arboretum in the past year (above l with NCA President Rilla Crane and Secretary Lorraine Leonard) and presented a certificate of appreciation to former NCA President Dale Defeo (above r).

Garden-landscape designer Renny Martin, founder of Everbloom, Inc. in Northern Virginia, discussed the design and installation of a Tuscan pergola and a cascade of 9 waterfalls on the Vienna estate of best-selling author David Baldacci and his wife Michelle. Martin is a proponent of leaf mulch mixed into clay soils and a strong opponent of wood or woodbark mulching. Martin writes a weekly column for the Sun Gazette Newspapers.

Also featured at the meeting were a bird-of-paradise arrangement by Charmane Truesdale and a presentation on xeriscaping by Candace Campbell of Great Falls Garden Club (above). The display (below) on the NCA's historic work at the Arboretum's Fern Valley native plant collection was previewed before it goes to the Central Atlantic Region conference, October 26-28, in Wilmington DE. [Right click on photos for larger views.]

Lewes, Delaware

Hyacinth beans climb the entry stairs at 234 Shipcarpenter (above l). Two vines combine into a spectacular display (above right): cypress vine with cardinal red flowers shaped like a five-pointed star and Spanish flag, also known as firecracker vine.

Three bubble fountains (above) surrounded by petunias and two varieties of liriope. A container with ginger and two contrasting varieties of ornamental sweet potato vine (below l) and a container with a dwarf evergreen surrounded by pink geraniums (below r).

Caryopteris

Put some blue in your garden with caryopteris and attract bees and butterflies.

Door Arrangements, St. Ignatius Church

Right click on photos for larger view.

Penjing at USNA

Bonsai at USNA

The American Elm at District I

District I's fall meeting started with the second area showing of the 2007 documentary film "The American Elm, Majestic, Imperiled, Renewed." The film was presented by producer and director Dan Smith, who is the senior communications director for Casey Trees. [Program chair David Healy (l) and Dan Smith (r).]

The film chronicles the history of the American elm as an urban street tree, its eradication by Dutch elm disease, the discovery of disease-resistant varieties and their propagation for reintroduction into the American urban landscape. Though concentrating on the elm, the film explores the role of trees in the urban landscape and the public response to environmental catastrophe.

The 52-minute film will be presented by its producer and director Dan Smith, who is director of communications for Casey Trees in Washington DC. The film had its premiere on March 20, 2007 at the DC Environmental Film Festival.

A Magical Night

The early birds found the church still locked on September 11, so the meeting set up and the happy hour were simultaneous.

President Jim Shelar inaugurated a new amplification system. Merrifield landscape designer Joshua Dean demonstrated garden design with an emphasis on nighttime use: It's not the lights, it's the lighting.

Kenilworth on Labor Day

Invitation to See "The American Elm"

You are invited to attend the second National Capitol Area showing of the 2007 film documentary: THE AMERICAN ELM: MAJESTIC, IMPERILED, RENEWED.

The film chronicles the history of the American elm as an urban street tree, its eradication by Dutch elm disease, the discovery of disease-resistant varieties and their propagation for reintroduction into the American urban landscape. Though concentrating on the elm, the film explores the role of trees in the urban landscape and the public response to environmental catastrophe.

The showing will be at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, September 13, 2007 in the auditorium of the headquarters building at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue NE. It will precede the regular fall meeting of District I of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. Capitol Hill Garden Club is a member of District I.

The 52-minute film will be presented by its producer and director Dan Smith, who is director of communications for Casey Trees in Washington DC. The film had its premiere on March 20, 2007 at the DC Environmental Film Festival.