Deb Donaldson Wins 2017 Dorothy Falcon Platt Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On November 1, during the PCGCA Joint Meeting at the Philadelphia Country Club, the Gardeners’ Deb Donaldson was presented with the Dorothy Falcon Platt Award.  Established in 1972, the award is given annually to a Zone V member of GCA in memory of one of its most distinguished members.  Mrs. Charles Platt was well known as an avid gardener, a serious student of horticulture, a talented flower arranger, an accomplished artist, and a selfless mentor.

Deb certainly exemplifies all those qualities.  A member of The Gardeners since 2002, she has always shown a passion for all things horticultural.  Her many accomplishments as a Gardener include organizing and leading workshops on grooming plants, growing succulents, and caring for orchids. She has been a recipient of many horticultural awards and was recently awarded GCA Horticultural Judge status.  She has been chair of the Horticultural Committee and the Conservation Committee for the Gardeners. She has selflessly given her time and talent to mentor other gardeners, passing on her considerable horticultural knowledge, skills, and plants(!).  She is also a spectacular cook!  Deb didn’t know she was getting the award ahead of time and her surprise, gratitude, and humility were a delight to those in attendance.

If you would like to get the full text of the presentation speech by Liz Clothier email me at bonnie.buchak@gmail.com.

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Zone V Mini Meeting–Discovery Bound–finding treasures in unexpected places by Pam Thompson

The Zone V mini meeting was most enjoyable and interesting. Barbara Geltosky was my delegate.. She was responsible for our photography show entries and we did pretty well. Binney McCague won a blue ribbon and Barbara and I both won honorable mention ribbons.

The Speaker was Greg Goldman, Executive Director of Audubon PA. His Power Point documented the transition of the East Park Reservoir grounds into what is now known as the Discovery Center, with the addition of the Outward Bound organization. Some amazing kinds of birds stop at the reservoir on their migration including the Red Throated Loon!

Many members of the GCA National Committees attended, including Leslie Purple, Chair of Photography.. Of course our Zone V National Committee Representatives, Wyn Coghlan, Visiting Gardens and Jane Moore, Judging attended.

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Ronald McDonald House Floral Arranging November 2017

Our garden club is not only populated by some really accomplished flower arrangers and horticulture experts, but also, we have members who are always so generous especially in an emergency.  This year Betsy Crowell stepped in to chair this year’s event to help out Connie Stelzenmuller who couldn’t fulfil her duties as chair because of family health issues; Unfortunately Betsy then needed help when she broke her ankles and she couldn’t fulfil the obligation;  Michele Spence saved the day when she stepped in to organize and carry out our club responsibility to the Ronald McDonald House.  This year we really give thanks to Michele, Stephanie, Wyn and Peggy.  If there were others involved, apologies for missing your name.