Ronald McDonald House

Several of us got together at Church of St. Asaph in Bala Cynwyd to create arrangements for the RMH.  A huge thanks to Holly Amsterdam for her leadership in so many ways.  She knows where to get the flowers, how to encourage her sources to donate flowers, gather participation,  and then put it all together to make the arrangements.

Also kudos to Holly’s friend Mary Sutherby, to Regina Baime, to Presley Schwinn and to Connie Stelzenmuller who created such beautiful arrangements.

The Magnolia Tribute Garden

Appreciation to Presley Schwinn who organized our work day at the Magnolia Tribute Garden in the City with Judy Shekmar and Margie Stevens. 

The Magnolia Tribute Garden, on the south side of Locust between 4th and 5th Streets, was donated by the Garden Club of America in honor of the founders of our nation, and dedicated in May 1959. George Washington’s expressed interest in magnolia trees inspired this garden. Around its walled perimeter are 13 early spring blooming hybrid magnolias suitable for northern climates. They represent the 13 original colonies. Enclosed by wrought iron fences and gates, the plantings include Saucer Magnolias, Narcissus Snow Azaleas, English Oak, Honey Locusts, Cotoneasters, and a ground cover of English Ivy.

Unfortunately, I don’t have photos from this event, but here are photos of our members who participated.  Thank you so much.

The Physic Garden

Bonnie Buchak and I made our way to the City on another day to take part in the work day at Penn Medicine’s Physic Garden.  A beautiful old garden tucked away from the noise of the city.

Plant materials in the Physic Garden were selected to be a representative collection of herbs, trees and shrubs grown for medicinal purposes in America’s 18th century gardens. The ancestors of most of these plants either were brought to America by the early European settlers or were native, their use taught to the settlers by the Indians. Some plants are still used today for modern medicines, such as Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove) which is used as a heart stimulant. The pharmacopoeia is constantly expanding, reaffirming a vital aspect of man’s necessary interdependence with the physical world.

Pictured below are Bonnie and Connie.  Also you see Susan Yeager who is the PCGCA representative who organizes the workdays.  The hospital gave us a voucher for lunch and for parking.  A wonderful experience.