Report from Garden Club of America Annual Meeting
Columbus Ohio
May 23 – May 24
Connie Stelzenmuller, President
Michele Jameson, Delegate

The Theme of GCA Annual Meeting centered around the drawings of Maurice Sendak’s children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are.” Everywhere you turned, his art was displayed on signage, plants, flowers, exhibits, clothing and much more. It was a charmer.

The weather couldn’t have been more pleasant in Columbus, Ohio for the 2023 annual meeting and all that we learned and experienced. Michele Jameson and I met so many Zone V presidents and Delegates and other Zone leaders from across the country exchanging ideas and learning so much from one another.

Our hosts–Zone X—were so generous and hospitable. The Hilton Hotel was comfortable and accommodating with lots of space for meetings, workshops, Flower Show, Botanical Arts Show and Photography Show. The Boutique is always packed with goodies and there were so many educational exhibits which included boxed rain gardens exhibited from different Zone X garden clubs.

Jane Moore, a member of our garden club and 2nd vice president on the GCA Executive Board gave words in a moment of silence to open the annual meeting.

Exciting flower show awards went to several Zone V exhibitors:

• Jane Moore exhibited her propagated specimen—lavender. She was awarded Best in Show for Horticulture, and was given the Catherine Beattie Medal for her lavender from seed and her cotoneaster topiary
• Wendy Mahoney won first place with her propagated Amaryllis
• Leslie Purple won first place with her botanical arts crown.
• Delia Egan won a first for her cactus

May 23 Connie Attended Workshop on Moths with Speaker: Jim McCormac, Naturalist, Author, and Photographer
The 11,000 moth species in North America are important food sources for countless Wild Things such as bats, tree frogs, flying squirrels, songbirds, and even small owls. Learn more with author and naturalist, Jim McCormac who will talk about his newly released book, Gardening For Moths. There is an additional fee and limited space for this first-come-first-served optional program.

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Optional Workshop: Landscape Architecture Circa 400 AD
Speaker: Dr. John Hancock, Professor Emeritus, University of Cincinnati and Chair of the World Heritage Ohio Steering Committee

Ancient American Indian complexes known as The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are soon to become the newest addition to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Immerse yourself in the heartland of ancient America, where spectacular cultures created the largest concentration of geometric earthen architecture in the world.There is an additional fee and limited space for this first-come-first-served optional program.
May 23 Michele attended workshop called Judging Safari

Accompany a GCA judge on a hunt through the “Where the Wild Things Are” Annual Meeting Flower Show to discover the secrets of winning entries in floral design, botanical arts, horticulture, photography, and education. There is no additional fee but space is limited for this first-come-first-served optional program. Upon registration you will choose your field to explore.

May 23 – Awards Luncheon and Ceremony

Marilyn Donahue, our next GCA President, was recognized for her leadership and guidance in helping to plan this wild meeting.

Awards to 10 national medalists for accomplishments and contributions that foster the GCA mission:

• Louie Schwartzberg, Creative Conservationist and Visionary Filmmaker–Elizabeth Craig Weaver Proctor Medal
• The Boston Symphany Orchestra, Blending The Power Of Music And Nature–Amy Angell Collier Montague Medal
• Robert J. Berkebile, Green Building Power—Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal
• Jack Nicklaus, Golfer, Designer, Conservationist—Francis K. Hutchinson Medal
• Ohio Sea Grant and Ohio University’s Stone Lab, Protecting our Freshwater Seas—Margaret Douglas Medal
• Carole Maida Bailey, Gifted GCA Floral Designer and Teacher—Katharine Thomas Cary Medal
• Staci L. Catron, Passionate Garden Preservationist And Scholar—Historic Preservation Medal
• Rob Diblik, New Perennial Plantsman—Sustainable Landscape Architect and Educator—Mrs. Oakleigh Thorne Medal.
• Carolton Ward, Jr., Endangered Species Champion and Photographer—J. Sherwood Chalmers Medal.

May 23 – Business Meeting

Business Meeting
Ruskin Hartley, CEO and Executive Director of The International Dark-Sky Association on “Rewilding the night: protecting our precious resource,” and former GCA scholar and landscape ecologist, Andrew Sell.

Remarks on the state of the GCA’s efforts from president Debbie Oliver and incoming president Marilyn Donahue. We enjoyed engaging panels of committee leaders, and an introduction to the newest honorary members.

Debbie Oliver was given a standing ovation for her work as president of the GCA these past two years and she passed the gavel to our next president—Marilyn Donohue

May 24 – Workshops for GCA Club Presidents
This session will focussed on innovative approaches to common club challenges and effective communication techniques. We collaborated, through guided interaction and small group discussion hoping that attendees will practice these techniques and hone their skills as leaders in the GCA community.

Garden Tours for Club Presidents, Zone Reps, and Zone Co-chairs
The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, The Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden, and Topiary Park.

Zone Dinners in Private Homes
Twelve members of the Little Garden Club of Columbus graciously opened their homes. We enjoyed private dinners alongside other attendees. This gave Zone attendees a chance to relive the highlights of the meeting and strengthen the bonds in our clubs.

Zone V was treated to such an elegant dinner hosted by one of the Zone X garden club members who lives in an unusual part of the city named Sessions Village which was developed by an architect inspired to replicate a French Village. This quaint collection of 29 homes built between the late 1920s and early 1960s is an association of attached homes with gardens—each having a water source. We were so fortunate to have drawn this dinner card and had a tour of 5 of these dwelling exteriors before gathering for supper.

Michele and I thank The Gardeners for helping make it possible for us to attend the 2023 GCA Annual Meeting where we enjoyed experiences and friendships of GCA clubs across the country in Columbus, Ohio.

Respectfully submitted,
Connie Stelzenmuller
Michele Jameson