Holiday Designs and Greens

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The Bartram Garden Club meeting theme in December, 2016 was “Holiday Designs and Greens Workshop” and was held at the Fernandina Beach Church of Christ. This was a great facility for a workshop/meeting and we give thanks to member Alice Caldwell for arranging access.

Master Gardener and Flower Show Judge, Elli Steiger from The St. Augustine Garden Club shared design tips with us during the workshop. We learned how to give long-leaf pine needles a distinctive "hair cut", which adds a creative touch to floral arrangements. She introduced the art of line design by first forming a structure using cylindrical Sansevaria and then following the line with gorgeous Calla lilies and sea grape leaves, which act to lead the eye into the design. As a nod to the Holiday Season, Elli shared a "fantasy flower" she created by glueing dried and painted magnolia leaves to a pine cone which mimics the poinsettia bract.

Four lucky members walked away with one of her creations. And more importantly, novice and experienced designers alike equally benefited from her love of flowers, experience and creativity. 

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a very Happy New Year.
Beverly Williams
President, The Bartram Garden Club

Click the image to see full size.

The “Florida Cranberry” and Native Trees Along the Trail

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This is why I love being a member of a federated garden club! The knowledge we obtain from each other is amazing. I was born and reared in Central Florida and until yesterday’s garden club meeting had never heard of the Florida Cranberry plant, Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa). According to the University of Florida, “most Florida Cracker homesteads grew it.” Part of the cranberry red flower is edible and used in jams, sauces and teas. The leaves can be cooked or added raw to salads. It’s an annual, planted in April or May and harvested in October or November. Since it’s only hardy in zones 9 - 10 I am even more amazed I never recognized it as a Central Florida landscape staple. For more information about this lovely shrub see UF/IFAS publication “Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. or visit www.gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu 

During the same meeting, Senior Forester and ISA arborist, Dave Holley from Callahan, delighted us with his witty slide presentation detailing some of the vital services his agency provides landowners. It was both educational and entertaining for the 16 members and 4 guests who attended. We were all dumbfounded to learn about the Champion Loblloly Pine which grows unknowingly in our midst on resident Tony Lopez’s property off Buccaneer Trail. Who knew Amelia Island is home to the country’s tallest Loblolly Pine tree? It is estimated to be 250 - 300 years old, stands 110 feet tall and is 15.5 feet around. For more information about the American Forests National Big Tree Program visit www.americanforests.org 

Continue to look for these and other amazing sights “along the trail we blaze.”

Beverly Williams
President, The Bartram Garden Club
 

The Bartram Garden Club Meeting 11-10-2016

Display by Kathleen Lunman

President's Welcome

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President’s Welcome
On the Trail We Blaze

On behalf of The Bartram Garden Club, welcome to our new web site. We strive for excellence in all we do, and welcome your suggestions and comments.

Our club was successfully launched by four ladies with a passion for gardening and community-building who volunteered to serve as club officers. At twenty-six pioneering charter members strong, we are progressively moving forward “on the trail we blaze”, to quote Elton John’s title song.

In 1774 another pioneer blazed a trail in East Florida which began at Amelia Island and extended down the St. Johns River. Our club was named in recognition of William Bartram’s contributions to plant and animal sciences and to the history of our island and State. Northeast Florida’s terrain has changed dramatically since Bartram’s explorations. It is our intent to keep alive “wild Florida”, to preserve its flora and fauna and natural resources for future generations to enjoy.

As an affiliate of Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. we are also dedicated to the ideals of horticulture excellence, the art of floral design and civic beautification.

We invite you to join us on this journey as we map out modern ways to enrich the quality of life in our local community and State, and to live in harmony with “wild Florida.”

See you along the Trail!!
Beverly Williams
 

Welcome to The Bartram Garden Club Web Site

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Greetings and welcome to The Bartram Garden Club web site. We have just launched the site and hope you find it useful, attractive and interesting. The Bartram Garden Club was charted in September, 2016 and is affiliated with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. and Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. Our objective for the web site is to offer up-to-date information about our club and activities. We also plan to offer information that will be useful to you as a garden club enthusiast, as well as links to external information of high value. Check back often to review our calendar of events, follow the progress of our civic projects and see the results of programs and flower shows.

If you have questions or suggestions about the site, please send your feedback to the webmaster by clicking here.