PROGRAM: The Plant Lady's Guide to Indoor Gardening

​January’s meeting featured a presentation by Catherine Jellison, fondly known as “the plant lady,” focused on indoor plants and terrariums.

Catherine, a library associate at the Crofton Community Library for more than 21 years, began by sharing the story behind the library’s plant collection. Her love of plants, she explained, began with her mother and grew into a lifelong passion. Today, Catherine cares for more than 500 houseplants at home and approximately 150 plants throughout the library, tending to the collection as part of her daily work.

In 2023, growing curiosity from library visitors about the plants led to the formation of the Crofton Houseplant Club. To support learning and accessibility, the plants throughout the library are labeled with both their botanical and common names, along with QR codes that link directly to care information. This system allows visitors to explore plant information independently and at their own pace.

Following the discussion of the library’s plant collection, Catherine shifted focus to terrariums. She displayed several terrariums along with a moss box, explaining how these miniature ecosystems function. She also explored the history of terrariums, tracing their origins to the 19th-century Victorian Wardian cases—glass enclosures that made it possible to transport plants long distances and grow them indoors by maintaining stable, humid environments.

Catherine noted that while Wardian cases revolutionized plant transport and indoor gardening, they also had unintended consequences. By the early 20th century, scientists recognized that these cases sometimes introduced invasive insects, pests, and even plant species into new regions, highlighting the far-reaching ecological impact of transporting plants across the globe.

To learn more about the Crofton Houseplant Club and view upcoming meetings, visit aacpl.net.

Crofton Village Garden Club members and guests gathered today at Walden Country Club for our annual Holiday Luncheon, enjoying a pleasant afternoon of conversation, camaraderie, and seasonal cheer.

This year’s table arrangements were created by hostesses Patty More (lead), Angela DeLuca, Cindy Hare, Shirley Levendoski, Sally Moore, and Rena Pogue. The group designed charming centerpieces featuring hat boxes filled with holiday greens and accented with a fascinator, ornament, and plaid bow. Their creativity added a festive touch to the room.

As part of the celebration, each centerpiece was given to a member at its table, providing a thoughtful keepsake to take home.

​An additional highlight of the luncheon was a presentation by First Vice President Diane Smith, who displayed her White House Christmas Ornament collection and offered a brief history of this cherished tradition.

The White House Christmas Ornament series, created by the White House Historical Association, began in 1981. Each annual ornament honors a different U.S. president or a significant moment in White House history, with designs inspired by period architecture, artwork, or celebrations held during that presidency. Diane’s display provided a lovely glimpse into this meaningful tradition and was enjoyed by all.

We are pleased to welcome Catherine Reardon as a member of the Garden Club. She was installed by Second Vice President Rena Pogue and was sponsored by Yael Beckman. Catherine recently retired and joins the club with an interest in gardening and community activities.

At today’s meeting, Crofton Village Garden Club members participated in a hands-on workshop led by Project Co-Chair Cindy Hansen, creating patriotic-themed floral arrangements to honor local veterans. Using red and white carnations, American flags, and fresh greenery, members designed thoughtful tributes celebrating the courage and dedication of those who have served our country.

Following the workshop, Cindy Hansen delivered arrangements to Meals on Wheels in Baltimore for distribution to veterans along their delivery routes, while Diane Gallow delivered additional arrangements to Hospice of the Chesapeake in Pasadena—spreading heartfelt appreciation throughout the community. Jane McClanahan also shared an arrangement with her neighbor, a Vietnam veteran, extending the club’s gratitude close to home.

This annual project reflects the club’s ongoing commitment to service, gratitude, and honoring those who have given so much.

Thank you to hostesses Lauren Toomey (lead), Peggy Smail, Carol Morris, and Jane McClanahan for providing the refreshments for our November meeting. The patriotic theme was the perfect complement to our program creating floral arrangements for veterans — a thoughtful way to round out a meaningful day.

Crofton Village Garden Club is delighted to welcome Angie Robb as our newest member! Angie was sponsored by Nancy Durose and brings her enthusiasm for gardening and community involvement to our club. We look forward to getting to know her and sharing in many creative and rewarding projects together. Welcome, Angie!

PROGRAM: Meet Mrs. Musterman: Milliner and Entrepreneur
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At today’s program, members enjoyed a glimpse into Annapolis history through the story of Mrs. Lillian Musterman, a talented milliner who became a well-known figure on Main Street. Trained as an apprentice in Baltimore, Lillian later worked with Julia Higgins Strange in Annapolis. After Strange passed away in 1919, Lillian took a bold step by opening her own hat shop at 195 Main Street and moving her family into the apartment upstairs. After her husband’s passing in 1924, she supported her three children through the business, creating designs that reflected the changing fashions of her time.

Her granddaughter, Elizabeth Leah Read, author of Mrs. Musterman, Milliner of Main Street: A Biography, brought this history to life as today’s presenter. She shared family memories along with a display of vintage hats, and discussed historic styles including the sweeping Gainsborough “picture hats” of the Edwardian era, often trimmed with feathers and flowers and worn for elegant outings, as well as the sleek, bell-shaped cloche hats of the 1920s that paired perfectly with the short bobbed hairstyles of the day. Elizabeth also showed a wooden hat block milliners used to steam and shape felt or straw, and even touched on the “hatpin peril,” when laws had to be passed to limit the length of hatpins after too many unfortunate pokes in public places.

Many of our members joined in the spirit of the day by wearing hats of their own choosing, some vintage and some more contemporary, making the program both a tribute to Mrs. Musterman’s legacy and a celebration of timeless style.

A special thank you to our hostesses for providing the delicious food at today’s meeting. Everything was beautifully presented with a festive Halloween theme that added an extra touch of fun to the day!

PROGRAM: Where Water Flows: Simple Solutions for a Healthier Bay

Today's program, Where Water Flows: Simple Solutions for a Healthier Bay, was presented by Denise Frey, Master Watershed Steward. Denise guided us through the path water takes from our gardens and neighborhoods to local streams, rivers, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. She explained how stormwater runoff can carry nutrients, fertilizers, and pollutants into waterways, and highlighted practical steps we can take to make a difference — from planting native species and creating healthy soils to reducing runoff with conservation landscaping. Denise’s presentation was both eye-opening and encouraging, reminding us that small changes at home can add up to a cleaner, healthier Bay for everyone.