PROGRAM: A Timeless Escape: Gardens and Grandeur at Winterthur

​Members enjoyed a delightful day exploring Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, nestled in the rolling hills of the Delaware Valley. The excursion combined natural beauty, American history, and enjoyable fellowship in one of the region’s most treasured destinations.

The visit began with a narrated tram ride through the estate’s 60-acre garden, where seasonal blooms, shady woodlands, and carefully designed landscapes reflected the horticultural vision of Henry Francis du Pont. Along the way, members learned about the history and development of Winterthur’s renowned gardens while taking in the stunning scenery. After the tram tour, members enjoyed time walking the grounds, exploring the gardens up close and appreciating the estate’s natural beauty at their own pace.

Tucked within the grounds of Winterthur, Enchanted Woods is a whimsical three-acre children's garden designed to spark imagination and exploration. Shaded by majestic oak trees, this fairy-tale landscape features charming attractions such as a thatched Faerie Cottage (currently under construction), a giant Bird’s Nest, winding woodland paths, and hidden spaces that invite visitors of all ages to discover, play, and dream. Unlike a traditional playground, Enchanted Woods blends natural beauty with storytelling, creating a magical environment where creativity flourishes and every turn feels like stepping into a storybook.

Exciting news from the Blue Bird Trail at the Crofton Community Library. One of the five newly installed bluebird boxes now has an active nest with five eggs inside. The occupied box is located in the Pollinator Garden and is currently the only box on the trail with eggs this season. The garden’s native plants, open space, and insect population provide an ideal habitat for Eastern Bluebirds. Visitors are encouraged to observe quietly from a respectful distance as we continue to monitor the nest and share updates throughout the season.

SUSTAINABLE GARDENING: Heat-Tolerant Natives for Pollinators

​May brings longer days and warmer temperatures — an ideal time to strengthen your landscape with hardy native plants that thrive through the summer and support local pollinators.

Native flowers like purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) bloom beautifully from late spring through summer, providing nectar for bees and butterflies while needing minimal extra water once established. These tough perennials handle heat and dry spells well, helping you conserve water naturally.

Group plants with similar water needs together to make irrigation more efficient. Healthy, diverse native plantings also attract beneficial insects that help keep pests under control, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
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By planting thoughtfully in May, you’re building a sustainable landscape that can handle summer’s challenges while staying vibrant and full of life.

Under the leadership of Pollinator Pathway Project Chair Lauren Toomey, garden club members spent several hours at the Naval Academy Dairy Farm helping separate native plant seedlings and transplant them into larger pots. Joining Lauren were members Yuki Adams, Laura Austin, Nancy Percivall, and CVGC President Margo Antonelli, who worked together to support the ongoing efforts of RePollinate Anne Arundel.

RePollinate Anne Arundel is a partnership between the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy and the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners. The program focuses on growing and distributing native plants that support bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators while helping improve the local environment. Volunteer efforts such as these help prepare thousands of native plants for gardens and restoration projects throughout Anne Arundel County.

DESIGN EXHIBIT: Favorite Game

​This month’s design exhibit embraced a playful and nostalgic theme, Favorite Game, inviting members to transform beloved pastimes into imaginative floral creations. Each design told a personal story, blending creativity, technical skill, and a love of plants into unique interpretations of familiar games.

Margo Antonelli drew inspiration from the classic game Pick Up Sticks, capturing its sense of movement and spontaneity through a bright and textural arrangement. She incorporated wooden skewers to represent the game’s scattered sticks, adding structure and visual interest. Her plant material included Sunflower (Helianthus), Daisy (Bellis perennis), Green Maple (Acer saccharum), and Cape Daisy ‘Sunbright’ (Sakata). The interplay of skewers, stems, and blooms echoed the overlapping lines of the game itself, resulting in a lively and engaging composition.

Carol Morris based her design on her favorite card game, bridge, interpreting it through a traditional American style. Each flower represented one of the four suits, with a total of thirteen elements symbolizing a full hand. Her selection included peony, blue sea holly thistle, lavender and red carnations, delicate lavender filler, and peony foliage. The thoughtful symbolism and structured arrangement reflected both the strategy and elegance of the game.

Paulette Heward created a heartfelt tribute to Monopoly, inspired by fond childhood memories of playing the game with her siblings. Her design featured Euonymus japonicus and red carnations, accented with actual game cards to reinforce the theme. The piece conveyed a sense of nostalgia and storytelling, reminding viewers of the connections and traditions formed around the game board.

Trish Lilek Demers presented an Armature Creative Design based on Scrabble, combining engineering and artistry. With assistance from her husband Dave, she constructed a supportive armature that incorporated letter tiles spelling “Tropic Art.” Each letter corresponded to a specific plant material: Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa ‘Hawaiian’), Rex Begonia, Orchid, orange Pincushion protea (Leucospermum), Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato vine), Calla Lily (Zantedeschia), and Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’ (‘Gold Dust’). The result was an inventive and visually striking design that celebrated both language and horticulture.
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Together, these designs showcased the members’ ability to draw inspiration from everyday joys and transform them into expressive works of floral art. The exhibit was a celebration of creativity, memory, and the shared delight found in both games and gardening.