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In My Garden Blog

February 28, 2008
Mid-Atlantic
By Charlotte Kidd,
Radnor, PA

Members of the Woman's National Farm & Garden Association plan this June's annual meeting in Ambler, Pennsylvania, where the organization first met in 1913.

Eat, Drink, and Talk Gardens

With each doorbell ring, someone brought something delicious to complement hostess Susan Yeager's bubbling turkey mushroom tetrazzini. White beans with rosemary, roasted peppers and portobellos, chili and cheese, Asian noodles, sweet and syrupy baked beans, white and red wines.

No, this hasn't turned into a food column. Beyond the appetizing potluck dinner, these women had gardens to share and a mission to accomplish. They were determined to make this June's Woman's National Farm & Garden Association Annual Meeting the best ever, in tribute to the group's first 1913 gathering in Ambler, Pennsylvania, at what used to be called the School of Horticulture for Women, now Temple University.

Full plates slid onto the wooden table surrounding a bowl of yellow, purple, and pink primroses as chapter president Jorie Nailor raised pen to agenda. This mix of past and present comprised a dynamic baker's dozen of neighbors and good friends, landscape professionals and avid gardeners, old and young, with backgrounds ranging from horticulture to computer technology.

They look to Jenny Rose Cary, who stirred resurrection of this Ambler Keystone chapter of WNFGA. Cary, director of Temple's Landscape Arboretum, brings a lively, deep love of the rich history of women and gardening. Vice president and Temple-Ambler horticulture student Dawn Pritchard moves everyone forward as she develops the chapter's Web site. Kathleen Welsh Beveridge connects the past with possibility -- passing around the Chronicle, the association's seasonal magazine she revamped for the contemporary eye.

On May 17, 1913, the original Ambler Keystone chapter hosted the first WNFGA meeting in the red hewn timber barn at the School of Horticulture for Women, Cary explained. Women walked the 18 miles from Philadelphia! Others came by carriage. Michigan and Indiana members traveled by train.

That was groundbreaking (literally and figuratively) for women to make their own way there seeking job opportunities. "Many early members were actively earning their living in horticulture and agriculture," Cary added. "Others advocated for schoolyard gardening, vacant lot use, farmed poultry, and greenhouse gardening."

Though today's transportation is less arduous -- many of this year's attendees will come by chartered bus -- the logistics will be challenging. Garden tours and Michael Tooley's talk about Gertrude Jekyll will take place on June 5. June 6 will combine business with a Flower Show. All this before going to Cary's garden, Northview, for dinner.

Savoring warm, homemade Welsh cakes with raisins and sprinkled with granulated sugar, we listened while Sharon Lee described the Progressive Women In Horticulture garden tour. Members will visit The Highlands Mansion and Gardens; Wyck Historic House, Museum, and Garden; and Temple's Arboretum. Lee's tour will focus on highlighting visionary women and the difference gardening made in their lives. Women wanted to educate themselves, which they did through gardening and garden clubs, Lee explained. "This is where Farm and Garden came from. They are coming back to their roots."

How can I learn more about the Eat, Drink, and talk Gardens idea?? 
I would like to join this very interesting organization.
Thank you,
Elaine Tag
Macungie, Pa.

I live a few miles from Ambler, and would love to join as well.  Any
contact info. available?

I am also interested in joining. I am also interested in starting a
neighborhood association where we could gather and share our
personal gardening experiences (successes and failures)in our
mountainous gardens.  I live on a mountain in Scranton,PA and all of
my neighbors dabble and experiment with their gardens, including
vegetables, flowers, trees, and blueberries which are native to this
area.  How do I start?
 Thank you for your anticipated assistance!

Jacquie

The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Woman's National Farm and Garden
was delighted to have Charlotte Kidd join our workshop meeting in
February.  It is an added bonus that because she shared her story,
others are also interested in our group.

We welcome all who would like to be introduced to the organization. 
Annual dues are $20.  We meet every other month, and please join us
at the next meeting March 31 at the home of Susan Yeager 505 E.
Willow Grove Ave in Wyndmoor, PA.  Contact me at
yeagerrsue@yahoo.com for directions or other information.

All members are invited to attend the annual meeting being held June
5-7 at the DoubleTree Hotle in Plymouth Meeting, PA.  It is not
necessary to stay at the hotel, but it is the primary location for
the meeting, flower show and presentations.  All tours associated
with the meeting are in easy driving distance from the hotel.  For
registration, go to www.wnfg.org to download a form. 

Any questions at all related to the organization can be directed to
Susan R. Yeager, Secretary of the Ambler Keystone Chapter. 
yeagerrsue@yahoo.com

Dear Charlotte -

Kudos for raising the awareness of this organization.  I look
forward to joining in.

Eva Monheim

Wow! Thank you all for expressing such interest in connecting with
other like-minded gardeners and the Woman's National Farm and Garden
Association.

I've asked other gardeners and friends about garden clubs north and
west- especially
Scranton. So far, nothing's come up .

The Lehigh Valley has a new gardening group - via the The Hardy
Plant Society,
Mid-Atlantic region The Leigh Valley Special Interest Group members
are already very
active!

HPS's spring calendar includes March Into Spring XII on Saturday,
March 15, 8:15 am �
3 pm, at Neumann College, Aston, PA 19014

For more information, see http://www.hardyplant.org/.
Contact email addresses are membership@hardyplant.org or
info@hardyplant.org.

Blossoms up,
Charlotte

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