In 1963, Elizabeth Sheer Lipscomb was a founding member the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore (GCES) and served as its first president from 1963-1965. She left her club with an endowment which came to be known as The Lipscomb Fund, and its continuing purpose is that it be used for worthy civic projects.

A few years ago, the Garden Club decided to reinvigorate the fund, and it was decided that applications for grants from the fund should combine monetary gifts with the labor and mentoring of GCES members. Applications for Lipscomb Fund grants may be sent to the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore, P.O. Box 1924, Easton, MD, 21601

The Interact Club of Easton High School recently sent a request to the Lipscomb Fund asking for help to transform eight large planters in front of the school in time for graduation in June. Committee members from the fund and high school students gathered in late April to add beautiful flowers to the enormous planters. The chosen plants will require watering but will also, hopefully, stand up to the long hot summers in our area.

This project was led by EHS students Viviana Morris and Mia Mazzeo along with other students Gabriella Hamsher, Regan Lewis, William O’Donnell, Romy Jennings, and Siena Morris. Viviana said, “Our club decided to work on the planter project as a way to create change within our own school. We run so many programs throughout the community, but we had never done anything for the school itself. The planter project felt like the perfect way to give back.”

Another local, on-going project that continues to receive help from the Lipscomb Civic Fund is the East End Community Garden, located at 215 South Street in Easton. The community garden was established in 1992 through the efforts of the East End Community Neighborhood Association and local community members under the leadership of Joyce Delaurentis. The corner lot on South Street was a run-down neglected area that had become a hang-out spot. Joyce’s vision was to create an attractive community garden where people could grow vegetables and socialize in a positive way.

Ultimately, the Town of Easton owns the property and leases it to the East End Neighborhood Association.  The garden has had several coordinators over the years. Rules have been established, gardeners are to pay $5 for a seasonal plot inside the nicely fenced area and presently all spots are taken. All the gardeners are very enthusiastic about once again “growing together.”

This spring, the Lipscomb Fund provided materials such as mulch, pea gravel, topsoil, paint, brushes, and bleach to support the Neighborhood Cleanup and Garden Preparation Day. As Interim Coordinator, Joyce reports that many volunteers worked hard to get the garden, walkways, fence and large pergola ready for the season and thanks the GCES for their continuing financial assistance and support.

Other civic projects that the Lipscomb Fund has helped with over the years include planting a tree in honor of Hugh Grunden, Easton Utilities President and CEO. Hugh, along with his crew of employees, has instituted environmentally oriented service projects that have included the planting of hundreds of trees. The Lipscomb Fund also provides gardening tools to new Habitat for Humanity homeowners who are interested in gardening and are encouraged to take a gardening class offered at Pickering Creek.

The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore was founded in 1963 with the objective to stimulate the knowledge of horticulture, to aid in the protection of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and birds and to encourage all conservation practices. For more information about the GCES or to make a contribution to the Lipscomb Civic Fund, send inquiries to The Garden Club of the Eastern Shore, P.O. Box 1924, Easton, MD, 21601. The GCES can also be found on Facebook.

District 1 of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc., presented its prestigious 2023 Marguerite Willey Bowl Award to Talbot County Garden Club on March 1. The presentation took place at the District’s annual meeting at Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville. TCGC’s incoming President Maribeth Lane accepted the award on behalf of President Carolyn Rugg. Federated District Director Jeanne Bernard made the presentation, together with State President Anna O’Kelly.

The Willey Bowl is awarded annually to the club that has best served the District in promoting the state or national objectives of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, of which TCGC is a member. The award’s namesake, Marguerite Willey, was a club president who emphasized Community Service and Garden Therapy by example. Her special interest was daffodils, and thus the bowl is always filled with lovely spring blooms upon presentation.

In giving the award, Bernard cited TCGC’s “breadth and scope of incredible work.” She continued:

“This year’s award winner is a vibrant, highly engaged club whose activities have been particularly emblematic of the priorities embraced by Marguerite Willey. This club, which has been around for over a century now and whose membership is the largest of most clubs in the State of Maryland, is committed to serving their community in many important ways.

“First, they educate their members and the public at large by regularly offering the highest quality programs and activities. They, every year, sponsor a Winter Lecture series, open to all, presenting timely topics and quality speakers. This spring, they are hosting an exciting and elegant luncheon and garden symposium featuring exceptional presenters. They alternate this program every other year with the Maryland Home and Garden Pilgrimage, which is a huge undertaking, opening the most beautiful properties for the touring public.

“This club prioritizes civic beautification regularly designing, funding and maintaining multiple gardens throughout their county—the Historical Society, the Free Library, the Gardens at 5 Corners at Idlewild Park and the Frances Plate Memorial Children’s Garden in this same park. Through their new Project Grants Committee, they will soon fund and plant a new garden as requested by the local Post Office. Outside of their regular civic beautification projects, they recently partnered with the Town of Easton to provide flowering trees, benches and periodic garden oases along the pathways of the Rails to Trails Project. The Rails to Trails Conservancy is a national, non-profit organization based in Washington DC whose mission it is to build a nation connected by trails. They seek to reimagine public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. Planting trees and providing the opportunity for the community to connect with nature is a perfect garden club contribution.

“During the past several years when it has been difficult to safely serve vulnerable populations, this club has maintained an active Community Garden Therapy program. On a regular basis, particularly for holidays, garden club members convene to create arrangements for patients at the Hospice House as well as for clients of the Interfaith Shelter.

“Finally, this club has a very engaging Young Gardeners program whereby monthly at the Public Library, they teach students up to age ten from public, private and home schooling environments. As an example, the children have planted bulbs in the library garden and have helped create a book on gardening.”

To learn more about TCGC and its multi-faceted programs, visit talbotcountygc.org

At the conclusion of the District 1 meeting, Terry Holman of the Oxford Garden Club was installed as the new District Director.

The Talbot County Garden Club announces its winter lecture series featuring exciting guests.

All events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 11 a.m.
Author Carolyn Mullet will present “Tours of European Gardens” via Zoom at the library.
Talbot County Free Library, 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD

In this slide illustrated talk, Carolyn Mullet draws on her recent book “Adventures in Eden,” exploring the stories behind personal havens scattered across Europe that she chose not for their pedigree, but for their owner’s passion and creativity.

Carolyn Mullet is a retired award-winning garden designer who practiced in the Washington, DC metro area for over 30 years. She received her formal training in residential landscape design from George Washington University.

Tuesday, March 29, 2023 11 a.m.
Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial will present “The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline.”
Talbot County Free Library, 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD

Countless pollinator species have suffered dramatic declines in recent years. With simple strategies, you can attract and support not just bees, but an array of pollinators that have different requirements. Learn how to create a Pollinator Victory Garden to help win the war on pollinator decline.

Kim Eierman is the Founder of EcoBeneficial LLC. She is an environmental horticulturist and ecological landscape designer specializing in native plants. Based in New York, Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center, Rutgers Home Gardeners School and several other institutions. Kim is the author of the book, The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening.

Questions about the programs should be directed to[email protected].

About the Talbot County Garden Club

The Talbot County Garden Club was established in 1917 to enrich the natural beauty of the environment by sharing knowledge of gardening, fostering the art of flower arranging, maintaining civic projects, supporting projects that benefit Talbot County and encouraging the conservation of natural resources.  Noteworthy projects include maintaining the grounds of the Talbot Historical Society, Talbot Courthouse, Talbot Library, the fountain and childrens gardens at Idlewild Park and numerous other gardens and activities.  There are currently a total of 109 active, associate and honorary members.

“Think Spring!” and secure early-bird tickets for the perfect gateway to the season… the Talbot County Garden Club’s Biennial Spring Symposium. Themed “CORKS, FORKS & FLOWERS,” this experiential occasion will captivate attendees from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Tuesday, April 25 in the event venue of Temple B’nai Israel on Tristan Drive in Easton.

The day’s delights will tickle all senses with spectacular floral displays, a delectable luncheon with wine tasting, exciting vendor boutiques, and three stellar speakers with demonstrations on garden-to-table topics:

CORKS – “Talking Terroir: The Challenges of Winemaking along the Chesapeake” offered by Patrick & Jacque O’Neil (UC-Davis-trained viticulturists/enologists and proprietors of Napa, California’s Jericho Ridge Vineyard) and the Spies Family (proprietors of Cordova, Maryland’s own Triple Creek Winery)

FORKS – “Culinary Gardens: The Life of a Locavore” served up by Chef Jordan Lloyd (Le Cordon Bleu-trained owner of Easton’s Hambleton House Events & Catering, formerly of famed LaGoulue, Per Se and Citronelle)

FLOWERS – “Seasonal Snipping: Planning, Planting and Harvesting for Cutting Gardens to Thrive on the Eastern Shore” shared by Ginny Rosenkranz (University of Maryland Cooperative Extension educator, Master Gardener and regular media contributor on gardening topics).

Early-bird tickets at $95pp are available through January at https://talbotcountygc.org or by reservation check payable to “Talbot County Garden Club,” PO Box 1524, Easton, MD 21601. Thereafter, regular-price tickets will be available until April 1 for $110pp.

Madeleine Cohen, Alden Firth and Sara Robins co-chair the event, which is the garden club’s major fundraiser for 2023. Proceeds benefit the club’s community “green” outreach, including beautification and maintenance of four parks in the Town of Easton; holiday decorations for public buildings; free gardening lectures open to the public; involvement with Young Gardeners, Meals on Wheels, Talbot Hospice and Talbot Interfaith Shelter; and support for the Town’s new Rail Trail Extension.

For questions, contact [email protected]

Speakers on the menu for Talbot County Garden Club’s Biennial Spring Symposium are: