Garden Club has been making Annandale nicer for 44 years
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| An edible wedding bouquet. |
Forty-four years ago a group of residents of the Camelot neighborhood in Annandale started a gardening club. Those members, and their green thumbs, have moved on, but the club, which is part of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs, is still going strong.
In addition to helping one another with gardening and plant issues, the Camelot gardeners create flower arrangements for weddings and participate in community service projects, says Debbie Reed Wagaman, the club’s president.
About three or four times a year, they make flower arrangements with the residents of the Leewood assisted living center in Annandale. They work on the landscaping at the Ronald McDonald House, a place for families to stay while their children are receiving treatment at Fairfax Inova Hospital in Annandale. And they’ve also contributed flowers to Falls Church High School’s International Night.
Meetings, held once a month at Camelot Elementary School, feature a presentation from an expert on horticulture, floral design, plant photography, or a related topic or a guest speaker from a conservation group like the Rachel Carson Foundation or Audubon Society.
The club promotes the use of native plants because they need less water and pesticides, saysWagaman.
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| Plants on display at a Camelot Garden Club meeting. |
Club members participate in flower shows based on a theme, such as “welcome home baby,” “shiny things,” “flowers underwater,” or “miniatures,” she adds. And they go on outings to places like Green Spring Gardens, Dumbarton Oaks, and the White House to see the holiday decorations.
Most club members live in Camelot, but anyone can join. In fact, several members have moved away from Annandale but still come back for meetings. If you’re interested in coming to a meeting, contact Christine Getek.
