Vice President Marlow Madeoy presided over the meeting because President Nancy Madeoy was not feeling well. Marlow welcomed members to the July 2026 meeting and asked members what’s growing in our gardens? Although we all have many beautiful annuals and perennial flowers in full bloom, there was a resounding response that we have WEEDS growing vigorously. Marlow also posed the question to the group of what woodland sounds are we hearing? The response was cicadas and Great Horned Owl.
Thank you to Chris Kerin and her husband Dave
for hosting the June LAGC picnic. Members enjoyed the tour of the beautiful
garden on such a lovely evening. Thank you!
President – Mary Anne Kurtz
Vice President – Amy Foreman
Treasurer – Mary Jo Benedetti
Recording Secretary – Karen Barczak and Cathy
Rose
Programs – Andrea Maire and Diana Berendowski
Community Service – Colleen Fingal
It was noted that the Penn State Master Garden
in the Park event on Saturday, July 25 in North Park was a nice event. There
were tours of the gardens and free Penn State ice cream.
LAGC received a thank you note for volunteering for the planting project on July 8 at Hartwood Acres. Claudia, Helen, Peggy, Rosemary, Colleen and Evan weeded and planted native plants in the new Suffragist Grove. Additional info on the project can be found in a separate Blog post.
Claudia Hickly presented an update of LAGC’s participation in the 2026 McCandless Remarkable Tree Challenge
- Committee Members: Bill Goff, Helen Dean, Nancy Madeoy, and Claudia Hickly completed the nomination form for the Tulip Poplar which the club gifted to Northland Public Library in 1999 for twenty years of hosting monthly meetings and plant sales. The nomination form was a five-page document requiring the tree’s circumference, condition, location, photos, and an explanation of why the tree is remarkable.
- A copy of the nomination form was sent to the Northland Public Library executive director, Amanda DeKnight. She was delighted with the nomination and will promote voting for the Tulip Poplar on all the library’s social media platforms. LAGC will benefit from the publicity.
- Judging and Voting will take place September 1-15. A local panel will review all the submissions and select finalists. Residents will vote online for the People’s Choice Award.
- LAGC social media chair, Anita Wagner, will promote voting for the Tulip Poplar on our Facebook page.
- All nominated trees will be featured in a public photo exhibit.
- Winners will be announced at McCandless Community Day on September 19, 2026
Claudia Hickly posed the question about
members participating in the 2026 McCandless Community Day Booth on September
19, 2026. Ten LAGC members have volunteered to work at the booth for 2-hour
increments. A committee was created to decide what activities will take place
at the booth such as pot a perennial plant. Members voted and approved to
budget $275 for the event which includes $125 for the booth application fee and
estimated $150 for supplies.
LAGC Social Media Chair, Anita Wagner reminded
members to “like” the LAGC Facebook page when you receive notifications in
order to increase our online presence.
The duties of the recording secretary have
changed. The secretary will only write the meeting minutes. Members will need
to take their own notes for the program as the secretary will no longer provide
a synopsis of the program.
Hostesses
Jane MacCredie delighted us with fudgy brownies and peanut butter/chocolate bar cookies.
Victoria Zeiger brought a beautiful arrangement of bouganvilla, spike plant and asparagus fern.
Program - All About Hummingbirds
presented by Sara Klingensmith, Allegheny Land Trust Education Associate
