Garden Club R.F.D. Presents a Small Standard Flower Show-"Victory Gardens Come to the Table"

Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1844 said:  “Flowers…are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world.” William Wordsworth in 1798 said:  “Tis my faith that every flower enjoys the air it breathes!”  These words came from his “Lines Written in Early Spring”.

Although snow is still on the ground, it is almost early spring and Garden Club R.F.D. will have on view its own rays of beauty as members  present a small standard flower show on March 18, 2014, at the Middletown Arts Center at 36 Church Street, Middletown, from 12 noon -3pm.  Few events can help us come out of the winter doldrums and believe once more, that spring will come and bring with it the beauty of fresh flowers.

The Garden Club R.F.D. will have their regular March meeting before the Small Standard Flower Show where Bruce Crawford, Director of Rutgers Gardens will present his talk on “Victory Gardens” at approximately 10:30am.  Guests are welcome to listen to the presentation and remain to view the Flower Show which continues the Victory Gardens’ theme  by having design groupings entitled, “The Fruits of Victory”, “Vegetables Feed the War Effort” and “Color Your Table Home Grown”.  In addition, there will be horticulture groupings named “Blooming Victory”, “Grow It Yourself”, “Welcoming the Troops Home”, “War Gardens” and “Arms of Support” plus informational exhibits displayed.

For those too young to remember the gardens of World War I and the 1940’s, here’s a brief description of what those so called Victory Gardens were.  Also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, these gardens were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort, these gardens were also considered a civil "morale booster" in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. This made Victory Gardens become a part of daily life on the home front. (From Wikipedia)

Join us at the Middletown Arts Center to hear Bruce Crawford talk about Victory Gardens and then view the Flower Show based on the same theme.  If you have any questions concerning the Garden Club R.F.D. or what is being presented, please call June Smith at 732-671-9216.  Because we believe that spring will soon be here, be there on March 18 to allow the flowers to bring joy into your life!