Every twenty-two years, the Cincinnati Town and Country Garden Club hosts the Zone X meeting and this was the year! The event was held June 13-15, 2017 at various venues in and around Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Town and Country Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club of America, a nonprofit, that has a membership of 18,000 and consists of 200 clubs across the United States. The purpose of the GCA is “to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantage of association by means of educational meetings, conferences, correspondence and publications, and to restore, improve and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.” Vallie Geier and Marian Leibold, were the Co-Chairmen of this three-day experience: “Rivertopia.” The whimsical name suggests the significance of the Ohio River. The meeting featured important connections between town and country which makes Cincinnati livable and beautiful. Guests came from near and far to experience the current transformation of Cincinnati.
The steering committee composed of Fleming Ackermann, Eileen Barrett, Helen Heekin, Tina Kohnen, Cindy McCarthy, Debbie Oliver, Sara Osborn and Heather Vecellio along with committee chairs Robin Armstrong, Rhoda Brooks, Sara Geier, Lanie Grever, Jutta Lafley, Mimi Petrie, Josie Thayer and Ashley Ward, implemented the plans for the meeting from start to finish. Dinner hostesses Sharon Frisbie, Sydney Anning, Blair Fleishmann, Debbie Oliver and Ginger Warner offered a lovely evening in each of their river view or country homes.
Guests were educated and inspired by knowledgeable and passionate speakers. Dr. Len Sauers was the featured speaker at the business meeting and he addressed “Global Warming and Water Scarcity.” At Peoples’ Liberty, Tim Maloney of the Carol Ann and Ralph Haile Jr. Foundation / US Bank, brought to light the innovative initiatives that he is leading throughout the city. Thane Maynard, Executive Director of The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden spoke about “The Nature of Hope: Saving Species from the Brink of Extinction.” Dianne Rosenberg, chief commissioner of the Cincinnati Park Board, welcomed guests at the carousel in Smale Riverfront Park. Docent led tours by volunteers Kate Baumann, Pat Hinkley, Ann Kranbuhl, Lib Ott, Peggy Shaffer, and Jane Terrill were a high point of the guests’ experience. Speaker introductions were given by Helen, Heekin, Sally Leyman, Sarah Zamary, Vallie Geier and Marian Leibold. The importance of the country in the life and well-being of all Cincinnatians was highlighted by a visit to Greenacres Arts Center with Executive Director Dr. Carter Randolph and to Turner Farm with Executive Director Robert Edmiston.
Cincinnati’s town and country treasures including Greenacres, Turner Farm, The Taft Museum, murals by ArtWorks, The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Peoples’ Liberty, Findlay Market, Eden Park, Smale Riverfront Park, and the Anderson Pavilion were all featured. The meeting concluded with an Awards Dinner at Anderson Pavilion in which individuals and organizations were recognized by Garden Club of America for their contributions. Local award recipients were: Bryna Bass (Education Coordinator of the Rothenberg School Rooftop Garden) with the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award, The Fernald Preserve with the Zone Conservation Commendation Award (accepted by Community Relations Lead, Penny Borgman), Suzy DeYoung (Director of LaSoupe) with the Zone Conservation Commendation, The Cincinnati Nature Center with the Zone Civic Improvement Award (accepted by Executive Director William H. Hopple III), Nancy Linz (Garden Club of Cincinnati) with the Zone Horticulture Award, Timothy J. Maloney (Chief Executive Officer of the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. / US Bank Foundation) with the Zone Civic Improvement Commendation, the Greenacres Foundation with the Zone Horticulture Commendation (accepted by Greenacres Foundation Trustee, Brad Lindner) and Debbie Oliver with the Barbara Spaulding Cramer Zone Floral Design Education Award.
Participation in a horticultural challenge included a display of small trees in the lobby of the Residence Inn. They were propagated by members of the Zone X garden clubs. The most prolific species was Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak). They were all grown from seed without pesticides. On the last day of the meeting, aesthetic and unique private gardens were open for touring. The gardens featured were in both the town and the country.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the guests were inspired, energized, and educated by the growing, greening and giving that takes place in our Queen City every day!
Indian Hill members of the Cincinnati Town & Country Garden Club include: Debbie Oliver, Sara Osborn, Tina Kohnen, Eileen Barrett, Ann Kranbuhl, Pat Hinkley, Nancy Linz, Blair Fleishmann, Ginger Warner, Sara Zamary, Cary Brodie, Carter Randolph, Cincy McCarthy, Fleming Ackermann, Brad Lindner, Sara Geier, Ashley Ward.