Fall 2019FROGS Talk
by Sarah Munroe, FROGS President
Sarah Munroe, FROGS President (Photo credit: Marina Marlowe-Wood) Who can’t think about change as nature blazes away a season’s growth in fiery fall foliage to hunker down for the winter? We gardeners know that change keeps gardens dynamic, engaging, and invigorating. We devour garden books by a cozy fireside, content just imagining spring’s regrowth.
FROGS changes too. We’ve come a long way since 1993. FROGS responds to and helps fuel internal change—growth in the gardens, education, programming and events; growth in attendance; and growth in FROGS membership and the support we give to ‘keep Green Spring growing’. By no means an island, we’re constantly adapting to outside change: economics, population growth, technology, and climate change. Your support of public gardens like Green Spring plays an increasingly important role in nurturing resilience during change.
As reviewed at our 2019 FROGS Annual Meeting, FROGS now funds 10-15% of Green Spring’s operating budget. The remainder is funded through garden program revenue and County support. Park Authority Executive Director Kirk Kincannon’s message to your FROGS board at our September meeting echoed themes familiar to so many public gardens today: gratitude coupled with a plea for increased operating support. FROGS continues to work with Green Spring management to build creative ways to ensure financial sustainability while advancing Green Spring’s community-focused mission rooted in horticulture, education, and stewardship.
While some change challenges, some change delights! New ConstantContact email communications make sharing FROGS news easier. Fall Garden Day drew 20% more shoppers than in 2018, and 38% were first-time Fall Garden Day attendees! Delighted kids joined a happy first birthday chorus to our new mascot Ribbit. Thanks to all who support this event by volunteering, shopping, and/or donating to our successful Silent Auction and Bake Sale. FROGS hosted new kids’ activities at our 2018 Summer Concert; the FROGS board voted to embrace the activities as an ongoing concert add-on. The new FROGS book club has grown to two groups who meet every other month at Green Spring to enjoy spirited discussions of botanically themed works members select.
FROGS Annual Appeal projects always mean something new or renewed. Be sure to stop by the Historic House to see the new audio-video display featuring films about Historic Green Spring, the final piece made possible by your support of FROGS’ 2016 History Through Hospitality Appeal—thank you! One film profiles landscape designer Beatrix Farrand’s work at Green Spring, a project she worked on while completing her iconic Georgetown Dumbarton Oaks project. Last year’s Wheels Appeal 2.0 funded new utility vehicles that will be rolling in the gardens soon.
Climate change—not so delightful. But Green Spring continues to build resources to help our community understand, deal with, and help mitigate its impacts. From Green Spring’s ‘monarch nursery’ this summer to the Extension Master Gardener Eco-Savvy Symposium, to Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS) propagation hosting, Green Spring helps homeowners discover how home gardening can better support and restore the environment. FROGS is proud to support this mission.
An important step towards climate resilience, thanks to the grant mentioned in Nicole Conners’ Managers Message, ‘smart irrigation’ has arrived! The system uses site weather data and the internet to water plantings only where and when needed; controls are managed with a smartphone app. Benefits to pocketbook and planet: Annually, Green Spring will reduce water use by about 40%; redirect at least $40,000 in staff labor now spent watering; ease the load on stormwater infrastructure by reducing stormwater runoff; and cut back on pollution reaching our streams. An additional $30,000 is needed for a final project phase to deliver ‘smart water’ to all demonstration gardens. Please help put Smart Water for Green Spring over the finish line by giving generously to our FROGS 2019 Annual Appeal.
One last change to note—my term as FROGS President ends 12/31/19. I’ve been honored to serve this strong, dedicated membership organization to support all that is Green Spring Gardens. FROGS endures only because members like you care so passionately about Green Spring. Thank you! And please join me and Vice President Fred Blott in welcoming FROGS’ new leadership team to be announced soon.
What’s not changing? The amount of holiday warmth and spirit you’ll find at our upcoming Gardeners Holiday open house on Sunday afternoon, 12/8, noon-4pm. Please join us! And watch for emails soon announcing FROGS 2020 Harry Allen Winter Lecture Series to begin in January.
While your calendar’s open, be sure to note these 2020 dates:
- Saturday, 4/11—Garden Gate Plant Shop seasonal opening
- Saturday, 5/16—Spring Garden Day
- Tuesday, 6/23—Summer Concert
To continued change for an even better Green Spring!
Gratefully,
