Death of Jean Ladson

Jean Thomas Ladson, the namesake for the Jean Ladson Outstanding Achievement Award that Capitol Hill Garden Club received this year from the Central Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc., died November 1, 2010. She was an acclaimed floral designer and, from 1969 to 1971, president of National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. She lived in Islamorada, FL.

Her obituary is here and here.

Lanni of Volanni Featured at November Meeting

November 9, 2010: Michael A. Lanni, the owner and floral designer for, Volanni, a custom florist located on Capitol Hill, discussed his floral design philosophy and created several designs. Joyce Jones introduced Lanni (r):

Lanni rolls up aspidistra leaves to line the interior of clear class containers:
Lannie tries to limit the use of Oasis (wet floral foam) inside vases. One technique he uses is to create a grid of bamboo or branches to set atop the container and then place the horticulture within that grid:









Another technique is to fill the container with palmetto fronds: He takes a frond, gathers the leaflets together in a bunch, snips off the petiole, inserts the bunch into the container and, after the container is filled, cuts off the ends of the leaflets to a uniform height:
















Lanni then places flowers or other design elements in the grid created by the leaflets; he says he gets some of his inspiration from Ikebana:










































The three arrangements in the clear glass vases on the right were awarded as door prizes:
The refreshments table featured a Pontorno arrangement:

Central Atlantic Region Award

October 26, 2010: The Jean Ladson Outstanding Achievement Award, with a $100 check, was awarded to Capitol Hill Garden Club by the Central Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc. The award was presented in recognition of the club's annual bulb give away program, which since 2004 has resulted in 52,000 daffodils and crocus being planted in public spaces on Capitol Hill.

Central Atlantic Region comprises affiliated garden clubs in seven states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland and National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. The Jean Ladson Outstanding Achievement Award is "awarded to a club or group of clubs presenting the most outstanding garden club work that is not eligible for any other C.A.R. award." Capitol Hill won first place in the large club category for clubs with over 50 members.

District I Director David Healy conveyed the award to President Elvira Sisolak at the regular November 9, 2010 meeting of the Capitol Hill Garden Club. Sisolak thanked former president Pat Taylor who had originated the bulb giveaway program. Sisolak said, "I think we all . . . have a right to be very proud of our Giveaway Program. What we are doing for our community in giving away these bulbs is very important."