The Washington Garden Club met in the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center, Peterson Building, for the March meeting. President Sally Brodie led the membership in the recitation of the Collect. She welcomed a guest, Sonja Griffin; she thanked the hostesses for the lovely springtime “goodies.”

Mrs. Brodie introduced our speaker, Carl Van Staalduinen of Terra Ceia Farms. The topic of program was about the history of his family’s bulb business and how it has developed through the years. In the 1800s, there were three drainage districts: Pantego, Pungo and Broad Creek. The Broad Creek district drains the Terra Ceia property. Investors became involved with the project of draining the swamp to develop land after the timber had been cut from the property. In 1925, Dutch settlers came to the United States to avoid another World War in Europe. By the 1950s, there were over 30 families from Holland to work on the farms. There were over 100 acres of tulips in Terra Ceia, and flowers were shipped throughout the eastern U.S. during holidays.

In 1943, Carl’s grandfather established the present farm. After he had a fall and damaged his back, Carl’s father took over and became involved with growing flowers and “road crops.” In 1996, Carl and his brothers began to operate the business. They have a very large “catalog” business: they send out 57,000 catalogs each year. The farm has a retail store on the property. A question and answer period followed Mr. Van Staalduinen’s talk. He advised leaving foliage on bulbs (daffodils) until they turn yellow. Cut the foliage from peonies after the cold weather. Terra Ceia will have peonies for sale by the end of April or the first of May.

President Brodie thanked Mr. Van Staalduinen for his informative and interesting talk about the wonderful Terra Ceia Farms.

Mrs. Brodie presented “table load” of treasures from Jean Trueblood’s estate; she invited us to take whatever we wanted from the many vases, containers, etc. A Book of Appreciation has been obtain from the Garden Club of North Carolina in Mrs. Trueblood’s honor. Eleanor Broderick reminded the club that our fundraiser, the Herb Sale, will be coming on May 7 at the Estuarium. Setup will be on May 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Mrs. Broderick reminded the membership that our April meeting will be a trip to Manteo to the Elizabethan Gardens. The trip will be on April 8. Please have your $45 sent in to her by March 31.

President Brodia announced that signup sheets for next year’s meetings and offices are available.

Dee Congleton informed us that the Historic Foundation will be having its Home and Garden tour on April 23. Tickets are $20 before the day of the tour and $25 the day of the tour.

The Garden Club’s District Meeting will be held here in Washington on Oct. 13. Janice Simmons and Sandra Snapp are chairpersons. Volunteers will be needed. The event will be held at the First United Church of Christ on Second Street.

Dee Donovan, treasurer, noted that the Washington Garden Club has $4,027.14 in its treasury.

A raffle to benefit the Elizabethan Gardens was held.

Sandra Snapp announced that the Elizabethan Gardens will hold its Easter Extravaganza on March 26.

Nancy Nash previewed our bench show: “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue.”

President Brodie closed the meeting at 11:45 a.m.

Nannette Smyre, recording secretary