The Garden Club RFD Learns about "Gardens Under Glass"

On November 19th at the Little Red Schoolhouse at the corner of Middletown Lincroft and

Dwight Roads, Master Gardener, Angela Juffey, will demonstrate techniques for creating a

terrarium, which you will learn is usually a sealed transparent globe or similar container in which

plants are grown. As the weather cools and the gardeners retreat into their homes from their

usual outdoor environment, indoor gardening with terrariums may become their focus as a fun

and attractive way to incorporate plants into their home decor.

In Victorian times, renowned physician, Nathanial Bagshaw Ward, was pursuing a passion for

botany and conducting an experiment with moths when he discovered that he could cultivate

rare ferns inside a bottle. This led him to develop a glass vessel for nurturing imported plant

specimens. The "Wardian case" is the predecessor of the terrarium.

Traditionally made of curved glass with a tight-fitting lid, a terrariumhas a base of gravel,

charcoal, moss and soil, and supports aminiature garden of moisture-loving plants. A humid

growing environment mimics nature's rain cycle and that sustains the plant life.

If you just remember that plants that require a humid environment like mini English Ivy, Sweet

Woodruff, and Bugleweed, do best in a closed or partially closed container (where the moisture

builds up inside the container), and plants that like drier conditions like air plants, cactus, agave,

stonecrop or hens and chicks do best in open containers, where air circulates and the humidity is

low, your terrarium will be successful. Rule #1: Choose the right container for the right plants!

Terrariums are perfect for the whole family. They make great gifts and add an intriguing natural

element to any room. To learn much more, join us at 10:30 am to see Angela Juffey, show us

how it is done. Email Ruth at ruthkorn77@gmail.comto let her know you are coming or call her

at 732-671-4410.

Garden Club R.F.D. is a nonprofit organization that is 78 years old and uses the historic site of

The Little Red Schoolhouse as their home base. The Club is a member of the Garden Club of

New Jersey, the Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs, Inc., as well as the National

Garden Clubs, Inc. Join us on November 19th to learn about "Gardens under Glass." Just

contact us to let us know you are going to attend the program.

Ruth Korn

Garden Club R.F.D.