Rebecca Frischkorn - America’s Gardener
On Saturday, March 9th, at 7 PM, the South Charleston Museum, despite a dangerous winter storm, presented two new films by former Charleston resident Rebecca Frischkorn. About 20 people attended the event including local gardeners who presented their flower displays. Presiding gardener and SCM board member Phyllis Shawver gave out various gardening creations as door prizes. Despite the small crowd, it was a good night for gardeners.
Rebecca Frischkorn was unable to make the South Charleston Museum presentation because of a scheduling conflict. She sent her regards. I was also unable to attend because of health problems.
I have previewed both of the new films from the GardenStory series, “The Garden as Healer - The Healing Gardens of David Kamp-New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania” and ” The Garden as Protector of the Planet - The Missouri Botanical Garden- St. Louis, Missouri” that were shown Saturday night and found them to be fascinating. I believe that Ms. Frischkorn has now become “America’s Gardner.” How proud TerraSalis other garden centers, and local garden clubs can feel that one of their own, after decades living here, has gone on to Charlottesville and now Washington, DC, to become the premiere promoter of gardens in the country.I found both programs to be exceptional, both for all the territory they cover plus the great design of the shows. After watching garden films for 30 years, I have seen many, and few if any can compare. Last spring we already presented two episodes that had connections to WV – her film on Anne Spencer, who lived for years in southern WV, and the film on the Upper Shavers Fork Nature Conservancy Preserve. Hopefully everyone in West Virginia will get to watch all ten programs and learn about the wonders of our living universe in a new TV series created by our own friend, Rebecca.WV Public Television will be airing the series sometime soon.Ms. Frischkorn wrote me this message today -The date for national distribution is April 5, 2008, and after that time stations all over the country can obtain the 10 episodes free of charge for broadcast at any point over the next three years.
I would encourage people to spread the word to friends about the country. On our website, www.gardenstory.org, is a list of the stations that will broadcast the series. There is also a PBS Station Finder, which makes it easy to get contact information for your station programmer if your own station is not on the list. Gardens really DO have the power to change our lives and enrich our communities, and we hope that the series will be seen in communities large and small all over the country, and serve as inspiration for the creation of more healing gardens, community gardens, teaching gardens and public parks._____________________________Here are some photos taken by projectionist Chuck Taylor of the glorious events on Saturday night…. 
Phyllis Shawver picking the winners of the door prizes….
Here are the door prizes, provided by the WeberGreen Garden Club
By sheer good luck, SCM film supporter Bernice Basham (in the middle) and two friends she brought won three of the four prizes
William Foley brought several metal flowers he has created
Four local flower display gardeners brought their latest designs. The Kanawha Biennial Flower Show will be taking place this April at the Town Center Mall.
Dutch and Phyllis Wuurman, selling tickets
