October 2025 MG recognitions

By MG Sreemoti Mukerjee-Roy

This month we salute the contributions of enthusiastic volunteers associated with five MCMG demo gardens: the Beall-Dawson Medicinal Garden, the Derwood Demo Garden, the Fairgrounds Demo Garden, the NLM Herb Garden, and the USO Garden.

Photo: MG Betty Cichy

Beall-Dawson Medicinal Garden

MG Esther Simon is an active member of the volunteer crew that maintains the Beall-Dawson Medicinal Garden in Rockville. Along with her regular work of pruning and weeding, Esther has been an enthusiastic garden guide during public events such as Rockville’s recent Heritage Days. A retired architect, Esther is working on a map of the garden’s layout and plantings.

Derwood Demo Garden

MGs Linda Stein and Belinda Radko have jumped in wherever needed to maintain the Demonstration Garden and make it a welcoming place for all. From helping out with autistic  children to taking care of the plants, no project is too much or too little for them as long as it is for the good of the garden.

MG Joan Schrauth has almost single-handedly maintained the Children’s Garden. With only occasional help, Joan has made the Children’s Garden the highlight of Derwood Demo Garden.

Fairgrounds Demo Garden

MG Matt Bates volunteered to rebuild the garden wall that holds potted herbs for the Fairgrounds Demo Garden.  He donated the materials and his time to get the fence ready for the fair.

MG Irene Eckstrand was the mastermind behind this year’s scavenger hunt, “Animal Habitats in the Garden.” She developed the content and put it all together.

Photo: MG Pam Bates

MG Aimee Freeman is the Fairgrounds plant cataloguer, maintaining a directory of plants. An expert at identifying plants, she has identified the true natives in the Native Garden and placed labels to identify every plant in the Demo Garden.

With a focus on irrigation, MG Dick Evans has ensured that the garden was watered. From fixing hoses to fixing leaks, without Dick, the gardens would have dried out. 

NLM Herb Garden

MG Paula Desio has been volunteering for two years at the NLM Herb Garden. She enthusiastically volunteered for public outreach and education opportunities. Her contributions of both gardening expertise and donated plants have enhanced the garden.

USO Garden

MG Nena Thayer tirelessly lends a hand whether it is keeping up the USO Healing Garden, helping at the Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy garden, or doing plant demonstrations with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder patients—always with a smile on her face. When the newly propagated plants for Psychiatric Continuity Services needed babysitting, Nena graciously volunteered to care for them. 

Photo: MG Michaela Barnes