Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal
A close up of the medal designed by Patricia Hardin in 1995
The GCA Plant of the Year: Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal
The Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal was established to highlight underutilized, but highly worthy North American native plants: trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, and perennials. The goal is to encourage their use in the landscape and make them familiar to gardeners and more available in nurseries.
Why native plants?
Restoring native plant habitat is vital to preserving biodiversity. Native plants, once established, are generally economical since they are low-maintenance and require far less water, conserving natural resources. They provide vital habitat for birds, protective shelter for many mammals and many other species of wildlife.
History of the Medal:
Judy Freeman, Montine McDaniel Freeman & Louis Freeman
In 1995, the Freeman Medal, which was designed by Patricia Hardin, was given to the GCA in honor of Montine McDaniel Freeman by her son, Louis McDaniel Freeman, and his wife, Judy Freeman, a GCA club member. Montine (Tina) was an outstanding horticulturist particularly enamored with native plants. She felt that many awards were given to people but none to plants! As a member of New Orleans Town Gardeners, Zone IX, she served as President from 1958-1959, a Director of the GCA from 1969-1972, then a Vice President from 1974-1978. In 1973 Tina received the Zone IX Conservation Award for outstanding civic service for her role in restoring historic Gallier House in New Orleans. Mrs. Freeman also received the Amy Angell Collier Montague Medal in 1977 for Outstanding Civic Achievement.Tina and her husband, Dick Freeman, owned the magnificent garden property called "Beechwood Gardens" along the Bogue Falaya River in Covington, Louisiana where over 4,000 native azaleas, camellias, sasanquas and magnolia grandifloras were nurtured and protected within the 93 acres. Tina also served on the Board of the Pacific Tropical Botanical Gardens (now the National Botanical Tropical Garden) in Hawaii for many years and was followed by her daughter Tina Freeman Woollam. In 2010 the medal’s name was expanded to The Garden Club of America’s Plant of the Year: The Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal. That year the medal was also designated to alternate between woody plants on odd years and herbaceous plants on even years. The Freeman family remains involved in the medal and its future.
The 2022 Winner:
Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’, commonly known as woodland phlox has been named the 2022 Plant of the Year by The Garden Club of America. Annually, the GCA identifies a stellar North American native plant to receive the Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal: GCA Plant of the Year. Native plants are important because they adapt to local environmental conditions. They require far less water, saving time, and money. Plus, native plants provide vital food sources and habitat for many pollinator insects, birds, and other species of wildlife. Phlox divaricata 'Blue Moon’ was discovered by William Cullina, Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, while he was working at the New England Wildflower Society. “It’s a champ” was the sentiment from this year’s Freeman Medal Selection Committee of distinguished horticulturists. ‘Blue Moon’ is mildew resistant with vibrant blue long-lasting blooms along with winter interest. The cultivar 'Blue Moon' has the largest petals of any of the Phlox divaricata cultivars with fragrant, billowy tufts of lilac-blue flowers throughout April and May creating a spectacular and long-lasting show in early spring. The 2022 Freeman medal winner is a valuable early-season pollen source for bees and swallowtail butterflies, as well as a nectar source for hummingbirds. This phlox is suitable for shade gardens, woodland gardens, cottage gardens, rain gardens, low-maintenance gardens, and perennial borders and is also an excellent groundcover. Garden writer Ketzel Levine aptly notes that “the species Phlox divaricata's strength is not as a specimen but as a mingler, chatting its way across the woodland floor."
What we can do:
Shift your floral focus from expensive, exotic, and far-flung blooms to locally grown or sustainable alternatives. Try to select materials within the confines of what’s local and in season.
Find plant material you can cut from the roadside.
Plant shrubs, perennials, and annuals in your garden that you can use in arrangements.
Grow plants in your garden with staggered bloom times in order to ensure a steady supply over the course of the year.
Buy your plant material from local growers. The quality of the materials is outstanding; it is picked from the field one day, hydrated, and out in the market the next day. The less time it takes for the blooms to get into your hands, the better.
Why native plants? It matters because we need to reverse the negative impact commercial growing has had on our environment. It matters because we want the joy and beauty of flowers to be cherished by generations to come. It matters because products should be sourced and grown without significant damage to the ecosystem. Sustainable floristry is one way to ensure the relationship we have with our environment stays balanced.
