Summer 2015 - Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.

Summer Issue 2015
Thru the
Garden Gate
MGC Inc.
Summer 2015
Volume V Issue 1
1
Thru the Garden Gate…
Thru the
Garden Gate...
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.
Official publication
A 501(c)3 Organization
Thru the Garden Gate
Bernadine Bennett, Editor
Catherine Ware, Publisher
[email protected]
MGC, Inc.
Calendar Events
[email protected]
Website, michigangardenclubs.com
Judy DeJaegher, Webmaster
[email protected]
Our mission is to provide education
resources and networking
opportunities, and to promote the
love of gardening, floral and
landscape design, and civic and
environmental responsibility.
Marilyn McIntosh
Executive Board President
“Blooming in the Arts of Our
Mission and Membership”
231-546-3152
[email protected]
Carol Sue Brodbeck
1st Vice President
734-434-3795
[email protected]
In This Issue
Susan Kropschot, 2nd Vice President
Janet Hickman, 3r d Vice Pr esident
Karen Gentile, 4th Vice Pr esident
Peggy Hartman, Recor ding Secr etar y
Jenny Bond, Cor r esponding Secr etar y
Janice Thelen, Tr easur er
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Deannie Picciotti
Advisor/Nominating
[email protected]
Database
Karen Motawi, Database Manager
Mary Pulick, Pr ocessing
[email protected]
Sandra H. Robinson
President, NGC, Inc.
“Leap Into Action”
[email protected]
Judy Newman
Central Region Director
“Cultivating Connections”
[email protected]
President’s Report
Save the Dates!
World Gardening
Youth Gardening
Yearbook Awards
Blue Star News
Threats to the Trees
Cadillac News
Scholarship Donations
State 85th Convention
Wildflower Association of Michigan
NGC Convention
Facebook
Loda Lake
District III Fall Meeting
Clubs in the Limelight
Life Membership
District IV Flower Show
Why Flower Show School?
Flower show registration
Award Winners
Calendar of Events
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Cover photograph by Gerald Richmond.
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Summer Issue 2015
Greetings! It is an honor to be your new
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. President
from now until June 2017 to serve you and
your garden club.
“Leap into Action” is the theme of Sandra
Robinson, President of National Garden
Clubs, Inc. She is focusing extensively on
the Monarch butterfly, Crown bees, frogs
and toads including a children’s project
The Frightened Frog – An Environmental
Tale. Under her direction, each state board
will have a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
chairperson. Ron Overton, our own
Environmental Issues chair, will track this
national effort and keep us informed.
 - Feature and distribute backyard wildlife
habitat information within your community.
 - Emphasize aesthetics to achieve beauty
and harmony outdoors (landscapes and
containers), as well as indoors (houseplants and
arrangements). These are excellent topics
around which you can plan monthly meeting
topics.
Marilyn McIntosh
 Enroll in courses. Consider stipends or
scholarships from your Club. Flower Show
Course I begins in August, Gardening Study
Course III this fall with Environment Studies
and Landscape Design to come in the fall 2016.
 - Work with local Realtors to promote garden club
information to new community arrivals.
The keynote speaker at next year’s NCG National Convention,
Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Hom e,
 - Win a fifty dollar Blooming Bucks Membership Award
continues the focus on nature and the environment in our own
for a membership increase of 10% from March 1, 2015 to
backyard. Join us for “Bloomin’ on the Grand” in Grand
March 1, 2016.
Rapids on May 2 through 6, 2016. You’ll be hearing more
In closing, I wish to thank Deannie Picciotti – your 2013 to
about this convention throughout the year.
2015 State President – and her board for their work in
And, just a reminder, our own State Convention “The Artistic improving the benefits and presence of this club in the state of
Garden – Der kunstlerische Garten” will take place June 7 and Michigan. A special thank you to Kathy Johnson (District V
8, 2016 at the beautiful Bavarian Inn Lodge and Conference
Director), the District V clubs, my club “Edelweiss Garden
Center in Frankenmuth.
Club of Gaylord" and Jo Bedrick and Sharma Zollinger (co
The MGC theme for the period of 2015 to 2017 is “Blooming -chairpersons) for all the hard work on this year’s “Michigan
Blooms” State Convention.
in the Arts of our Mission and Membership.” The focus will
be: the environment and gardening; landscape design; plus
My door is always open for your questions, comments, and
flower show horticulture and design.
suggestions. I look forward to working alongside you and your
Other topics and issues on our 2015 – 2017 agenda include:
garden club to make MGC an even more valued and effective
state organization.
Save the Dates!
Summer - Fall 2015 School Dates
District I - Thursday, October 15
District IIA - Saturday, October 17
District IIB - Wednesday, October 14
District IIB Spring Meeting, April 14, 2016
District III – Thursday, October 22
District IV - Tuesday, September 29
District V - Tuesday, September 15
District VI - Wednesday, September 23
Flower Show School Course I - Tuesday-Thursday,
August 25-27
Gardening Study, Course III -Monday-Tuesday,
October 12-13
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Thru the Garden Gate…
World Gardening
` Kit Gunn, Chair
The National 4-H Youth Development Center
in Belize is now on Facebook! Pictures from
the launching of a 4-H small livestock
modernization project and anti-bullying
training sessions are two of the activities posted
on their page.
MGC has been partnering with the Center to
fund high school scholarships for low income
individuals and at risk young people in Belize since 1984.
Thank yous to the following individuals and clubs that have
contributed to our World Gardening fund between January 15 and
April 10:
Caro Garden Club
Evening Bloomers Garden Club
Garden Club of Dearborn
Livonia Garden Club
Milan Garden Club
Nancy Kuzar
Patty Creal
Petal Pushers G Club
Pleasant Ridge GClub
Swan Creek Garden Club
Tri-Cities Garden Club
As days grow warmer, winter
loosens its grip and the spring
brings the sweet sounds of the
songbirds.
We are drawn outdoors to the garden, where a
flash of brilliant yellow catches our eye.
The goldfinch flits about complimented by the
yellow swallowtail butterfly drawing nectar
from our purple coneflowers.
The incessant tapping of the pileated
woodpecker is a welcome sound as we shake
off the dust that collected on our souls from the
long winter.
The primary colors catching our gaze come
from the indigo bunting and the scarlet tanager, piping a love song to his beloved mate.
Please send your donations to
Kit Gunn, 4584 Boxwood
Court, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
Checks should be made out to
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.
The flowers are exploding in riotous color,
while the hummingbird inspects us closely to
see if we belong in HIS domain.
4H Leaders training class in Belize
If you are interested in a
presentation for your club about our World
Gardening Project in Belize, please contact me
at (734) 994-7455 or [email protected]
Youth Gardening
Flora and
Flight
This has been too long coming. It is time to
enjoy the antics of the birds and the colorful
counterpoint of the flora.
Quick, to the garden! Fascination awaits.
Ann Campbell, Chair
National Garden Week is June 7-13, 2015 and now is
the perfect time to start a Youth Garden Club and sow
seeds for the future. There is nothing children enjoy
more than playing in the dirt and water! Every child
needs a garden, whether it be a simple pot to force a
bulb or something larger for flowers and veggies.
Gardening is a hands-on experience and teaches
planning, cooperation, leadership, patience
understanding, responsibility, social skills and the
Ann Campbell connection
between food and plants and science and
nutrition. Above all, gardening teaches respect for all
living creatures and how they interact with the life cycle.
Youth are our future and it is crucial that we step up and become part of this
future. Both you and the children will gain a sense of pride and
accomplishment.
To get started, visit www.michigangardenclubs.org scroll down to
Forms and click on Youth Registration or email me at
[email protected] for suggestions on how to get started.
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Written by Mark Schwendner
2014-2015 Yearbook,
1st Place MGC Awards
Books sent to Central Region
Under 20 members
Chemical City Garden Club
Dist. IV
20 to 29 members
Chula Vista Garden Club
Dist. III
30 to 44 members
Saline Stone and Thistle GC
Dist.IIA
45 to 69 Members
Williamston Red Cedar GC
Dist. IIB
70 to 99 members
Kent Garden Club
Dist. IV
Under 20 Members Focus on design
West Michigan Flower Arrangers Dist. IV
Summer Issue 2015
Blue Star News
Buchanan Garden Club (DIII) will help our MGC, Inc.
celebrate the service and
sacrifices of our armed forces
on this 2015 Independence
Day. A patriotic Blue Star By
Way marker will be mounted
on a huge rock in the
downtown Gazebo Garden on
Front Street. The Blue Star
committee, chaired by Bob
Feldman, a veteran, reports
that the American Legion,
Boy Scout and Girl Scout
troops, the Buchanan High
School Ensemble and a color
guard, representing all
branches of the military, will
participate. Also included will
be the new Middle School
Garden Club which Buchanan
Garden Club has recently
sponsored. For further details
contact Liz Miller, President,
269-695-3309.
Jean Goetz, Chair
protect our liberties. Let us
continue to show our appreciation
for their efforts by creating
patriotic Blue Star dedications in
our local communities.
For information and suggestions,
please contact Jean Goetz, MI
Blue Star Chair, 517-349-4791.
Blue Stars dedications for 2015
Garden Club of
Pentwater...June 14, 2015
Buchanan Garden Club…
July 4, 2015
Chula Vista Garden Club
(Plainwell and
Otsego)...September 19, 2015
Left to right
Connie Thornburg (Owosso Blue Star Chair )
Ronnie Dush (D-VI Director)
Andrea Little (NGC Blue Star Chair )
Jean Goetz (MI Blue Star Chair )
Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl (President Owosso GC)
Deannie Picciotti (MGC President)
MGC, Inc. had 78 Blue Star
Memorials in Michigan at the
end of 2014. Nationwide,
Andrea Little, NGC Blue
Star Chair, r epor ts ther e
are 2,550 total memorials. Michigan
has dedicated five to six memorials
for each of the past four years, and
has another six memorials scheduled
in 2015. We can be most proud of
our record in honoring our veterans.
In fact, Andrea Little visited
Michigan last fall and attended the
dedication of the Owosso Garden
Club (D-VI) where she praised our
efforts. This was an honor for MGC,
Inc. Each Blue Star dedication is
unique and showcases the creativity
of our clubs. All have varied
patriotic elements and locations.
Last year there was a dedication at
the Dow Diamond Baseball Park
(D-VI), Midland Garden Council.
Another was at an historic
homestead (D-II-A), Lotus GC,
Monroe. One was at a downtown
Veterans Plaza ((D-I) Wayne GC
etc. Other popular sites include
libraries, court house lawns,
cemeteries, parks, and government
office buildings.
Details are on the MGC, Inc.
website calendar.
As we watch our nightly news, we
are reminded that it is our armed
forces which keep us safe and
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Westwood Garden Club
(Kalamazoo)... November 11,
2015
Big Rapids Garden
Club...TBD
Wayne Garden Club (Blue Star
Highway Marker)...TBD
Thru the Garden Gate…
THREATS TO MICHIGAN TREES
Karen Jencks Aboriculture Chair
The biggest threat to our trees comes from invasive insects,
fungal infections or a combination of both. It is important to
learn to recognize invading insects, as well as signs of insect or
fungal infestation such as holes in trees, sawdust or leaves
turning brown at the wrong time of the year. Listed are five
key threats to keep an eye on and take action. Report signs of a
large problem to the DNR, the MSU Cooperative Extension
Service or the state Agriculture Department. You may also
wish to consult an arborist for help.
northern counties in the Lower Peninsula. It
begins with a white scale insect that attaches
to bark and feeds on sap. This allows either
of two types of fungus to invade the tree. The
trunk of an infected tree can snap even if branches and leaves
appear healthy. It’s hard to contain because wind, birds and
animals move it from tree to tree. If you see birch trees with
white, paint-like markings on their trunks, report them to
officials so the spread of disease can be monitored.
ASIAN LONG-HORNED BEETLE
This insect is an inch long or more, has a
white spotted body and long, striped
antennae. It can kill maple, birch and a
dozen other hardwoods. The good news
it is not in Michigan yet. Keep an eye out
for the beetle or signs of it. Infected trees
will have holes in them about as big
around as a No. 2 pencil, and you may
see piles of sawdust below them. Report any infestation
immediately.
EMERALD ASH BORER
The ash borer is a bright green insect
from Asia, and has left 75% or more of
ash tees standing dead in eight southern
Michigan. It has bread across the state
with the exception of the western Upper
Peninsula. An estimated 50 million
Michigan trees, mostly in the Lower
Peninsula, have been killed by the insect
burrowing under their bark. If you notice a tree infection soon
enough, chemical treatments are available. Don’t transport ash
firewood around the state. There are stiff fines if you are caught
transporting ash wood north across the Mackinac Bridge.
OAK WILT
Oak wilt is caused by a fungus that travels from tree to tree
through underground root connections or is spread above
HEMLOCK WOOLLY ADELGID
ground by sap beetles. Oak wilt cannot be cured and once a tree
This aphid-like insect is less than oneis infected the disease can rapidly spread to neighboring trees
sixteenth of an inch long and attaches itself
through underground root graft connections. Don’t prune oak
to tree bark to suck sap. As it matures, it
trees from April 1 through July 15, when the disease is most
produces a covering of wool-like wax
likely to spread. Firewood cut from infected trees can carry the
filaments to protect itself and its eggs.
disease, so don’t bring oak with you on camping trips. Keep
Infected trees can die within a few years
an eye out for signs of infection, such as leaves turning brown.
Don’t bring hemlock logs, bark or nursery
stock from outside Michigan. Keep an eye
BEECH BARK DISEASE
out
for
the
white,
fuzzy
signs of the infestation on hemlock
Discovered in Michigan in 2000, beech bark disease is
prevalent in the central and eastern Upper Peninsula and some plantings and, if present, consult an arborist.
Cadillac Receives Recreational Excellence Award
The Cadillac Garden Club received a
Recreational Excellence Award from
the Cadillac Visitors Bureau at their
Annual Awards Ceremony on April
14, 2015. It was for all of their
volunteer time & beautification
projects that they contribute to their
community. Their sundial project
and Annual Holiday Tour of Homes
are just a couple examples of all
their hard work.
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Summer Issue 2015
MGC Scholarships
Sue Wittick, Chair
How thrilling that MGC was able to
award 12 scholarships this year to highly
deserving students! In addition to the list
of recipients reported in the Spring issue,
MSU granted the Thelma Burleigh
Scholarship for us to Lindsay Daschner,
a horticulture student.
Pleasant Ridge
Garden Club
(District I) (two
donations, one in
memory of Connie Geake)
(in memory of Bill Wilkinson and Don
Terrill)
The majority of the donations received
for these scholarships come from
individual garden clubs. Donations
received from October 12, 2014 to April
6, 2015 total $3,375. Those donations
received are as follows:
Across the Fence Post (Distr ict IIB)
Mason Sycamore Creek Garden Club
(District IIB)
Tri-Cities Garden Club (Distr ict IV)
(honoring flower show judges)
Beverly Hills Garden Club (Distr ict I)
(In memory of
Elizabeth Huffman and Betty Mould)
Dearborn Heights Garden Club
(District I) (two donations, one in
memory of Marilyn Gancer)
The Garden Club of Dearborn
(District I) (honoring Della Haydon)
North Farmington Garden Club
(District I)
District IV (honor ing distr ict flower
show judges)
Kent Garden Club (Distr ict IV) (in
memory of Donna Koledo)
The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse
City (Distr ict V) (in memor y of Dee
Swanson
Meridian Garden Club (Distr ict IIB)
(two donations, one in memory of Phyllis
Caro Garden Club (Distr ict VI)
White)
Williamston Red Cedar Garden Club Chemical City Garden Club (Distr ict
VI)
(District IIB) (in memory of Nancy
Jonckheere)
Marilyn Lee (honoring Nancy McGilliard )
The Garden Forum of Berrien Springs Sherree Lucas (in memor y of Diane
(District III)
Lor)
Meek’s Mill Garden Club (Distr ict III) Thanks to everyone who donated to or
(honoring Carol Beckius)
assisted with the MGC Scholarship
Program! Please remember that donation
Petal Pushers Garden Club (Distr ict
forms are available on the MGC website.
III)
Portage Garden Club (Distr ict III)
Shoreline Garden Club (Distr ict III)
Sue Wittick, [email protected], 517242-8259
Join us for the 85th State Convention
June 7 and 8, 2016
“The Artful Garden - Der Kunstlerische Garten”
will be hosted by District VI at the Bavarian Inn
Lodge Convention Center, 1 Covered Bridge Lane,
Frankenmuth, MI 48734.
ph. 855-652-7200.
For more information, contact Co-Chairs, Ronnie Dush, [email protected] and Nancy
Stark Higgins, [email protected] .
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Thru the Garden Gate…
Wildflower Association of Michigan Annual Conference
Ronald V. Overton, Environmental Issues and Backyard Wildlife Habitat Chair
I’m not sure if you are familiar
with the Wildflower Association
of Michigan (WAM). The
Michigan Garden Clubs have
been a sponsor since their
inception back in 1986.Their
mission statement reads:
Four-Dimensional Art including Time as the Fourth
Dimension and that a landscape design is always a work
in progress.
Other breakout sessions included Bringing Nature to your
Garden Party; Restoring and Protecting Inland Lakes with
Natural Shorelines; All About Rain Gardens; Soil Health
Biology; and Putting your Native Garden to Work:
Designing for Conservation, Sustainability and Beauty.
By increasing awareness and
There were many other breakout sessions. Their website
knowledge, The Wildflower
Association of Michigan encourages the preservation and has the detailed conference agenda at http://
www.wildflowersmich.org/index.php?page=47
restoration of Michigan's native plants and native plant
communities.
Just days before the conference, I was on vacation when
WAM has a quarterly newsletter but they are best known Karen Motawi asked me to fill in for her at the conference
and speak about some of the environmental efforts of the
for their annual two- day conference at Michigan State,
held this year on March 8 & 9. I have been attending this garden clubs. I shared that the MGC consisted of over
6300 members in 171 clubs and how the last couple of
conference for quite a few years and have always been
presidents at both the national and state level were trying
amazed by the quality of their speakers. This year’s
to become more environmentally active. Examples I
conference was no exception.
mentioned were Loda Lake National Wildflower
The theme was Landscape Design: Where Art & Nature
Sanctuary, Environmental School, my club’s
Meet. The keynote speaker was Darrel Morrison, a long Reforestation Project and annual Native Plant Sale. I also
time landscape design educator (Universities of
included that MGC is hosting the National Garden Clubs
Wisconsin, Georgia and Columbia). His first talk was
Convention May 2-6, 2016 at the Amway with Doug
about how natural landscapes can inspire designed
Tallamy as our keynote speaker. I finished with
landscapes. They’ve taken this further, however, and are encouraging those attending to consider joining their
striving to utilize characteristics of natural landscapes that local garden club if they were not yet members. Or if they
were already in another club like Wild Ones, consider
appeal to people. His examples included mystery,
partnering with the local garden club on projects and
complexity, coherence and legibility. In his second
events.
keynote address, he talked about Landscape Design as a
Marge Mc Goff, Chair
Sharon Yantis and and Carol Brodbeck - Vice Chairs
There will a great need for volunteers at convention time, May 2-6, 2016. We are
hoping the MGC membership will keep their calendars open to not only experience
a national convention, but also show the NGC attendees that we, in Michigan, can
be great hosts.
Grand Rapids on the Grand
Some exciting pre-convention tours are being planned, as well as two post
convention tours. One is the Holland Tulip Time Festival. The other is visiting
Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel.
Carol Brodbeck is working on ways clubs and club members may make donations or get financial sponsors. The
more we can raise before the event, the lower the registration fees will have to be.
Let’s just really start “Bloomin’ on the Grand”.
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Summer Issue 2015
Loda Lake News
Visit Us on
Facebook
Betty Assmann, Chair
Judith Carr, Administator
Bobbie Quick, Editor
Facebook is where you can
share the excitement of your
club’s day. Did you have a
special meeting or a great
photo you want to share? Or
how was your Blue Star
Memorial? Other members
all across the state can learn
from your new ideas. There
is no better place to get
important information
out quickly.
Every MGC, Inc. member is
welcome and needed to make
this a success.
On your computer, cell
phone, or tablet go to
“facebook.com” and type
Michigan Garden Club in the
search bar across the top.
When you get to the MGC
page, there is a place to click
“join”. We need to know that
you are a member. Maybe
you could include the name
of your club.
This is not difficult, but does
take doing things in order.
You need to be a Facebook
member before anything else.
Have you ever heard of a “swamp pan?”
Well, neither had I until Jon Meeks,
Forest Service engineer, explained it to
me! According to Jon, several of these
pans will be used to support the new
boardwalk that is planned for the
sanctuary this summer.
Karen Motawi, Chair
We’ll be under construction during July
and August, but all the other trails will
continue to be open including the new
The new boardwalk will improve
accessibility and make it easier to walk
from the parking lot through a stretch of
the forest and out to the far end of the
wetland. Construction on this $16,000
project will begin in mid to late summer,
and is made possible through the
Cultural Trail and the Pollinator Garden.
combined funding of the US Forest
Plan to come and see for yourself!
Service and our MGC Loda Lake Fund. Contact me at [email protected] if
your group would like to schedule a
docent-led hike.
As you can see from the drawing, the
new walk will have rails on both sides. It
will also have a non-skid surface to keep Thanks to the following clubs who have
contributed to the MGC Loda Lake Fund
us from slipping when it’s damp on the
since my last report:
shaded portions of the trail.
North Farmington Garden Club, Caro
Garden Club, Petal Pushers Garden Club,
Evening Bloomers Garden Club, Susan
Frazier in memory of Mary Wilkinson
and Tina Bailer, Betty Eagle in memory
of Margaret Mason and Peggy Eagle,
Pleasant Ridge Garden Club, Livonia
Garden Club.
District III Fall Meeting
Karen Gentile, District Director
Town and Country Garden Club and Wabigon Garden Club ar e joining together to
host the 2015 District III Fall Meeting on October 22. Chaired by Club Presidents Polly
Judd and Kathy Casey, the event will be held at Southwestern Michigan College in the Fred
Mathews Conference Center. SMC is located in Dowagiac, an historic city with a picturesque business district, known as the Grand Old City of southwestern Michigan.
Wendy Jones, head naturalist at Fernwood Botanical Gardens, is the morning speaker. She
will share her program, “It’s a Busy Bird World in the Fall.” Come learn how birds are preparing for the winter months ahead.
Andy Jackson, “Medicine Gathering Woman” for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians,
headlines the afternoon program. She will enlighten attendees about the gathering and uses
of native plants in her traditional culture.
9
Thru the Garden Gate…
Clubs in the Limelight
We looked for MGC clubs that were named for flowers
and we found these eight clubs; Edelweiss Garden Club
(Gaylord), Evening Primrose Garden Club of Troy, Lotus
Garden Club (Monr oe), Periwinkle Garden Club,
Rose and Thistle Garden Club (Richland), Seedums
Garden Club (Cheboygan), Sunflower Garden Club
(Three Oaks) and Trillium Garden Club (Traverse City)
Three of these are featured below.
The Lotus Garden Club of
Monroe County
Carolyn Gardetto, incoming
District IIA Director
The Lotus Garden Club of Monroe
County, located in Monroe, was
Lotus blossom
founded in 1951. The 16 members
annually plant and maintain the flower boxes and gardens
at the Sawyer Homestead, including the Founders'
Gazebo, the Front Garden, the Blue Star Garden and U.S.
Flag Garden with red, white, and blue flowers and U.S.
flags. They also care for the Monroe County Historical
Museum hanging pots and participate in the Monroe
County Fair flower show.
of 1812 re-enactors, apparel and crafts, historical displays
and a garden tour. In 1976, we won 2nd place in the U.S.
for the Sears Civic Concern
Award for wetlands preservation.
Periwinkle Garden Club of
Frankfort
Submitted by Susie Anderson
The Periwinkle Garden Club of
Periwinkle
Frankfort was formed and joined
the Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.
in 1972. We have a total of 77 members; sixty active,
thirteen associates and four honorary members. Our club
is located in a rural and recreational area along the shores
of Lake Michigan.
The main interests of our club are horticulture and
community projects. We have seven areas in the Frankfort
area that we plant and/or maintain
including the floral gardens in
Mineral Springs Park, the large
perennial garden in the Karl
Luedtke Rotary Park, the
Wildflower Garden Welcome Site
at the corner of M-22 and M-115,
the Post Office, the Paul Oliver
A main activity is the sponsorship of the annual free Lotus
Memorial Hospital
Blossom tour which is partnered with Monroe County
Post Office
entrance garden, the Long Term
sites for utilities, DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Care Facility deck planters and the planters along
EPA and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
Frankfort's Main Street.
(when their areas are included). This year’s tour is
Three times a year, we pick
Saturday, July 25th and advanced registration is required.
up litter along the two miles
To attend the half day carpool tour that begins at 9 a.m.,
of M-115 which lead into
please contact Jeanne Micka, Conservation Chair/Sawyer
Frankfort.
Grounds Chair, at [email protected] between July 1st and
July 10th 10 for more detailed information. She needs
Two of our outstanding
each adult’s name, address, phone number and email
projects are Rotary Park and
address. Children are welcome, but must be registered by
the Post Office. Rotary Park
Rotary Park
name and age. Guests should wear outdoor apparel and
was designed and built in
closed-toe shoes, and bring bug repellent, sunglasses,
1991.
It
is
a
large
garden
located
next to City Hall. Every
binoculars, and cameras. Guests will receive more
year we continue to make changes to this garden as
information upon receipt of registration and must bring
deemed necessary, making it the gem of downtown
identification on tour day.
Frankfort. We are fortunate to receive a generous and
In addition to the annual Lotus Tour (last Sat each July), yearly grant from the Frankfort Rotary, making this
possible. We even receive help from some of the
the club also sponsors the annual Founders’ Day event
each May featuring Native Americans, Civil War and War Rotarians when it is time to spread compost or mulch!
Limelight continued page 11
10
Summer Issue 2015
Life Membership
Ruth Moline, Chair
application before the convention. I hope we have a large
group of new Michigan NGC Life Members to be
escorted into the banquet.
Future, Present, Past
The NGC convention will be held in Michigan in May
2016, The NGC Life Membership banquet is always one
of the highlights of the national convention. Anyone can
attend but it is the NGC Life Members who will be
celebrated. I encourage you to seriously plan to buy a
NGC Life Membership. Your fee supports the NGC
Scholarship program.
You can find the application form at gardenclub.org
under donations. Fill out the form, write your check for
$200 and send both to the NGC Life Membership chair.
Then you will be ready to attend the banquet and be
recognized as a new NGC Life Member, 2015-2016. Two
monetary awards will be given—one to the state that has
the most new LMs and one to the state with the largest
increase per capita.
This is an election year and time for changes. I have had
the great pleasure of writing over 200 letters to new Life
Members. Now there will be a new writer, Virginia
Froehlich. She will be accepting applications after
June 5. You will find the application with her address at
michigangardenclubs.org and copies will be available by
contacting Virginia or your District Director.
Between February and May 2015, 8 new MGC, Inc. Life
Members were presented. Be sure you congratulate them
when you meet them.
Gerry Brady
Livonia
Robert Friese
Tri-Cities
Becki Jaeger
Hillsdale
Jane Johnson
Williamston Red Cedar
As the host state it would be nice if we could earn one of Jet Johnson
Webberville
those awards. You can mail applications between June 1st Jan Litchfield
Williamston Red Cedar
and March 1st. We want to be sure your NGC Life
Ron Overton
Looking Glass
Membership will count next year and that the NGC Life
Sheila Shelton
Grosse Ile
Membership chair will have time to process your
Congratulations and Thank You for all you have done.
Limelight continued from page 10
A few years ago, one of our members decided that the
Post Office should have a much needed "face lift". After
going through the proper channels, new plantings were
done, including window boxes and a lovely tree. This has
turned into another downtown beauty. Both areas receive
many compliments from both visitors and the locals.
We hold an annual book sale and plant sale as our main
fund raisers. We also sell Atlas gloves to our members
and also have them available to the public at our plant
sale. This year we are holding our first, and I hope , biannual Garden Walk.
Seedums Garden Club (submitted by Kathleen
Johnson, District V Director,) joined Michigan Garden
Clubs, Inc. in 1972 and is currently 60 members strong.
Located in Cheboygan, the main goals of the club are: to
promote the love of gardening, floral design, landscape
design and be active in civic and environmental issues.
The club focuses on community gardens, the History
Center and Earth Week. The club’s major fundraisers are
a garden walk and a Poinsettia sale.
Outstanding projects include
participating in Cheboygan In
Bloom, a city wide project
honoring residents and
businesses who have shown
creativity and dedication in
Seedums
making their site attractive via
landscaping, gardens, flower boxes etc.; Smokey the Bear,
an educational program for youth with the Smokey the
Bear theme; and Brook Bouquets, making bouquets with
residents at The Brook Assisted Living. In addition, the
Sunshine committee makes flower arrangements for our
area nursing homes when flowers are available from the
funeral home.
Seedums Garden Club is well represented at the state
Michigan Garden Clubs meeting at the Grand Traverse
Resort and also at the District V meetings. Club member
Pat Rintamaki is on the MGC Board, serving as chaplain.
11
Thru the Garden Gate…
District IV Flower Show
Lynn Miller, 2013-2015 District Director
The District IV Standard Flower Show, " Music of the
1960's: The Beat Goes On", was held at DeVos Place in Grand
Rapids March 5-8. Members from across the district worked
together to stage a beautiful show and educate the community
on horticulture and floral design. Several examples of awardwinning entries are featured here. Photography featuring
landscapes and individual botanicals were also included in the
show.
A children's activity was offered on Family Day. Seventy
five children planted seeds and were given a short lesson on
NGC Design
Excellence Award
“Reflections”
Entered by Marilyn
McIntosh, Edelweiss
Garden Club
Also, Designer’s
Choice Award
Children's activity was
offered on Family Day. Kent
Garden Club members
coordinated the activity.
how to care for them until it is time to plant them in the
garden. Kent Garden Club members coordinated the activity
and were assisted by a couple of grandchildren of a club
member.
The best part of staging a district flower show is the opportunity
to get to know members in clubs throughout the district. Often
lasting friendships are made by working together on a project
this large. It is always wonderful to educate the public
attending the event.
NGC Table Artistry Award
“Cabaret” Functional Table
for Two. Entered by Peggy
Hartman; Muskegon Country
Garden Club
Why Attend Flower Show School?
NGC Horticultural
Excellence Award.
Entered by Monica
Taylor, Tri-Cities Garden
Club
NGC Artistic Craft
Award “The Beat Goes
On”, a decorated
percussion instrument.
Entered by Lynn
Miller, Kent Garden
Club
Here Are Some Great Reasons.
No longer are flowers
from the supermarket
simply plopped into a
vase for my kitchen
table and, sometimes, the results of
my efforts even look stunning! Flower
Show School opened my eyes to a
new artistic journey in floral
design. I started this series of classes
to learn how flower shows are
judged. Somewhere along the line, I
decided to actually become a judge
and that has taken me to flower shows
all over the state and provide a
wonderful group of creative new
friends. What could be more fun?
I decided to attend flower show
school because I wanted to learn more
about flower design, horticulture and
flower shows. The
experience was
great “brain food”
for me, challenging
me to learn the
elements and principals of design and
other artistic concepts which was all
new to me, while refreshing my study
and test taking strategies!! I have
made great lifelong friends and I look
forward to judging flower shows for
many years!
Sue Wittick
Peggy Hartmann
Meridian Garden Club
IIB Designers Guild
Muskegon County Garden Club
West Michigan Flower Arrangers Guild
Take the challenge! The next step
to enhance your knowledge and
expand your
skills of
gardening is
the National
Garden Clubs
Flower Show
School. The Flower Show School will
expand your horizons in horticulture,
floral design, staging, exhibiting and
judging. Gardeners take the challenge,
bloom and grow together.
Lynda Foster, Williamston Red Cedar
Garden Club
District IIB Director 2015 (Nominee)
12
Summer Issue 2015
13
Thru the Garden Gate…
Top NGC Award Winners, 2014-15
NGC/MGC Submissions
MGC Member Award of Honor-- Sharon Olshansky, Garden Club of Dearborn $50.00
**All of the clubs in these two groups were awarded 1st place in their respective districts and by MGC
National Garden Clubs Awards
#1 Civic Achievement
Small—Dundee Diggers Garden Club
Medium—Tri-Cities Garden Club
Large—Meridian Garden Club
Dist. IIA
Dist. IV
Dist. IIB
#6 Conservation
Small—Rainbow Lakes Garden Club
Dist. VI
#7A Special Achievement
Small—Caro Garden Club
Medium—Friendly GC of Traverse City
Large—Kent Garden Club
Dist. VI
Dist. V
Dist. IV
#8 Youth Horticulture Education
Large—Kent Garden Club
Dist. IV
#12-2 Publications, Newsletter
Small—Hill and Dale Garden Club
Medium—Mason County Garden Club
Large—Meridian Garden Club
Dist. I
Dist. V
Dist. IIB
#13-1 Publications, Certificate of Merit
Medium—Friendly GC of Traverse City
Dist. V
#13-2 Educational Publication
Small—Hill and Dale Garden Club
Dist. I
#13-5 Publication, Brochure
Medium—Howell Garden Club
Large—Livonia Garden Club
Dist. IIB
Dist. I
#13-6 Publication, Calendar
Large—Livonia Garden Club
#63A Website
Medium—River Valley Garden Club
Dist. III
#63B Website
Large—Kent Garden Club
Dist. IV
#68 Video/CD/Flash Drive
Small—Colon Garden Club
Large—Livonia Garden Club
Dist. III
Dist. I
#74--Outdoor Classrooms
Medium—Great Lakes Gardeners
Dist. VI
Michigan Garden Clubs Awards
#1 Civic Beautification
Small—Dundee Diggers Garden club
Medium—Friendly GC of Traverse City
Large—Meridian Garden Club
Dist. IIA
Dist. V
Dist. IIB
#2 Civic Beautification
Small—Colon garden Club
Dist. III
#4-1 Horticulture
Medium—Owosso Garden Club
Large—Brighton Garden Club
Dist. VI
Dist. IIB
#4-2 Horticulture
Medium —Great Lakes Gardeners
Large—Kent Garden Club
Dist. VI
Dist. IV
Dist. I
#6 Elsie Cook
Small—Dundee Diggers Garden Club
Medium—Friendly GC of Traverse City
Large—Brighton Garden Club
Dist. IIA
Dist. V
Dist. IIB
#13-7 Publication, Cookbook
Large—Seedums Garden Club
Dist. V
#7 Photography
Individual—Mary Krzeczkowski, Taylor GC Dist. I
#19 Horticulture Therapy
Large—Holland Garden Club
Dist. IV
#7B Photography
Medium—Great Lakes Gardeners
#20 Roadside Beautification
Medium—Canadian Lakes Garden Club
Dist. IV
#43 Butterfly
Large—Meridian Garden Club
Dist. IIB
#44 Publicity Press Book
Large—Holland Garden Club
Dist. IV
#49 Community Landscape
Medium—Tri-Cities Garden Club
Large—Brighton Garden Club
Dist. IV
Dist. IIB
#50 Historic Preservation
Large—Livonia Garden Club
Dist. I
#54 Environmental Education
Large—Kent Garden Club
Dist. IV
Dist. VI
#9 Carolyn Gray Award of Merit—$50.00 each
Medium—Spirit of the Woods Garden Club Dist. V
Large—Livonia Garden Club
Dist. I
#11 Feature Article
Small—Dundee Diggers Garden Club
Dist. IIA
Large—Paul Rodman, Livonia Garden Club Dist. I
#12 Marge McGoff—$50.00
Medium—Spirit of the Woods Garden Club Dist. V
#13 Holland GC Horticulture
Design Display—$100.00
Medium—the Little Garden Club
Dist. VI
#14 Environmnetal
Small—Rainbow Lakes Garden club
Large—Kent Garden Club
Dist. VI
Dist. IV
14
Summer Issue 2015
*Events marked with * have more details on the website
calendar at www.michigangardenclubs.org
visit the club website marshallareagardenclub.org You can also find
the club on facebook.
Wednesday-Friday, June 3-5 2015 MGC Convention -- The MGC Saturday, July 11 South Haven - Garden Walk -- The South
Convention will be hosted by District V and take place at the Odawa Haven Garden Club will be having its 2015 Garden Walk from 10
am to 4 pm. Tickets cost $10 and will be sold at Liberty Hyde Bailey
Casino Resort in Petoskey.
Museum. There will also be Garden Treasures and Boutique items
*Sunday-Saturday, June 7-13 , National Garden Week -- Plan
for sell. Refreshments will be provided. Contact Debbie
events to Celebrate National Garden Week in your community.
Wildt, [email protected], 269 214 2191 if questions.
Sunday, June 14 Hart - Blue Star Memorial Dedication, Owosso, Sunday, July 12 Mt. Pleasant - Evening Boomers Garden Walk -#2 -- The Pentwater Garden Club (District IV) will dedicate a Blue
The Evening Bloomers Garden Club is hosting a Garden Club Walk
Star Memorial at the Oceana County Courthouse in Hart, MI. For
from 1-5 p.m. Contact: [email protected].
additional information contact Kay Dion, 231-747-3537.
Sunday, July 12 Mason – “A Bouquet of Gardens” Walk -- The
*Saturday-Sunday, June 27-28 -Grand Rapids - Standard Flower Mason County Garden Club is hosting their 19th Annual “A Bouquet
Show – The Standard Flower Show, "Tranquility", presented by Kent of Gardens” Walk from 1-5 p.m. The walk will feature six gardens
Garden Club, will be held at Meijer Gardens, 1000 East Beltline,
from Ludington and Mason counties. Cost is $10 per person.
Grand Rapids. The flower show is included in the price of admission
Contact Sue Hanson, 231-425-3119,
to the gardens. Contact person: Carol Brock
[email protected] for further information
at: [email protected]
*Saturday, June 27-Paw Paw - 8th Annual Garden Tour – The
8th Annual Garden tour "Splendor In The Garden", is sponsored by
the Carnegie Garden Club, Paw Paw, MI. The tour is from 10 a.m.-4
p.m. and starts at the Center, 129 S. Kalamazoo St., Paw
Paw. Presale tickets are $8 and day of $10. For more information,
call tour chairperson, Gail Karr 269-657-6733.
Wednesday, July 15 - Charlevoix - Annual Garden Walk and
Luncheon -- The Charlevoix Area Garden Club is holding its annual
Garden Walk, "A Day with Flowers and Friends" from 10:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. Tickets sold BEFORE the day of the Walk are $10; tickets
purchased on 7/15/16 will be $15. For tickets, please call Carolyn
Navarre at 231-547-2119 or email her at [email protected].
Saturday, June 27 Grand Haven - Annual Garden Walk -The Tri-Cities Garden Club, Inc. will host its Annual Garden Walk,
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., in Grand Haven. Eight Grand Haven Gardens will
be featured along with Ottawa Shore Plein Air artists. For more
information contact Monica Taylor, 616-607-8264 or
[email protected].
*Wednesday, July 15 - Charlevoix - Luncheon, "Lunch with
Flowers and Friends" – Tickets for the luncheon in the East Garden
Room at Castle Farms are $25 and must be pre-purchased; no "walkins" the day of the luncheon. For ticket information please call Mary
Watson-Chavez on her cell phone 989-859-1666.
*Saturday, June 27-Wayne Garden Walk - The Wayne Garden
Club will be hosting the "Through the Garden Gate" garden walk
from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine. Advance tickets cost $8 and will
be sold at The Wayne Library and Barson's Greenhouse (Merriman
Road between Warren Road and Ford Rd., Westland). Tickets that
day are $10 and can be purchased at the First Congregational Church,
2 Town Sq., Wayne, MI 48184. Contact Maureen @734-728-1232
for more information.
Wednesday, July 15 Gaylord - Annual Garden Walk -- As part of
Gaylord's Alpenfest, a Garden Walk entitled "A Walk in the Garden"
will be held by the Edelweiss Garden Club from 1-6 p.m. Tickets
will be $8.00 and available at Saturn Book Store, Spud Warehouse
and at the gardens. For more information contact Betty Hartmann at
[email protected].
Friday, July 10 Frankfort - Garden Walk – The Periwinkle
Garden Club of Frankfort will hold its garden walk from 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10:00 at the door.
Tickets may be picked up at Hull's in Frankfort or Crystal Crate and
Cargo in Beulah. For more information contact:
[email protected] or Mary Osborn, 231-882-5444.
*Thursday, July 16 - Torch Lake -Juniper Garden Club 2015
Garden Walk -- The Juniper Garden Club of S. Torch Lake presents
“Down the Garden Path” Garden Walk from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
rain or shine. Tickets are $8 and will be available at several locations
throughout northwest Michigan including Carter Candles and The
Pear Tree in Alden and that day at the Alden Depot in Alden,
Michigan. For more information, contact the Juniper Garden Club
at: [email protected] or P.O. Box 252, Alden MI 49612.
Thursday, July 16 Traverse City - Friendly Garden Club Garden
Walk -- The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City will hold the
Saturday, July 4 Buchanan - Blue Star Memorial Dedication -2015 Garden Walk from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., rain or shine in six
The Buchanan Garden Club (District III) will dedicate a Blue Star
gardens located on Old Mission Peninsula. There will be
Memorial. It will be located in the Gazebo Garden on Main Street in refreshments. Cost of the ticket is $8 in advance; $10 the day of the
Niles. For additional information contact Liz Miller, 269-695-3309. Walk. Contact person: Letha Cairns, 213.271.6831.
*Saturday, July 11-Hastings – Garden Tour – The Thornapple
Garden Club hosts its 18th Annual Garden tour "A Day in the
Garden" from 10 am-4 pm featuring 5 local gardens. Presale tickets
are $8 at several Hastings businesses or through
[email protected] and $10 day of tour at any of the
gardens or at the courthouse. For more information, call club
president, Barb Benner 269-945-2986.
*Saturday & Sunday, July 11 & 12 - Marshall - 25th Annual
Tour of Gardens -- Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. On
tour days tickets may be purchased at the NE corner of the round
about (Fountain Circle). For more information call 269-781-5434 or
Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18 Grand Haven - Standard Flower
Show -- The Tri-Cities Garden Club, Inc. presents "Traveling the
USA," a Standard Flower Show at Spring Lake District Library. For
more information contact: Pat Bazany, 616-842-3092
or [email protected].
Saturday, July 18 Kalamazoo - Garden Walk -- The Landscapers
Garden Club of Kalamazoo will be hosting their biennial Garden
Walk from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Featured will be many lake
gardens. Tickets are $10.00. For more information contact President
15
Calendar continued next page
Thru the Garden Gate…
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.
506 W. Washington St.
DeWitt, MIchigan 48820-8926
Events continued from page 15
Carol Beckius at 269-372-6950.
*Saturday, July 25 - Monroe - Annual Lotus Tour -- The Lotus
Garden Club of Monroe County sponsors the annual free Lotus
Blossom tour. Advanced registration is required. To attend the half
day carpool tour that begins at 9 a.m., please contact Jeanne Micka,
Conservation Chair/Sawyer Grounds Chair, at [email protected] from
July 1 - 10. Because Homeland Security does a background check, all
attendees have to follow directions found on the website calendar at
www.michigangardenclubs.org
Friday, July 31 Ludington - Mason County Garden Club Flower
Show “Quilting Bee” -- The show will be held at the Community
Church, 109 N Harrison St., Ludington. and will be open to the
public from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. The design portion is open to club
members only, but the public is eligible to bring in horticulture for
judging from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Contact Sharon Morman for more
information 231-843-8539.
Saturday, August 1 East Lansing – MSU Garden Day 2015 – This
event is held at Michigan State from 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. in the
Veterinary Medical Center and Plant & Soil Sciences Building.
Keynote speaker is Rick Darke. Fee is $75.60 for 2015 Garden
members, $85.60 for non-members. Visit http://www.hrt.msu.edu/
garden-day-2015/ for more details.
Wednesday, August 5 East Lansing - MGC Finance Meeting -MGC Finance Meeting, Time: 2:00 - 5 p.m. Location: Hampton Inn
Board Room, East Lansing. Business phone for
hotel reservations: 517-324-2072.
Wednesday, August 12 - Muskegon – Books in Bloom Flower
Show “Fantasy, Fiction and Flowers – Hosted by the Muskegon
County Garden Club, the show will be at the Norton Shores Branch,
Muskegon Area District Library, 705 Seminole Rd., Norton Shores,
MI from 12 noon – 7 p.m.. No charge and open to the public. For
details contact Peggy Hartmann at 231-744-3540.
Wednesday & Thursday, August 19-20—*Ann Arbor - 54th
Michigan Flower Show Symposium -- Hosted by District IIA at the
Holiday Inn, 3600 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Topics
presented by Dolores Stouwie, the Horticulture instructor, include
"Holistic Herbs" and "Colossal Conifers." The Design Instructor, Jo
Krallman, will present "Tablevision." Judging Procedure will be her
allied topic. For additional information, contact local chairperson,
Mary Pulick at marypuick@gmailcom or 734-476-2453.
Tuesday-Thursday, August 25-27 Midland - Flower Show School
Course I - Flower Show School, Course I sponsored by District VI to
be held in at the Blessed Mary Church, 3516 Monroe Road, Midland,
Michigan. To download more information and the registration form,
go to the MGC website at www.michigangardenclubs.org.
Coming in 2016
June 7 and 8, 2016
85th State Convention " The Ar tful Gar den - Der kunstlerische
Garten” will be hosted by District VI at the Bavarian Inn Lodge
Convention Center, 1 Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI 48734.
855-652-7200. For more information, contact Co-Chairs, Ronnie
Dush [email protected] and Nancy Stark Higgins
[email protected] .
Thursday, August 6 Lansing - MGC Executive Committee
Meeting -- MGC Executive Committee Meeting, Time: 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Location: Plymouth Congregational Church, 2001 Grand
River Avenue, Lansing. Business phone: 517-484-9495.
Thru the Garden Gate dates for submission of articles:
Due July 15, Fall...September/October/November Issue
Due October 15, Winter…December/January/February Issue
Due January 15, Spring...March/April/May Issue
Due April 15, Summer...June/July/August Issue
16
Happy Summer