SUMMER 2024 VOLUME XI ISSUE VI | |
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Nancy's Note
Every day is a great day to be a gardener in Michigan but on June 10-11, 2024, it was an especially great time to be a member of Michigan Garden Clubs! The 93rd MGC Annual Conference “Smitten with the Mitten Shore to Shore” was a sellout and the buzz from the conference can be heard around the state! From a boat ride to the bay, making floral designs with pool noodles to extremely informative MGC educational and environmental group educational displays and exceptional presenters -wow there was so much to learn and enjoy! Then to end with so many winners of raffle drawings and silent auctions and centerpieces -truly a memorable conference!
An incredible thank you to District 6 Director Kathy Sauber, Co-Chair Jill Urban and the amazing group of clubs who pitched in to make this happen along with the 2024 MGC Conference Committee! Our MGC educational display board volunteers along with the MGC Projects slide show really put all that we do front and center!
Now on to our garden walks, flower shows, farmer’s markets and anniversary events! Over 2500 new MGC rack cards were distributed for clubs to hand out at all their upcoming community events along with a flyer and order form for club signs with the new logo!
It is truly a great time to be gardening in Michigan, especially as a member of Michigan Garden Clubs. Inc.!
Look forward to see many of you this summer!
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"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn | |
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The MGC, Inc. Mission
is to provide leadership, education, resources, and network opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral and landscape design, civic, and environmental responsibility.
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Upcoming Events Calendar
June 2024
1 Port Sanilac Garden Walk 10 AM - 4 PM
2 Gold Star Mem. Dedication 2-5 PM Midland
4 District 5 Presidents Mtg 10-11 AM Zoom
10-11 MGC Annual Conference Bay City
22 Tri-Cities Garden Walk
29 Belding Gardeneers Garden Walk 9 AM - 3 PM
July 2024
10 Biennia Garden Luncheon 11AM - 2 PM Charlevoix
13/14 Welcome to My Garden Tour
13 South Haven Garden Walk 9 AM- 4PM
13 Secret Gardens of Holland 10 AM - 4 PM
16 D5 Presidents Meeting 10 -11 AM Zoom
18-20 Garden Olympics Flower Show Various Timeframes Spring Lake
20 Saugatuck-Douglas GC Garden Walk
August 2024
27 Milan Garden Club Tour 10 AM-4 PM Milan
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93rd Annual Conference a Sell Out!
Over 200 members and guests attended the conference at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton on the River in Bay City! The weather was beautiful and for those arriving on Sunday the town summer activities were in full swing! On Monday members enjoyed a ride on the Princess Wenonah, made floral designs with pool noodles and enjoyed a beautiful reception under the tent followed by dinner! Our new logo was front and center as members then entered a hallway of artwork and honor designs. Tuesday included our annual business meeting followed by three very informative presentations on water!
In keeping with the focus on the environment and to support Brenda Moore's Plant America Go Green, our MGC Environmental Issues Advisors Kris Greve and Ellen Herring created a Go Green: Recycling for a Better Tomorrow post on the MGC Website. Check it out!
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Summer is For Garden Walks! | |
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June 29 Belding Gardeneers Garden Walk
9:00 am - 3:00 pm; Tickets available at Belding Museum, 108 Hanover St, Belding, MI featuring a Children’s Activity
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June 22 Gardens Made Easy Tri-Cities GC
Tickets: $12.00; available at each garden
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July 13 South Haven Garden Walk
South Haven Garden Club
Event will begin at The Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven, 903 South Bailey Avenue, South Haven. You will be able to enjoy our barn sale as well as our plants and crafts sale. Complimentary refreshments.
Ticket pick-up for the garden walk at Museum. Ticket pick-up for the garden walk: 903 South Bailey Ave South Haven, MI http://www.southhavengardenclub.org
See Lots More Walks Here!
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July 18-July 20, 2024
“The Garden Olympics”
A Standard Flower Show Tri-Cities Garden Club Opens at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Spring Lake District Library. The club’s 65th Annual Flower Show is free and runs until 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. Details, classes, and guidelines can be found at http://www.tricitiesgardenclub.org
See More Shows Here!
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MGC
Welcomes 4 New Clubs!
The following requests to join Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. were approved at the June 10, 2024, Board of Directors Meeting:
District 1
Helms Garden Club - New Club
GPP (Grosse Pointe Park) Patterson Park Garden Club - New Club
Wyandotte Garden Club - Rejoining and resetting!
District 2A
Bedford Flower and Garden Club - Rejoining
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One of my favorite quotes by Gertrude Jekyll is “What is one to say about June, the perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade.”
Please check the MGC website for all the latest information on events and Garden tours in your area. Please contact me
if you have a problem logging into migardenclubs.org
Read more....
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Spring is finally here, and everything is blooming and beautiful.
Our Spring Conference hosted by Swan Creek Garden Club was well attended by district members. The food was delicious. Proven Winner petunias, of all spring colors, were provided for attendees to take home.
The Ways and Means table stocked with wind chimes, cement Hosta and cabbage leaves, and garden plants were purchased
Read more...
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District 3A is working hard trying to keep up with Spring Gardens, form changes, procedural changes, plant sales, planning flower shows, environmental schools, and laying out a whole new year of activities. Members are looking forward to the “fun” day at Kalamazoo Nature Center happening May 20. We can say that with confidence because some people are writing “fun day” on their check description.
Read more...
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District 3B continues to take baby steps towards becoming a thriving District.
We held a Spring Meeting at Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor. The meeting was designed to be a luncheon with one speaker and the attendees seemed to be happy with the format. All we could have hoped for was better weather for a tour of the grounds, but Mother Nature did not get the memo. Next time!
The district Fall Meeting is being planned as I write. More news about this meeting later!
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D4 continues to be a very active District with 14 busy clubs. We have continued to have monthly Presidents’ Zoom meetings, a great way to Grow, Share, and Connect when distance prohibits physical gatherings.
Our Spring Conference, Protecting Mother Earth, hosted by Big Rapids GC was very successful with 76 attendees, multiple speakers, vendors, and educational displays.
We have 2 new MGC Life Award Members. Standale GC awarded a pin to 40-year member Bonnie Grzegorski and Big Rapids GC honored member, Jan deRegnier. Read more...
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District 5 Fall Meeting to be held on September 12 in Mackinaw City.
District 5 Fall Meeting and the NGC Horticulture Specialty Flower Show September (11) 12, 2024, St. Anthony Catholic Church in Mackinaw City, MI. It is hosted by Seedums Garden Club, Presque Isle Garden Club and Stepping Stones Garden Club.
Charlevoix Area Garden Club Biennial Luncheon-Held on July 10 at Castle Farms, Charlevoix, MI. Come enjoy Neal Sanders, the keynote speaker coming all the way from Boston. He has written several books filled with humor that will entertain and amuse you. More information to come on this wonderful event. Read more...
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There are lots of exciting happenings in District 6 this spring and summer. Here is the schedule of events:
April 18, 2024: ‘Earth Day: Our Native Community’. Hosted by the Gladwin County Master Gardeners & Friends at the Gladwin High School. Vendors opened at 4:30, classes began at 5:00. Excellent speakers and vendors. The event was free to the public.
May 17, 2024: Evergreen Garden Club’s Annual English Tea. Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland. Doors opened at 10 AM, entertainment began at 11:00. $40 per ticket. Proceeds went to: Open Door Women’s Shelter & Chippewa Nature Center Camperships. Great food, entertainment, and vendors!
Read more...
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Petosky Area Garden Club
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Congratulations
Cedar Springs Garden Club!
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Celebrates
90 Years!
When most people think of Petoskey, “Petoskey is so pretty” comes to mind. However, Petoskey was not always so pretty. It has a natural beauty, but from 1840-1910 the logging industry stripped Northern Michigan of conifers and hardwood trees. The leftover branches and stumps became tinder for terrible fires in the region.
Our harbor was a busy industrial area with mills, shops, and ships delivering goods and tourists, plus coal-burning trains coming into the depot near the shoreline continuously. The Bear River, which flows into the Bay in Petoskey, had multiple grist, and sawmills along it. Also along the shoreline was a major limestone quarry. Read More...
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How
A Very Small Club
Doubled Its Size!
Cedar Springs Garden Club has always been a small group with an emphasis on civic service. Lately we realized we were also an aging club. We needed more help in the form of more members.
Our new Vice President attended the District 4 Leadership Meeting in the Spring of 2022 and came back with an idea. She worked at it for almost a year, finding a printer, getting permissions, etc. The result was a post card with the Michigan Garden Club logo and information about the garden club and how to contact us.
Read more...
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Life Achievement Awards Update | |
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Congratulations to these individuals who recently received Life Achievement Awards:
Laura Bostick, Dirt Daubers Garden Club, Inc.
Catherine Brennan, Saline Stone and Thistle Garden Club
Jan deRegnier, Big Rapids Garden Club, Inc.
Bonnie Grzegorski, Standale Garden Club
Clarene Kersting, Muskegon County Garden Club
Jessica Kohli, Saline Stone and Thistle Garden Club
Jill Mason, Belding Gardeneers
Kathy Miller, Kent Garden Club
Alice Schneider, Marshall Area Garden Club, Inc.
Life Achievement Awards (LAAs), formerly known as Life Member Achievement Awards,
are presented to honor club members or other individuals for outstanding service to a club, district, or state organization. The name change, recently approved by Michigan Garden Clubs, is intended to better reflect the intent of the Award, which may also be purchased by individuals for themselves or by friends and family for a club member.
Read more...
Virginia Froehlich, Life Achievement Award Chair
vafroehlich@comcast.net
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A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words
How to grow your club!
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Farmington and Livonia Garden Clubs have Karen Block as a member, and she is always thinking of ways to help both clubs! The Clubs have signs in their community gardens, so Karen took the idea a step further. She has already had inquires - imagine these signs in all of your members’ gardens!
Keep those ideas coming Karen!
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It’s Time to Move Michigan Up from 14th Place!
This summer let’s get our gardens, club native community gardens and local nature centers on the map! https://homegrownnationalpark.org/
Planting Native Plants = Wildlife and Pollinators in Your Yard
Do you enjoy the sight of a turtle, or birds feeding their nestlings, or butterflies and fireflies in your yard? You are more likely to see nature when you plant more native plants, trees, and shrubs in your garden.
Our songbirds feed their nestlings exclusively on soft insects (caterpillars, spiders, etc.) and those insects feed on native plants, especially Keystone plants. A Keystone plant is one that hosts many insects.
Homegrown National Park now has listings of examples of Keystone trees, shrubs, and perennials for Michigan’s three Level II ecoregions. These are great plants to try out in your garden. Read more…
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Homegrown National Park District Report
Congratulations to MGC District 3B for the most acres planted!
Congratulations to MGC District 1 for the most members on the map!
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MGC Ongoing Projects
Click each below to read more
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Gardening With Purpose!
The MGC Project that shares our harvest!
Summer is the time for planting and sharing our bounty with local food pantries and banks. Fresh produce is a always in demand; help address food insecurity in our state and reduce excess waste -share your surplus!
Please contact your district member on our Gardening for Purpose committee if you have any questions -read more here
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NGC President's Projects
President Brenda Moore
While Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. has initiated our Plant America; Feed America Gardening with Purpose project there are two other Projects that club members may want to get involved in below:
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PLANT AMERICA-
Wildlife Habitat Certification Program
As garden club members we should be aiming to practice
sustainability in our personal landscapes. Habitats are being lost
to development and we can hold the key to preserving them for
future generations. As development pushes natural habitats
further and further back, we can encourage wildlife to co-exist
with us in our own landscapes.
Biodiversity is a key to successful wildlife habitat. You get to choose the wildlife you want to encourage. It may be only birds, small mammals, and insects. You can provide food, water, cover and places for animals and insects to raise their young.
Check the NGC website for the application and get YOUR GARDEN registered as a National Garden Club Certified Wildlife Habitat. You will receive a certificate and may purchase a plaque to display in your garden. For more information and to register your garden go to: https://gardenclub.org/plant-america-wildlife-habitat-certification-program
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National Garden Clubs President Brenda Moore wants to encourage NGC members to make our gardens more than just beautiful. That’s why she created the National Garden Clubs Pollinator Garden Certification program. Our gardens can support birds, bees and other insects, and this program provides the incentive to take additional steps to make sure we’re providing all the components to help pollinators thrive.
For more information and to register your garden go to:
https://gardenclub.org/plant-america-plant-pollinators
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Foam Away!
One Member Making a Big Difference!
Elizabeth Paulis President River Valley Garden Club, shared this recent experience: “In January my husband was in the hospital in St. Joseph for four days. I was appalled at the amount of Styrofoam that was used. I mentioned this at our February meeting and at the March meeting a member organized a post card campaign. We sent 40 postcards with individual messages to the CEO. Then I sent a letter explaining that these were from the River Valley Garden Club and were a result of my husband's stay. Attached is the letter I received in return." Letter in Response
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Dill selected for Michigan’s
2024 One Seed, One State
Seed libraries all across Michigan are giving away ‘Mammoth Long Island’ Dill, this year’s pick for One Seed, One State. Sow directly in the garden in well-drained soil in a sunny location May – July. Dill leaves and seeds both make a tasty herb for gardeners to enjoy. Don’t be afraid to spread extra seed throughout your garden because dill will attract pollinators and is a host plant for Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars.
To find a seed library near you or learn more about One Seed, One State go to https://miseedlibrary.org/
Catherine Brennan, Saline Stone & Thistle District 2A; MGC Vegetable & Foodscape Gardening Advisor
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2023-2024 Goal Exceeded!
$20,173 Total Contributions
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. is very proud of its scholarship program. Thanks to the leadership of Karin Maupin Chair and her Scholarship Committee members Rosemary (Bunny) LaDuke and Suzanne Budrow the program has expanded and certainly represents a best practice within National Garden Clubs, Inc.
It is the ongoing support from our clubs, coupled by the MGC Sustaining Scholarship Investment Program, that has made this possible.
MGC General Scholarship Recipients
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Named Scholarship Recipients | |
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NGC Schools Update
Environmental School completed Series 8 in April. Congratulations to the thirteen new Environmental Consultants! Series 9 will be in the Kalamazoo area on April 7 & 8, 2025.
Flower Show School presented Course 2 in April 2024. The new format was well received by attendees. All attendees taking the test passed. Course 3 is scheduled on October 10, 11, and 12, 2024.
Landscape Design School will present Course 2 on September 25 & 26, 2024. Course 1 was well received by attendees.
Gardening School will begin in Spring, March 28th and 29th, 2025 in District 3B.
Michigan Association of Accredited Judges (MAAJ) reports that there are 30 judges in “Good Standing”. Members are available to help with planning and educating clubs, and districts on Flower Show essentials. Each district has an MAAJ representative who can aid you.
MCC has been busy planning for the Garden Walk Award and the Environmental Award of Merit. Each district has a representative for the council. This year they revamped the District Speakers Lists. Look to those, available on the website, for your club meeting programs.
Denise Clegg, MGC Third Vice-President, Schools & Education and Gardening School Chair dclegg@migardenclubs.org
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Grow and Share Grant Update
Listed below are the latest Michigan Garden Club Grow & Share Grants applicants for 2024. Plant America & Share Small Grant Program Application, Guidelines, Directions, and final report forms are available in the member area under Club Grant Programs.
Member Area (migardenclubs.org)
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*Runner-up MGC candidate for the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Scholarship
** Winner of a Central Region Scholarships
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Please consider applying for a grant for your next project.
Pat Kelly, MGC Grants Administrator
pkelly@migardenclubs.org
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National Garden Clubs
Grant Opportunities
Plant America Community Project Grant
Plant American Community Project Grant applications are due October 16, 2024. Member clubs or near-clubs (several clubs in a close geographic area/city) can apply for up to $2,000 for a community project that promotes the Plant America theme.
Application Here
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Native Plants and Wildflowers Educational Grant
$500 grants are available for direct expenses for an education program on native plants and wildflowers. State garden clubs, districts, councils and member garden clubs may co-sponsor a symposium with state agencies, arboreta, native plant societies, or similar organizations. See application for more information.
Application: https://gardenclub.org/operation-wildflower
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Youth Grant Opportunity
The National Garden Club, Inc. is excited to provide member clubs working with youth clubs or groups planning and planting Pollinator Gardens a grant opportunity. Up to $200 is available for projects that include educational materials promoting pollinators.
Use the following link to find out more about applying for this grant.
Application: https://gardenclub.org/youth-pollinator-gardens-grant
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Help NGC Build the Pathway to Success
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. will be purchasing a state paver to help build the path. Did you know that our districts, clubs, individuals and other organizations can purchase a paver as well? All will go toward building a MICHIGAN section of the path!
The pavers are 4”x8” and are $250.00. The state paver is 12”x12” and $500.
Roughly 1/4 mile long, the Path of Success will be a walking path located on the grounds of NGC's headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri and will link to the Missouri Botanical Gardens, spreading more awareness of NGC than ever before. This project will also serve as an educational platform, showing the rich history and mission of NGC.
To learn more, go to: https://gardenclub.org/ngc-path-success
Paver Order Form: https://gardenclubwebsite.wufoo.com/forms/zro48ua0em80qn/
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Keeping Connected to
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.!
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What is Constant Contact?
Constant Contact (CC) is an email marketing company used for several years by Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. to send information to all our members.
To stay connected it is necessary for MGC, Inc. to have the member’s correct email address. Our club rosters can be updated at any time during the year, but we are currently collecting member dues and updated rosters so please make sure your members’ emails are correct!
Security settings on your device can cause the Constant Contact email from Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. to go to your spam folder. If you are not receiving CC, check your spam or junk mail and if you find it then move it to your inbox and identify as email that you want to receive.
If a member has unsubscribed or been unsubscribed due to an email change, they must re-subscribe themselves. That can easily be done by going to the Member Resources Area of the MGC website. The password to access the area is: mgcgrow.
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Facebook Groups
These are private groups
– you will need to request to join
(after answering 3 entry questions)
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Private - Only members can see who's in the group and what they post.
This is a place for Michigan Garden Club members to connect with members across the state who share an interest in garden related arts and crafts. Share a picture of your favorite garden art ... that’s great! Share ideas and ‘how to’, even better! Let’s see how creative we all can be! Click links below!
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Article Submission Guidelines
We look forward to receiving your submissions and can't wait to hear from many of you again!
Please View our requirements here
Keep your news “short and snappy” for our readers enjoyment. Try to limit the word count to no more than 400. Hey, we know it may be difficult, however your efforts will cut down on our editing out something you feel is important.
Thank you! Newsletter Editorial Team - Carol Lauffer, Terry Such, and Nancy Ryan
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