THE GARDEN CLUB of AMERICA
2020 FOUNDERS FUND AWARD FINALISTS
Proposal Summaries
Permaculture Sanctuary: Promoting Trauma Resilience through Regenerative Gardening
Proposed by: Twin City Garden Club, Zone VII
Seconded by: The French Broad River Garden Club Foundation, Zone VII
Children who have experienced trauma deserve a sanctuary. TCGC’s budding permaculture food and sensory garden, co–created with Crossnore’s Miracle Grounds Farm, serves 450 children daily, including 45 resident foster children. Crossnore’s environment supports cutting-edge techniques to gain power over pain through education, art and soil therapy--restoring souls through soil. The Founders Fund grant would elevate our flourishing garden to a far-reaching food forest.
Growing It Green in Paterson, NJ - Public School Rain Garden Project
Proposed by: Garden Club of Madison, Zone IV
Seconded by: Garden Club of Morristown, Zone IV
GC of Madison is sponsoring GSWA and Rutgers University to expand their transformational schoo rain garden program, established in Paterson, NJ in 2017. Through GSWA’s hands-on environmental education programming, students are re-connected to nature through the planning, design and building of rain gardens as a solution to local stormwater runoff and water pollution issues. As students learn about the need to protect the lands and waters around them, a mindset of stewardship is created.
CheerMobile: What Cheer Flower Farm on the Rhode
Proposed by: Perennial Planters Garden Club, Zone II
Seconded by: Newport Garden Club, Zone II
Flowers matter. What Cheer Flower Farm has turned abandoned factory land into an urban oasis, organically growing and giving away 30,000 flowers per year to hospitals, shelters, recovery centers, at-risk youth and seniors. The CheerMobile van will carry our educational programming including flower arranging and art classes to those who can’t travel to us. Plus, we’ll gather stems donated by florists, weddings and events, so we can give away thousands more flowers year-round.
Proposed by: Twin City Garden Club, Zone VII
Seconded by: The French Broad River Garden Club Foundation, Zone VII
Children who have experienced trauma deserve a sanctuary. TCGC’s budding permaculture food and sensory garden, co–created with Crossnore’s Miracle Grounds Farm, serves 450 children daily, including 45 resident foster children. Crossnore’s environment supports cutting-edge techniques to gain power over pain through education, art and soil therapy--restoring souls through soil. The Founders Fund grant would elevate our flourishing garden to a far-reaching food forest.
Growing It Green in Paterson, NJ - Public School Rain Garden Project
Proposed by: Garden Club of Madison, Zone IV
Seconded by: Garden Club of Morristown, Zone IV
GC of Madison is sponsoring GSWA and Rutgers University to expand their transformational schoo rain garden program, established in Paterson, NJ in 2017. Through GSWA’s hands-on environmental education programming, students are re-connected to nature through the planning, design and building of rain gardens as a solution to local stormwater runoff and water pollution issues. As students learn about the need to protect the lands and waters around them, a mindset of stewardship is created.
CheerMobile: What Cheer Flower Farm on the Rhode
Proposed by: Perennial Planters Garden Club, Zone II
Seconded by: Newport Garden Club, Zone II
Flowers matter. What Cheer Flower Farm has turned abandoned factory land into an urban oasis, organically growing and giving away 30,000 flowers per year to hospitals, shelters, recovery centers, at-risk youth and seniors. The CheerMobile van will carry our educational programming including flower arranging and art classes to those who can’t travel to us. Plus, we’ll gather stems donated by florists, weddings and events, so we can give away thousands more flowers year-round.
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GTGC members and guests gathered on a snowy Thursday, January 23, for popcorn, cookies and screening of the film “Jens Jensen, The Living Green” at the Weyenberg Library in Mequon.
This documentary is about the pioneering conservationist and renowned landscape architect, Jens Jensen (1860-1951), considered a forerunner of environmentalism. A truly inspiring story, Jensen became one of the nation’s most influential urban designers who shaped the Midwest’s cultural and physical landscape in an enduring way. He emigrated from Denmark in the 1880’s and rose from street sweeper to be the pioneer of sustainable design. He fought to conserve green spaces and humanize big cities. We have experienced his design at Donges Bay Gorge and Frank Lloyd Wright’s, Taliesin. The Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame will induct Jens Jensen posthumously into its 2020 class at an April 25 ceremony at SentryWorld in Stevens Point. The public is invited. If you were unable to attend the screening, the movie is available for streaming on Amazon (free for prime members or otherwise for a nominal rental fee.) Many thanks to the Conservation Committee for sponsoring this event. |
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January Highlights
August Hoppe, certified arborist and co-owner of Hoppe Tree Service, discussed a variety of tips and
techniques for tree and shrub pruning. Many thanks to Cindy Bohlen for organizing this informative session
and to our hostesses, Buffy Duback and Barb Anderson, who provided chili in eco-friendly mugs.
techniques for tree and shrub pruning. Many thanks to Cindy Bohlen for organizing this informative session
and to our hostesses, Buffy Duback and Barb Anderson, who provided chili in eco-friendly mugs.
Holiday Workshop 2019
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Our members enjoyed making orange pomander arrangements at our annual Holiday Workshop.
Many thanks to Cindy Bohlen, Kristen Sheehan, Holly Blake, and the Floral Design Committee for organizing a festive afternoon! |
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Memories from our
2019 Holiday Tea
Many thanks to our lovely presidents for sponsoring the 2019 Holiday Tea!
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Highlights from the November meeting
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Our November meeting featured a fabulous program by Katie Ford, a floral designer from Lake Bluff, Illinois. Like wild flowers, Katie’s passion for floral design grew quickly and organically. What started as simple gestures of love and thanks to dear friends has blossomed into a flourishing enterprise. Katie not only sees the beauty in everything, but she also celebrates that beauty with her genuine and deliberate designs. Each of her creations is a unique mix of flora, fauna, sentiment and soul. Katie takes great care to choose particular flowers based on their symbolic meaning. Whether honoring an individual, a memory, or a special day, Katie pours her heart into everything that she creates.
As part of her program, Katie designed three stunning centerpieces which were raffled off to lucky members. Many thanks to Katie for sharing her time and talents and to hostesses Deb Walker and Tanja Felton for a delicious luncheon.
As part of her program, Katie designed three stunning centerpieces which were raffled off to lucky members. Many thanks to Katie for sharing her time and talents and to hostesses Deb Walker and Tanja Felton for a delicious luncheon.
Art en Fleurs 2019
A Garden Club of America Flower Show
Harley-Davidson Museum
Milwaukee, WI
October 1-2, 2019
Winner of the Betty Quadracci Garden Design Award - Dedi Knox
Mandevilla, Paulie McCown
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Botanical Arts, Class 3: Buckle Up - Patty Grebe
Rex Begonia, Barb Anderson
Horticulture Class 104
(Plant owned for more than 5 years) Susie Kasten
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Hydrangea, Polly Beal
Dahlia (grown from seed) - Hattie Purtell
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Floral Design, Class 6 “Friday Fish Fry”Rana Holbrook and Judy Moon
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Club Challenge - Garden of Abundance:Wendy Walcott, Jan Montgomery, Anne Vogel, Hattie Purtell, and contributions from many GTGC members
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Co-chair Alison Culver assessing the cut specimens…
Floral Design, Class 4: Blow Out - Margot Paddock
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Art en Fleurs Signage by Gina Sisk and Deb Walker
New Member Challenge:
Kristin Sheehan, Anne Noyes, Monnine Parnitzke, Linda Stolz
Computer Crew: Adrienne Widell, Robin Slater, Sarah Starrett
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Hosta leaf “non-varigated” Kathy Palmer
Centerpieces aglow for the “Denim & Dazzle” preview party
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A MAJOR SUCCESS!
Many thanks for the incredible commitment of time, effort & energy from
Co-Chairs Alison Culver and Sara Murphy
and to . . .
Each GTGC participant who served as a committee chair or member;
to those who volunteered, clerked, entered stunning floral designs, otherworldly botanical arts,
enviable horticulture cuttings, inspiring photos and cover-worthy plants;
and to all who supported Art en Fleurs with generous donations and patronage!
THANK YOU!
The Conservation Committee's October "Pop-Up" event was a great success!
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Thanks to Adrienne Widell for organizing a terrific spur-of-the-moment event! Special thanks to Lyn Slater for hosting the movie night where all viewed and discussed the film DamNation and special thanks to Wendy Walcott for guiding us through a fascinating morning at the Kletch Park dam site on the Milwaukee River.
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Welcome New Members . . .
Many Thanks to our Annual Meeting Hostesses:
Rosie Lyons, Bev Groeschell, Nancy Wigdale, Kathy Palmer, Monnine Parnitzke, Judy Moon & Linda Stolz
Rosie Lyons, Bev Groeschell, Nancy Wigdale, Kathy Palmer, Monnine Parnitzke, Judy Moon & Linda Stolz
Summer Blooms Luncheon
Vicki Kunz, owner of La Tulipe in Cedarburg, discussed the "Farm to Vase" movement and created a lovely arrangement using white viburnum, flowering branches, pink peonies, butterfly ranunculus and gorgeous peony tulips. These varieties were grown by flower farmers in Wisconsin. Centerpieces for the luncheon also made use of locally sourced flowers. Be sure to visit Vicki's new store, La Terre, a European-style flower and gift market located in Mequon's Spur 16 development. |
The purpose of Green Tree Garden Club is to promote the knowledge and love of gardening by providing education
and activities in the areas of conservation, horticulture and civic improvement.
and activities in the areas of conservation, horticulture and civic improvement.
