Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 1 September, October, November 2016

Fall 2016 Volume V Issue VII

The official publication of Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.

Member of Central Region and National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 2 September, October, November 2016

Thru the

Garden Gate MGC, Inc.

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. mission is to provide

education, resources, and networking opportunities for

its members to promote the love of gardening, floral and

landscape design, and environmental responsibility.

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.

Official publication

A 501(c)3 Organization

Thru the Garden Gate Bernadine Bennett,

Graphic Designer/Layout Catherine Ware, Publisher/Editor/

Business Manager mgc.gatenews@yahoo.com

Website

michigangardenclubs.com

Charley Bohland, Webmaster

michigangardenclubs@yahoo.com

Calendar Events

Use Submit Event button on website calendar

Marilyn McIntosh

Executive Board President

“Blooming in the Arts of Our

Mission and Membership”

231-546-3152

mgc.statepresident@yahoo.com

Carol Sue Brodbeck

1st Vice President

734-434-3795

mgc.carol.brodbeck@aol.com

Susan Kropschot, 2nd Vice President

Janet Hickman, 3rd Vice President

Karen Gentile, 4th Vice President

Peggy Hartman, Recording Secretary

Jenny Bond, Corresponding Secretary

Janice Thelen, Treasurer

Deannie Picciotti

Advisor/Nominating

dmp77@charter.net

Database

Karen Motawi, Database Manager

Mary Pulick, Processing

mgc.database@yahoo.com

Sandra H. Robinson

President, NGC, Inc.

“Leap Into Action”

sandyr5342@gmail.com

Judy Newman

Central Region Director

“Cultivating Connections”

Table of Contents

President’s Page 3 MGC Lifetime Awards 4 World Gardening 4 Website 4 2017 MGC Convention Date 4 Youth Gardening 5 Paint a Flower Pot 5 Facebook 5 Coming Events 5 Submission Dates for Garden Gate 5 Environmental Studies School Form 6 MGC Convention Thanks 7 Flower Shows 7 Scholarships 8 Civic Beautification ` 8 Back Yard News 9 Loda Lake 9 NGC Convention Thank You 10 Blooming Bucks Winners 10 Blue Star 11 District News 12,13 Editor’s Note 13 Landscape Design School Form 14 Awards 15 Calendar of Events 16

“Fall along the Grand River” picture donated by Gerald Rich-mond of DeWitt, MI. Canoe is approaching the Grand Ledge Bridge.

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 3 September, October, November 2016

Blooming in the Arts of our Mission and Membership

When autumn arrives in Michigan, our trees take center stage with glorious fall colors. With the holidays shortly thereafter, Michigan is a top producer of Christmas trees. When I have been driving home

from fall district meetings to Gaylord, these trees are being cut and bundled for shipment. To emphasize Michigan’s connection to trees we have developed several arboriculture awards. The National Garden Clubs’ presidents trade newsletters just like some of your clubs share with one another. In the Garden Club of Ohio, Inc. publication Garden Greetings, their awards were listed. We liked their focus on arboriculture and were inspired to add two new awards: Native Tree Award and Holiday Tree Project Award. We know MGC clubs are doing some great tree planting and holiday tree projects. Please be the first to apply! Forms will be available on the MGC website.

In other developments: Attorney Rose Houk is assisting clubs with their applications for our new GTEP (Group Tax Exemption Program). We have begun archiving our digital files on our website for safekeeping and to pass on to future administrations. We continue to encourage you to promote pollinators through contacting your Senator to support Senate Bill 850 for the Black Swallowtail as Michigan’s state butterfly. Two study schools are starting with Course I this fall – Landscape Design and Environmental Studies. The 85th State Convention in Frankenmuth attracted record attendance. Attendees liked the format ---a written shareholder’s report; district meeting breakouts; and honors tables for club presidents, the 2015-2016 Blue Star Memorial dedication clubs, the National Garden Clubs convention committee, and the MGC board of directors during the annual business meeting. We hope your club is making plans to attend the 86th State Convention in Ann Arbor where you can “Grow and Share” in 2017!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their hard work in raising funds for and supporting the 87th Annual National Garden Clubs, Inc. Convention Bloomin on the Grand with your donations and ads. Our convention program book showed our attendees who

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. is and expressed a warm welcome to all to the grand state of Michigan! I would also like to thank all who participated in the planning and volunteered at the convention. It took many hands and countless number of hours to put on a convention of this size. It was much appreciated. I hope that you will treasure the memories you made for life. I would especially like to thank those with whom I worked closely: the district directors who rallied their districts to support the convention; convention treasurer Sue Soderberg and convention book chair Sue Wittick for their dedication and timely follow-up with donors and advertisers; Joe Yantis for his tireless efforts in writing and posting convention articles; Charley Bohland for his timely posting of convention mater ials on the

MGC website; and of course, Marge McGoff and Sharon Yantis for their tireless dedication, hard work, and support. I am happy to announce the well-deserving district winners of the 2015 Fund-Raising Campaign. They are: District having 100% of their District’s Club names listed as a contributor or appearing in the convention program book: Districts I, IIA, IIB, III, IV, V, VI (yes, all the districts) District raising the most funds in 2015: Distr ict IV District having the largest number of donors in 2015: Distr ict V District having the highest per capita donation in 2015: Distr ict IV The District with the largest number of new NGC Life Members during March 1, 2015 to March 15, 2016: Distr ict I. Michigan won both NGC awards for having the largest number of new NGC Life Members and highest per capita of new NGC Life Members.

All of you are winners so THANK YOU!!!!! Have a “Bloomin” good day. Carol Brodbeck

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE NGC CONVENTION — CAROL BRODBECK

Marilyn McIntosh

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 4 September, October, November 2016

MGC Life Membership Virginia Froehlich, Chair

In the last issue of the Gate, I told you about the best part of my job. Now I will tell you that the worst part is reading all the wonderful things our members are doing in their clubs and in their communities and knowing I must condense it into one typed page! That’s the length of the presentation letter that accompanies each Michigan Life Membership certificate, along with a congratulatory card and a ribbon. Life membership lapel pins identifying the recipient as a Michigan Garden Club Life Member are also available for $5.00. In the past, the $100 life membership fee went into an endowment fund, with only the interest and dividends of this fund supporting MGC Scholarships. Following a thorough review and clarification of our bylaws, policies, and procedures, the state board has voted unanimously to bring our life membership practices into compliance with our bylaws, with monies from the fund being available as well as interest. As a result, going forward, all life membership funds will be more readily available and budgeted for scholarships. How can you purchase a Life Membership? Simply go to michigangardenclubs.org, click on “Join” and “Life Membership.” If you need assistance, please contact me and I will be happy to provide you with the form. Please use the CURRENT form on the website because it has been revised, and please allow 4-6 weeks for processing . . . not because I write slowly, but in case I’m on vacation! Please join me in congratulating these new Life Members:

Cristy Lee Bennett Garden Club of Greater Lansing Diane Brown Brighton Garden Club Judy Chapman Mason Sycamore Creek Garden Club Robin Courtright Cadillac Garden Club Marion Dagg Livonia Garden Club Peter Diller Caro Garden Club Bernadette Dzieciuch Dearborn Heights Garden Club Evelyn Flynn Petal Pushers Garden Club Patricia Gillis Evening Blossoms Garden Club Diane Haines Thornapple Garden Club Brenda Hershberger Mason Sycamore Creek Garden Club Sandie Idema Kalamazoo Garden Club Phyllis Irwin Garden Club of Greater Lansing Sharon Lanier Elk Rapids Garden Club Susan Lowery Grosse Ile Garden Club Patti Mack Garden Club of Dearborn Charlain McDermott Chemical City Garden Club Barbara Meyer The Little Garden Club Sue Pazynski Club of Little Gardens Judith Schroeder Touch the Earth Garden Club Jan Weaver Chemical City Garden Club Carrie Zagumny Thornapple Garden Club

World Gardening Kit Gunn, Chair

We were honored to be the 2015-16 National Garden Clubs, Inc. #46 overall award winner for World

Gardening. We were given a beautiful silver tray at the MGC convention.

In June a check for $3,310 was sent to the National 4-H Youth Development Center in Belize to fund scholarships for the young people to continue their education for another year. Helping these students to complete their high school education will have a huge impact on their future. They and along with the Center’s staff are very grateful for our ongoing support.

Thank you to the following clubs and individuals that have contributed to World Gardening between April 16 and July 15.

Blue Water Garden Club Garden Club of Greater Lansing Great Lakes Gardeners Grow and Show Garden Club Holland Garden Club Juniper Garden Club Kit Gunn Mason County Garden Club Virginia Froehlich (donated her MGC honorarium)

Mt. Pleasant Garden Club Saline Stone & Thistle Garden Club Spirit of the Woods Garden Club Williamston Red Cedar Garden Club

Please mail your donation checks made out to Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. to Kit Gunn, 4584 Boxwood Court, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.

If you are interested in a presentation for your club about our World Gardening Project in Belize, please contact Kit at

(734) 994-7455 or kitgunn@hotmail.com.

Visit the MGC Inc. website for the latest information and event calendar.

michigangardenclubs.org

2017 MGC State Convention

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. 2017 Convention on June 7-8, 2017 (Board Meeting June 9, 2017) to be held at the Holiday Inn in Ann Arbor. District I and District IIA clubs are collaborating to put on a wonderful event for everyone! We welcome all District I and District IIA clubs to participate in the planning and implementation of this enjoyable state convention. Please watch for details to follow! Ruth Moline, District I Director

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 5 September, October, November 2016

Visit Us on Facebook Betty Assmann, Chair

Judith Carr,

Administrator

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.

Coming events

Fall 2016 District Meetings

District IV September 19

District V September 20

District VI September 28

District IIB October 13

District IIA October 21

Fall 2016 Schools

Flower Show Course III

September 13 - 15

Environmental Studies

Course I

October 17 & 18

Landscape Design Course I

October 24 & 25

The 2015-2016 National Garden Club, Inc. youth contests were a smashing success. Five stellar Smokey Bear-Woodsy Owl posters marched on to Central Region to compete again. All of Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.’s first place winners walked away with a Central Region Award. Second-grader, Emma Patten, from Boyne Valley was awarded a first place at CR along with third-grader Caleb Trotten from Swan Creek and fourth-grader Kylee Rice from Charlevoix Area Garden Club. Second place

winners at Central Region were first-grader Blaize Jones and Ralph Helfrich both from Swan Creek.

Special thanks goes out to all the other participating garden clubs who contacted a school, collected posters, garnered signatures, and entered the competition on time. In addition to the poster contest, two youth sculptures were accepted. Sarah Parks from Rainbow Lakes Garden Club won first place at the state level and received a commendation from Central and National Garden Clubs. Interested in promoting a contest in your local garden club? Log onto NGC’s website at gardenclub.org Under Youth Contests, find all the rules, timelines, and release forms for the 2017 poster, sculpture, poetry, and essay contests. Other question? Email Peggy House at peggyannhouse@yahoo.com.

Woodsey Owl

On Saturday, July 2, 2016, the Loch Alpine Garden Club hosted an activity table for kids at the annual Loch Alpine Independence Day Celebration. The garden activity provided children an opportunity to paint their own terra cotta flower pot in which they planted a seedling flower to take home and care for. In honor of Independence Day kids painted their pots in red, white, and blue acrylic paints (some with glitter).

We had fifteen kids participate in the activity, ranging from about three to twelve years in age. This activity table also provided the club an opportunity to hand out flyers to parents, thereby raising our visibility in the community and encouraging those with an interest in gardening to join the garden club.

submitted by Roberta Nerison-Low, President

Chris Rochman and Tom Shope from the LA Garden Club assisting the kids.

LOCH ALPINE GARDEN CLUB HOSTS

“PAINT A FLOWER POT”

National Youth Contests Peggy House, Chair

Thru the Garden Gate dates for submission

of articles:

Submit articles and information to mgc.gatenews@yahoo.com

Due October 10, Winter…December/January/February Issue

Due January 10, Spring...March/April/May Issue Due April 10, Summer...June/July/August Issue

Due July 10, Fall...September/October/November Issue

Contact Catherine Ware at mgc.gatenews@yahoo.com for guidelines for submitting articles.

All photos of individuals in articles must have a signed photo release on file.

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 6 September, October, November 2016

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 7 September, October, November 2016

Participating in a flower show is fun and a great learning experience. If you have never done so, entering horticulture specimens is an easy way to start. For the show you want to enter, get a flower show schedule from your club president or from the sponsoring organization and read the rules and requirements for Horticulture. It is very important

to follow them if you want to do well and go home with a blue ribbon. Then, when the time for the show arrives, go out in your yard with a pail of water and collect the best specimens from all the plants you have been tending. When you get inside, cut the stem once again under running water, place the specimen in fresh water, and store it overnight in a cool spot. Basements and refrigerators work well as does a nice shady spot outdoors. Container grown plants need to be groomed. Make sure the soil on top looks fresh. Remove any dead foliage or damaged leaves and clean the outside of the pot. With houseplants, if you are unable get the salt out of a terra cotta pot so that it looks fresh and clean, it is

permissible to do what is called ‘double potting’. Place your soiled container into a larger, clean container making sure that the inner pot does not show. This can be accomplished by covering the top with moss. Check the rules for your show. It may require advance registration with the horticulture chair for all potted plants. Collections are another way to enter a flower show. You need to have at least five specimens of a similar type for a collection. Herbs work well. A variety of Dahlias is another example or five

houseplants, i.e. all cacti. Each specimen must have the genus and species correctly listed.

Entry cards are sometimes distributed to clubs ahead of time. If so, it is best to fill these out at home. Mailing labels work very well for putting your name

and address on the card. Just make sure they don’t cover up more than the allotted space. Look up the botanic name for the specimen(s) you want to enter. If you have a plant you want to enter and aren’t sure of the name, there will be people at a classification table who are very good at identifying plants and will be happy to help you.

Nancy Stark Higgins and Ronnie Dush, 85th Annual MGC Convention Co-Chairs

Thank you to the 2016 Convention Committee, District VI garden clubs and everyone else who volunteered to make this a wonderful 2016 state convention! Everyone with whom we’ve talked LOVED it and the praises are still coming in. The attendance count was 296 members with 4 visitors.

By picking a great venue, speakers/seminar/program, vendors, centerpieces, colorful napkins, having a convention program book, food, and AV the district achieved its goal of making this an outstanding event. Everyone had a great time attending the seminars and the strudel and pretzel

making. The floral blumenkranz was challenging and so much fun. Thank you District Directors for being good sports and participating.

None of this could have happened without the convention committee and the support and help of our district VI clubs and their members. We've heard many compliments that all of you did a terrific job. Many said it was the best convention they ever attended. The 2017 Convention Committee is already telling us they are going to have a hard time coming up to the level the 2016 Convention provided. We, along with Marilyn, certainly enjoyed all the interaction with you during our meetings and through the past year to make this a fabulous

convention. Hugs to you all for doing a fantastic job! Bloomin' In the Arts!! - You all

did your job with dedication to our organization.

Blessings to you.

Sue Soderberg and Marge McGoff

Ann Campbell and Lynda Foster

Marilyn McIntosh

Horticulture for Flower Shows by Carol Beckius

With a little effort, you can participate in a flower show

and who knows, you may find it becoming one of your

passions!

****There's still time to register for Flower Show School, September 13-15, 2016 in

Midland. Registration forms are available on the MGC website and from your local club

president. (Registration deadline: Sept. 6) ****

BRAVO for the 2016 MGC CONVENTION!!

Collections

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 8 September, October, November 2016

MGC Scholarships Sue Wittick Chair

All I can say is WOW! In fiscal year 2015-2016 donations for scholarships totaled $16,341.58! We were able to award 17 scholarships to deserving and dedicated Michigan students. In fiscal year

2016-2017 MGC plans to award 22 scholar-ships (including scholarships endowed with money from the Thelma Burleigh and Mi-gnon Delano scholarship accounts). I’m pleased to report that donations re-ceived between April 15 and July 10, 2016 were from the following contributors: MGC State Convention, 501(c)(3) seminar proceeds District I Blue Water Garden Club District IIA Saline Stone & Thistle Garden Club District IIB Howell Garden Club The Garden Club of Greater Lansing Williamston Red Cedar Garden Club District III Grow & Show Garden Club South Haven Garden Club (in memory of Phyllis Rodenhouse) Sturgis Garden Club

District IV Holland Garden Club Mason County Garden Club District V Juniper Garden Club The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City

(in memory of Frank Huxtable, Eunice Pines, & Carl Johnson)

District VI Chemical City Garden Club Mt. Pleasant Garden Club In addition, the gift baskets from the MGC convention in Frankenmuth raised $1,917.00 for scholarships. Thanks clubs in District VI for donating most of the baskets! Basket Donors Caro Garden Club Chemical City Garden Club Evening Bloomers Garden Club Evening Blossoms Garden Club Evergreen Garden Club Great Lake's Gardeners Kim & Charmaine Whalen Lakeshore GC of Lexington Midland Garden Club Mid-Michigan Flower Arrangers Guild Mt. Pleasant Garden Club Owosso Garden Club Port Sanilac Garden Club Rainbow Lakes Garden Club

The Bavarian Inn Sadie Toeppner Garden Club Touch the Earth Garden Club Valley Garden Club of Bay County Yard and Garden Club of Flint Basket Purchasers Janet Bourdon Claudette Byers Rita Crawley Bethany Goodman Carol Grainger Mary Harter Bernie Hughes Judy Lindemulde Becky Miller Mary Moore Judy Page Lois Peters Linda Pitts Dominic Scappaticci Judy Schroeder Linda Shepard Linda Smith Lois Speed

Please contact me with your questions or suggestions. Donation forms are available on the MGC website. Sue Wittick, witticks@gmail.com, 517-242-8259

Wow, summer is in full swing and garden clubs are busy with their Beautification Projects. I am happy to share a few of the garden clubs Beautification Pictures. Cadillac Garden Club – District V The City of Cadillac approached the club inquiring if they would be interested in developing a garden boarding a walkway and the river. The club accepted the offer with much enthusiasm. Today this area contains children features, a human sundial, and various sculptures. An annual Plein Air Art Day is held within their gardens. This ongoing beautification project not only gives the club members a sense of community pride, but benefits the members of

the community with an area that is beautifully landscaped. Another ongoing beautification project for this club is Adopt-A-Garden. The garden club partnered with the City of Cadillac to assist them with maintaining gardens along the lakefront, various gardens throughout the city and around the arts pavilion. Basically Adopt -A-Garden is similar to Adopt-A-Highway. Community

members volunteer to take ownership of a garden which includes planting and maintaining. Club members mentor these community volunteers and give instruction, when needed, and guide the volunteer in the care of these public garden areas. This project has benefited the club in new members.

Sweetwater Evening Garden Club: District V This club has a membership of twenty-seven members. Many of these members were the result of their exposure to the community via the club’s beautification projects. The club plants and maintains a total of seven flower gardens and a pot garden at the Acme Township Hall. They also plant and maintain gardens at Hi Prey Park, in Whitewater Township, and in Acme Township. This year the club has been asked by Acme Township Parks Committee to assist them in a new design for Bayside Park by moving a butterfly garden and a perennial garden to a new location within Bayside Park. So, two members designed four new garden areas that will contain a butterfly way station, a rose garden (new), a pollinator garden (new), and a perennial garden. With the help of a local Boy Scout troup looking for way to earn credits toward becoming Eagle Scouts and various garden club members, the plants were dug up and potted. The plants will be looked after at the home of one of the garden club members. This club will surely be applying for a landscape design award and beautification awards. Touch of Earth Garden Club of Grand Blanc, Michigan: They are forty-eight members strong and have three gardens they plant and maintain in the city. These gardens can be found at Center Pointe, the Clock Garden, and the garden at Museum-City Hall. As your MGC Civic Beautification Chair, I am very interested in visiting your various beautification projects and taking pictures. Please drop me an email with what your club is doing along with your email address as I would love to make an appointment to meet with you and visit your club’s beautification projects first hand. Happy Gardening.

Touch of Earth GC

Cadillac Plein Air Art

Cadillac GC

Civic Beautification Sharma Zollinger, Chair

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 9 September, October, November 2016

It’s time we talked about GMOs (genetically modified organism). This is timely due to the release of the study by the National Academies of Science http://www.usatoday.com/story/

tech/2016/05/17/gmos-safe-academies-of-science-report-genetically-modified-food/84458872/ stating that “Genetically engineered crops are safe for humans and animals to eat and have not caused increases in cancer, obesity, gastrointestinal illnesses, kidney disease, autism or allergies . . . “. In addition, Congress recently passed a bill requiring GMO labeling – sort of. It won’t be printed on the package, per se. You will have to scan the QR Code with your phone to find out. It was a compromise. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/14/486060866/congress-just-passed-a-gmo-labeling-bill-nobodys-super-happy-about-it I’m not sure that the ability to genetically engineer a plant is inherently bad, in and of itself. I think of Professor Beal crossing different strains of corn to increase yields back in 1879 at MSU. My wife and I are in the process of adopting a maltipoo puppy. This is a cross between a Maltese and a poodle. For the life of me, I can’t see a lot of difference with GMOs.

More the issue is that age old question about how we use new technology. What do we do with the ability to split the atom . . inexpensive nuclear power or a hydrogen bomb? To date, most of the GMOs produced are engineered to reduce the need for pesticide and/or herbicide thereby reducing costs. To reduce the need for herbicides, crops are engineered so that Round-Up (glyphosate) can be used indiscriminately to kill weeds. The problem that is developing is that the only weeds that survive are those immune to glyphosate. In how many years will glyphosate become ineffective? This sort of parallels the overuse of antibacterial agents resulting in penicillin resistant staff infections. The other great use of GMO is treating them with neonicotinoides in order to reduce the costs of pest control. The problem is that these plants also harm pollinators and butterflies. http://blog.ucsusa.org/doug-gurian-sherman/genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-real-world-bt-corn-insecticide-use-and-honeybees-2 One other way that GMO’s have been developed is to increase their resistance to drought. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/corn-genetically-modified-to-tolerate-drought/ The problem with any of these ‘cost saving’ GMO’s is that not all the costs are being considered. The death of monarch butterflies is referred to as an ‘externality’.

Backyard Wildlife Habitat and Environmental Issues

Ron Overton, Chair

GMOs: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Loda Lake News Karen Motawi, Chair

It’s been a wonderful spring and summer at Loda Lake! We’re now really seeing the benefits of the fence around the prairie garden that has kept the deer away from our wildflower plantings. Several garden clubs have taken the opportunity to tour the sanctuary, see the wealth of native plants and enjoy the park improvements we’ve made in the last couple of years. Note the tufted loosestrife (a non-invasive relative of purple loosestrife) that we observed in June. Check out our Facebook page at Loda Lake Wildlife Sanctuary for more photos and “Like” us while you are there!

I’m proud to announce that we received an award at the National Convention for Outdoor Trails/Classrooms. The $750 check will be put to good use in one of our upcoming improvement projects! The following clubs have donated to the MGC Loda Lake Fund in the last three months: Blue Water Garden Club, Fremont Garden Club, Garden Club of Greater Lansing, Holland Garden Club, Juniper Garden Club, Kent Garden Club, Mason County Garden Club, Portage Lake Garden Club, Spirit of the Woods Garden Club, and Williamston Red Cedar Garden Club. The following clubs have made memorial contributions that will be forwarded for matching to the Loda Lake Endowment Fund: Carnegie Garden Club in memory of Clarence W. Olmstead and Howell Garden Club in memory of Emily Duchene. Remember: docent led hikes are available for groups of 6 or more. If you are interested in scheduling a tour or would like a club program on Loda Lake, contact me at ndkmotawi@gmail.com. Your continuing donations will help to improve the educational value of the sanctuary--forms are available for download on the MGC website. Juniper Garden Club at Loda Lake

Tufted Loosestrife

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 10 September, October, November 2016

I t is with a thousand thanks to all the MGC members who supported the 2016 National Garden Clubs, Inc. Convention…..and now there is such a wonderful after-glow. From all we have heard, our efforts produced an awesome convention with attendees leaving happy and enriched by their experience in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This effort could not have happened without Vice Chairman Sharon Yantis in charge of all programs and the huge flower order plus her husband Joe, who was our PR Guy, and Vice Chairman, Carol Brodbeck, who orchestrated the fund raising, club/member participation, and the program book (along with the ad designer Sue Wittick). Sue Soderberg as convention treasurer was amazing and so responsible with all the money coming and going. Stacy Stutcher with the assistance of her husband Frank made the vendor area really buzz with activity and provided a great variety for the shoppers. Mary Pulick and her team of Kit Gunn, Chris Lupinski, and Angie Wilkie were really challenged by the number s and special r equests in the registration department . Can you imagine registering 745 individuals and keeping all their requests straight?? Kathryn Clary organized all the table centerpieces which were outstanding designs by top notch MGC floral designers and so well received by the winners at each table. Dolores Stouwie organized the awesome honor designs that lined the Crown Foyer and Bob Friese did all the special staging including the gazebo. Karen Gentile, chairman of tours, saw to it that they ran like clockwork. Ronnie Dush did the spouse tour and Man's Cave. Sherry Sanelli scr ipted a wonder ful design program which produced the best from ten Michigan designers. The tote bag buffet, chaired by Ann Campbell, with items obtained by Monica Taylor and her committee was par ticipated in with much enthusiasm by our guests. And not to be forgotten, Kathy Johnson spent a great deal of time making sure the dining room seating went smoothly and arranging for William Santos to serve as host to our Spanish-speaking guests. There are still so many more individuals who performed their responsibilities beyond expectations … all of whom made this NGC Convention so successful.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Marge McGoff, A most grateful Chairman

BLOOMING BUCKS PRESIDENTIAL

AWARD WINNERS

Winning clubs were presented with a check at the Michi-gan Garden Clubs, Inc. State Convention. 1. Club Membership Increase Award Calculations are based on the data base between March 1, 2015 and February 29, 2016. The Club winner must have at least a 10% increase. $50.00 check to each of the following: District I Paint Creek Garden Club (15.2% increase) District IIA The Little Garden Club of Tecumseh (35.7% increase) District IIB Inland Lakes Garden Club of Delton (26.1% increase) District III Four Flags Garden Club (19.4% increase) District IV Fremont Garden Club (12.5% increase) District V Sweetwater Evening Garden Club (31.6% increase) District VI Caro Garden Club (19.4% increase) 2. Michigan Blooms Award “Clubs Bloom the efforts of homeowners and businesses who visibly make a difference through their plantings and landscaping street side.” First Place: $50.00 Meek’s Mill Garden Club Second Place: $25.00 Evening Bloomers Garden Club 3. Knowledge Is Power Award Clubs with the most Members attending Study Schools)

First Place: $50.00 The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City Second Place: $25.00 Mason County Garden Club

Ann Campbell, Marge McGoff Centerpieces and Honor Designs

WRCGC Diana Leipprandt Designers Midland Table Decoration

Kathryn Clary, Lucy, Briggs, Maria Christie

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 11 September, October, November 2016

SHARE YOUR CLUB'S BLUE STAR PHOTOS

June 6, 2016 District VI @ Michigan's Military and Space Heroes Museum, Frankenmuth Photo: memorial left side: Ronnie Dush, DVI Director; Judy Newman, Central Region Director, and Marilyn MacIntosh MGC President....right side center Dave Johnson,MMSHM President, flanked by Tony D'Anna, McDonalds of Frankenmuth co-sponsor. June 11, 2016 Stepping Stones GC, Onaway Three Photos: memorial on Court House lawn; Patriot Riders (veterans honor guard); Debbie Artrip and club members Additional 2016 Dedication The Sweetwater Garden Club (District V) will hold the final Blue Star dedication on Saturday, October 22, 2016, in Bayside Park in Acme at 2 p.m. This will be the seventh dedication this year. MGC Web Photos-Seventeen plus clubs have already posted photos of their Blue Star dedication on our MGC website. There have been 90 Michigan dedications over the years, so we anticipate many more photos. Placing your club's photos on the web showcases your community outreach. Clubs planning a future dedication can learn from your creative ideas.Send three to five of your best photos as jpgs to Charley Bohland cbohland@gmail.com Be sure to include the name of your club, your dedication date, and the names of people in the photos.

Please contact Jean at goetzj88@gmail.com if you have questions.

Shoreline Garden Club’s Quest for the Blue Star - Harriet Farwell, Blue Star Chair From October 2014 to May 2016, the Shoreline Garden Club of Stevensville planned, purchased, and prepared to make the Blue Star Memorial Marker dedication a reality for our club. At the fall District III meeting in 2014 the idea was formed after hearing Jean Goetz, state Blue Star chair, speak about the Blue Star markers. The Lincoln Township Library was a natural site for placement of the marker since our club meets there every month. In October 2015 a large boulder was obtained from the local land fill and placed at its new home in front of the library. Our fundraising began in earnest, planning meetings took place monthly, and a May 2016 dedication date was set. Invitations were designed by a club member, printed, and sent to garden club officials and other organizations and individuals. On May 16, 2016 the St. Joe Monument Company came and attached the marker to the boulder. We had our speakers set. The library display window was beautifully filled with information about the Blue Star and its significance. Flowers were planted in the red, white, and blue motif and the wreath was ready to be placed next to the boulder on dedication day. The week before our dedication several club members made and frosted blue star cookies to serve for refreshments on Sunday. On Sunday, May 29, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. the dedication ceremony took place in

the parking lot of the Lincoln Township Library. It was a beautiful day on Memorial Day weekend and about 120 people were in attendance. The American Legion Post 568 presented the colors and the Chapel choir sang stirring patriotic songs. We appreciated the Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. leadership who attended to help with the dedication including MGC President, Marilyn McIntosh who spoke. Thanks to everyone who participated.

May we never forget the men and women, past, present, and future who serve to keep us free!!

Congratulations to all our clubs who thanked our veterans by honoring them

with a patriotic, Blue Star Community event. May and June Dedications were

held in Stevensville, Frankenmuth, and Onaway.

Onaway

Shoreline Garden Clubs Blue Star

Frankenmuth

Stevensville

Shoreline boulder

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 12 September, October, November 2016

District I

The Seedlings Garden is a large 20’ x 40’ garden on the north side of the Huntington Woods library. For many years the Seed and Sod Garden Club has planted and maintained this popular garden that features Michigan native plants.

Boy Scout Andrew Enerson contacted the S&S GC with a project proposal that would renovate the garden and fulfill his community service requirement to earn Eagle Scout rank. Bonnie Nowakowski, club coordinator for the

Seedlings Garden, met with him several times to discuss what, how, and the type of materials to be used for the project. The Seedlings project was completed on two of 2016’s 90+ degree days, June 17th and 18th. A miraculous transformation was created by Andrew and his crew of ten male teens. An existing fountain was relocated,

received a new pump and a stone surround. Bushes were removed and a birdbath with a solar bubbler was added. The old wooden timbers which lined the garden paths were removed and replaced with Michigan field stones and mulch was spread. Andrew refinished the garden benches and built a display case that will feature photos of the plants that bloom in the garden and other news and notices about gardening.

Thanks to one Boy Scout, a team of helpers, a father, a club coordinator (who sent me the information about this project) and several other Seed and Sod members who were also at the site on those hot days, the Huntington Woods community has an old favorite garden that is more welcoming and beautiful than ever.

Ruth Moline, Director

District IIB Lynda Foster, Director

Berlin Township will be holding their second annual Project

Beautification contest this summer with categories including commercial, farm, mobile home, residential, and rural residential. Last year was a huge success and a lot of fun. Swan Creek Garden Club again has been asked to judge the first place winners and present the awards at a Berlin Township Board Meeting. Hillsdale Garden Club is planning to create a Monarch Butterfly Way Station at Mrs. Stock's Park this summer. Be sure to watch the MGC calendar and the Hillsdale Garden Club Facebook page for details about the upcoming Greens Sale and other club projects. Lotus Garden Club is busy planning the District IIA Fall Meeting to be held on Friday, October 21, 2016 at St. George Cultural Center in Monroe. Please watch the MGC calendar for more details as the event draws closer. Highlights of the day will include presentations on growing and caring for Bonsai, and also how to have the coolest fairy garden in your neighborhood! Mark your calendars and plan to attend this day full of fun and education!

Fountain

Refinished benches

Mulch

District IIA Carolyn Gardetto, Director

Please join us for the District IIB Fall Meeting, "A Walk In the Woods", hosted by Hartland Home and Garden Club in Howell. Registration begins at 8:00 am, Thursday, October 13, 2016.

Great speakers! Dr. David Roberts, Michigan State University, "Tree Doctor" will present " Don't Let Your Oak Wilt" and Mr. Glen Pace, Pace Gardens, will present "Trilliums, More Than Just The White One". Remember – you don’t have to be a member of District IIB. All are welcome to attend.

DeWitt Millennium Garden Club had to move their Blue Star monument this spr ing because of sun and water problems. It was replanted in time for Memorial weekend. The deer tried to eat the geraniums but after spraying with deer repellent, the flowers have filled in nicely. Next year, the entire garden will be planted and some perennials will be used. It will be back to looking like it’s own self. Not only the Blue Star but the deer of DeWitt seem to be saying “Yum, yum, thank goodness for the Healing Garden Committee, now we can eat”. That is what they did and do nightly. The garden has been planted twice and each time they have munched it down to just a suggestion of what it might have been. Kathi Dominguez, chair of the Healing Garden said they have spread deer deterrent and now are researching plants that deer do not dearly love. This is the club’s largest garden at the DeWitt cemetary next to the Labyrinth. Sometimes it is hard to believe what you know is true. And that was the way it was when we learned that our member and friend, Evelyn Prekop had passed away unexpectedly. She had just finished her co-presidency with Kathy Bishop, was serving on the board as a past president and was chair of the Memorial Garden (also known as the Gazebo). We will miss her smiling face and also her presence at the meetings. A $100 donation was made to MSU 4H Gardens in Evelyn’s name and brick has been purchased by the members for the Healing Garden walkway with the words “One of Us, DMGC” and her name. A brick will be also presented to her family with a personal message to them.

DMGC gave 3 beautification awards to deserving households for their extraordinary efforts and work to be part of the beautification of our truly beautiful city of gardens, DeWitt, Michigan. The members maintain 9 gardens in the downtown area

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 13 September, October, November 2016

District IV Monica Taylor, Director

Caro Garden Club to Hold Blue Star Memorial Submitted by MariAnn Saenen, Caro Garden Club How can a large garden in need of a lot of work become the center of positive community spirit and generous amounts of time and hard work ????? Caro Garden Club found a simple answer. Start planning for the installation of a Blue Star Memorial. The inspiration came from a serendipitous stop in a road side park in Lexington during a garden club outing. There, club members admired the Blue Star Memorial placed in the park by the Port Sanilac Garden Club and observed the inspiration and beauty provided there for all travelers to enjoy. President MariAnn Saenen asked club members Marilyn Holloway, Melody Crossett, and later, Peter Diller, to form an investigative committee which completed its work in a few month’s time. Thanks to a generous donor the Blue

Star Memorial marker was ordered. The Botanical Garden, the largest garden that Caro Garden Club maintains, was chosen. This garden had been in need of serious care and renewal. Club members accepted the challenge. The garden was divided into seven areas with each area being revitalized by volunteers from the community members as well as garden club members. Jane Morse, as chair, met with this group of dedicated workers to plan,

order plants, weed, trim, prune, plant, mulch, water, and weed some more. Placing the Blue Star Memorial marker in a beautiful garden proved to be encouraging to all. A plan was

formulated to create a circular path around the Blue Star Marker and the existing American Flag. Memorial bricks with veterans names engraved in them will be sold. These bricks will form the handicapped accessible path around the Blue Star Marker and the flag pole with lovely benches around the perimeter. The entire project is currently in full swing with the goal of completion toward the end of August. A Blue Star Memorial dedication ceremony is being planned for Saturday, September 10 at 11:00 am thanks to the continued enthusiasm of Caro Garden Club members and a dedicated community. That celebration will be described in the next Garden Gate edition.

We hope you enjoyed the Summer 2016 Thru the Garden Gate in color. Un-fortunately, costs prevent us from continuing to print that way. (We received special pricing for the Summer Gate.) To receive your Thru the Garden Gate in full color, download it from the MGC website www.michigangardenclubs.org

Correction The photo on page 9 of the Summer 2016 Gate in Flower Show School News should be identified as at-tendees of Gardening Study School, April 2016. Editing Articles written for Thru the Garden Gate may be edited for grammar and spelling as well as length, flow, and clarity. Our goal is to print an article in the best possible form. Photos submitted become the property of Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. Photographers are not credited or compensated. Photos Please send high resolution photos. Do not change them to low res. That would be close to 1 mb or larger

for clarity. Forms saved in jpg format are the easiest to imput. If possible please save them as a jpg.

Blue Star Memorial in

Lexington, MI

District III Evelyn Flynn, Director

Please welcome our new Garden Club Presidents in District III:

Carnegie - Bernice Puskaric Chula Vista - Bunny LaDuke Grow & Show - Ann Houser Kalamazoo - Jan Keys Kalamazoo Garden Council - Brenda Carl Lakeshore Flower Arrangers - Lynn Dinvald Sturgis - Andrea Stage. Let’s give them our utmost support! ************************* Remember to save the date: April 22 for a fun trip to Constantine. It will be a special Earth Day Celebration on a Saturday!

******************

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. District VI had a very busy and exciting spring and summer 2016. April started with District VI hosting the MGC Flower Show School, class #2. Kathryn Clary and Alice Mesaros did our distr ict proud

in how well they put this together. In May we had many club members involved in preparations, raising monies for, and attending the National Garden Club 2016 Convention in Grand Rapids. At the end of May club chair members met to finalize plans for the MGC 2016 Convention. In June District VI hosted the dedication for the Blue Star Memorial Marker at Frankenmuth’s Military and Space Hero’s Museum. This was followed up for the next two days with District VI clubs hosting the MGC 2016 State Convention in Frankenmuth. Please remember that during all this time clubs continued to hold their regular meetings, planned garden walks, picnics, etc. and worked in community gardens, not to mention their own gardens. Because these two conventions were held so close to each other, it was a lot of stress for our clubs and their members to be involved and provide support. For this I wish to congratulate and thank them for everything they did to make both conventions very successful. While I can’t name everyone here, I do have to thank Nancy Stark Higgins for her leadership. At the same time, I am so proud of all of my district members for their continued support.

District VI Ronnie Dush, Director

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 14 September, October, November 2016

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 15 September, October, November 2016

The following clubs won first in district and state and were sent on to

National Garden Club or Central Region for further competition. Win-

ners at that level are indicated. All NGC/MGC submissions that are

sent on to national receive a $25.00 check. Great job everyone! The

total lists of entries are posted on the website or you can check with

your District Director who was given a list of all entries from your dis-

trict.

Member Award of Honor—Sandra Everett,

Brighton Garden Club Dist. IIB

2015-2017 PRESIDENT’S PROJECT “Service in Action” Awards

Monarch Watch/Waystations-Large club

Garden Club of Dearborn 1st Place $200.00

“Conservation in Action” Roadside Development Award

Garden Club of Dearborn 2nd Place $250.00 and a beautiful plaque

NGC AWARDS

#1 Civic Achievement

Small—Westwood Garden Club NGC Overall Winner, Silver Tray 1st

Place MGC 1st Place Dist. III

Large—Petoskey Area Garden Club NGC Certificate of Commendation

1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. V

#7A Special Achievement

Large—Kent Garden Club 1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. IV

#12-1 Publications, Newsletter

Medium—Meeks Mill Garden Club 1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. III

#12-2 Publications, Newsletter

Small—Hill and Dale Garden Club 1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. I

Medium—Mason County Garden Club 1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. V

Large—Brighton Garden Club NGC 1st Place Tie 1st Place MGC

1st Place Dist. IIB

X-Large—Grose Ile Garden Club 1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. I

#13-2 Educational Publication

Large—Meridian Garden Club NGC 1st Place 1st Place MGC

1st Place Dist. IIB

#13-4 Publication, History

Small—Hill and Dale Garden Club NGC 1st Place 1st Place MGC

1st Place Dist. I

#13-5 Publication, Member Brochure

Medium—Meeks Mill Garden Club NGC 1st Place, 1st Place MGC,

1st Place Dist. III

Large—Garden Club of Dearborn 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. I

#19 Horticulture Therapy

Small—Petal Pushers Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. III

Large—Livonia Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. I

#20 Roadside Beautification

Small—Sweetwater Evening Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. V

#29-3 Blue Star Memorial

Small—Westwood Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. III

#43 Butterfly

Large—Garden Club of Dearborn 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. I

X-Large—Grose Ile Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. I

#44 Publicity Press Book

Elk Rapids Garden Club CR 4th Place 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. V #48—Horticulture/Garden Therapy Medium—Kalamazoo Garden Club 1st Place MGC , 1st Place Dist. III #49 Community Landscape Small--Westwood Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. III #50 Historic Preservation Small—Westwood Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. III Large—Livonia Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. I # 54 Environmental Education Large—Petoskey Area Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. V #62 Landscape Design Small—Westwood Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. III #63A Website Medium—Mason County Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. V Large—Garden Club of Dearborn 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. I #63B Website Large—Kent Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. IV #73 Civic Project/Native Plants Medium—Saline Stone & Thistle Garden Club 1st Place MGC, 1st Place Dist. IIA #74--Outdoor Classrooms Medium—Saline Stone & Thistle Garden Club Runner up, $250 check 1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. IIA #57--Flower Show Award 1st Place MGC 1st Place Dist. IV MGC Lavender Lace Kent Garden Club “Tranquility” A Stand-ard Flower Show NGC Certificates of Appreciation Garden Club of Dearborn Grosse Ile Garden Club Hill and Dale Garden Club Livonia Garden Club Mason County Garden Club Meek’s Mill Garden Club Petal Pushers Garden Club (2) Saline Stone and Thistle Garden Club Sweetwater Evening Garden Club Westwood Garden Club Yearbook Awards 2015-2016 Lotus Garden Club MGC 1st Place, 1st Place District IIA, Clubs 1-19 Morenci Garden Club MGC 1st Place, 1st Place District IIA, Clubs 20-29 Saline Stone & Thistle Garden Club MGC 1st Place, 1st Place District IIA, Clubs 30-44 Meridian Garden Club MGC 1st Place, 1st Place District IIB, Clubs 45-69 Charlevoix Area Garden Club MGC 1st Place, 1st Place District V, Clubs 100-299 MGC-Michigan Flower Arrangers Guild MGC 1st Place, 1st Place District VI, Clubs 1-19

2015-16 NGC/MGC Submissions

Michigan Garden Clubs Inc. 16 September, October, November 2016

Michigan Garden Club Inc. 506 W. Washington St. DeWitt, Michigan 48820

Calendar of Events

September Through December

Saturday - September 3 - Charlevoix - Charlevoix Evening Garden Club Plant Sale, Time: 9 a.m. - 12 noon. Location: Ferry Beach, corner of Ferry Rd. and Stover Rd. Members divide, mostly perennial, plants from their Northern Michigan gardens to share. Contact: 231-547-4182 Wednesday, September 7 - East Lansing - MGC Finance Meeting Time: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Location: Hampton Inn Board Room, East Lansing. Business phone for hotel reservations: 517-324-2072 Thursday, September 8 - Lansing - MGC Board of Directors Meeting, Time: Social Time: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Meeting: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Location: Plymouth Congregational Church, 2001 Grand River Avenue, Lansing. Business phone for emergencies: 517-484-9495. Executive Committee Meeting: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Parlor). Saturday - September 10 - Caro - Blue Star Memorial, Hosted by Caro Garden Club (District VI). Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Location: Noble Boulder Garden, Caro, MI. Contact Peter Diller, 989-672-0714. Tues.-Thurs. September 13 -15 - Midland - Flower Show School Course III, Location: Midland, Michigan. Contact Flower Show Chair, Kathryn Clary, kathrClary@aol.com. Registration deadline: September 6. Brochure and Registration available on MGC website. *Monday - September 19 - Douglas - District IV Fall Meeting, Hosted by the Saugatuck-Douglas Garden Club. Location: Douglas Community Church in Douglas, MI Mon. – Sun. - September 19 - 25 – Portland, ME - National Garden Clubs Fall Board Meeting - Location: Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland, Maine. (Tri-refresher scheduled) *Tuesday - September 20 - District V Fall Meeting: Hosted by the Petoskey Area Garden Club and chaired by William Santos. Details will follow. *Wednesday - September 28 - Breckenridge - MGC District VI Fall Meeting— Theme: Plants and Pollinators. Hosted by: Rainbow Lakes Garden Club and Evening Blossoms Garden Club. Time: 8:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Location: United Methodist Church, 125 Third St, Breckenridge, MI. Fee: $23. Contact: Ronnie Dush, District VI Director; (989) 307-0248, ronniedush@gmail.com Fri. - Sun. - October 7 - 9 - Springfield, IL - NGC 2016 Central Region Convention - Location: Springfield Illinois

*Wednesday - October 12 - District I Fall Conference -Theme: “The Lighter Side of Gardening”. Hosted by Taylor Garden Club. Location: Taylor Meadows Golf Club. Contact District Director Ruth Moline for additional information. *Thursday - October 13 – Howell - Fall District IIB Meeting - Theme: “A Walk in the Woods". Hosted by Hartland Home and Garden Club - Location: Crystal Gardens Banquet Facility, 5768 E Grand River, Howell. Contact Judy Knitter, 517-304-7294 or judyknitter@comcast.com. *Mon. & Tues. - October 17 - 18 - Holland - Environmental Studies School Course I - Location: Fir st Reformed Church, 630 State Street, Holland, MI. Registration deadline: October 4. Form on MGC website. *Friday - October 21 - Monroe - District IIA Fall Meeting Hosted by Lotus Garden Club. Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: St. George Cultural Center, 2326 North Monroe St., Monroe. Contact Carolyn Gardetto, District IIA Director, with questions. Saturday - October 22 - Acme - Blue Star Memorial Dedication Hosted by: Sweetwater Evening Garden Club (District V). Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Location: Bayside Park, Acme. Contact Barb MacLaren 231-290-0723. Mon. - Tues. - October 24 - 25 – Kalamazoo - Landscape Design School Course I - Hosted by Distr ict III. Location: Haven Church, 5350 N Sprinkle Rd, Kalamazoo. Contact: Carol Beckius, cbeckius@chartermi.net Registration deadline: October 12. Form on MGC website. Wednesday, November 2 - East Lansing - MGC Finance Meeting Time: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Location: Hampton Inn Board Room, East Lansing. Business phone for hotel reservations: 517-324-2072 Thursday, November 3 - Lansing - MGC Board of Directors Meeting-Time: Social Time: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Meeting: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Location: Plymouth Congregational Church, 2001 Grand River Avenue, Lansing. Business phone for emergencies: 517-484-9495. Executive Committee Meeting: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Parlor). *Saturday - December 3 - Cadillac - Cadillac Garden Club Holiday Home Tour - Hosted by Cadillac Garden Club. Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Location: Simon Residence, 4907 E. 46 Road, Cadillac. Tickets go on sale November 1st and there are discounts for early buyers.

To post events directly on the calendar, visit the MGC website at michigangardenclubs.org.

Click on Calendar at the top of the page and click on Submit Event.

*Events marked with an * have more details on the website calendar at ww.michigangardenclubs.org