CLIPPINGS. January President s Message. Grosse Ile Garden Club. Coming Events

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1 G r o s s e I l e G a r d e n C l u b G r o s s e I l e, M I Grosse Ile Garden Club CLIPPINGS Volume 2017, Issue 1 January, 2017 Coming Events January 9, 2017 Grosse Ile Garden Club meeting at the Colony Clubhouse on Macomb. Coffee at 9:30 a.m.; business meeting at 10 a.m.; guest speaker at 11 am. February 13, 2017 The February speaker will be Michael Johnson whose topic will be The New Look of Urban Gardening. January speaker will be Jennie Braatz, Park Ranger, who will speak on The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge The Gem in Your Backyard. Inside this issue: Club News 2 Club News 3 Kokedama 4 Club News 5 Bulletin Board 6 January President s Message Warm holiday wishes to all! The year certainly ended with a flurry of activities. It s heartwarming to be part of a group that volunteers their time for so many important community, civic and charity events. After our November meeting, several of our creative members decorated the Colony Clubhouse. It was a thank you for allowing us to use their facilities for our meetings and storage through the year. The tree and mantle were so festive, perfect for the Colony s holiday parties. Everyone on the Island appreciated the big, beautiful tree and presents that greeted them on Parkway off the county bridge. Thanks to all involved in ensuring that our 800-light tree and garden were ready by early December. The team was lead by Jacquie Cummings and included Sheila Shelton, Ann Schiebner, Lee Ann Shade, and Carol Nankervis. At the same time Pat O Brien was busy putting holiday touches on the Four Corners garden. The snowman, wreath and evergreen pot added Christmas cheer to that busy area. Late November also saw our generous members step up to demonstrate their civic pride as they helped the Downtown Development Authority with its first Lights-At-Lyons tree decorating. Jill Sycpta, our enthusiastic chairperson, and her committee Doreen Payette, Sharon Cruetz, Audrey Young, Patty Smart, Barb Carroll, Colleen Goffinett, Sue Lowery, Lolly Watson, Judy Garofali and Kathy Levillier put it all together. Meeting at Patty Smart s home, they designed and assembled decorations to add to the Garden Club s lighted tree. You made us all proud! Kudos to Gloria Florin and her committee, Susie Harrison and Pat O Brien, for producing our wonderful December 5 Christmas Auction. Virginia Froelich, auctioneer extraordinaire, set the tone for this very successful charity fundraiser that raised more than $7,000. I appreciate everyone who worked on room set-up/clean-up, food service, and item delivery. Thanks to Gloria s friend, Rita Gazdag, for all her help. What a great ending to 2016! The New Year is sure to bring more surprises and design opportunities. The last two months have shown us that we are up to any challenges that may come. Happy New Year! Pat

2 VOLUM E 2017, ISSUE 1 CLIPPINGS PAGE 2 To all of the wonderful Garden Club Members. A big, heartfelt THANK YOU for the grand success of this year s Christmas Charity Auction!! We made $7,200!!! This thank you is for all who helped to plan, who decorated, who helped at the auction, who attended, who donated and who purchased. It was the work of many hands. This success is a direct reflection of the generous, caring members of the Garden Club. All of you are amazing. The donation of the Dinner Party by a non-member shows how the works of the Garden Club affects our entire community! Our club did well in making the lives of many people in need just a little easier this Christmas. The entire proceeds were divided equally between the Grosse Ile Goodfellows and the Downriver Salvation Army. Congratulations and thank you once again. The Christmas Auction Committee The GI Goodfellows and the Salvation Army representatives being presented with the GIGC checks of $3600. each

3 VOLUM E 2017, ISSUE 1 CLIPPINGS PAGE 3 January Birthday 8-Jane Helinski 15-Kay Cozzi 16-Patricia Grech 17-Jennifer Engle 20-Joan Mousseau 24 Carol Nankervis 24-Shelia Shelton Board Meeting Highlights December, 2016 Reviewed preparations for Table Scape Preparations began for setting 2018 GIGC programs at meetings Christmas Auction reviewed Lyons Park tree decorating reviewed Discussed projector needs Reminder: Our January Hostesses Sharon Creutz Doreen Forbes Toni Hall New Directory Addition Change the address for Carol Sims to: csims1@ymail.com (not gmail) Marge Manning

4 VOLUM E 2017, ISSUE 1 CLIPPINGS PAGE 4 Make your own Kokedama Kokedama, translated moss ball, is a Japanese form of garden art. Simple yet elegant, it s made by wrapping a plant s roots with soil, sphagnum sheet moss and string, rather than planting in the ground or a container. This creates a striking focal point, drawing attention to the shape of flowers and foliage, especially in contrast to the smooth, round moss-covered ball. Materials Peat moss Akadama soil (available at Bonsai supliers) Sphagnum sheet moss Waxed string or floral wire Plants proportionate to the size of ball you re creating Tools Scissors Bowl and latex gloves for mixing soil Measuring cup Mix the 1 cup of peat moss and 1 cup of Akadama soil, breaking up the Akadama soil as you go. Pour in water, little by little until you reach the consistency needed to form the ball, 3/4 to 1 cup of water should do. Make a whole in the middle of the ball with your thumb. Take your plant and remove as much soil as possible, leaving the bare roots.

5 VOLUM E 2017, ISSUE 1 CLIPPINGS PAGE 5 Take pre-moistened sheet of moss and cover the ball. Secure it by wrapping waxed string all around the ball. Hang the ball or set it on small decorative rocks on a dish. Christmas Charity Auction Possibilities. I sometimes wonder if perhaps we have outgrown our space at the Centennial Farm. About 108 people were in attendance this year but space is tight, leaving little room for growth. One year, while the auction was still at the Colony Clubhouse, a silent auction supplemented the live auction. At the Farm, it is rather difficult to move around, which would be necessary for a silent auction. With more space and more people, more money could be raised. Your input is most welcome. I can be reached at or by gflrn17@hotmail.com. Thank you for your attendance and generosity this year! Gloria Florin, Christmas Charity Auction Chair

6 VOLUM E 2017, ISSUE 1 CLIPPINGS PAGE 6 GIGC Community Bulletin Board Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc State Convention Michigan will host their 86th Annual State Convention at the Holiday Inn Ann Arbor, 3600 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan ( ) on June 7 9, The theme is Grow and Share and will be hosted by Districts I and IIA. See the winter edition of the Thru the Garden Gate for more information! Volunteers are needed from District 1! See Pat Schmidt or Cyndy Nemon to sign up! Please keep Elaine Aho in your thoughts and prayers. Her brother recently passed away. Also, Toni Kovacs and Bevery Rettig still need your good thoughts and encouragement. Prayers are always good! MGC Board Position Application Form Can be found at : go to members only and sign in, click on forms-mgc members only, and then click on board application. There is no deadline as Board positions are filled whenever there is a need. Return Address: Grosse Ile Garden Club P.O. Box 413 Grosse Ile, MI ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED This newsletter is published monthly Sept. thru May. It is ed/mailed to Grosse Ile Garden Club members, the Michigan Garden Club President and District 1 Director.