Newsletter of the West Chicago Garden Club www.westchicagogardenclub.org Meeting Date: May 25 Meeting Location: Tour of 4 gardens within the Oak Meadows Subdivision in West Chicago Meeting Time: 6:30PM Tours Begin 8:00PM Dessert & Meeting at Kerry s House May 25 Program: Posey Mosey! The idea of gardeners sitting inside on a May evening just doesn't seem right so we are taking ourselves to the garden paths. We will see how other Gardeners do it and undoubtedly gather inspiration and ideas along the way. An informal tour of gardens is commonly known in this group as a Posey Mosey. Carole Bates, the first president of this GC, coined that phrase. The implied casual and relaxed ambiance is what the event is all about. The four gardens that we are privileged to tour are all located in the Oak Meadows subdivision across from St. Andrews Golf Course. A map showing the locations is on page 5. Visit in any order you like. The gardens are open starting at 6:30pm and the important thing is to end up in Kerry's back yard by 8pm for dessert. We will be called to order for a brief but spectacular summary of our Plant Sale and be prepared to toast our sweet success...my mom would say that's counting the chickens before they are hatched! I look forward to seeing you in the gardens! I've had a pre-tour and assure you that you will be wowed, wooed, and soothed along your journey. In case of rain bring an umbrella. This is a rain or shine deal! -Billie Important Plant Sale Need: Please bring boxes for shoppers to use at the Plant Sale! Bring them to our tent on Friday evening, 5/19, or Saturday morning, 5/20. Next Month: June 22 Program: At Kruse House! We will gather in the Kruse House Garden for our monthly meeting in June. Details to follow.
Club Information www.westchicagogardenclub.org West Chicago Garden Club P. O. Box 313, West Chicago, IL 60186 westchicagogardenclub@gmail.com Membership Information Dues for 2017: Individual: $15 Family: $25 Board Meetings 2nd Thursday each month at 7 p.m. Regular Meeting Location Faith Community Church 910 Main Street, West Chicago 2017 WCGC BOARD: President: Dick Darrah, 630-584-1900, info@bwdarrah.com Vice President: Keith Letsche, 630-293-0192, keithletsche@aol.com Treasurer: Barb Darrah, 630-584-1900, info@bwdarrah.com Secretary: Annette Wulffe, 630-462-0208, annettewulffe@yahoo.com Program Director: Billie Childress, 630-231-1791, billiedc@sbcglobal.net Newsletter: Melissa Ferguson, 630-621-0128, melissabirch@gmail.com Page 2
WCGC 2017 Calendar Date Speaker/Organizer Topic/Event Date Speaker/Organizer Topic/Event 20 May ALL MEMBERS! PLANT SALE! 24 Aug TBA TBA 25 May Touring 4 Gardens Posey Mosey! 28 Sep TBA TBA 22 Jun AT KRUSE HOUSE TBA 26 Oct TBA TBA? Jul TBA TBA 16 Nov All members Dinner & Garden Dollar Auction April Program Summary Tim Pollak, from Chicago Botanic Gardens informed and entertained us in style on the topic of "Amazing New Annuals". We were introduced to a variety of remarkable new Annuals, enlightened on multiple ways to use Annuals to best advantage in our gardens, and entertained by stories of his experiences in horticultural. His enthusiasm was infectious and he provided a lot information about Chicago Botanic Gardens. We had a good sized crowd of 39 folks and feedback from members was very positive. -Billie Recognition and Thanks to Potting Party Participants This is absolutely remarkable! Thirty-seven...37...people stepped up and helped at the Potting Parties... many of them multiple times!!! Huge thanks to all of you! Angie Sadauskus 2 Tom Fessler 2 Marion Martin 2 Dee Soustek 3 Joan Wells 2 Chris Gicela Kathy Renyolds 2 Mari Takei 2 Yoshi Takei June Luther Dan Beebe 2 Dick Darrah 4 Barbara Darrah 4 Pamela Darah 3 Pauline Briggs 3 Jan Grismore 2 Nanda Doyle Barb Melville 2 Linda Fisher 2 Ruth Kyme 3 Dorothy O'Connor 2 Barb Bizzarri 2 JeanAnn Saarnio Joanne Hellman Kerry Perry 3 Kay (Kerry's sister) My deep and sincere apologies if I have inadvertently failed to recognize someone! Darrah Beebe 2 Jeff Handel 2 Lisa Wiemann Mary Passini 2 Linda Harlson Barb Springer Heather Martinello Billie Childress 4 Pam Caligiuri Keith Letsche Sandy Saad A shout out to Marcy Kozlowski as well for graciously providing space for our greenhouse and space to pot the Annual plugs. She has done a fantastic job nurturing those tiny plants to healthy "adults". Thanks Marcy! -Billie Page 3
News from Kruse Angie Sadauskas I think the Kruse Garden stirred on April 12 and felt something would be happening. The trees and shrubs shook themselves, the plants stretched a bit. At 7:30 AM the truck rumbled in, the volunteers stumbled out of their cars gloved, clutching clippers and rakes. After a long winter the first and most strenuous work day of the year had begun in the garden. The smoke trees, the bushes, grasses were cut back. The dried perennial stalks were trimmed, the fallen branches and leaves were removed from the beds. The flower beds were raked and cleaned up. The truck was rapidly filled with branches and plant debris. Everyone worked with barely a break and without the usual talk. By noon the clean-up was complete, the truck chugged away. The volunteers packed up and left. It was quiet again in the garden. The plantings were no longer looking dull and drab from the gone winter. It is May now. The garden is in bloom. Angie Page 4
We Go Gardening Page 5
Plant Sale 2017 Our annual fundraiser, THE PLANT SALE will be Saturday, May 20, 2017! Please remember to put out a plant sale sign. Don't have one? Keith Letsche will have them on his porch. Stop by and pick 1 or 2 up. His address is: 215 E. Washington St. On Thursday evening, May 18th, we have our member's pre-sale. Watch for an e-mail with further details. This is the opportunity for members to get their pick of the plants. Many of the best plants never make it to the sale tent! The club needs all members to pitch in and help again this year. It s actually fun to work side-by-side with fellow club members and the following will give you an idea of some of the items that need staffing: On Friday afternoon, May 19th, around 2:30 or so, the tent will be delivered and set up. We could use some help setting up the inside of the tent. On Friday evening, starting about 4:30, we will be moving the plants to the tent in downtown West Chicago. We need loaders, drivers, unloaders and members to move plants around the tent. On the day of the sale, May 20, we will need cashiers, sales persons, plant holding area watchers, tally sheet people, and a clean-up crew. There will be 2 shifts: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Those who are manning the morning shift should plan on being there promptly at 7:30 a.m. to help us open the sale which officially starts at 8:00 a.m. this year, and, those who will be working the afternoon shift should plan on staying until 3 to help with cleanup. There is a job for everyone and we need everyone to take on one or more of the jobs. All help is greatly appreciated. If you haven't already signed up and can help, please call Dick Darrah: 630.584.1900, and he can let you know where help is most needed. Please feel free to contact any of your WCGC board members for more information or to volunteer for the job(s) you want. THANK YOU! -Dick & Pauline Page 6