Tuesday, Sept. 10

8:30 a.m.

Onwentsia Club

Governor's Room 

LFGC Meetings

 

Thursday, Sept. 12

9:00 a.m. Coffee

9:30 a.m. Meeting

Chris Chandler, Hostess

 

The Trust for Public Land

"The Bloomingdale Trail Project"

 

 

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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Garden Clubs of Illinois Environmental Studies School

September 17-18,  2013

Roselle, Illinois

All gardeners will find something of interest as we explore the importance of plant biodiversity and learn how to create a backyard wildlife habitat. Our field trip will take us to Spring Valley Nature Center where we'll learn about prairie ecology. Click here for full information and registration.

 

Garden Clubs of Illinois 

Flower Show School

September 19-21,  2013

Glenview, Illinois

Courses are taught by NGC Instructors. Each course is comprised of tow days: one day for Horticulture; one day for Design. Flower Show Procedure is taught for one hour each day. Students may take either or both days. Fro prospective judges, written test is on the third day. Click here for full information and registration.

 

GCA Club Photography Show and Luncheon

 

Thursday, 

December 5

11:00 a.m. Meeting

11:30 a.m. Show opens

Luncheon following

Onwentsia Club

 

Click here for the full schedule.

 

 

 

Calling All GCA Photographers:

Show of Summer 

June 20-22, 2014

Chicago Botanic Garden

Photography Division Schedule Information

You may want to

work on an entry over the next several months, especially during the summer and fall. There will be a class with weather, a class with farmers markets, festivals and foods - no

plant material required in either. There will also be a class including natives or prairie, a manipulated photo with plants, an architectural treasure (no plant material), a diptych with two views of the same garden, and a class with trees. Please pass this along to fellow photographers. The complete schedule will be out later this summer. Happy shooting.

Debbie Ross

Chairman, Photography Division

Show of Summer: A GCA Major Flower Show

 

 

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GCA VISITING GARDENS

 

(Email your name to be added to the Interest List and state the particular trip that you are interested in joining. 

)

Chicago

September 15-20, 2013

Early autumn is an ideal time to enjoy its parks, gardens, institutions and to explore its fascinating history. These rich attractions fill Chicagoans with pride and they refer lovingly to "Our Kind of Town."

Springtime in the Bluegrass: Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky

May 18-22, 2014

From the rolling bluegrass-covered hills of this legendary horse country and the grandstands of two of America's most storied thoroughbred

racing tracks to the Bourbon Trail, you will come to appreciate Kentucky's

unbridled spirit and the beautiful countryside lying between Louisville

and Lexington. 

Click here for additional information.

 

  

Europe: The Low Countries in Bloom

June 15-27, 2014

The flourishing gardening tradition of the Low Countries

is perhaps insufficiently appreciated worldwide and this unique tour -

specially designed for members of the Garden Club of America -

should be an eye-opener for even the keenest visitor of European gardens.  Click here for additional information.

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Membership Chairman, Preston Jansing, introduces and welcomes new members, Ann Miller and Molly McKenna. It will be a pleasure to have them in our midst. Preston completed a two-year term on the board in June and I'd like to recognize and thank her for her thoughtful and gracious leadership of the Membership Committee. It has been a joy to work with Preston.  

Molly McKenna

Proposed by Talbot Cain

Seconded by Ann Bartram and Karen Stensrud

Molly and Bill recently returned to Lake Forest after several years in Palo Alto and completed renovations on their house on Elm Tree Road in 2012. Years ago the house was owned by longtime LFGC member, Colt Adams and appeared on our Housewalk. The McKenna's have four grown children. Molly has been a member of the Rush University Hospital Woman's Board since 1990 and is a founding member of the Celiac Board at Lutheran General Hospital. She's an avid reader, golfer and certified yoga instructor and loves spending time in her Craig Bergmann garden.

Club Appreciation - Nancy Isham

Given for sustained participation in activities within the recipient's club.

The citation reads: With grateful acknowledgement of over twenty years of gracious and creative leadership and for dedicated and sustained service to the Board.

Club Flower Arranging - Carol Swift                                                         

Given for excellence in flower arranging in recipient's club or community.

The citation reads: Lake Forest Garden Club gratefully acknowledges Carol Swift for honoring our club with her sustained excellence in flower arranging and her willingness to guide and teach.

Club Civic Improvement - Jane O'Neil, Joan DePree, Karen Stensrud

Given for outstanding service in civic improvement within the recipient's club or community.

The citation reads: In grateful acknowledgement of their leadership, within the club and community, guiding the planned rehabilitation and conservation of Forest Park.

Club Horticulture Award-----Louellen Murray

Given for excellence in the field of horticulture. 

The citation reads: In grateful acknowledgement of her excellence in the field of horticulture and her generous willingness to share her knowledge with others.

Club Conservation Award - Cliff Miller

The award recognizes outstanding service to conservation within the recipient's club or community.

The citation reads: In grateful acknowledgement of his devotion to conservation professionally and personally and his selfless support of Lake Forest Garden Club initiatives.

Cliff has been a Distinguished Member of our Club for the past 7 years has been living and working in our community for 25 years His firm PCM Landscape Artistry is a leader in providing Natural Areas Management. The company has been at the forefront of the green movement and continues to provide ecologically informed and sensitive care for all types of native and natural plantings, specializing in ravine and bluff restoration and the preservation of woodland and prairie communities. Cliff volunteered with our members at Chelsea to help construct the club's Silver Gilt winning show garden: Ravine Garden: Gift of the Glacier. He has been a frequent speaker at garden club meetings and has shared his knowledge, his time and his passion for conservation and the natural world.

Cliff began his "landscape career" as a young boy building terrariums to hold his many snakes and lizards. He is a passionate plant collector who studies Bonsai with Ivan Watters at the Botanic Garden. He collects miniature plants from all over the world to build terrariums/vivariums for his poison dart frog collection and has approximately 20 tanks at home to house the many different species of colorful Central & South American Frogs, which he also breeds.  He is an avid birder who leads popular bird walks annually at Crab Tree Farm, and is a longtime participant in both the spring and Christmas bird count. He is a naturalist/teacher who hikes, fishes, skis and, oh, did I say he gardens?"

Club Historic Preservation - Stephen Bent

The award recognizes outstanding service in historic preservation within the recipients club or community.

The citation reads: With appreciation for his preservation of David Adler's Kersey Coates Reed tennis house and stewardship of the Ferruccio Vitale-designed garden.

Maggie read excerpts from Marion Cartwright's letter proposing Steve as a distinguished member 2012, and Marion accepted the award on his behalf:

"Stephen has clearly demonstrated a deep and abiding respect for the worth of an historic family property; its garden and architecture. He understands the magic in the memories a garden holds, memories of special hiding places, scents, colors, morning light, evening light, the very feel of its air. He understands the power a garden has to connect us to the natural world and to stimulate our love of beauty. He understands the importance a sense of place has for the spirit.

Stephen restored the Kersey Coates Reed estate garden and tennis house at 1301 Lake Road. Originally part of the David Adler estate built in 1931 for Steve's grandmother, Helen Shedd Reed. When the time came for Stephen to take over stewardship of this land, he was ready. There was no original plan, so he and Craig Bergmann worked with old family photos, and Steve's childhood memories. He collaborated on the historic restoration of the interiors with member Cathie Denckla, and he generously shares the property with visiting groups, including 1,000 LFGC Housewalk visitors who toured a year ago. He preserves and protects a significant open space on Lake Road contributing to the historic character of East Lake Forest."

Non-Member Awards

GCA Club Commendation for Civic Improvement - Thomas B. Hunter, III

The award recognizes outstanding service in civic improvement within the recipient's community.

The citation reads: With grateful acknowledgement for sustained leadership and generosity to countless civic projects, making our community a better place to live.

Tom grew up in Lake Forest and attended school here. He must have been a mature and discriminating 8th grader because that was the year he proposed to Maxine. Tom has been involved in a significant way, through his leadership and philanthropy, in almost every institution or project that benefits the citizens of our City including Lake Forest Hospital, Elawa Farm, the renovation of Lake Forest Beach 26 yrs ago, Lake Forest Open Lands, Market Square 2000 Project, Gorton Community Center, Ragdale, the Historical Society, Forest Park and this is just the local list. There is also his support of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Ravinia Festival, and the North Lawndale College Prep High School where he was a founder. Tom gets behind civic projects early when they are most in need of his quietly confident leadership. When he believes in a project, others follow. His opinions are trusted and valued and he is an encouraging voice when civic groups lose momentum. His interests in education, conservation and civic improvement reflect our own.

Lake Forest Garden Club thanks Tom Hunter, Steve Bent and Cliff Miller for your contributions and service to civic betterment, conservation and historic preservation. They are hallmarks of the mission of the Garden Club of America and its member clubs.

LFGC Special Awards

Jean Stevens Heyworth Memorial Award - Betsy Hough                                      Presented by Tica Marquardt, Jean's daughter.

The citation reads: Lake Forest Garden Club gratefully acknowledges Betsy Hough for her overall interest in flower arranging and willingness to participate and study.

The award was created in 1963 by Jean Stevens Heyworth's garden club friends to honor her memory and her love of flowers, and has been awarded only 21 times. Betsy joined the club in 2006, has served on the Executive Committee as recording secretary and treasurer and is currently chair of the flower committee. In 2012 she chaired the club flower show, Musical Merriment. Tica: "Betsy has been a board member, a committee chairman, a leader, and innovator, an organizer, a techie. She has arranged flowers many times, always willingly; she has won ribbons and commendations, written articles, planned flower shows, and workshops. She is wise beyond her years, a participant who goes beyond the expected and volunteers with purpose and a wonderful sense of humor."

Willamay Benton Memorial Award - Mary Hoffman

Presented by Susan Friedlander, Willamay's daughter,

The citation reads: Lake Forest Garden Club gratefully acknowledges Mary Hoffman for her dedication to preserving and promoting the goals of the Club.

Mary joined the club in 2006, serving on the Executive Committee as treasurer from 2009 - 2011 and as 2nd VP, Chairman of Education and Scholarship 2010 - 2013. She is one of the 3 chairs of the 2015 House and Garden Walk and was treasurer of the 2009 and 2012 Housewalks. Mary initiated the Garden Science Program at Neal Math and Science Academy in North Chicago. The program has links to future educational, enrichment and employment opportunities that offer hope to underserved students. Susie: "Mary does everything with the highest level of commitment, character, and intelligence. Importantly, for this award everything she does, she does thoughtfully with grace and a sense of humor. Willamay would have been proud to know her."

The Lake Forest Garden Club Certificate of Appreciation

Awarded by the President for service to or on behalf of Lake Forest Garden Club

The certificates were read as follows:

Lake Forest Garden Club is pleased to present the Certificate of Appreciation to Susan Chandler for her thoughtful leadership and gracious guidance as Vice President and for organizing programs that are both engaging and educational, as Program Chairman.

AND

Lake Forest Garden Club is pleased to present the Certificate of Appreciation to Holly Meeks for generously sharing her creative ability and technical skills to advance club communication as Publications Chairman and Garden Gate Editor.

"Of the seven deadly sins, surely it is pride that 

most commonly afflicts the gardener."

Lake Forest Place Flower Show

For the past twelve years I have had the pleasure of chairing a little flower show at Lake Forest Place, a retirement community, as an outreach of Lake Forest Garden Club. I collaborate with the LFGC Flower Show chairman, currently Betsy Hough. The 2013 show, Toys R Us, was staged July 10 and 11 with an afternoon party featuring root beer floats and animal crackers. Members in attendance were Chrissy Gates, Carol Blomquist, Carol Swift, Beth Kiernan, Betsy Hough, Liz Lavezzorio, Lynn Dean, Scott Washburne and Maggie Coleman. 

Our Members at Work for GCA:

Crissy Cherry

Click here to see the complete issue.

Crissy Cherry "Persian Buttercup"  (focus fall, 2008)

which have received Best in Show, the Photography Creativity Award, the Certificate of Excellence, and/or the GCA Novice Award from GCA Flower Shows and GCA Major Flower Shows.

Catherine Denckla "Iceland Poppy" (focus fall, 2011)

"I was fortunate to take over as editor

of focus at a great time. The magazine has a wide circulation, the GCA has a great interest in photography and the technology world is producing more and better tools for our craft...We are now reading focus on the go--on smartphones, tablets and e-readers. The resolution of these devices is remarkable and such a great way to view photographs."

If we persist, I do not doubt that by age 96 or so we will 

all have gardens we are pleased with, more or less. 

August Reading Program Needs Volunteers

One-On-One Lunchtime Reading

Would you like to make a small contribution that has a really big impact this August? Would you like to see first-hand our LFGC appropriations at work? Come join the Lake Forest Open Lands Summer Nature Camp for 45 minutes of one-on-one lunchtime reading to a third grade child. The camp serves Hispanic children, primarily from Highwood. Volunteers are needed Monday-Thursday, August 5-8 and Monday-Thursday, August 12-15 from 12:15 to 1 p.m.

Readers meet at the Lockhart Nature Center on Waukegan Road at 12:15 for introductions, followed by reading to the campers for half an hour. Not only do the children look forward to it, their reading comprehension improves enormously. The campers are primarily from bilingual homes, and exposure to English goes a long way, especially for the coming school year. Please contact Katie Casas at Lake Forest Open Lands by email or phone at (847) 234-3880 x21 if you would like to participate. 

Lake Forest Garden Club Photography Show

December 5, 2013 

Click here for the full schedule.

Oh paradise, thy rival is this place.

     ~ 12th century poet, 

                reflecting on his garden

Ladies of The Club,

Whenever the inevitable due date for the Garden Gate material pops up in my mail (see "Damocles, Sword of," in March 2013 issue), I look out the window for inspiration. This time my gaze fell upon our lovely kitchen garden--or what began its life as a lovely kitchen garden but soon became an intermediate feedlot for the deer and rabbits on their way across the street to the Georgi's garden for their next course. I resisted erecting a fence because that wasn't what I wanted to see every time I parked the car. So instead I see lots of deer that are too fat to run when I wave my arms and call them names.

As many of us begin a bit of summer travel, I am reminded of a proper Englishman, who, unaware of strict changes in travel protocol, arrives at the check-in counter and is asked, "Did you pack your own bags, sir?" The Englishman is appalled. His answer: "Don't be ridiculous."

Summer also brings the opportunity to once again attempt a healthy lifestyle inspired perhaps by the image of one's self in a bathing costume. Those of us who aren't feeding the deer could enjoy the vegetables in their garden. But remember the words of Rita Rudner: "I was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sun."

I can feel Maggie's gentle finger tap on my shoulder, a reminder that my Garden Gate offerings are due (yesterday) and that my word allowance is all used up.

Here's to warm sunny summer days,

Robin

"Wait a minute--we don't have a house in the Hamptons."

Good Things