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Garden Club News from Sheri Murphy, President
Hello fellow Gardeners! We have certainly experienced a different introduction to summer than last year! Personally, I am thankful for the cooler weather, giving all those spring plants (that we cannot resist putting in the shopping cart) time to establish themselves before the summer heat makes my days center around a daily watering schedule.
The hanging baskets downtown are enjoying an easier head start as well. I hope in your strolls through the park, you have looked up to enjoy the bountiful blooms that are gracing those lamp posts! In fact, they were so bountiful, we had to give each of the baskets a “haircut” to keep the flowers from becoming leggy. It seems the club’s decision to go with bigger baskets has paid off in the size and health of the plants and their ability to withstand those dreaded mayflies…time will tell, but we are optimistic!! In addition to the basket size, a HUGE shout out and thank you goes to John Galvin for his generosity in time and effort with placing red film over the light bulbs in the lamp posts. This may seem odd to the general observer, but this colored film helps tremendously in lessening the negative impact of our annual mayfly invasion on said baskets. John – you are the BEST! Here’s to hoping the mayfly season is short-lived and the lake breezes (winds!) blow them away very soon.
Explore 2026 At Put-in-Bay
- Check out our event calendar
- Find a place to stay
- See Put-in-Bay webcams
Our monthly gardening programs have also gotten off to a positive start with a raised garden workshop and presentation given by island resident, Donna D’Amico at her home on Thursday, June 18th. She was most helpful (and humorous) in detailing her efforts to grow favored plants while warding off the usual island predators–deer, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels–who knew there were so many avid rodent appetites. (But I guess if you have a place here, you know this…UGH) Not only was Donna a wealth of information on the plants she grows and the soils/fertilizers that work best, but she was also a gourmet hostess, providing treats and punch to all in attendance. Thank you Donna! We wish her the best with her gardens and her new bee keeping hobby – sounds like mutually beneficial pastimes.
Our Favorite Rentals and Hotels
- Island Club Rentals (islandclub.com) – 216-898-9951
- Commodore Resort (commodoreresort.com) – 419-285-3101
- Bird’s Nest Resort (birdsnestresort.com) – 419-285-6119
- Put-in-Bay Condos (putinbaycondos.com) 216-898-1105
- Victory Station Hotel (putinbayvictorystation.com) 419-285-0120
Looking ahead, our annual off-island trip will take place this month to Schoepfle Gardens on Thursday, July 23rd. This will be a one-hour guided tour, highlighting the 20-acre botanical garden, which features collections of roses, rhododendron, specialty trees, garden sculptures, topiaries, perennials and annuals. Truly stunning examples of all types of plantings that may be of interest. The tour begins at 11 a.m. and is free, but limited to the first 20 participants who register, so mark your calendar now and contact Susan Hildebrandt, (440) 409-1958, at your earliest convenience to reserve your spot. If you plan on driving, the address is 11106 Market Street, Wakeman, OH 44816. For those wishing to travel with others, we respectfully ask everyone to make their own arrangements. As the tour begins promptly at 11 a.m., plan on utilizing the 9 a.m. Miller ferry if traveling from the island to allow enough travel time. Parking is near the entrance on Market Street with signage provided to the Community House where the tour will begin. In addition to the tour, and if your schedule permits, a reservation for 20 has been made for lunch at Beach Glass Lounge (5874 E Harbor Rd., Lakeside-Marblehead) at 1 p.m. FYI – This restaurant happens to be connected to the Ferguson Glass Studio/Gallery for a little shopping/retail therapy to round out your day if that sounds appealing! This promises to be an adventure-filled day, and we certainly hope participants will avail themselves of all options — learning about incredible gardens, experiencing good food, appreciating original art/unique decorative items, but most of all, enjoying each other.
Looking even further ahead, our August program promises to be entertaining as well as informational, with two of our island’s expert (and creative) residents holding a seminar on flower arranging and placement. More details coming soon, but reserve Thursday, August 20th, on your calendar now for a program you do not want to miss!! As always, details for these and all other Garden Club updates can be found as they become available on our website, www.putinbaygardenclub.com. We all hope to see you for as many events as you can fit into your busy summer schedule.
