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Garden Club News
From Sheri Murphy, President
Can you believe it’s already August? As wonderful as it is to have so many events and activities available to us here, it certainly makes the days fly by. Hope you all have been able to catch some fun and relaxation amidst busy calendars!
The Garden Club was certainly hopping this past month with a watercolor workshop at Duff Homestead. Celeste Mycoskie, a beloved island artist, directed our enthusiasm and varied talents toward individual masterpieces which we all took home. We had quite a large turnout and even had to turn several aspiring artists away due to lack of space. I am not sure if our artistic endeavors or the camaraderie we all shared were more meaningful, but a delightful afternoon was had by all. Thank you, Celeste!
Soon after the workshop, our biggest event of the season, as well as our biggest fundraiser, was the Home & Garden Tour which took place on July 23rd. It was a perfectly gorgeous day for all our guests to come and enjoy the varied homes/gardens/vineyards on the tour, as well as the unique atmosphere this island provides. We had a record number of attendees, for whom we are very thankful and appreciative. With their support, we were able to raise a significant amount of money to fund future beautification efforts in DeRivera Park and around the island.
And as anyone who has ever been involved in fundraising knows, it takes an army of willing and dedicated volunteers in the background to come together and make a successful event like our Home & Garden Tour happen. Members of this island came together in full force! Where to begin giving heart felt kudos to all involved?? First and foremost-a HUGE thank you to the homeowners who were gracious enough to ready and share their homes and gardens with all of us. Due to unfortunate circumstances with one of our homeowners, we had another homeowner graciously offer up his home three days before the event. Wow!! This tour provided all of us with new appreciation for the talents/creativity/generosity of others as well as inspiration when wishing to add some pizzazz to our own homes!
When organizing these events, someone must be in charge, tough as it is to find one sometimes. Kathy Schrader graciously rose to the occasion and was the force behind convincing our homeowners that such a charitable effort was worth their time. Miller Ferry and E’s Put-In-Bay golf carts were also instrumental in enticing our off-island visitors to attend by offering such generous discounts on ferry tickets and golf cart rentals. Members of the Garden Club board worked tirelessly to ensure when the day came — advertising, website information, volunteers for homes, brochures, coupons, homemade cookies, registration/ticket orders were all in place. Last, but certainly not least, many downtown restaurants offered very generous discounts to ticket holders for lunch that day. We all know if you are hungry, the rest of the day is not so perfect. The PIBGC is so very appreciative we could host happy visitors – thank you restaurant owners!
Now with our Homes Tour behind us, we continue to have a number of interesting and educational opportunities ahead. On Wednesday, August 20th, beginning at 3 p.m., we will be hosting a free seminar at PIBYC focusing on orchid care. For those interested in maintaining one you currently own or those nervous about the flower’s reputation as a persnickety member of the plant family, this program is for you! To ensure there are enough handouts for all attending, please reserve your spot by contacting Susan Hildebrandt at 440-409-1958. And as always, our most current and complete source of information concerning all garden club matters can be found on our website, www.putinbaygardenclub.com. Happy Summer-enjoy it while we have it!
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please click here.
