“The World Around Us - Love It - Protect It”

Garden clubs throughout Illinois are eagerly embracing National President Renee Blaschke’s theme. She has set forth a challenge to accept our responsibilities as gardeners, conservationists, and citizens.

One of these projects is dubbed “Golden Days.”

Small towns, cities, highways that girdle the nation, are being beautified with the planting of daffodils. Here in Illinois daffodils are popular and admired for their ease of culture and hardiness. Who can resist the charm of them when they appear after a long and oftentimes snowy winter? Clubs are urged to establish daffodils in public and private spaces — around muncipal signboards, as part of Blue Star Memorial landscaping, schools, and any place a splash of spring sunshine will help beautify our world. The National Gardener Fall 2009 issue carried an excellent article on daffodils by William C. Welch, well-known professor and landscape horticulturist.

“Plant It Pink” continues during this administration. This project supports breast cancer awareness and research in partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Pink is often a symbol of love, caring, tenderness and soothing. Pink is a popular color in the garden and their are many pink blooming flowers from which to choose. You may also donate to the project. See the Plant It Pink donation form on the NGC website www.gardenclub.org.

You can expect Illinois garden club members to be contacting their community municipalities, along with other community groups such as Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, churches, businesses and the like, to locate a suitable site for a community vegetable garden. Local youth groups will be invited to participate in the planting and maintenance of such gardens. By harvesting the produce and sharing it with a soup kitchen, homeless agency, church meal program, or any group serving the less fortunate, adults and youth alike will learn a valuable lesson in sharing.

With NGC’s emphasis on vegetable gardening, take the opportunity during the upcoming winter months to peruse those seed catalogs, read articles and books dealing with successfully growing vegetables. Garden clubs should maintain a record, including financial data and before and after pictures to prepare a 1 or 2 page summary of their participation in this project.

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NATIVE PLANTS GIRL SCOUT PATCH

This is a program designed to teach Girl Scouts about native plants in their area. Scouts at all age levels are eligible to earn the patch. This promotes girl-to-adult and girl-to-girl discussion by partnering National Garden Club with with the Scouts. Read more on the NGC website: www.gardenclub.ord/Youth/GirlScoutPatch.aspx. Contact your local Girl Scout troop(s) and find out how your club can get involved.

Cultivar of Echinacea Purpurea, 'Green Envy' is new green blooming perennial available this year. Visit Get Green Envy.com or study those Nursery catalogs you've been receiving and decide to include something new in your landscape when springtime arrives.

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WE CONTINUE TO BE “GREEN”

Long before environmentalism became a household word, garden clubs throughout the nation have been practicing it since National Garden Clubs founding in 1929. Members have been in the forefront of the “Green Movement” by introducing recycling, organic gardening, wildflower gardens, elimination of invasive species, and many other ways to protect the environment in their home gardens and their many civic projects. They continue to do so.

In 1986 the first Environmental Studies School was introduced during the National Presidency of Illinoisan Violet Dawson. Since that time the Schools have been held across the United States under sponsorship of State garden club federations. Here in Illinois a new Series will begin. Prospective students may begin the Series at any time during the four course series.

The "Living Earth" Environmental Studies School is composed of a minimum of forty-four hours of study of specific units divided into four courses of eleven hours each. Every course contains nine (9) hours of specified units of study and a two (2) hour tour. At the conclusion of each course a written "Open Book" examination is given. After successful completion of all four courses the student will have earned the designation of Nationally Accredited Environmental Consultant. Students also may join the Environmental Consultants Council that meets on a regular basis for special field trips, speakers and the-like.

For further information on this School and details telephone GCI Headquarters at 630-617-9269 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10 AM – 3 PM.

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NGC’S RECYCLING PROGRAM Garden clubs throughout the country will be participating in National’s recycling program. Empty ink jet cartridges, laser cartridges, and used cell phones will be collected. Check the NGC website for a list of acceptable cartridges and cell phones. Each state will set up its own chairman and collection sites. SCHOOL CHILDREN’S GARDENS Accent on Youth! Introducing more and more children to the joys of gardening continues to be a goal of garden club members. Children’s gardens are not new, but if you or your club hasn’t tried establishing some gardening activities in your local school, see if the time isn’t ripe for doing just that. PLANT “NATIVE” Emphasis is being placed on the usage and conservation of native plants. Garden club members have long incorporated such plants in their home and civic landscapes. The goal is to save endangered species and recognize the advantage of planting natives when it comes to water conservation, reducing the uses of pesticides and fertilizers, healthy soil building, and re-introduction of beautiful but often forgotten old-fashioned beauties in the garden.

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BLUE STARS OVER ILLINOIS

Garden Clubs of Illinois has long had an active Blue Star Memorial Program with an impressive 128 markers now in place. Veterans are honored nationwide by National Garden Club members through its Blue Star Memorial program, launched in 1944 and continuing through its 65th year. It is one of the oldest and most revered program of National Garden Clubs, the largest
volunteer organization of its type in the world.

Large metal markers are placed in national cemeteries, parks, government facilities, veterans homes and hospitals, and along highways throughout the United States. These plaques honor all service men and women, past, present, and future who have served our nation.

This past Patriot’s day (September 11) and Veterans Day (November 11) a number of clubs sponsored special ceremonies in conjunction with their Blue Star Memorial projects, as well as municipal events. Marion Garden Club re-dedicated its marker at the Marion VA Medical Center on Patriot’s Day with many of the residents and patients of the medical center present. The PekinGarden Club re-dedicated its Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker, located in Mineral Springs Park in September as part ot its District III FallMeeting. The Village of Evergreen Park dedicated a new Highway Marker on November 20. Several Oak Lawn Garden Club members attended
the ceremony.

A new Blue Star Award ($100) cash award is now available for the placement of new Blue Star Memorial Highway markers placed within interstate rest areas in Illinois.
Kathy Rewerts continues to serve as Blue Star Memorial chairman for the state. Her book, that covers the history of the Blue Star program in Illinois, “Blue Stars Over Illinois”, ($10) is available through GCI Headquarters or Kathy at her e-mail address: rewerts@netzero.net or at her new
mailing address: Kathy Rewerts, 841 CR700E,Sullivan, IL 61951-0109

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COMMEMORATIVE STAMP PROJECT

As you may already know, GCI has long been involved in saving commemorative stamps for the Illinois Audubon Society. Monies raised from the sale of these stamps is used to purchase property for wiidlife. Kay macNeil serves as GCI's state Birds and Butterflies Chairman. Commemorative stamps for the project may be mailed to her attention at The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc., P.O. Box 499, Elmhurst, IL 60126-0499 .

Reminder: When removing stamps, please leave a ¼" margin around them. Commemorative stamps are the (usually) larger special stamps printed in limited quantities. The common love, flag, or Christmas stamps are not wanted, but foreign stamps are desired. Local post offices display the newest ones.

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DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

Refer to complete calendar under Calendar of Events.

Check your GARDENGlories for advertisements of Plant sales, garden tours, and flower shows.

Visit Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe and Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Both offer special events and and programs year round. Plan to tour the grounds of these world-famous sites.