Past District VII Newsletters

June 2010 District VII Newsletter

AWARDS

District VII has won many GCI awards this year: District VII Standard Flower Show ‘Wizard of Oz’ won the President’s Award for Best District Show with a two-tone rose ribbon and also qualified for a National award; we also won First Place ($35) for the best standard flower show schedule (the Illinois Judges Council Flower Show Schedule Award). The district received a Certificate of Achievement for a district publication with more than 4 issues a year (the newsletter). The Marion Garden Club received the Blue Star Memorial Landscaping Marker Project Award ($25) for a Club Sponsored Marker; this became a National Entry. The Marion Garden Club Publicity Press Book was selected as the best in the medium-size category club. The Eldorado Garden Study Club won the Wildflower and Roadside Improvement Award; this is also a National Entry. The Anna-Jo Garden Club received a Certificate of Accomplishment for their Garden Therapy program. The Metropolis Garden Club sponsored the High School Essay Contest winner, Emily Jacobs of Massac County High School. Congratulations to all!

March District Meeting: The next district meeting will be held on March 25^th at the Community Christian Church, 1150 Country Club Road, Metropolis, hosted by the Metropolis Garden Club. Our program will be on Southern Illinois Wildflowers, presented by John Schwegman, retired botanist.~~~~~

Please send any information for the February newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com or 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960 by January 28^th. Please also check my website for any updates and additional information: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.~~~~~

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

December 2009 District VII Newsletter

Reminder: Club Achievement and Club Horticulture Award Applications are due by December 15th. It will not be necessary to submit the District Flower Show schedule because I submitted one, and David Robson has one from the show. This will save mailing costs. If you need these award forms, let me know as soon as possible and I will send them to you.

I recently received the following message from David Robson, GCI Awards Chairman: "There is no award (and there probably should be!), but by my counting, there were more yearbooks and a higher percentage per district from your neck of the woods. I think that’s something that should be commended. (I may give out a certificate during the awards recognizing your District.) Now…we are awaiting the judging."

Upcoming Events:

Through December 30: Annual Holiday Lights Fair - Come experience Du Quoin Tourism's transformation of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds into a magical place with lights and decorations. The event features a 1 1/2 mile drive through of over $250,000 worth of lighted displays as well as decorated trees, entertainment, food, crafts, and visits with Santa in the Expo Hall. The light trail opens nightly from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, and the Expo Hall will be open on the second and third weekends in December from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. The Expo Hall features Santa's train ride, and Santa's Workshop. For more information call the Du Quoin Tourism Commission at 800-455-9570.

Fridays and Saturdays in December: A Live Nativity will be presented at the Anna-Jo Garden Club park after dusk.

December 6, 1 to 4 p.m.: Massac County Historical Society Tour of Homes. Tickets and refreshments are available at the Elijah P. Curtis Home, 405 S Market Street in Metropolis. The Curtis Home is decorated each year by the Metropolis Garden Club. Cost is $7 with four early-nineteenth-century homes available for viewing as well as the Curtis Home.

Sunday, December 13, 1 to 4 p.m.: Massac State Park open house.

Please send any information for the January newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com by December 28^th. Check my website for any updates: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

Merry Christmas!

Anne Parmley

District VII Director, Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

November 2009 District VII Newsletter

Thank you to the Town & Country Garden Club for hosting the Fall District Meeting and to the Benton Garden Club for their assistance with the Ways and Means Table. The food and decorations were wonderful. Ninety people attended this event with eleven clubs represented and two guests from a non-GCI club.

Congratulations to all of you for the many projects reported by the club presidents. We have an amazing membership in our district.

Flower Show Results: To see Jeanne Wacker's report on the Wizard of Oz Flower Show results, please go to my website, anne.parmley.googlepages.com and click on Wizard of Oz.

Awards Reminder: Applications for the Club Achievement and the Club Horticulture Awards are due by December 15. If you need copies, please let me know.

***I have a certificate for Nicholas Koenig, a first-grader, for the Woodsy Owl/Smokey Bear poster competition. This is a central region award. If your garden club submitted this entry, please let me know as soon as possible.***

Upcoming Events:

Until November 29: Christmas Tree Silent Auction to benefit the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. (The Marion Garden Club is decorating a tree for this event.) All trees will be on display at the center and bids will be taken until 5:00 on the 29th with the winners announced at 6:00. In addition there will be a tour of 6 homes in Marion on the 29th.

November 27- December 30: Annual Holiday Lights Fair - Come experience Du Quoin Tourism's transformation of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds into a magical place with lights and decorations. The event features a 1 1/2 mile drive through of over $250,000 worth of lighted displays as well as decorated trees, entertainment, food, crafts, and visits with Santa in the Expo Hall. The light trail opens nightly from 5:30pm - 9:30pm, and the Expo Hall will be open on the second and third weekends in December from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. The Expo Hall features Santa's train ride, and Santa's Workshop. For more information call the Du Quoin Tourism Commission at 800-455-9570.

Fridays and Saturdays in December: A Live Nativity will be presented at the Anna-Jo Garden Club park after dusk.

Sunday, December 6, 1 to 4 p.m.: Metropolis Historical Society’s Tour of Homes starting at the Curtis Home on 405 Market Street, Metropolis. The Metropolis Garden Club decorates the Curtis Home for this event.

Sunday, December 13, 1 to 4 p.m.: Massac State Park open house.

Please send any information for the December newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com by November 28^th. Check my website for any updates: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

October 2009 District VII Newsletter

Congratulations to Jeanne Wacker and all her helpers on a very successful Flower Show. What a wonderful display of talent from many, many district club members!

District Meeting Reminder: The District VII Semiannual meeting will be hosted by the Town & Country Garden Club on October 22 at the Elks Lodge in Benton. Our program will be on flower design presented by Sheila Billingsley of Garden Gate Florist in Marion. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Registration is $10 and includes a lunch. Preferred method of registration is one check from each club sent to District Treasurer Tickie Miller, 1800 Wren Drive, Marion, IL 62959, tikimiller@verizon.net, 618-993-3302. Information and a packet with report forms will be sent to club presidents soon. Please bring garden-related items for the Ways & Means Sale/Auction. If anyone has questions, please contact me at anne.parmley@gmail.com or 618-524-9022.

All Clubs attending the District Meeting are reminded to bring items they wish to include in a scrapbook that will be presented to the District Director. Those items should be given to Linda Minnis, Historian. Items may also be mailed to Linda at 900 East Gregory Avenue, Marion, IL 62959.

In September, the Eldorado Garden Study Club enjoyed a tailgate party at the beginning of a day trip to Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda, IL. While there our tour guide explained the grape growing history of Southern Illinois and the variety of grapes used at the Blue Sky Vineyard. She explained the process from choosing the grape stock to harvesting the grapes as well as disease and pest prevention. Before lunch, we observed grapes being crushed.

Jim Bornert, an Eldorado photographer and husband of club member Esther Bornert, gave a very enlightening lesson on "Enhancing Your Garden Photography."

The highlight of the month was participating in "The Wizard of OZ" at the District VII Flower Show in Carbondale. Many of our first year club members and first time participants were able to learn valuable lessons in horticulture and design. One of the best parts in participating in the Flower Show was meeting and working with club members from many of the District VII clubs. It was great to put faces to names together and give support to each other. Thanks especially to Jeanne Wacker and the dedication of the Evergreen Garden Club members on a successful show.

The Metropolis Garden Club enjoyed a presentation on honeybees at their last meeting. Anne Broyles, a master gardener from Kentucky, gave an interesting talk on bees and related insects, then sold honey that she had collected from her own bee hives.

Non-garden club information: There will be a Shawnee Audubon birding trip on Sunday, October 11. Meet in the parking area at Ferne Clyffe Lake. Call Anne at 618-524-9022 or email anne.parmley@gmail.com.

The Fort Massac Annual Encampment will be on October 17 and 18. Call 618-524-9321 for a complete schedule.

Please send information for the November District newsletter to me by October 28th. As usual, check my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com for updates.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director, Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

September 2009 District VII Newsletter

Reminder: The deadline for yearbook award submissions is October 1st. For state awards, send to GCI Awards Chairman David Robson, 1515 W. Fayette Ave., Springfield, IL 62704. You must use the 2009 GCI awards form. It is available as a pdf on my website, anne.parmley.googlepages.com, or by mail upon request. For district yearbook awards, send to Anne Parmley, 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960.~~~~~

Blue Star Marker Rededication: The Marion Garden Club will hold a ceremony to rededicate a Blue Star Marker on Friday September 11, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the outdoor pavilion at the Marion V.A. Medical Center directly west of the main entrance to the hospital. Parking will be available at the Medical Center for guests. There will be a reception immediately following the ceremony for all guests.~~~~~

District Flower Show Workshop: Wednesday, September 16, from 9:30 - 11:00

St. Francis Xavier Church Hall, (Basement level), 303 S. Poplar, Carbondale. Questions: Call Jeanne 618-559-8154.~~~~~

District VII Flower Show: The Wizard of Oz flower show will be held at the University Mall in Carbondale from September 24-26.~~~~~

District Meeting: The Town & Country Garden Club of Benton is pleased to host the District VII Semiannual meeting to be held October 22^nd at the Elks Lodge in Benton. Our program will be on flower design presented by Sheila Billingsley of Garden Gate Florist in Marion. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Registration is $10 and includes a lunch. Preferred method of registration is one check from each club sent to District Treasurer Tickie Miller. Information and a packet with report forms will be sent to club presidents soon. Please bring garden related items for the Ways & Means Sale/Auction. If anyone has questions, please contact Anne Parmley at anne.parmley@gmail.com or 524-9022.~~~~~

All clubs are reminded to give any items they wish to include in the District Director’s scrapbook to Historian Linda Minnis. Items may be given to Linda at the District meeting or mailed to her at 900 East Gregory Avenue, Marion, IL 62959.~~~~~

DuQuoin Fair: Thank you to the clubs who again participated in the wildflower plantings at the DuQuoin Fairgrounds. Winners in the planting competition are first place, the Eldorado Garden Study Club; second place, the Marion Garden Club; and third place, the DuQuoin Garden Club.~~~~~

The Anna-Jo Garden Club toured the gardens of Brenda Tripp, Nancy Morgan, and Cathy Coad one lovely evening in July. Cathy provided delicious desserts at the end of the tour.~~~~~

During July, the Eldorado Garden Study Club held a practice flower show horticulture workshop led by Jeanne Wacker of the Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale. Jeanne explained how to groom, condition, and display horticulture that could be used in the District VII flower show to be held in Carbondale IL in September. Jeanne judged the specimens brought to the meeting by club members. As a result of her educational techniques, several members won first, second, third and best of show at the Saline County Fair. Club members Barbara Willis and Jan Ward gave an enchanting mini-program on "The Magic of Fairy Gardens". The committee for the gardens located at the DuQuoin State Fairground designed and planted the site for Eldorado to be judged on August 28th.

The Eldorado Garden Study Club had two members present programs in August. Jennifer Andrews presented a wonderful demonstration, display and show & tell program on "Containers and Yard Ornaments from Flea Market Finds.” Dr. Mary Jo Oldham Morgan gave an illustrated lecture on "The Lincoln White House, Flowers-Fashion-Décor." She used pictures, china, money, books, magazines and story-telling as methods to engage the audience. A collection was given to Penny Pines to support the local Shawnee National Forest. A committee has been working diligently on the DuQuoin gardens to be ready at Fair time.~~~~~

Non-garden club announcements: There will be a Shawnee Audubon Society birding trip on Sunday, September 20, at the Marshall Ridge Access Area in the Cache River State Natural Area. Meet at the Todd Fink Parking Area in the Marshall Ridge Area just north of the Natural Area Headquarters in Belknap at 8:00 a.m. On Wednesday, September 30, there will be a Shawnee Audubon Society/Metropolis Garden Club nature walk at Heron Pond just south of Vienna off Route 45. Meet at the Heron Pond Parking Area at 9:00 a.m. Call Anne at 618-524-9022 or email anne.parmley@gmail.com for more information.

September 12 and 13: Quilt Shows will be held in Metropolis at Harrah's Riverfront Event Center and in Paducah at the National Quilt Museum. See metropolistourism.com and click on Super City - Quilt City connection for a schedule or call 877-424-5025 or 618-524-4780.~~~~~

Please send information for the October District newsletter to me by September 28th. As usual, check my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com for updates.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

July/August 2009 District VII Newsletter

Please save the date of October 22 (Thursday) to attend the next district meeting hosted by the Town & Country Garden Club of Benton at the Benton Elks Lodge, 161 Industrial Park Road, Benton, Illinois. Sheila Billingsley of Marion will present a program on flower design. There will be a lunch buffet of roasted pork loin, roast beef, green beans & potatoes, California blend whipped potatoes, salad and roll, iced tea or coffee and dessert. Registration information will be included in a future newsletter. ~~~~~

The next District Flower Show Workshops will be Wednesday, July 15 and Wednesday, August 19 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the St. Francis Xavier Church Hall, (Basement level), 303 S. Poplar, Carbondale, IL. If you have questions, please call Jeanne at 618-559-8154. These monthly workshops help prepare for the District Flower Show entitled The Wizard of Oz to be held on September 25 and 26. ~~~~~

The Eldorado Garden Study Club celebrated National Garden Week by meeting with the Mayor and receiving a signed proclamation. The club displayed photography by Janet Bixler at the library with a floral display created by Cindy Watson.

The new wildflower garden at 142S has been planted and mulched. The trees and shrubs were also planted and mulched. That site contains one red buckeye, two redbuds, four white fringe trees and eight crepe myrtles. The wildflowers include wild white quinine, yellow coneflower and red royal catchfly.

The club toured the garden of club member Jan Cleveland in Carmi, IL. While in Carmi they had a luncheon at the Garden House home of Art and Connie Saunders which included a home and garden tour. After lunch they had a guided tour of the historical Robinson Stewart home and garden. The last garden was in Eldorado at the home of Liz Garrett. While there Marci Watson gave a lesson on composting.

Good news came from the GCI. Club member Dr. Mary Jo Oldham Morgan received a citation for her entry in the Blue Star Marker Contest. Also, two Eldorado fourth graders received awards in the Poetry Contest of 2008-2009. Two fourth graders and one first grader received awards in the 2008-2009 Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest. ~~~~~

From the Marion Garden Club: National Garden Club Week was started off in Marion by Mayor Robert Butler signing a proclamation declaring June 7-13 Garden Club week. The club also presented a check to the director of the Marion Carnegie Library.

On June 13 their club sponsored a Garden Tour of six gardens in Marion. Planning for the tour was a challenge this year because of the devastating storm that hit Marion on May 8. On June 12, the Marion Park Board honored the Marion Garden Club for their ten years of planting and maintaining flower planters in the city’s park. A lovely luncheon was held for this recognition and 30 members enjoyed a delicious meal. The June 17 meeting was a fun trip to Ann’s Daylily farm in Galatia. ~~~~~

The Metropolis Garden Club has been busy with plantings at the Massac County Courthouse and the Metropolis Public Library. They also honor Metropolis home gardeners with the Garden of the Month designation from April through October each year.

This spring the club received a First Place Publicity Press Book Award in the medium category from the Garden Clubs of Illinois. Four of their poetry entrants also received awards, with first-place awards at the kindergarten, second-grade and third-grade levels and one third-place award for a fourth-grade entry. The Metropolis Garden Club sponsors Massac County Girl Scouts in the GCI Youth Poetry Contest. ~~~~~

Information for the September District Newsletter should be sent to me by August 30 to anne.parmley@gmail.com or to 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960. Please go to anne.parmley.googlepages.com for updated information or to read past newsletters. ~~~~~

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

June 2009 District VII Newsletter

I have heard from the GCI Office that the Summer Garden Clubs of Illinois Meeting reservations have reached their limit of 144. ~~~~~

News has been received that Carmen McDonald, who was the Garden Clubs of Illinois President 1977-1979, has passed away at the age of 94 in Marietta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Garden Clubs of Illinois Scholarship Fund 1717 West 31st St. Oak Brook, Il 60523. ~~~~~

The Garden Glories Garden Club of Mount Vernon had a tree planted at the city park on Arbor Day in memory of a local landscaper and also agreed to contribute to the scholarship fund. Their June meeting will install officers for 2009-2010 at a spring luncheon to be held at Green Hills Country Club. ~~~~~

The Eldorado Garden Study Club has had a very busy May. The month started with members helping pre-school children learn to plant sun and shade plants in their own containers, as part of the Eldorado Library children's lap sit program. Early in the month members potted wildflowers to sell in our perennial plant sale. On Mother's Day our club gave posies to every mother in our local hospital. Our club attended Honors Day at the High School and awarded a scholarship for funds to be used at SIC in Harrisburg, IL.

On May 12th the Eldorado Garden Study Club and guests attended the 25th Paducah garden tour. While there they received word that our Truckload Plant sale would need to be held in two days because of the damage to the McNitt greenhouses during the recent storm. It was quickly agreed to combine their wildflower and perennial sale with the Truckload sale and contacted the local media to get the information out to customers. Two mornings later, in the rain, they gathered to set up the site. Thankfully, by the time they opened, the rain had stopped and customers faithfully showed up. During the plant sale, Libby Oldham from Shawneetown, IL gave a very informative demonstration on Side Planted Hanging Baskets. Her designs equal (or are superior to) those found in botanical gardens or amusement parks. After all the storms and change, the day was a success. The club donated hanging baskets to area nursing homes as well as contributing plants to be used by the City of Eldorado in the planter boxes around the city. As always, the Beauty Spot Committee is actively searching for beautiful gardens for the "Beauty Spot" award. In early May native plants were delivered for two new wildflower gardens. Both these gardens have been planted. The garden at 142 S is also ready for seven new trees and eight new shrubs to be planted as soon as the weather permits. ~~~~~

The Metropolis Garden Club also attended the Paducah garden tour in May. Mayfair, as the Paducah tour is called, happens every two years and includes a tour of four gardens and a very nice luncheon. This event is well worth putting on your calendars for 2011. The Metropolis Garden Club would like to start holding a similar event on the even-numbered years. Watch for details next spring. ~~~~~

Congratulations to Ruth Hubler who received a well-deserved Garden Clubs of Illinois VIP Award from the Marion Garden Club. She is a charter member of the club which recently celebrated its 25^th anniversary. ~~~~~

Upcoming Events:

June 13, Saturday: Marion Garden Club Garden Tour. Tickets will be sold at the Marion Chamber of Commerce Pavilion from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. This is located at 2305 West Main Street. There are six homes on the tour; a plant sale will be held at one of the homes.

June 17, Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: District Flower Show Workshop at the St. Francis Xavier Church Hall, (Basement level), 303 S. Poplar, Carbondale. Questions: Call Jeanne 618-559-8154.

June 20, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: The Du Quoin Garden Club will hold a Garden Walk in honor of their 51^st year. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased from Mary Jo Novak, 618-542-6296, [mcnova2@earthlink.net]. ~~~~~

The next newsletter will be a combined July/August newsletter. Please send information for the July and August to anne.parmley@gmail.com by July 29. Please let me know if any of the above information is incorrect. ~~~~~

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

May 2009 District VII Newsletter

Earlier this week, I attended the Annual GCI Convention for the first time. The number of state awards our district clubs earned was amazing. I will be either sending these to the various clubs or presenting them at club meetings. They will be listed in the next Garden Glories. In the meantime, here is a list of the district awards: Best District Year Book – Anna-Jo Garden Club; Club Achievement Awards – Anna-Jo Garden Club, Eldorado Garden Study Club, Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale, Marion Garden Club, and Metropolis Garden Club; Club Horticulture Awards – Anna-Jo Garden Club, Eldorado Garden Study Club, Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale, Marion Garden Club, and Metropolis Garden Club. ~~~~~

Registrations are ongoing for the Summer GCI Meeting on July 13 at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. There is a limit of 144 reservations due to mansion guidelines. See the Spring issue of Garden Glories for details. ~~~~~

The Marion Garden Club met April 15 at the Asian Bistro for a luncheon and installation of officers. District Director Anne Parmley of the Metropolis Garden Club installed the following officers: President Tickie Miller, Vice-President Sandy Long, Secretary Barbara Kigin, and Treasurer Donnie Allen. Becky Wolf of the Miller Spinal Health Center presented a program “My Bloomin’ Back” before the delicious lunch. A beautiful blooming plant and a past-president pin were presented to Linda Minnis. Linda presented her president’s pin to Tickie as part of the tradition in Marion. There are currently 42 members in our club. Members were given folders with their new yearbooks, information for committees and flower bed assignments.

On April 24, members gathered at the Williamson County Fairground for the Arbor Day Ceremony. Seven oak trees were planted this year in the in-field.

Members are busy starting work on flower beds for the fairgrounds and four parks. With assistance from the Marion Water Department, a new water line and faucet was installed near the large rectangle flower bed at the fairground. The city is also providing weekly mowing at the fairground. The assistance of the city is greatly appreciated by our club.

The Garden Tour committee is hard at work searching for beautiful gardens for our June 13 tour. Please put that date on your calendar. More information will be available in the June newsletter. ~~~~~

In celebration of Du Quoin Garden Club's 51st year a Garden Walk will be held Saturday, June 20, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased from Mary Jo Novak, 618-542-6296, [mcnova2@earthlink.net]. ~~~~~

The Anna-Jo Garden Club plant sale Tuesday, May 5 (7:00 AM) offers perennials from members' gardens and some baked goods. We will also be selling hybrid daylilies and iris dug from the overcrowded beds in AJGC Park. People are encouraged to come to the sale on their way to work as our location is conveniently on the major intersection at the edge of town.

Saturday, May 30 plant sale is also at AJGC Park in cooperation with McNitt's Nursery featuring annuals and hanging baskets. A few other small local nurseries usually donate some plants as well. What we have left over after 1:00 PM will be donated to area churches or planted in the beds tended by our club in the community. A Daisy scout group will be joining us that day to help with some planting.

At the April Anna-Jo Garden Club meeting, AJGC member Maxine McLane demonstrated the technique she uses to divide her hybrid iris. Each year she sells them at our plant sale.

We will also offer Annabelle hydrangeas for sale this year as we are actively promoting the Annabelle as Anna's namesake plant.

On Arbor Day, Friday, April 24, our club gathered to plant a 12-foot October Glory Maple tree at the Anna City Park. The location was chosen to provide afternoon shade for a pavilion near the tennis court and a small walking track.

Tuesday, April 21, eight of our members traveled to St. Louis and spent the day at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Pansies, tulips, azaleas, dogwoods and redbuds provided color in the gardens.

AJGC member Charlotte Echols has graduated from the U of I Master Gardener course. She has ample opportunity to use her wealth of knowledge in garden club projects. Our club is so grateful for her contribution of energy and expertise.

Garden club members have planted the pots in downtown Anna with purple coleus and pink wave petunias. ~~~~~

The Eldorado Garden Study Club is working with the Eldorado Boy Scouts Troop #14 to prepare the two large wildflower gardens for summer. Six boy scouts as well as other volunteers helped mulch the two oldest wildflower berms. The Club will plant two new wildflower sites in early May. This will complete a four garden "Welcome to Eldorado" Wildflower project. Each entrance into Eldorado will have a new welcome sign with a wildflower garden that will help beautify Eldorado. The downtown "Cornerstone" garden was also mulched, pruned and weeded. The Club also planted a tree at Southeastern Illinois College as part to the annual Arbor Day planting. Three garden therapy projects are planned for May at nursing homes, assisted living homes and flowers for mothers in the hospital on Mother's Day. ~~~~~~

Upcoming Events:

May 5, Tuesday, 7 a.m.: Anna-Jo Garden Club plant sale (see above).

May 14, Thursday at 8 a.m.: The Eldorado Garden Study Club will hold their wildflower plant sale on at the Eldorado Teen Pavilion on Fourth Street. Libby Oldham will give a demonstration of "Side-Planted Hanging Baskets". The public is invited at Noon for this program. Please bring a lawn chair and a sack lunch.

May 20, Wednesday at 7 a.m.: The Eldorado Garden Study Club will have their annual Truckload Plant Sale at the old Smith Reynolds Oldsmobile site in downtown Eldorado.

May 20, Wednesday, from 9:30 – 11:30: District Flower Show Workshop at the St. Francis Xavier Church Hall, (Basement level), 303 S. Poplar, Carbondale. Questions: Call Jeanne 618-559-8154.

May 23, Saturday, 7a.m. - 2p.m.: Evergreen Garden Club will hold a plant sale at Turley Park in Carbondale. Annuals, Perennials, Tropical's, herbs and more. Everyone welcome! For More information call or email: Roxanne Conley, conro1@hotmail.com, 618-967-5257 mobile, 618-549-1165 phone and Fax.

May 28, Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: The Marion Garden Club will have the McNitt Plant Sale at the Russell Street Park

May 30, Saturday: Anna-Jo Garden Club plant sale (see above).

June 13, Saturday: The Marion Garden Club will hold a garden tour.

June 20, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: The Du Quoin Garden Club will hold a Garden Walk. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased from Mary Jo Novak, 618-542-6296, [mcnova2@earthlink.net]. ~~~~~

Please send information for the June newsletter to anne.parmley@gmail.com by May 29. Please let me know if any information is incorrect. ~~~~~

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

April 2009 District VII Newsletter

Thank you to Garden Glories Garden Club for hosting our District VII Annual Meeting. They provided wonderful decorations, even growing their own herbs for the occasion. And the food was delicious!

Over 100 people attended from thirteen of the fourteen district garden clubs. All fourteen clubs submitted reports. GCI President Jody Bailey told me that our small district “puts their much larger district to shame” with regard to the number of projects we undertake.

Wasn’t Sara Anne Corrigan wonderful as our presenter! For those who want to visit the Newburgh Country Store, here is the simplest path from U.S. 41 South. From The Lloyd Expressway, drive South on 41 (you will go through lights at Walnut St., Lincoln Ave., Bellemeade Ave. and Washington Ave). then it's left on Covert. Just keep driving east on Covert: I'm guessing about 10 miles, but it's a straight shot, literally. You will eventually find yourself in Newburgh's Downtown area on Jennings Street. The Country Store is at 222 W. Jennings. ~~~~~

Congratulations to Rosalee Jones and her Seeder & Weeders of Sesser Garden Club for their Best Yearbook Award (Small club, less than 20 members). This is a Garden Clubs of Illinois award, not a district award. ~~~~~

The Eldorado Garden Study Club opened the new year with a lovely dinner meeting at Liz's Cafe. Rick Deadmond, Superintendent of Saline Valley Regional Water Facility spoke on "Water: A Source of Life."

Nine members attended the Spring District VII Meeting. The Club won a Club Horticulture and a Club Achievement Award.

Three blue bird houses were built and placed in the wildflower meadow along the bike path.

Sadly in March we lost a long time Garden Club member, Barbara Barnes. We feel a great loss. ~~~~~

Ed Billingsley, Director of the University of Illinois Extension Service for Williamson County, was the featured speaker at the March 18 meeting of Marion Garden Club. He gave a very informative talk on "Flower Garden Design" noting that edibles such as vegetables and berries could be worked into flower designs. After his talk, officers were elected for the 2009-10 year. District Director Anne Parmley will install Tickie Miller as President, Sandy Long as Vice-President, Barbara Kigin as Secretary, and Donnie Allen as Treasurer on April 15. ~~~~~

Thompsonville Garden Club member Lana Lampley recently received a $1000 award for her volunteer work with the garden club and her church from N. F. Outlet. She also helps with Relay for Life. ~~~~~

Upcoming activities for Marion Garden Club are:

April 24 - Arbor Day Ceremony, 9:00 a.m. Williamson County Fairground

May 2 - Marion Garden Club Spring Plant Sale, 7:30-11:30 a.m., Russell Street Park (plants grown by members plus garden related items)

May 28 - Plant Sale in Conjunction with McNitt's Greenhouses, 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Russell Street Park

June 13 - Garden Tour, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

April 13: The Metropolis Garden Club will hold a plant sale with plants from members’ gardens beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Elijah P. Curtis Home, 405 Market Street in Metropolis. Come early; we’re usually sold out by 10:30 a.m.

April 26 and 27: Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. will hold its annual meeting at the Lisle/Naperville Hilton near Chicago. See Garden Glories for more information.

Please send any information for the May newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com by April 28^th.

For up-to-date information on events or to read old newsletters, see my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

March 2009 District VII Newsletter

Reminder: The Annual District Meeting will be held on March 26 at the First United Methodist Church, 1133 (this is a correction from a previous newsletter) Main Street, Mount Vernon. The Church is on Main and two blocks West of the Court House on Downtown Square.

Directions: From I-57, go East on Rte 15 (Broadway) about 2.5 miles. Turn Left (North) on S. 10^th Street. Go one block and turn Left (West) on Main. Go 2 blocks. OR

From Rte. 37 (10^th Street) go to Main and turn Left (West). Go 2 blocks.

Parking is available across the street from the church both to the North and West. There is limited parking at the back of the church. Entrance for this is on the East side of the building. The elevator entrance is at the back of the church at ground level.

Garden Clubs of Illinois President Jody Bailey and her husband will be attending our district meeting. Please make them welcome.

The menu for the meeting is: Chicken Supreme, Parsley Potatoes, Five Leaf Salad with Herb & Basil Dressing, Sourdough Bread with Herb & Berry Butter, Crème filled Crepes with Chocolate & Berries, Coffee, Tea ,Water.~~~~~~

The Anna-Jo Garden Club will participate in the Union County Preschool Moms' Night February 26th. Approximately 120 preschoolers and their Moms are expected to attend. “Gardening” is the theme. Club members will provide the following activities: craft station where children decorate a sun visor with flowers and butterflies, face painting, hand stamping and reading a gardening book.

Eleven club members attended the Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mt. Vernon February 13th.

The program for their February meeting was “Japanese Beetles: Farm & Urban Pest” by Dr. Douglas Jones of the U of I Cooperative Extension.

Anna-Jo’s March program will be on bluebirds presented by Vicki Lang of the Southern Illinois Audubon Society. ~~~~~~

During February, the Eldorado Garden Study Club has had three members enter the Blue Star Adventure contest created by GCI President, Jody Bailey. Several members attended the Mt. Vernon, IL, Midwestern Herb and Garden Show and were able to view the power point presentation given by keynote speaker Roger Swain. Mr. Swain was on The Victory Garden for many years and now travels around the country giving very humorous presentations about community gardens. Three members attended the District VII Flower Show workshop. The Membership Committee and Program Committee are finalizing their work for the new year to begin in March. We are all anticipating SPRING!~~~~~~

The Metropolis Garden Club enjoyed an interesting presentation on the Shawnee Wilderness – A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard by Terri Treacy from the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. ~~~~~~

2009 District Flower Show - "Wizard of Oz" update from Jeanne Wacker

At our first meeting on February 11, those in attendance made several key decisions. We decided upon the class titles (i.e. "themes”) for each of the designs. The small 8 x 8 x 8 designs will be: Class 1 - "Ruby Slippers"; Class 2 - "Munchkinland"; Class 3 - "Ding-dong, the Witch is Dead!" The full size designs will be "Emerald City" on the low drum on the opposite side of the screens used in the hanging design; "Twister" for the free-hanging design; and "Over the Rainbow" for an Exhibition Table (last time this table was "Wine Trail").

There will also be a novice design class limited to those who have never won a blue ribbon in design in a Standard Flower Show. This will be on the theme of "Glinda, the Good Witch." The designer can make any kind of design to fit within 36 inches wide and 30 inches deep, which will be displayed on the standard 6’ skirted tables.

Then there are also the big Club Vignette designs, which this time will be on the theme "Yellow Brick Road".

We had quite a lengthy discussion about the Youth Division competition and whether to do one. It was decided that IF we do one, Jeanne Wacker will NOT be in charge of this -- that someone else will have to take the responsibility of finding youth to exhibit. We did decide that the Design categories here would be: Class 1 - Wicked Witch of the West - made from fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. and Class 2 - Lollipop Guild - flowers arranged in a container.

We decided that photography would be JUDGED by professional photographers this time since we found that there are so many talented photographers among our members. In this regard, in order to give the entries a level playing field, we decided that the required size of all photos would be 8" x 10" displayed in a white 11" x 14" matting, and attached to an 11" x 14" piece of foamcore (Note: All these supplies are available at Hobby Lobby in the framing section.) The themes for the photography are: "Enchanted Forest" - photo of something in the woods; "Barns & Farms"; Class 3 - "If I Only Had a Brain" - photo of something kooky-looking.

For those of you who are painters, the theme is "I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore..." This category will not be judged.

One difference this time will be that Artistic Crafts (which we had as non-competitive last time) will be competitive. Artistic crafts are basically the "Martha Stewart" type decorating, where exhibitors use plant materials to combine horticulture, design, and craft work. We decided that the themes of these would be: Class 1 - A decorated hat for a scarecrow; Class 2 - A decorated oilcan for a tinman; and Class 3 - A decorated basket for a little dog.

A form with the Schedule Cover verbiage was distributed, and a request was made for submissions for a logo. Anyone who wants to submit a cover design should have it to Jeanne by March 15. The design should be relatively simple, without a lot of detail, and should be contained within the boundaries of the verbiage. Anyone can submit a design (youth or adult, not necessarily a garden club member). If you would like to submit a design, please call Jeanne (618-457-6731) so that she can get the verbiage to you.

CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS: the Horticulture Schedule. If you brought horticulture to the last show, you know that if there is not a specific "class" in the Schedule for your plant, it gets lumped into the "All other" class, where it competes against the multitude of "All other" plants for ONE blue ribbon, ONE red ribbon, ONE yellow ribbon, etc. (There were many lovely plants that did not receive a ribbon last time, because of the stiff competition.) In theory, there should be a minimum of plants in "All other" because exhibitors should tell the Schedule writer (i.e. Jeanne) what you are likely to bring so that a specific "class" for your plant can be written into the Schedule.

URGENT REQUEST: If you want to make sure your plant is included in a separate "class" in the schedule so that it won't fall into the dreaded abyss of the "All other" category, please contact Jeanne at 618-457-6731 or e-mail wacker127@verizon.net to ask that it be its own "class" in the Schedule.

Thank you to everyone who is working to make this Show the best District Show ever! ~~~~~~

Please send any information for the April newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com or 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960 by March 29. Please also check my website for any updates and additional information: http://anne.parmley.googlepages.com . ~~~~~~

Those who wish to view my pictures of the January ice storm may do so at http://picasaweb.google.com/anne.parmley . Click on the first picture to see the rest, and then click on individual pictures to see a larger version. Allow a few seconds for the pictures to focus. ~~~~~~

Anne Parmley

District VII Director, Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

February 2009 District VII Newsletter

Plans are progressing for the March 26^th District Meeting to be held at the First United Methodist Church, 122 Main Street in Mount Vernon, hosted by the Garden Glories Garden Club. Our speaker will be Sara Anne Corrigan, who is a freelance feature writer for the Evansville Courier and Press and has written cookbooks using herbs. She will talk about four herbs to grow in your gardens and will have some herb plants for sale. We hope to have GCI President Jody Bailey as our special guest for this meeting.

District Historian Linda Minnis reminds clubs to send information to be placed in the scrapbook for the District Director to her at 900 East Gregory Avenue, Marion, IL 62959. Material including items related to special projects and/or pictures of club members and activities may also be given to her at the March District Meeting. News articles mentioning, or pictures including, Director Anne Parmley would be great.

Please reserve time in your busy schedules to participate in the District Flower Show to be held September 24 - 26, 2009 at the University Mall in Carbondale. The theme of this year’s show will be The Wizard of Oz so start thinking about what you want to design or grow. Beginning in April, there will once again be design workshops on the third Wednesday of every month from April through September. The workshops will be at St. Francis Xavier Hall at 303 S. Poplar, Carbondale (lower level) at 9:30 a.m. Each meeting will tackle an actual design from the flower show schedule, so as to be fun, practical, and informative. All members of District VII garden clubs are invited to attend and participate in these workshops.

On January 21, Ed Billingsley, University of Illinois Extension Service, spoke to Marion Garden Club about information and assistance that the Extension Service can provide to gardeners. He also showed members how to navigate the Service's web site www.extension.uiuc.edu/williamson. The office for other counties in Illinois can be accessed at web.extension.uiuc.edu/state <http://www.web.extension.uiuc.edu/state>

The Eldorado Garden Study Club met in December to install new officers using a decades old installation service. The new officers are: Liz Garrett, President; Cindy Watson, Vice President; Jennifer Andrews, Secretary; and Pauline Fry, Treasurer. The club won an award for the "Most Unique" Christmas Tree decorated for the Main Street Eldorado Christmas Tree Contest. The prize was a beautiful poinsettia. The club also decorated the Old City Hall Museum with a wreath to be displayed during the Christmas Holiday Market. The Program Planning Committee is meeting in January to work on the Club's programs for 2009.

The following was received from David Robson, GCI Awards Chairman:

“First, thank you for submitting the club achievement and horticulture achievement forms. We had a record number who submitted the forms, as well as a record number of books of evidence for other awards. There truly is much that's being done in the state.

“Second, when reviewing the achievement forms, errors in awarding points was noted, and scores were subsequently changed. There were misinterpretations of the potential number of points that could be awarded by the club. In some case, the amount was set, and made no difference where the club had one or two hundred activities in that area. If the forms didn't state "per project", "per member" or a maximum number, then the number listed on the form was the maximum number of points that could be obtained and not a multiple of that number. For example, clubs could only take 10 points maximum if a club member was a member of a Plant Society, no matter how many societies a member was a member, nor how many members belonged to societies.

“Likewise, if information was to be indicated or included as clearly stated, and wasn't, points were also adjusted.

“These modifications were made so that all GCI clubs who submitted these forms would be awarded their certificate based on the same set of criteria.

“I'm sending this out so the clubs won't be confused when certificates are awarded at the state meeting.”

Please send any information for the March newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com or 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960 by February 26^th. Please also check my website for any updates and additional information: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director, Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

January 2009 District VII Newsletter

Awards and Contest Reminder: Publicity Press Books are due by January 10^th to the State Publicity Chairman (3^rd Vice President of GCI). The Smokey the Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest entries must be postmarked to the state youth contest chairman by January 19^th.

February 13th, 14th, & 15^th: 21st Annual Midwestern Herb and Garden Show, Time Square Mall, Broadway & 42nd Streets, Mount Vernon. See www.midwesternherbandgardenshow.com for details.

March District Meeting: The next district meeting will be held on March 26^th at the First United Methodist Church, 122 Main Street in Mount Vernon, hosted by the Garden Glories Garden Club. Our speaker will be Sara Anne Corrigan, who is a freelance feature writer for the Evansville Courier and Press and has written cookbooks using herbs. She will talk about four herbs to grow in your gardens and will have some herb plants for sale.

April Garden Clubs of Illinois Meeting: The Annual GCI meeting will be April 26-27 with National Chairman Barbara May expected to be in attendance.

Central Region Meeting: Illinois will host the Central Region meeting October 26-28 at the Lisle Hilton in Naperville.

The Garden Clubs of Illinois has been approached by the Flower and Garden Show officials to participate in the March 7-15, 2009 show at Navy Pier. After discussion it was decided to try for the 2010 show, as this year is short notice for such a big undertaking.

Houseplant Survey: The indoor houseplant surveys are in and tabulated. 33 clubs participated with 716 members reporting. Total number of houseplants owned was 6,490. The three favorites were African Violets, Orchids, and Philodendron.

Anna-Jo Garden Club: It was my privilege to join the Anna-Jo Garden Club at their Christmas luncheon and install their new club officers. We had an excellent meal at the C-Infinity Center in Cobden. I was happy that Elaine Dunn is remaining as club president as she does an excellent job for her club.

Marion Garden Club: Several members of Marion Garden Club participated in a garden therapy project at Fifth Season Residential, Independent care, in Marion on December 2. Tickie Miller, Co-chair of the Club's garden therapy committee, arranged the session in which members helped residents decorate swags of artificial greenery for their rooms. On December 17, nineteen members and two guests of Marion Garden Club braved the weather to attend a Holiday Luncheon at Mackie's Pizza. Members brought gift bags of toiletries, which were donated to the Lighthouse Shelter for the homeless located in Marion.

Recently, the Marion Garden Club received a $50 grant from Garden Clubs of Illinois for re-landscaping the Blue Star Marker at the VA Memorial Hospital. To date, the club has obtained a replacement post for the sign and has given it to the VA for storage. Members of a Marion High School Agriculture class helped clean the plant material from the previous planting and the VA removed the broken post and concrete pad holding it. A landscape plan has been approved by IDOT and the VA, and preliminary plans have been made for plants. The Club is now waiting on the VA to install the new post and replace the sign for the Club. Hopefully, things will progress so that work on the Blue Star Marker can resume in the spring.

Some of you may be wondering what happened to the article about the district meeting that was supposed to have been in the December issue of the Marion Living. Linda Minnis has been checking her regular places for the magazine as well as the web site every few days and still has not seen a copy of the December issue: the Web has not been changed to reflect December articles.

However, there was an article in the paper after Thanksgiving that said that Jim Muir had purchased the Marion Living from publisher Bernie Paul and that Muir would be taking over with the December issue. Thinking that may have delayed the issue, Minnis called Dixie Terry on Dec. 28. Dixie said she did pick up a December copy of the Marion Living somewhere, but that her article was not in it. She also noted that it was a smaller issue than previous ones.

Dixie Terry said she was surprised and uninformed about the sale of the magazine as were many others including Marion Living staff. She said she was not sure whether the new publisher ever got her article or if the previous editor, who was released, took it with him. Dixie will continue to be a writer for the magazine. She will be talking with Jim Muir, but she is concerned that if Muir does have the article that it may be outdated for print in the January issue.

Marion Garden Club regrets that the magazine publicity for our fall district meeting got caught up in the change over, but Dixie Terry did devote several paragraphs about the meeting in one of her weekly articles for the Marion Daily Republican newspaper. We can only hope that the larger article will eventually be printed in the Marion Living. Marion Garden Club wishes a Happy New Year to everyone!

Please send any information for the February newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com or 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960 by January 28^th. Please also check my website for any updates and additional information: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director, Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

December 2008 District VII Newsletter

Reminder: Club Achievement and Club Horticulture Award Applications are due by December 15th.

Ada Chow, President of the Garden Glories Garden Club of Mount Vernon, is pleased to report that the site selection for the next District VII meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2009, is First United Methodist Church, 122 Main Street in Mount Vernon.

Eldorado Garden Study Club member and artist, Janet Bixler presented a program at the November meeting on “Photographing Flowers/Nature” which was enjoyed by all in attendance. Janet illustrated her presentation with photographs she had made and showed us both good and bad examples. Then she had matted and framed some photos to show us how to create tasteful works of art. Officers were also elected for the coming year and will be installed at the December meeting. In addition, members engaged in a program planning session for the 2009 club year and volunteered for hostess duties as well as to serve on the various committees for the upcoming year which will begin in March. Names were also collected of those who might be interested in joining our group.

The final meeting of the club year will be the afternoon of December 4th when 2009 officers will be installed using a decades old ceremony involving a bouquet of flowers. In keeping with tradition we will hear the reading of the beloved holiday classic, A Cup of Christmas Tea, and participate in a most spirited silent auction as attendees bid on plants, food, white elephants and crafts. The months of January and February will be used by the EGSC to complete program planning, committee assignments and the membership roster.

News from the Marion Garden Club: On November 19, Trent Mohlenbrock of Changing Seasons Garden Center in Marion gave a very informative talk to the Marion Garden Club entitled "Designing an Eco-Friendly Landscape." Mohlenbrock suggested using native and drought tolerant plants, planting deciduous trees on the south and west sides of a home to reduce energy use, and planting evergreen trees on the north and west sides of a home to block cold, winter winds. He also discussed drip irrigation, rain barrels, pondless water collection systems, composting, and use of recycled material. Members in attendance brought non-perishable food items, which were donated to the Marion Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry.

The Marion Club reminds everyone to check www.marionliving.com in December for the article regarding the recent District VII meeting Dixie Terry is submitting for publication. A hard copy of the magazine can be ordered online or picked up at the Illinois Centre Mall, Kroger, Walts Pizza and various other businesses in Marion. Or, anyone wanting a hard copy may contact Linda Minnis at minnis@mchsi.com or 618-993-8310.

December 7, 1 to 4 p.m.: Massac County Historical Society Tour of Homes. Tickets and refreshments are available at the Elijah P. Curtis Home, 405 S Market Street in Metropolis. The Curtis Home is decorated each year by the Metropolis Garden Club. Cost is $7 with four early-nineteenth-century homes available for viewing as well as the Curtis Home.

Club Presidents: If anyone has comments on the proposed by-laws changes, please send them to me as soon as possible. Thank you to those who have already commented.

Please send any information for the January newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com by December 28^th. Check my website for any updates: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

Merry Christmas!

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

November 2008 District VII Newsletter

Thank you to the Marion Garden Club; they did a wonderful job hosting the October District Meeting. The fall decorations created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It is easy to see that a lot of hard work went into this meeting. I very much enjoyed the design program given by Luke O’Neal who may be reached at lukas80@hotmail.com or (618)926-1685 or at The Brick House Trading Co., P.O. Box 3, Carrier Mills, IL 62917.

Because the Carbondale Garden Study Club’s report for March 27 through October 2008 was unavailable at the District meeting, I am including it here:

“April was our annual member-to-member plant sale with one member acting as auctioneer. Members brought plants they raised or propagated. We had a lot of fun questioning and learning the characteristics and needs of the plants as we bid against each other. Modest proceeds from this sale are used for our garden therapy project and club activities.

“May is the culminating event for our Garden Therapy Project at the Carbondale Senior Center with the clients of the Adult Day Care Program. Club members have taken responsibility for general maintenance of the patio garden outside the Adult Day Care Program facilities. As a club we work together to plant, weed, clean, water, and provide some minor redesign throughout the year. This year we also planted containers with a scent garden. Clients may enjoy the patio garden from both outside and inside through their garden window. During the past year we have also taken on the responsibility for an indoor garden that adds greenery to the surroundings for the clients who can't always get outside. Seasonal holiday displays are used with the live plants. Both indoor and outdoor gardens are a valuable part of our garden therapy grant.

“On a beautiful May 21 afternoon clients join us on their patio. We have potting soil, plants, gardening gloves and tools for the clients to use. We plant together and they may plant flowers to take home. We are developing a mutual friendship. We visit and talk about clients' past gardening experiences, reminisce with them and give them the opportunity to see and enjoy the plantings up close. Clients, and spouses as well, look forward to the program. Many even dress for the occasion with sun protective gardening hats. Getting outside, working with soil and brightly colored flowers and maintaining relationships is good for everyone. It is known that responsibility for something like a plant improves attitude. Everyone seems to leave with a lifted mood. Following the planting sessions we hosted a tea party with punch, fruit, cookies (some sugar-free), so the clients and members can relax together.

“Summer (June, July, August): The Carbondale Garden Study Club does not officially meet throughout the summer, but we continue to share responsibility to watch over our Garden Therapy Project.

“September is the start of our official year when we enjoyed a potluck salad luncheon. Members were able to reconnect after summer break. We heard a report and talked about the hummingbird banding late summer field trip at the home of Carol Good of Carbondale.

“October brought us Betty Arnold, an accomplished floral designer, was our guest speaker. She demonstrated several floral designs using a horizontal plane, large blossoms and color to lead the eye through the design.

“An extra opportunity was offered for a field trip to see and participate in Hummingbird Banding at the home of Carol Good of Carbondale. Members observed the process of feeding, trapping, handling and banding. Much was learned about the tiny creatures.” (End of Carbondale Garden Study Club report)

Awards Reminder: Applications for the Club Achievement and the Club Horticulture Awards are due by December 15. If you need copies, please let me know.

Youth Contests: Here are the upcoming deadlines for the Youth Contests. All entries should be mailed to:

Linda Whyte, State Chairman

2075 Nathan Avenue

Mascoutah, IL 62258

Be sure to check the National Garden Club website for complete rules on all contests. That website is:

www.gardenclub.org (then go to Youth, and Contests for more details).

The Smokey the Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest entries must be postmarked to the State Chairman by January 19, 2009. This contest is open to students in grades one through five. For Smokey the Bear posters, the theme is: "Remember, Only You can prevent Wildfires!" (That is the capitalization supplied by the Garden Club.) For the Woodsy Owl posters, the theme is: "Lend a Hand - Care for the Land!" Do not combine these two themes or posters into one. They must be treated separately and the appropriate theme must appear somewhere on the poster.

The Youth Poetry Contest is open to students from kindergarden through 9th grade. The deadline for entries to be postmarked to the State Chairman is December 1, 2008. The theme is "Nature's Song." Poems may be of any type and do not have to rhyme.

The High School Essay Contest is open to students attending 9th through 12th grades. The deadline for entries to be mailed to the State Chairman is December 1, 2008. The theme is: "Nurture the Earth - Foster our Environment." Essay length is 500 -600 words.

The Marion Garden Club was pleased to see so many of you at the Semi-annual District Meeting the Club hosted last week. We appreciate that many of you told us how nice everything was.

Dixie Terry, who was taking pictures for a story, called me to say that she is submitting an article about the meeting to the Marion Living Magazine. The free publication is printed once a month. Dixie said her article would be in the December issue, which can usually be found starting the second week of the month at the Illinois Center Mall near the information center or at Marion Kroger and various other businesses. Stories also normally appear on the Marion Living website at www.marionliving.com. Anyone interested in reading the article or getting a copy of the magazine can check the website. Or, Linda Minnis will try to get some extra copies: contact Linda at minnis@mchsi.com or 993-8310 if you would like her to try to get a copy for your Club.

The Anna Jo Garden Club is working with the city of Anna to create a Christmas display in AJGC Park, located at the intersection of Rte 146 and Old Rte 51 across from Bunny Bread. This involves new installation of electrical access in the existing pavilion. The display will include the lighting of trees and the pavilion plus an area for a live nativity scene. The large flowerpots downtown were recently filled with fall mums, pansies and asparagus fern. This will be changed out and replaced by arrangements of Christmas greenery.

Upcoming Events:

November 8 from 9 a.m. – noon: Informational Brunch regarding helping ex-prisoners transition back to the community. Abundant Life Assembly, New Route 13 East, Marion. Contact information: Jo Troxel, (618)896-2321 or 922-6803.

December 7 from 1 to 4 p.m.: Metropolis Historical Society’s Tour of Homes starting at the Curtis Home on 405 Market Street, Metropolis. The Metropolis Garden Club decorates the Curtis Home for this event.

Please send any information for the December newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com by November 28^th. Check my website for any updates: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

October 2008 District VII Newsletter

District Meeting Reminder: The District VII Semiannual meeting will be held October 23^rd at Zion United Church of Christ in Marion. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Our program will be Festive Fun with Fruits and Flowers with Luke O’Neal. Registration is $10 and includes a lunch catered by Honeybakers of Marion. Preferred method of registration is one check from each club sent to District Treasurer Tickie Miller. Please also send the names of those registering to Lynn Love at evol2449@yahoo.com. For a map to the meeting, go to anne.parmley.googlepages.com (in a few days).

District VII Meeting Information: Construction is continuing at the intersection of Interstate 57 and Old Route 37. District VII members traveling to the semi-annual meeting from the north or south via the Interstate should use the Harrisburg Exit (New Route 13 or DeYoung Street) into Marion. Everyone, whether arriving from West or East DeYoung, would then turn south onto Route 37. After passing through the second stoplight (intersection of Route 37/South Court Street and Old 13/West Main Street), turn right on West Cherry Street. The church address is 930 West Cherry. The church is on the north side of the street, but parking is located on the south across from the church. Please use the East entrance located under the canopy.

All Clubs attending the District Meeting are reminded to bring items they wish to include in a scrapbook that will be presented to the District Director. Those items should be given to Linda Minnis, Historian. Items may also be mailed to Linda at 900 East Gregory Avenue, Marion, IL 62959.

The Marion Garden Club recently received a $50.00 Garden Therapy Grant for their projects at Fifth Season Residential in Marion and Shawnee Christian Nursing Home in Herrin. Members helped residents at Fifth Seasons make "Luck of the Hat" decorations for their room. The residents at Shawnee Christian were helped to plant pots with flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

Four members of the Marion Garden Club were invited to the Big Muddy Correctional Center in Ina to observe the Horticulture Program taught by Gary Downen and to attend an awards presentation to inmates enrolled in the program. On September 10, Warden John Evans and Assistant Warden Bill Peyton gave members a tour of the grounds, which included a courtyard with many flowerbeds. Downen showed off the horticulture classroom, vegetable garden and greenhouse. After a lunch prepared by the Culinary Arts class, David Phelps, Assistant Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, and his assistant, Janice Rash, presented an award to each inmate enrolled in the program. IDOT provides seeds and materials for the horticulture program in return for plants to be used in their projects including flowers for both the Springfield and DuQuoin Fair. Marion Garden Club was noted as winner of the First Lady's Wildflower Planting Competition for this year. Representatives from Rend Lake College and others involved with the educational program at Big Muddy were also in attendance.

On September 17, members of Marion Garden Club were treated to a talk on Decorating Gourds by member Diane White. Some of the gourds she has done will be used in the decorations at the District Meeting.

Results from GCI Flower Show: Sue Casebeer and Jeanne Wacker both won awards at the Garden Clubs of Illinois Advanced Standard Flower Show held August 23 - 24 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Sue won the Dorothy Goodyear Award (given to a blue ribbon or 90+ design for an “all dried design that reflects the exhibitor’s creativity and dedication to developing his or her talents”) for her reflective design entitled “42nd Street”, which featured dried allium. Jeanne won the Designer’s Choice Award (a section award for a blue ribbon winner scoring 95 or higher where the designer can choose to use all fresh, or all dried, or a combination of fresh and dried plant material) for her creative design entitled “Singing in the Rain”, which featured gourds, sunflowers, and gutters.

Members of the Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale were pleased to have members of the DuQuoin Garden Club and District Director Anne Parmley join them at their September meeting at the home of Jeanne Wacker. A garden tour, a plant exchange, a gourd give-away, and design tips were all a part of this meeting.

Another Flower Show: Plans are currently being made for our next District Flower Show to be held in Fall 2009. Much help is needed. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Jeanne Wacker at 618-457-6731 or e-mail her at wacker127@verizon.net.

Betty Remy, forty-nine-year member of the Metropolis Garden Club, has endowed a $1000 college scholarship in honor of the club’s fiftieth anniversary.

The Eldorado Garden Study Club enjoyed hearing from Mark Alexander, owner, buyer and designer at Etcetera in Marion at their September meeting. He brought items from his store to illustrate current trends for Harvest Time 2008 Décor for the Home and Garden. The club also conducted a memorial service for two members who recently passed away: Oma Rhine and Gwendolyn Baker. Additionally they made plans for creating the photo spot for Southeastern Illinois College’s Corn Maze activity which is coming up during two weekends in October. Members were busy with participation in the Eldorado’s annual Town and Country Days celebration. The club was pleased to win first place with their float in the civic group’s category. Staying close to their gardening activities their theme was Celebrating May Day with the overall parade theme being Holiday Spectacular. Their prize winning float featured twenty plus members in colorful tea length costumes complete with sashes and garlands in their hair. Some danced around the May Pole on the float while others engaged in the hoop or garland dance which is another English folk dance while walking beside the float. Other costumed members rode on the float while seated in a Victorian garden and others carrying decorated baskets handed flower seed packets to the large crowds watching the parade.

Plans are for a program in October on Storytelling via a Tussy Mussie presented by a club member along with a mini lesson on Bow Making. Members have decorated their public gardens for autumn and are looking forward to attending the Fall Meeting on October 23rd.

Youth Contest Deadlines. All entries should be mailed to:

Linda Whyte, State Chairman

2075 Nathan Avenue

Mascoutah, IL 62258

Be sure to check the National Garden Club website for complete rules on all contests. That website is:

www.gardenclub.org <http://www.gardenclub.org/> (then go to Youth, and Contests for more details).

The Smokey the Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest entries must be postmarked to the State Chairman by January 19, 2009. This contest is open to students in grades one through five.

For Smokey the Bear posters, the theme is: "Remember, Only You can prevent Wildfires!" (That is the capitalization supplied by the Garden Club.)

For the Woodsy Owl posters, the theme is: "Lend a Hand - Care for the Land!"

Do not combine these two themes or posters into one. They must be treated separately and the appropriate theme must appear somewhere on the poster.

The Youth Poetry Contest is open to students from kindergarten through 9th grade. The deadline for entries to be postmarked to the State Chairman is December 1, 2008. The theme is "Nature's Song." Poems may be of any type and do not have to rhyme.

The High School Essay Contest is open to students attending 9th through 12th grades. The deadline for entries to be mailed to the State Chairman is December 1, 2008. The theme is: "Nurture the Earth - Foster our Environment." Essay length is 500 -600 words.

Please send information for the November District newsletter to me by October 28th. As usual, check my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com for updates.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director, Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

deadline for yearbook award submissions is October 1^st. For state awards, send to GCI Awards Chairman David Robson, 1515 W. Fayette Ave., Springfield, IL 62704 and use the yellow awards form sent to your club president this summer. For district awards, send to Anne Parmley, 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960. So far I have received 2007-2008 yearbooks from Anna-Jo, Benton, Eldorado Garden Study, Marion, and Metropolis Garden Clubs.

District Meeting: The Marion Garden Club is pleased to host the District VII Semiannual meeting to be held October 23^rd at Zion United Church of Christ. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Our program will be Festive Fun with Fruits and Flowers with Luke O’Neal. Registration is $10 and includes a lunch catered by Honeybakers of Marion. Preferred method of registration is one check from each club sent to District Treasurer Tickie Miller. Information has been sent to club presidents, and a packet with their report forms will be sent soon. Please bring garden related items for the Ways & Means Sale/Auction. If anyone has questions, please contact Linda Minnis at 993-8310 or minnis@mchsi.com or Anne Parmley at 524-9022 or anne.parmley@gmail.com.

All clubs are reminded to give any items they wish to include in a scrapbook that will be presented to the District Director to Historian, Linda Minnis. Items may be given to Linda at the District meeting or mailed to her at 900 East Gregory Avenue, Marion, IL 62959.

Meeting Directions: Since construction is continuing at the intersection of Interstate 57 and Old Route 37, those traveling to the meeting from the north or south via the Interstate should use the Harrisburg Exit (New Route 13 or DeYoung Street) into Marion. Everyone, whether arriving from West or East DeYoung, would then turn south onto Route 37. After passing through the second stoplight (intersection of Route 37/South Court Street and Old 13/West Main Street), turn right on West Cherry Street. The church address is 930 West Cherry. The church is on the north side of the street, but parking is located on the south across from the church. Please use the East entrance located under the canopy.

DuQuoin Fair: Thank you to those who helped with the Garden Clubs of Illinois table in the First Lady’s Tent at the DuQuoin Fair. Also, thank you to the clubs who again participated in the wildflower planting at the fair. The beds looked very good from all reports. Awards for the plantings will be given by IDOT at the Fall District Meeting.

The Anna-Jo Garden Club participated in a garden tour to raise funds for the Cancer Society in July. They held their annual luncheon in August and also took a field trip to Lotus Naturescapes where staff members told them about water gardening. Later in August they participated in the Union County Fair. Their Club gives a $50 cash award to the best floral arrangement.

On July 29, members of the Eldorado Garden Study Club gave a tour of the city’s wildflower garden, established in 2004, and the gazebo and other fixtures that now grace the area along the city’s bike path. With the main wildflower garden maturing, the club is preparing for planting of two more gardens. One will be near the REA building and the other will be along U.S. Route 45.

The August program at the Eldorado Garden Study Club was presented by a Master Gardener from the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service on the topic of “Pests in the Garden” and the members received many useful handouts and enjoyed seeing the live specimens used to illustrate this presentation. During the August meeting those present completed the survey for the National Indoor Gardening Chairman. Locally the most popular houseplants among those in attendance were: Philodendron followed by peace lily with African violets coming in third. Also, during recent weeks this group has been busy participating in the planting of flowers at the Du Quoin State Fair as well as helping to staff the First Lady’s tent over a two day period.

Members of the Eldorado Garden Study Club are also busy with plans to participate in the annual community Town and Country Day celebration which will be September 19 and 20. Members will have a float in the large Saturday parade where the theme is “Holiday Extravaganza” and they plan to hold a Friday evening Garden Walk of their historic Cornerstone Garden during this festival. The speaker for the September 18th meeting will be from Etcetera in Marion and the topic is, “Harvest Time 2008” and will feature a show and tell display of trends and décor ideas for the home and garden. Once again the club will be assisting Southeastern Illinois College during the college’s Homecoming weekend by creating a harvest setting for use by all as a photo spot during the Corn Maze activity. Throughout August and September the club has continued to recognize local gardeners by placing their “Beauty Spot” sign in the yards of deserving residents.

Since the last newsletter, the Marion Garden Club participated in the DuQuoin Wildflower Planting Competition. In July, Jeanne Wacker of Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale gave an excellent program on “Grooming Horticulture for Show.” Members brought cut specimens or potted plants that were used in the discussion.

On August 20, Marion Garden Club members traveled to the Cobden area to visit Darn Hot Peppers (Rancho Bella Vista Family Farm). Jerry Jimenez gave an outstanding talk about different varieties of peppers and how to grow them. He and his wife, have an Internet business in addition to selling products made from peppers at their farm. They accommodated the Club by setting up a tasting of items they sell. After leaving Darn Hot Peppers, members visited the Anna Nursery where three employees told about the history of the nursery, talked about growing trees and shrubs in containers, and gave a tour of the grounds. After a sack lunch and business meeting at the nursery, members traveled to Flamm Orchards for peach cobbler and purchase of peaches and apples.

The Metropolis Garden Club received a Superman Award from Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel at their 50^th Anniversary Celebration. Past club presidents Alys McDaniel, Mary Anne Cromeenes, Ina Glick, and Anne Parmley, and present club president Billie Schneider presented a club history to guests. It was wonderful to see so many associate members in attendance.

Please send information for the October District newsletter to me by September 28th. As usual, check my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com for updates.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

cal clubs, 50 state clubs and a National Capital Area club make NGC the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world. This status means that garden club members have a powerful voice that can be heard coast-to-coast to achieve NGC’s rewarding and relevant mission: to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.

To help local and state garden clubs cultivate new members, NGC recently rolled out a friendly competition with a unique prize: The state with the greatest percentage increase in membership between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009 will be honored by having a new canna cultivar named after it. The cultivar, which can be grown in all states, reaches 3½ feet in height and has red/red-orange flowers and purple/black foliage. The grower will make the cultivar available nationwide.

“In our efforts to grow our membership, we want to get across the message that today’s garden clubs creatively and effectively address current issues, such as climate change, highway beautification and a wide range of environmental concerns,” says Barbara D. May, president, National Garden Clubs Inc. “Local and state projects and national partnerships with such organizations as the U.S. Forest Service and Habitat for Humanity International give garden club members everywhere an opportunity to make a difference while engaging in activities they love.”

National Garden Clubs Inc. is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1929. It offers extensive educational programs and resources to promote gardening and environmental responsibility. NGC is headquartered in St. Louis, adjacent to the world-famous Missouri Botanical Garden. For more information on NGC programs and membership, visit www.gardenclub.org.

Congratulations to the Eldorado Garden Study Club for winning the Central Region Publicity Press Book Award #44 and to the Metropolis Garden Club and the Eldorado Garden Study Club for sponsoring winners of several Central Region Youth Awards (see page 18 of Garden Glories).

DuQuoin Fair – August 23-September 1. The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. will have a table at the First Lady’s tent during the DuQuoin Fair. Kathy Rewerts, the GCI Blue Star Marker Chairman plans to have a triptych showing last year's fair dedications and a few other Blue Star projects. This would be a great opportunity to show the districts' club projects, pick up new members and possibly a new club or two. The Illinois Department of Transportation will be handing out the First Lady's wildflower seed packets. District club members are asked to volunteer to man the table and answer questions about wildflowers. Those manning the exhibit will be allowed free fair passes and parking tickets. Please call me at (618)524-9022 or e-mail at anne.parmley@gmail.com if you can help with this project. I do not have an exact schedule yet but volunteers are needed each day, probably in two-hour shifts from about noon to 8 p.m.

My husband and I enjoyed the garden tour held by the Garden Gate Garden Club of Carterville on June 21^st. We are always inspired by the innovations seen on such tours.

The Metropolis Garden Club enjoyed their tour of four gardens on June 28. I was delighted to greet Connie Pennington and Sue Peterson from the Carbondale Garden Study Club at the home where I was hosting.

Members of the Eldorado Garden Study Club enjoyed a tour of two member’s gardens in June. They had a mini lesson on Tropical Plants and how to incorporate them in their flower gardens. The hostesses had decorated the luncheon buffet table using tropical décor, providing leis to be worn throughout the luncheon and meeting that followed. Various members have also enjoyed attending some of the nearby garden tours in other towns in recent weeks. They also observed National Gardening Week by having a display in the Eldorado Library, the Mayor sign the proclamation, and pictures in the newspaper.

Recently, the Eldorado Club visited Lutz Shady Acres in Wadesville, Indiana for a most interesting outing. This shade garden has over 800 hostas displayed with various companion plants. Four hundred different kinds of hostas are for sale, 14 kinds of ferns, shade grasses, groundcovers, vines, pulmonaries plus much more. After enjoying lunch the group journeyed on to New Harmony, Indiana. to visit a gift shop featuring decorative gardening items. Last week the club members also visited the Choisser High Rise to conduct another gardening therapy activity with the adult day care group. These sessions are always very meaningful for our members and a huge treat for the adult day care participants.

In July they will meet and have a demonstration by a local cookbook author and talented cook who will share her thoughts on “Cooking with Herbs.” In July they also plan to participate in a new event for our group when they join with other Eldorado groups in having a large, fireworks display with companion activities for families to participate in prior to the fireworks. They plan to have a booth for young children full of activities for them. As usual they have made a monetary donation to the Eldorado Men’s Club to help pay for the fireworks.

In August the Eldorado Garden Study Club will be hearing from a master gardener from the Cooperative Extension Service on “Pests in the Garden” and also planning our float for the September Town and Country Days Celebration. Throughout the summer they have been working to care for their community gardens by adding new plants as needed, weeding, mulching and other needed maintenance. Also the Garden Spot award has been given to various residents having beautiful yards during the summer months. The summer of 2008 has been busy but enjoyable for us.

From the Marion Garden Club: At their “McNitt’s” sale on May 29, members of the Marion Garden Club showed off new gold colored shirts with the name of their club and a rose embroidered on the front. After a successful sale, four members participated in a garden therapy project on May 30 at Shawnee Christian Nursing Home in Herrin. Members helped residents plant seven pots with herbs, vegetables, and flowers. Members then planted Impatiens in shade beds while the residents watched and enjoyed the nice weather.

On June 8, the hottest afternoon of the year, eight members of the Marion Garden Club plus two Williamson County Board members braved the heat to rework and replant a large rectangle bed at the Fairground. In contrast, June 14 was a beautiful day for the Marion Garden Club Tour, and members were pleased to see some visitors from other garden clubs.

The Marion Club traveled to Carterville on June 18^th to visit Steve Wunderle’s Daylily garden. Although there were plenty of blossoms to see, Steve noted his daylilies were blooming a little late due to our cool and rainy spring. He graciously allowed members to go into the section of his garden devoted to daylilies he is breeding. After leaving Wunderle’s, members had a short meeting and lunch at Fratelli Ristorante. Winifred Burris was honored for 23 years of active or associate membership and Ruth Herman was honored for 20 years membership.

The next meeting of the Marion Garden Club will be July 16 at 1:00 at the Heartland Christian Church. Jeanne Wacker, Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale, will speak on “Grooming Horticulture for Show.” Guests are welcome. The August meeting will be a trip to the Cobden area to visit Darn Hot Peppers, the Anna Nursery, and Flamm Orchard. The Williamson County Fair will be August 2 to 9.

Ina Glick of the Metropolis Garden Club and I enjoyed a pleasant afternoon at the Anna-Jo Garden Club meeting on July 1^st. We awarded prizes to our favorite floral arrangements from the many displays brought in by the Anna-Jo club members. It is always a joy to see the flowers grown by our district members.

August 27, 9:00 a.m.: The Metropolis Garden Club will celebrate their 50th Anniversary at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, 605 Metropolis Street. There will be a display of awards, certificates, yearbooks dating from 1958 to the present, press books, pictures, and scrapbooks relating to the club’s history. Members and guests will be asked to reminisce about their experiences with the Metropolis Garden Club. Refreshments will be served. All past and present members, as well as interested community members, are invited to attend.

Information for the September District Newsletter should be sent to me by August 30 to anne.parmley@g.mail.com or 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960. Please go to anne.parmley.googlepages.com for updated information or to read past newsletters.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

June 2008 District VII Newsletter

Early in May I visited Jeanne Wacker of the Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale to work on the by-laws revision. We then attended her club’s meeting at the home of club member Pat Elsaid, where I presented the club with several awards from GCI. Their excellent program was given by Arlene Heisler, a charter member and former club president, and her daughter, Judy Dillinger. They talked about using edible flowers and gave a flower recipe booklet to each attendee.

The members of Marion Garden Club were pleased to have District Director Anne Parmley attend their May 21 meeting. The group traveled to Benton where they visited the Ernie Duckworth farm and learned about growing strawberries. After purchasing some delicious Honey Eye berries, the group headed to the Buzz on the Benton Square for lunch and a meeting. Anne presented the Club with four Garden Clubs of Illinois Awards.

As a reminder, the Marion Garden Club will sponsor a garden tour on Saturday, June 14, from 9:00 to 3:00. Tickets will be sold that day at the pavilion behind the Marion Chamber of Commerce building on West Main Street. We hope to see some of you at our tour. We do want to tell those of you who might come and plan to use Interstate 57 to check for signs indicating whether the Main Street and Old 13 exit is open. The ramps are open at times but may close due to construction at the interchange. If the exit is closed or you wish to avoid the construction area, use the Harrisburg exit into Marion. At the first stoplight, turn right onto Carbon Street and go south to Main Street. Then turn right on Main Street: the Chamber will be several blocks west on the left hand side of the road.

The Anna-Jo Garden Club has received a $500 cash grant from the City of Anna. Here are some of their recent accomplishments:

* Enlarged the flower bed in the Anna-Jo Garden Club Park next to parking lot and created a new bed at the turn-in to the parking lot. The city guys placed the big boulder in this area and removed a sign that was there.

* Granted a request by city manager Steve Guined to plant shrubs and annuals in round raised beds at each entrance of the city park (fairgrounds).

* Planted flowerpots in front of downtown businesses.

* Granted a request from the Union County sheriff to plant shrubs in front of courthouse.

Attached separately (or at the end of this newsletter) is the list of GCI Awards for our District. I am proud of all the accomplishments of our clubs. If your club is not represented, please consider sending in the award applications for club achievement and club horticulture this fall. I will be happy to assist anyone with questions.

UPCOMING GARDEN TOURS

Saturday, June 14th. The Marion Garden Club Garden Tour will be held from 9:00am-3:00pm. Tickets and maps are available from Club Members or can be purchased at the Pavilion at the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce at 2305 West Main Street on the day of the tour. Contact Linda at 618-993-8310, minnis@mchsi.com with questions.

Saturday, June 21st: The Garden Gate Garden Club (Carterville) will hold a garden tour on Saturday, June 21 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Tickets ($7) can be bought the day of the sale at the pavilion at Cannon Park located off Greenbriar Road. (Cannon Park is north of J A Logan College). A sale of plants from members’ gardens will also be held. Contact Steve Wunderle at 985-3426 or Linda Howerton 985-4580.

Saturday, June 28: The Metropolis Garden Club Garden Tour is planned from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served at each home and are included in the ticket price of $7. Advance tickets are available if payment is received by June 21 or can be bought at the Curtis Home, 405 Market Street, Metropolis, on the day of the tour. To order tickets, send check (made out to the Metropolis Garden Club) to Anne Parmley, 1123 Country Club Road, Metropolis, IL 62960. Contact Billie at 618-524-7625 or 618-522-3229 for more details.

I will not be writing a newsletter in August. Please send information for the July/August newsletter to anne.parmley@gmail.com by June 29. Please let me know if any information in this newsletter or on my website is incorrect.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

May 2008 District VII Newsletter

Spring is here! Many clubs are having plant sales and garden tours. A list can be found at the end of this newsletter and on my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com; click on “Upcoming Events.”

Scholarship Reminder: Please consider making a contribution to the District VII Scholarship Fund. Each year the district provides a $1000 scholarship to a student who lives in the district and is enrolled in the College of Agricultural Sciences within Southern Illinois University. Thank you to those who have already contributed.

Congratulations to the many clubs who received awards at the GCI State Meeting. I will include a complete list in the June newsletter since some clubs have not yet been presented with these awards.

Awards for “Heritage Trails” Flower Show: At the State GCI Convention on April 21, our 2007 flower show received several awards. We tied with District IX (note that this is the Chicago-land experts in Flower Shows) for the best District show. We also won a $35 prize for the best flower show schedule, and a $25 prize for the best staging (such as drum, cubes, screens, shutters, etc.). Pat Elsaid also received Honorable Mention for the best functional table in a flower show, and Jeanne Wacker won for the best educational exhibit in a flower show. Congratulations and thanks to all of you who contributed to the success of our District show!

Query Regarding A 2009 Flower Show: It is now time to start planning if we are going to do a late Spring flower show in 2009 (perhaps the first weekend after Memorial Day so that clubs could promote their June garden walks and plant sales). As you know, we cannot do such a Show without the support of your clubs. Please bring this issue up at your next Club meeting and report back to either Anne Parmley or Jeanne Wacker (wacker127@verizon.net) by May 31 as to your club members’ interest, or lack thereof, in doing a 2009 Flower Show.

Field Trips: Many district garden clubs are taking advantage of this nice weather to venture out. The Garden Glories Garden Club in Mt. Vernon will be meeting on May 6th at Marianne Carnahan's home for a short business meeting then will go on a tour to Renee's Hidden Gardens, in Bluford, where they can see and purchase Hard to Find Hosts plus other annual and perennials. The Metropolis Garden Club will use their May meeting time to visit the War Bluff Valley Wildlife Sanctuary near Golconda. Shawnee Audubon members will guide their tour of the facility. The Anna-Jo Garden Club recently was given a tour of the Plantscape nursery by Margie who was so knowledgeable and could answer questions about every kind of plant. In June the Evergreen Garden Club of Harrisburg will tour Wahl’s Nursery in Paducah.

Here are the "antics" of the Evergreen Garden Club of Harrisburg: We celebrated Earth Day by cleaning up the landscaping beds at Southeastern Illinois College. Eleven of our members worked really hard all morning in the effort. For Arbor Day we planted trees in memory of some of our members who have passed away. Our meeting in April was an Orientation Party for our three new members. We talked about responsibilities of members as well as committee responsibilities, etc. In our May meeting, we are going to be discussing roses with the meeting being held at the house of a member who grows a lot of roses. It will be fun to see all her beautiful roses.

Five members of Marion Garden Club met with representatives of IDOT on April 9 to discuss planned landscaping at the new Morgan Street Exit, which will go off Interstate 57 toward Rent One Ballpark. IDOT representatives shared their plans for beds and plantings in the area and asked for input from the garden club. Both groups desire a welcoming and attractive look coming off the interstate and entering Marion including landscaping that will be easy to maintain. Hopefully, the southbound part of the exit will be open later this year.

The IDOT representatives also said that part of the construction at the Old Route 13 and Interstate 57 should be finished this year. However, construction involving streets going into the VA Hospital is being held up: Commodore Drive that goes up to the VA is considered a National Historical Road and special paperwork has to be completed before construction can start there.

The Marion Garden Club held their April meeting at Bella Terra Winery near Tunnel Hill. Eddie Russel, the owner, talked about growing grapes and gave the group a tour of the wine making and bottling area where he talked about processing the grapes into wine. On April 25, Club members held a ceremony in the infield of the Williamson County Fairground to dedicate four Swap White Oak trees that were planted in honor of Arbor Day. The next meeting of the Club will be May 21: members will travel to Ernie Duckworth's strawberry farm in Benton.

UPCOMING PLANT SALES:

Saturday, May 3, 7:30am.-11:30am., Marion Garden Club Spring Plant Sale at the Russell Street Park Pavilion in Marion.

May 6, 7 a.m. to noon: Anna-Jo Garden Club will hold a club members’ plant and bake sale at AJGC Parkon Route 146 in Anna.

On May 15: The Eldorado Garden Study Club will hold a Member’s Plant Sale beginning at 8:00 am at the Teen Park Pavilion on Fourth Street. During that sale there will be members building bluebird houses which will be placed in the meadow near our wildflower garden. That same day over the lunch hour we will have a presentation open to the public on Native Wildflower Planting Awareness to be followed by a garden walk of our wildflower garden.

On May 21: The Eldorado Garden Study Club will hold their annual Truckload Plant Sale in cooperation with McNitt’s Nursery. It begins at 7:00 am at the site of the Smith Reynolds dealership lot on Fourth Streetin Eldorado.

Saturday May 24th, 7 am - 2 pm: The Evergreen Garden Club of Carbondale will hold its 7th Annual Spring (Truckload) Plant Sale 2008 at Turley Park in Carbondale featuring hanging baskets, planters, grasses, tropicals, herbs and veggies. For more information, contact Roxanne Conley, conro1@hotmail.com, 618-967-5257 mobile, 618-549-1165 phone and fax

Thursday, May 29, 7:30am.-2:00pm.: The Marion Garden Club will hold a sale of plants from McNitt's Greenhouses at the Russell Street Park Pavilion in Marion.

Saturday, May 31, 7 a.m. – noon: The Anna-Jo Garden Club will hold a 50/50 plant sale featuring surplus plants from McNitt’s and other local nurseries at the AJGC Park on Route 146 in Anna.

UPCOMING GARDEN TOURS

Saturday, June 14th. The Marion Garden Club Garden Tour will be held from 9:00am-3:00pm. Tickets and maps are available from Club Members or can be purchased at the Pavilion at the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce at 2305 West Main Street on the day of the tour. Contact Linda at 618-993-8310, minnis@mchsi.com with questions.

Saturday, June 21st: The Garden Gate Garden Club (Carterville) will hold a garden tour on Saturday, June 21 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Tickets ($7) can be bought the day of the sale at the pavilion at Cannon Park located off Greenbriar Road. (Cannon Park is north of J A Logan College). A sale of plants from members’ gardens will also be held. Contact Steve Wunderle at 985-3426 or Linda Howerton 985-4580.

Saturday, June 28: A garden tour and luncheon is planned from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. by the Metropolis Garden Club beginning at the Curtis Home, 405 Market Street in Metropolis. Contact Billie at 618-524-7625 or 618-638-3451 or dschneider@hcis.net for more details. Refreshments will be served.

Please send information for the June newsletter to anne.parmley@gmail.com by May 29. Please let me know if any information is incorrect.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

April 2008 District VII Newsletter

We had a wonderful turnout for the District VII Annual Meeting. Nearly 100 members attended from thirteen of the fourteen district garden clubs. All fourteen clubs submitted reports.

Thank you to the Eldorado Garden Study Club for being our hosts. The beautiful quilts were an inspired decorating touch. They, combined with the table decorations, lent a cheerful atmosphere to our gathering. All in all, it was an enjoyable day: good company, good food, and an interesting speaker.

Here is contact information for a club program on weed management: Christopher Evans, Coordinator; River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area; 8588 Route 148, Marion, IL 62959, 618-998-5920; RiverToRiver@gmail.com.

April 14: the Metropolis Garden Club will hold a plant sale with plants from members’ gardens beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Elijah P. Curtis Home, 405 Market Street in Metropolis. Come early; we’re usually out by 10:30 a.m.

April 20 and 21: Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. Annual Meeting at the Lisle/Naperville Hilton near Chicago. See Garden Glories for more information.

From Mary Jo Oldham Morgan of the Eldorado Garden Study Club: some asked me what flowers were in the bag of wildflower seeds we gave as favors. Many flowers were listed on the container including: calendula, Shasta daisy, coreopsis, cosmos, delphinium, dianthus, digitalis, Echinacea, eschscholzia, gypsophila, lupinus, rudbeckia and others. It is a wildflower mix containing a balanced combination of annuals and perennials to provide brilliant color throughout the season in a constantly changing pattern of blooms. Ideal for beds, borders and containers and should be planted in the early spring after all danger of frost has passed. NURTURE THE EARTH----PLANT NATIVES!

April 25 1:00 to 6:00: The Little Egypt Arts Association’s Spring Fling. This will be an Art and Quilt Show at LEAA which is located on Marion’s square. It will feature a flower arranging demonstration at 2:00 and exhibits of quilts and art. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. Invitations will be sent to garden clubs and other groups. The public is invited.

The Eldorado Garden Study Club will meet on April 17th for the purpose of committee orientation and workshop time to develop plans for the remainder of the club year. We will also focus attention on our Habitat for Humanity project and hear a horticulture lesson. A report will be given on World Gardening and plans will be finalized for our celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day.

On May 15th we will hold our Member’s Plant Sale beginning at 8:00 am at the Teen Park Pavilion on Fourth Street. During that sale we will have members building bluebird houses which will be placed in the meadow near our wildflower garden. That same day over the lunch hour we will have a presentation open to the public on Native Wildflower Planting Awareness to be followed by a garden walk of our wildflower garden.

On May 21st we will hold our annual Truckload Plant Sale in cooperation with McNitt’s Nursery. It begins at 7:00 am at the site of the Smith Reynolds dealership lot on Fourth Street in Eldorado.

Saturday, May 3, 7:30am.-11:30am., Marion Garden Club Spring Plant Sale at the Russell Street Park Pavilion in Marion.

Thursday, May 29, 7:30am.-2:00pm. Marion Garden Club Sale of Plants from McNitt's Greenhouses, Russell Street Park Pavilion in Marion.

Please send any information for the May newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com by April 28th. I have been having some legitimate messages being caught in the g-mail spam filter. Please put garden club or district VII in your subject line so that won’t happen. If you have sent an e-mail to me recently and have not had a reply, please try again. To add a new person to my newsletter e-mail list, please have that person send me a request by e-mail.

For up-to-date information on events, see my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com .

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

March 2008 District VII Newsletter

Despite the ice storm and cold weather, district clubs have been busy planning for the gardening season. Many clubs have programs scheduled to boost their enthusiasm. Some examples include: a wonderful program on birds by Shawnee Audubon members Terri Treacy and Ann Douglas and an upcoming program on the birds and plants of Africa by botanists John and Martha Schwegman for the Metropolis Garden Club.

The Marion Garden Club’s next meeting will be Wednesday March 19, 2008, at the Heartland Christian Church. Alys McDaniel, Metropolis Garden Club, is scheduled to speak about Garden Therapy. Visitors are welcome.

From Betty Cunningham, President of the Benton Garden Club, I received the following information: Not many people get to see themselves on national television, but, recently, long-time Benton resident Ruby Murphy did. Willard Scott introduced Ruby on The Today Show on October 13 for her 102 birthday. Ruby has been a member of the Benton Garden Club since 1943, one year after the club was organized. Ruby Murphy was chosen by the Benton – West City Area Chamber of Commerce for 2007 Citizen of the Year.

REMINDER: March 27: District VII Annual Meeting hosted by the Eldorado Garden Study Club. Our guest speaker will be Tom Clay, the Executive Director of Illinois Audubon Society. His program is: 110 Years of Audubon, a guided tour through the history and accomplishments of Illinois' oldest conservation organization. The meeting will be held at Star General Baptist Church, 4925 Hwy. 142 North; Eldorado, IL 62930. We should park on the North side of the building and enter from that side as well. (This is a very large facility having several entrances and parking lots.)

Directions for the District VII Annual Meeting and a Map are on my website: anne.parmley.googlepages.com.

April 20 and 21: Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. Annual Meeting at the Lisle/Naperville Hilton near Chicago. See Garden Glories for more information.

Please send any information for the April newsletter to me at anne.parmley@gmail.com by March 30^th.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

February 2008 District VII Newsletter

News from Mount Vernon: The Garden Glories Garden Club had a Christmas luncheon in Dec. then planned a shopping trip to buy gifts and food for two families from the angel tree. They will not be meeting again until March 4th and at that time will make plans to attend the Spring District VII meeting in Eldorado.

The Eldorado Garden Study Club is grateful to The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. for a grant of $50 to support their Garden Therapy project which they hope to conduct during the coming winter months. Their theme for the year is Conserve Gardening’s Treasures. The official club year will begin in March when we meet for dinner along with spouses/guests. The program for that meeting will be provided by Sara Corrigan who is a free-lance writer living in Evansville, Indiana, who contributes regularly to The Evansville Courier newspaper on nature topics.

The Eldorado club reminds you to save the date of Thursday, March 27, 2008 for the District VII Spring Meeting (see below for details). Please remember to bring items for the Ways and Means Sale and stamps for the Audubon Project.

The Marion Garden Club enjoyed their Christmas Luncheon at Mackee's Pizza. Members brought gift bags of toiletries that were donated to the Lighthouse Shelter for the Homeless. Members were treated to a talk in January about woodcarving by member Paulette Stempfley, who brought many nice examples of her work.

On a sad note, the husband of Marion Garden Club member Sue Warren, Derl Warren, M. D., died on December 14, and Phyllis Vinyard, a former member - president from 1992-94, died on December 23. On the positive side, two members of the club were recognized at the recent Marion Chamber of Commerce Dinner and Awards Banquet. Marjorie Wright was presented the Citizen of the Year Award and Tickie Miller was given the Mayor's Service Award. Needless to say, it is quite an honor for the Club to have two members recognized by the Chamber for their work and service.

The Marion Club meets again on February 20 at 1:00 at the Heartland Christian Church: Debra O'Neil, Meteorologist with WSIL TV, will speak on "Weather and It's Effects on Plants." Anyone interested in hearing Debra is welcome to attend.

Reminder from Linda Minnis, District Historian: The scrapbook for our District President needs to be completed by our March meeting. Any club that has items to be included in the scrapbook should mail them to me at 900 East Gregory Avenue, Marion, IL 62959 as soon as possible. Anyone needing to contact me can e-mail me at minnis@mchsi.com or call 993-8310.

February 8, 9 and 10: Herb and Garden Show in Mt. Vernon. Hours will be:

Friday and Saturday-10:00 am - 9:00 pm and Sunday-Noon to 5:00 pm at the Times Square Mall, Broadway and 42nd Street. Admission is free. See http://www.midwesternherbandgardenshow.com for more details.

February 28 – March 2: The Nashville Lawn and Garden Show in Nashville, Tennessee: see www.nashvillelawnandgardenshow.com . Loren Taylor, American Classic Tours of Marion, is planning to add a trip to the show in his schedule this year. He told Linda Minnis, Marion Garden Club President, that it will be a one-day trip on Saturday March 1 and will cost $60 including admission. He said that there can be several pick-up points on Interstates 57 and 24 besides Marion - Mt. Vernon, Benton, Vienna, Metropolis, etc. as needed.

A number of Marion Garden Club members have expressed an interest in going. The Club is not sponsoring the trip, but is passing on the information to those who might be interested. Loren is handling all the arrangements, and the trip is open to anyone who wishes to take his tour. For more information, to request a brochure, or to e-mail Loren, go to www.americanclassictours.com. The phone number for American Classic Tours is 997-1203. Loren also said that the brochures and the listing of new tours on the web should be ready February 1.

March 27: District VII Annual Meeting hosted by the Eldorado Garden Study Club. Our guest speaker will be Tom Clay, the Executive Director of Illinois Audubon Society. His program is: 110 Years of Audubon, a guided tour through the history and accomplishments of Illinois' oldest conservation organization. The meeting will be held at Star General Baptist Church, 4925 Hwy. 142 North; Eldorado, IL 62930. We should park on the North side of the building and enter from that side as well. (This is a very large facility having several entrances and parking lots.)

Directions for the District VII Annual Meeting:

From Marion, take Hwy. 13 through Harrisburg to Hwy. 45 intersection. (CVS will be on the right) Turn left at this intersection of 13 and 45, and go to Eldorado. (about 7 miles) Turn left onto 142 at the intersection of 142 and 45 (McDonalds will be on the right) follow 142 (also known as State St.) for about 1 mile to the junction of 34 and 142. (A sign to Star Church is at this corner) Turn right, onto 142 and church is 4 miles.

From Benton and Mt. Vernon, go to McLeansboro on Hwy. 14 and 142 respectively. At the intersection of 14 and 142 South (Subway will be on the right), turn right onto Hwy. 142 and church is approx. 15 miles.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

January 2008 District VII Newsletter

I received the following information from Jody Bailey, GCI President: (Veva Schreiber is the editor of Garden Glories.)

This e-mail is to advise you of the passing of Veva Schreiber's husband, Dick, who passed away on Friday December 14, 2007. The obituary reads as follows:

SCHREIBER, GEORGE RICHARD

George Richard "Dick" Schreiber, age 85, of Lake Bluff and formerly of Glenview and Long Island, NY, died Dec. 14, 2007. Husband of Veva J. Schreiber, nee Hopkins; father of Susan (Arlan) Shorey, George (JoAnn) Schreiber, Ellen (the late Norman) Hodge; grandfather of Veva and Daniel Shorey, Victoria, Elizabeth and Amelia Schreiber and Christopher, Michael and Catherine Hodge; son of the late George and Marie Schreiber, brother of the late Mary Alice and the late Donald Schreiber. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, IN 47978-2718 or Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center, 2050 Claire Court, Glenview, IL 60025. Visitation 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007 at Wenban Funeral Home, 320 E. Vine Ave., Lake Forest, IL 60045. Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Monday Dec. 17, 2007 at the Church of St. Mary, 175 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, IL 60045. Interment Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville. Info: 847-234-0022

Sign Guestbook at www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries

Below is contact information for Veva:

Veva Schreiber

735 Ravine Ave.

Lake Bluff, IL 60044-2625

phone: 847-295-2243

e-mail: vevaj@aol.com

Reminder from Linda Minnis, District Historian: The scrapbook for our District President needs to be completed by our March meeting. Any club that has items to be included in the scrapbook should mail them to me at 900 East Gregory Avenue, Marion, IL 62959 as soon as possible. Anyone needing to contact me can e-mail me at minnis@mchsi.com or call 993-8310.

The Anna-Jo Garden Club collected food and paper products for their local food pantry at their Christmas luncheon. They also have placed evergreen arrangements in pots downtown and donated an arrangement to the Stinson Library. A new flag was installed at the Anna-Jo Park and a park bench was placed as a memorial for Mary Keith.

January 19, 2008: Garden Gurus X will be held at the Cherry Civic Center, H C Mathis & Park Avenue, Paducah, Kentucky. This event, sponsored by the Purchase Area Master Gardeners, features a plant sale, live auction, silent auction, design den, UK extension specialists, exhibits, gardening books and tools as well as speakers Roger Swain and Felder Rushing. Cost for the day-long event is $30 at the door, $25 in advance. Call (270)554-9520 for tickets. Details are available at www.pamga.org.

February 8, 9 and 10: Herb and Garden Show in Mt. Vernon. Hours will be:

Friday and Saturday-10:00 am - 9:00 pm and Sunday-Noon to 5:00 pm at the Times Square Mall, Broadway and 42^nd Street. Admission is free. See www.midwesternherbandgardenshow.com for more details.

March 27: District VII Annual Meeting hosted by the Eldorado Garden Study Club. Our guest speaker will be Tom Clay, the Executive Director of Illinois Audubon Society. His program is: 110 Years of Audubon, a guided tour through the history and accomplishments of Illinois' oldest conservation organization.

Mystery Plant: For those of you who bought a “mystery plant” at the district ways and means table, Linda Minnis solved the mystery. It is Euphorbia leuconeura: common name is Madagascar Jewel. Tthe plant shoots seeds like impatients and thus reseeds wherever the seed lands and germinates. For more information, see www.davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64943/.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

December 2007 District VII Newsletter

The Marion Garden Club met November 14. Due to the illness of the scheduled speaker, members Donnie Allen and Chris Sollers spoke about trees and shrubs. Since everyone had a problem with Japanese beetles this summer, the report of Horticulture Chairman, Sue Warren, on planting to ward off pests was especially interesting. She noted that ageratum, artemisia, begonia, catnip, chives, cockscomb, and garlic are some plants that help deter the Japanese beetle. During the October Community Leaders’ Breakfast at John A. Logan College, the Marion Garden Club was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for helping keep the area beautiful. This "pat on the back" was part of the Beautify Southern Illinois Campaign in conjunction with the Southern Illinois Community Foundation. The Club will do another garden therapy project at Fifth Season Residential Home on December 3. The next meeting is the annual Christmas Luncheon: on December 19 at Mackie's Pizza.

The Metropolis Garden Club decorated the Curtis Home with natural materials for the Metropolis Historical Society’s Tour of Homes. This event was well attended despite the rain. Our next meeting will be a Christmas party on December 10 at the Trinity Presbyterian Church.

January 19, 2008: Garden Gurus X will be held at the Cherry Civic Center, H C Mathis & Park Avenue, Paducah, Kentucky. This event, sponsored by the Purchase Area Master Gardeners, features a plant sale, live auction, silent auction, design den, UK extension specialists, exhibits, gardening books and tools as well as speakers Roger Swain and Felder Rushing. Cost for the day-long event is $30 at the door, $25 in advance. Call (270)554-9520 for tickets. Details are available at www.pamga.org.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

November 2007 District VII Newsletter

Thank you to the Evergreen of Harrisburg Garden Club for hosting the Fall District Meeting. It was well organized and beautifully decorated. I appreciate the effort expended by the entire club.

Awards Reminder: Applications for the Club Achievement and the Club Horticulture Awards are due by December 15. GCI has been asked to add these forms to their website; however, I can also send you a copy by regular mail or by e-mail. The Awards Guide and Application forms are available at www.gardenglories.org <http://www.gardenglories.org/> Click "Awards".

Youth Contests: Information about these contests can be found at www.gardenclub.org. To log on, use the word member where it asks for name and use the word natives as the password. Deadlines to the state youth chairman Linda Whyte, 2075 Nathan, Mascoutah, IL 62258, are December 7 for poetry and essays, January 15 for the posters. New: Labels for the poster contest must be used and put on the backs of the posters. I will send these labels to club presidents either by e-mail or regular mail within the next 2 weeks.

The following was received from Jeanne Wacker:

"Heritage Trails of Southern Illinois" Flower Show

THANK YOU to everyone who worked on the Flower Show. Behind the scenes, the staging committee was quietly going about their work. The staging co-chairs were Pat Elsaid and Debbie Asaturian, who made sure that all the "white" apparatuses were in good shape and freshly painted, if need be. This included the many drums, the cubes used for artistic crafts, the shutters used for paintings, the blinds used for photography, and the tall white fabric panel screens used for the hanging designs.

THANK YOU to each of the clubs who put together a club exhibit. You each did District VII proud - what a lovely variety of unique and beautiful exhibits! These added so much to the show, and gave the visitors a better idea of "who" was responsible for the event. The nationally-accredited judges were very impressed by these.

THANK YOU to Garden Gate of Carterville, Evergreen of Carbondale, Eldorado Garden Study, and Anna-Jo Garden Club, who did vignette designs for the Club Competition. The judges remarked that this was one of the finest club competitions they had ever judged. All designs were 90+ designs, which means that all were worthy of a blue ribbon. However, competition rules dictate only one blue (first), one red (second), one yellow (third), and white (fourth) ribbon can be given in each class. You should all be so proud. A special thank you goes to Anna-Jo who so generously filled in the last slot so that the class could be filled. (There must be at least four exhibits in each design class, and with one week to go before the show, this competition had only three entries.)

THANK YOU to everyone who worked on publicity for this event. Press releases were sent out to local newspapers and radio stations. Follow-up stories were done in the Southern Illinoisan "Flipside" on the Thursday of Show week, and a front page newspaper article and photos on the Saturday of the Show. All the publicity resulted in many people seeing the Show. Channel 6 News even had a short story at the end of their 10 p.m. newscast on September 29.

THANK YOU to everyone who gave of their time in hostessing and in clerking for the judges. You played a vital role in making the Show happen after all the exhibits were set.

THANK YOU to each individual exhibitor -- your behind-the-scenes work was the key to a beautiful Show. From designs, to artistic crafts, to paintings and photography, to educational and youth exhibits, to horticulture -- all required a substantial investment of time, and, in some cases, money. CONGRATULATIONS to each exhibitor -- you made District VII proud.

THANK YOU to each member of the Flower Show Committee who quietly did your assigned job without being notice or given recognition. We appreciate ALL of you.

Gratefully yours, Jeanne Wacker and Sue Casebeer, Co-chairs of "Heritage Trails"

By-Laws Information: National Garden Clubs, Inc. by-laws are non-restrictive as to gender, age, religion or ethnicity. Local clubs must reflect this in their by-laws. This information came to me from Jody Bailey, President of GCI.

Upcoming Events: December 2 from 1 to 4 p.m.: Metropolis Historical Society’s Tour of Homes starting at the Curtis Home on 405 Market Street, Metropolis.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

October 2007 District VII Newsletter

I have received the following news: “To all Board Members of the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. ---It is with regret that we announce the death of Marie Richter Potts, Central Region Director on 9/18/07. For more information, go to www.NGCcentralregion.org. Click on "Home" and then on "Obituary". Flowers will be sent from the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. If you wish to do anything, there is information on the Web Site with her family's address. New Directors name, etc. will also be on the web site. Thank you. Jody Bailey, GCI President.”

The Marion Garden Club featured a talk on Digital Photography of Flowers at their September meeting. Lynn Love and her mother, Lorraine Highlander, shared the following tips: When taking a picture, move in close and find a good center of interest. The picture may be cropped to eliminate distracting background. The main object to be photographed is best focused 1/3 up or down and 1/3 from the center of the picture. Taking pictures right after sunrise or just before sunset will give the richest color. A piece of black, opaque fabric may be placed behind a flower to hide distracting objects. It helps if the photographer has a card to store pictures, extra batteries, zoom lens, tripod, and computer in addition to the camera. The tripod is helpful to steady the camera especially when using a heavy zoom lens.

Thank you to Jeanne Wacker, Sue Casebeer, and the Evergreen of Carbondale Garden Club (and everyone else who helped out) for the wonderful “Heritage Trails of Southern Illinois” District Flower Show held last weekend. This show was truly amazing for its variety. Whether you like design, arts, crafts, and/or horticulture, there was something new and exciting to see.

Jeanne, who is an accredited Flower Show Judge and a past District VII Director, will present a review of this show during the October 25 district meeting in Harrisburg. All district members are encouraged to attend this meeting. Please contact your club president or consult my website (click on upcoming events): anne.parmley.googlepages.com for more details. District meetings are an enjoyable way to meet with gardening friends and find out what other clubs are doing. Many times I have come away with an idea for a new project or a different way to do an old project.

Anne Parmley

District VII Director

Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.