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Merry Christmas, Kenilworth Garden Club!
Andy Williams put it best:
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
We had an early Christmas present from Nancy Chase at our November meeting and program. What incredible inspiration! Chris Wiedrich was so inspired she created a Nancy Chase layered Thanksgiving table. I can't wait to see what Chris does for Christmas!! Nancy is just one of a long line of KGC program speakers who have motivated, inspired and energized us. Thank you, Elizabeth Dugan and Kelly Chestnut for giving us Nancy. Her program is the gift that keeps on giving! And how wonderful that KGC shared her with the Kenilworth community in the Kenilworth Assembly Hall with wonderful treats baked with love by our elves? Christmas came early for Kenilworth indeed.
We had an early Christmas present from GCA, too. Our October Yellow Tractor Project program was featured as a "Perfect Program" on the GCA Website Program Page. Here is the link, but it will be taken down on December 1st.
https://www.gcamerica.org/index.cfm/members/program A very big thank you to Elizabeth Dugan, Heather Blackwell and Wendy Irwin.
Santa's Elves were busy bedecking Misericordia's McAuley Pavilion Courtyard with lights and bows on November 18th.
Mary Lois Hakewill, Barbi Paine, Jeanne Daniel, Joan Dodson, Joan Senko, Diane Phillips, Beth Glass, Kelly Chestnut, Chris Wiedrich and Tina Rice were elves extraordinaire as they decorated, and were joined by McAuley staff and residents. This outing really struck a chord with the KGC participants and showed the true meaning of Christmas. Join KGC on December 8 to create holiday floral arrangements at JourneyCare as we share the spirit of the season with our community. Watch your inbox for the Evite.
Show of Summer timing always puzzles me. You, too??? There always seems to be an SOS crunch during the holidays! We have the electronic version of the Schedule, and now Joan Senko and I have extra copies of the paper version. We'll have them for you at our December 4th Christmas party. You were probably hoping for a different kind of present, right?!
Please note these SOS deadlines occurring during the holidays:
December 20th is the day that your Annette von Einem Workshop registration form must be sent to Weezie Monroe. Space is limited to five (5) KGC members. Scroll down for more information about Annette and registration. You won't want to miss this opportunity! First come, first served for our five slots.
December 21st is the six (6) month Horticulture ownership deadline (check Schedule page 15, item 3 and pages 15-24).
Midnight on January 2nd is a key SOS moment.
- You will be able to sign up for Annette von Einem's lecture and demonstration (not to be confused with the workshop). Please scroll down for more details about the fabulous Annette von Einem's first visit to the United States.
- You may register for the Division I-Floral classes. This is very important because you will be able to rank which game, TV show, book, etc., you would like to interpret. It's first come, first served, so why not get your top choice?
- Division III-Photography registration opens at midnight on January 2nd. Those classes fill quickly, so photographers probably should plan on burning the midnight oil. I'll be staying up late on January 1st, so feel free to call, text or email me if things seem a little quiet after your family has gone to sleep!
I really, truly didn't want this letter to be about Show of Summer--I wanted to talk about Christmas. But I've learned over these past few months that the rhythm of KGC and GCA is paramount, much like Mother Nature controls our gardens' destinies.
Wishing you and yours a Christmas season filled with joy, happiness, love, a tannenbaum or two, mistletoe and holly, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Have a very happy, healthy and horticultural 2017!
Always,
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Website News!
The KGC website is bursting with Show of Summer information as well as photos from past programs and announcements. Just click on the Members Only link and sign in with the password on the sticker that's on the first page of your Yearbook. Misplaced your Yearbook? Email Leslie North (
leslie.a.north@gmail.com), Chris Wiedrich (
clwiedrich@aol.com) or Lenore Macdonald (
mail@macdonald.in) for the password.
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KGC Holiday Party
Sunday, December 4th -- 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The home of Tina Rice
2408 Elmwood Ave., Wilmette
Please RSVP to the Evite that you received and
note whether you are bringing a guest.
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Upcoming Events
JourneyCare Flower Arranging
Thursday, December 8 -- 9:30 a.m.
JourneyCare's Break Room
2050 Claire Ct., Glenview
Help bring some holiday cheer to patients and their families. See the official invitation in the Outreach section below, and please be sure to RSVP to the Evite. Hope to see you there!
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Next Board Meeting in January --
Enjoy the holidays!
The next Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at 10 a.m.
The Executive Committee will meet on January 12. Please let Lenore know if you have anything that you would like added to that agenda.
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Show of Summer Deadlines
December 21
Plants must be purchased by this date to be eligible for SOS entry.
January 2, starting at midnight
Register for all SOS Divisions (Classes) & lectures.
They fill quickly!
Check your Schedule for more details.
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2017 Dates
Mark your calendars now!
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Kenilworth Council of Garden Clubs
Annual Joint Meeting
Monday, January 30 -- 12:30 p.m.
Kenilworth Union Church, Kenilworth
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KGC February Program featuring John Vlahakis
Wednesday, February 15 -- 7 p.m.
Zia Gallery, 548 Chestnut Street, Winnetka
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November Meeting Recap
Our November event, "Beautiful Holiday Floral Designs," served as KGC's monthly meeting as well as an outreach program for the residents of Kenilworth. More than 60 people came to learn how floral designer Nancy Chase prepares for the holidays and all left with simple, great ideas for bringing seasonal beauty to our dining tables.
Nancy, a former Winnetka Garden Club member, began her own business 30 years ago and her mantra is simple: provide something no one else has. She believes that floral arrangements should first and foremost reflect the homeowner. She looks beyond a single arrangement to carry her theme throughout the tablesetting. She advised the audience to layer the table with texture, meaningful items and household things not typically used on a table. "Be confident," she said. "Play with your things and you'll be successful in time."
Nancy fears that the art of entertaining is gone, and that we are generally insecure and feel we must recreate what we've seen elsewhere. She suggests using interesting containers and drawing connections between the container and the floral materials. "Do not overthink it. Let the flowers talk to you, and they'll let you know how to place them." She says that this takes a little time, and that sometimes the best thing to do is walk away for a bit and come back to a project. "Let go and just arrange. In your off time, don't follow the rules. Have fun; play and learn."
Nancy started with a table set for Thanksgiving, and then she showed how she can switch out a few of the elements and create a new theme for the Christmas holidays. With some attention -- daily misting, frequent changes of warm water, and even placing arrangements outside overnight if it's not too cold -- arrangements will last longer.
Think through your mechanics first -- how will arrangement stay together? Nancy says that she uses oasis and, 99% of the time, chicken wire. She recommends zip ties over wire. One indispensible product is Crowning Glory, a preservative that comes in a spray bottle and can be used on floral arrangements as well as wreaths.
Tips & Tidbits:
Clean buckets and vases with bleach and rinse well. No bleach in the water of a floral arrangement! The holes in oasis should be facing up when used. To dampen, let it float and absorb the water on its own. If buds are tight, gently fluff at the top to open.
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For those who liked Nancy's use of antlers, Oriental Trading's online site sells small antlers at $7.99 for four pieces.
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The Show of Summer Chairs shared important information at their November 17th meeting. Here are the highlights:
Joan Senko has the PRINTED Show of Summer Schedule booklets. Please arrange to pick one up from Joan. Her contact info is:
1010 Spruce Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
Home: 441-7201
Cell: 363-5925
Email: joan.senko@gmail.com
You can also pick up your Schedule at the Christmas Party, and Lenore has a few copies at her house, too.
The e-copy is available NOW! You can download it from any of these places:
Here comes the tricky part. Plan to stay up late on January 1st!!! Registration for all classes and the lecture opens at midnight on January 2, 2017, at
www.ShowOfSummer.org. The Show of Summer chairs told us that you can also ask a friend to fill in your online entry form and Annette von Einem Lecture registration if she is up and doing her own entries.
The January 2nd registration date is really important for Division I-Floral Design Classes 1, 2, 3 and 6. Selections will be assigned in order of entry. Indicate your requested game, TV show, scavenger hunt item, or storybook when you register. You may rank them in order of your preference in case you don't get your first choice. Also, you may enter more than one class-but if you get into all, you'll need to find a substitute should you need to withdraw.
The January 2nd registration date is really, really important for Division III-Photography-All classes. This is a national show, so GCA members will be entering from across the country.
Please burn the midnight oil and enter at midnight so you have the best chance to get your preferred class.
Acclaimed 35-year-old floral designer Annette von Einem is the SOS keynote Lecture speaker. She is the hot, hot, hot floral artist from Denmark and will share all kinds of tips and ideas. Weezie Monroe said that it is the first time that she will be speaking the United States. Visit
http://www.voneinem.dk/ and be dazzled! Lecture Registration opens at midnight on January 2, 2017. Don't be shut out as in years past. Sign up immediately. Register on the SOS website at midnight on January 2nd.
www.showofsummer.org
The Annette von Einem Workshop registration must be sent by December 20th. Here is the link to all of the information you need:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxY3MybfMZoCa3BMUEcwYlI1Wmc
Finally, just a little extra encouragement to enter the Floral Division this year! It's going to be such a fun show. Lyn Little told the Floral Design Workshop attendees that this is the easiest, most fun schedule that she has ever seen.
You get to play with toys!!!
Grab a KGC friend and enter!! Or ask that member who you've been planning to call for coffee. You can also team up with a member from any GCA club. Terri Lorenz will help you find a partner. You can enter on your own, but for a mere beginner like me, it's more fun to have a partner.
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Annette von Einem, a Workshop and You
Show of Summer is giving KGC a tremendous educational opportunity. Copenhagen's Annette von Einem, one of the world's premier floral designers, is the keynote speaker at SOS. Visit her website, but be prepared to be dazzled and inspired.
http://www.voneinem.dk/en/ Annette's work has been featured in Vogue as well as floral design literature. This will be her first visit to the United States as a lecturer, and she is only 35 years old. She is at the vanguard of floral design and uses innovative technology and engineering techniques in her art.
Reservations are VERY limited to five slots per club. There is a $200 workshop fee. You must reserve directly with WEEZIE MONROE by sending her the WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM & YOUR $200 CHECK by DECEMBER 20TH. Here is a link to the form and more information:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxY3MybfMZoCa3BMUEcwYlI1Wmc
Please contact Lenore at
mail@macdonald.in or 874.835.3335 if you have trouble downloading the form or have questions. Feel free to contact Weezie Monroe at
weezm1@comcast.net. The Workshop Registration Form is also available in the Members Only section of the KGC website.
Annette will also be giving a lecture during Show of Summer, separate from the Workshop. Be sure to register at midnight on January 2nd at www.showofsummer.org to reserve your space at her lecture. Her lecture will fill up quickly. We've heard that the lecture ticket will be around $60.
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The Floral Design Committee has had a very fun month. We created arrangements for the November meeting at the Kenilworth Club and held a workshop on reading the 2016 Show of Summer Schedule - led by Lyn Little. We learned lots of great tips from Lyn regarding the interpretation of the Class descriptions and some great tips for practicing before the big day. Read the Floral Design portion of the schedule. There is no doubt that you will be inspired! The Classes have so much room for creativity! After the workshop, we practiced making a Candyland -inspired arrangement for the Board Games Class. Can you taste the peppermint and gumdrops when you look at this?
Mark your calendars for the start of Show of Summer entries -- January 2nd at 12:00 a.m.! All entries will be sent electronically and choices will be honored in the order that they are received. Start thinking about Classes that look interesting to you! You don't have to go it alone. Find a partner and sign up!
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KGC Elves deck out Misericordia's McAuley Courtyard
Mary Lois Hakewill, Barbi Paine, Jeanne Daniel, Joan Dodson, Joan Senko, Diane Phillips, Beth Glass, Kelly Chestnut, Chris Wiedrich, and Tina Rice arranged hundreds of lights in the trees and beautified the lamp posts with lighted garlands.
Diane Tigges, Misericordia's Residential Administrator, sent the following note afterwards:
Hi Tina,
The courtyard looks amazing! Thank you so much for all of your hard work! The residents are going to love being in the courtyard and also being able to look at it each evening throughout the holiday season. We cannot thank you enough!
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Each year, the Philanthropy Committee meets to discuss
and review potential charitable funding ideas for KGC. Our garden club, in the recent past, has
generously donated monies to:
The Endowment Fund and The Founders Fund of GCA,
Enabling
Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden,
Charles A.Ware Memorial Garden
Magnolia Garden
Midwest Care Center -- now JourneyCare
Misericordia's McAuley Residence
Village of Kenilworth Beautification
If you are interested in submitting a charitable
funding proposal, along with a budget, it must be received by January 15, 2017. Proposals may be submitted
to Kathy Elmer at kelmos3@me.com or mailed to 44 Warrington Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044.
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Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas
for the Holidays
Choosing eco-friendly gifts is not only possible, it's affordable. Here are some green gift giving ideas will help guide you through your shopping over this Christmas season.
Being gentle on the earth means also giving from a place of generosity and care.
Scale Down
Americans tend to spend hundreds of billions of dollars just during the holiday season. Just imagine how much of that ends up in the trash within a few months or becomes obsolete. Much of what we give or receive is just not needed or wanted in the first place. Most of us buy out of obligation, without really considering our impact on the environment or our wallets.
Shopping for eco-friendly gifts starts with these questions: Who do I really need to buy for? How much do I really need to spend? Do the presents I'm buying have a purpose or meaning?
Buy Local
Search craft shows, swap meets, local listings, etc for a one-of-a-kind and locally-made eco-friendly gifts.
Quality, Not Quantity
When purchasing gifts, forego lots of inexpensive and poorly made items and opt for fewer quality items that will last longer. The lifespan of the item will soon outweigh any initial cost.
Don't Buy New
Used, secondhand, vintage, antique...call it what you will. Some of my very favorite Christmas gifts were items that my mother had in her home and passed on to me as a present.
Handmade
Can you paint, crochet or knit, take nice photos, make awesome crafts or display some other talent through your holiday gift giving?
Homemade
Green gift giving doesn't have to include anything complicated. Homemade cookies, cakes, and pies are always appreciated by those wishing to cut back on unnecessary gift giving.
Sustainable Materials
As hard as it may be, eco-friendly gifts should avoid plastics, polyesters, hardwoods or any other non-sustainable materials. Many of these materials are not easily renewable and/or may produce toxins either in their manufacturing or during use. Opt instead for cotton, bamboo, wool, etc.
Educate
Put a spin on green gift giving: Instead of just buying things that are green, try buying things that teach green. Perhaps a vegetable gardening book with a few garden tools, or some shade grown coffee and a handmade mug with a "green" message.
Give the Gift of Charity
Any impossible-to-buy-for people on your list? Donate money, plant a tree, support their favorite church or charitable organization in their name. Organizations like Heifer.org or TreesThatFeed.org are a great place to start.
I'm adding a 10th item
Give the gift of time. In our busy days of rushing around, maybe just spending an hour with your kids playing cards or visiting older friends at in a nursing home can be a wonderful present. Our undivided and focused time is often the most precious gift we can give someone.
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." - Kahlil Gibran
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Ann Jones
Other Articles of Interest
Mexico's Avocado Production Affects Monarch Butterflies
Swelling Tides Invade Florida
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Another KGC National Park Service Centennial Visit
Lenore and Bill Macdonald visited one of the NPS's newest parks on November 23.
They serendipitiously discovered it as they were trying to find the road that parallels
the Rio Grande north of Taos, NM.
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From the November 7, 2016 meeting
PARKWAY TREE PROGRAM:
Twenty trees were planted as a result of this effort. Many thanks go out to those that participated. The Tree Program may return next Spring and Fall 2017.
IRS:
The tax exempt status of Beautification has been reinstated. Filing the simple e-form #1023 did the trick....along with a tremendous amount of work!
KENILWORTH CLUB:
New programs that will draw in the community continue to be examined.
MAGGI and NORTH PARKS:
Bids for the plantings and hardscape will be going out. There are still weeding concerns. The plant-list has been reduced addressing the water concerns. It's necessary for the water source be put in place by December, 2016.
CAUCUS:
At the time of this Beautification meeting, 4 candidates had been brought forward to fill the 3 open spots on the Caucus. It was mentioned, there were others that may be interested in putting forth their names for consideration.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
The excellent, professionally produced video about Kenilworth's history is available for purchase at the Historical Society office for $20, cash or check only, in either DVD or Blu-Ray. The reviews are in and they are great!
Congratulations are in order for this hardworking group. They recently won two awards from the Illinois Association of Museums; 2016 Award of Merit, Kenilworth Historical Society, Focus on the Violet Wyld Exhibit and for Sears School Program, Education Programming. Well done!
Stacy Hunt, member of Home and Garden Club, will now be in charge of the care of Memorial Park. Suggestions for plantings are still being welcomed. "Jens Jensen's plan for the KAH and KHS bldg. keeps to having natural plants with white flower accents.", Sheila Mitchell.
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Cheryl Anderson, Civic
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Holiday Ideas
Books to give...or to get!
Please note that these books are all available through our local library system
and I encourage you to check them out before making a decision. --
Chris W
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KGC Benefit Speaker and famed floral designer Paula Pryke calls this book her most personal as the photos are from her own home and the arrangements are the kind that she throws together for her personal use.
She divides the book into four sections, one for each season, and details the best flowers available -- whether from the yard or the florist -- both early and late in that season. There are outlines and plant lists for a summer border, an herb garden and a winter hedge, as well as numerous mouth-watering photos of unique floral designs.
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This is wonderful eye candy for a dark & dreary winter. Need we say more? |
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This is an alphabet book for grown ups! Starting with Abutilon and ending with Zinnia, Garden Flora profiles 133 flowers and plants and provides the backstory on their origins and habitats as well as the history of their cultivation. The book's
introduction outlines basic concepts that readers need to know. It is also full of wonderful details for trivia lovers. Did you know that the oldest rose fossil was found in Colorado and dates to 35 million years ago?
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This book highlights the works and wisdom of 40 "talented, artistic, unconventional, free thinking and sometimes eccentric individuals who had revolutionary ideas that were ahead of their time." Thomas Jefferson, Claude Monet, Gertrude Jekyll and Vita Sackville-West are among those who are profiled in chronological order starting in Japan in the early 16th century.
The book tells us who was responsible for key developments in the world of gardening, such as Sir Joseph Paxton's introduction of glass houses and Lawrence Johnston's idea of garden rooms. William Robinson was forward thinking in his concern for sustainability, ecology and climate change, as well as his concerns about fossil fuels and pollution.
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The garden revolution that Larry Weaner and Thomas Christopher propose dovetails with beliefs of our September speaker, Jack Pizzo.
A good garden provides more than simply a pretty visual scene. It is an ecosystem that supports native plants and the wildlife that those plants attract. When done well, plants thrive with little intervention, eliminating harmful chemicals that adversely affect our environment. The authors discuss how to analyze the site, create a master plan, prepare the landscape, and after determining the garden's micro climate, choosing the best "plant community."
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The Garden Conservancy was created 25 years ago by Frank Cabot, and this book highlights eight of the gardens that the conservancy has helped to preserve, as well as 42 others that have been featured in the Open Days program. The gardens are divided into six regions of the U.S. and showcase plants, bushes, trees, fountains, paths, terraces and structures. The beautiful photos showcase these gardens, which are timeless in their beauty and creative designs.
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Shelley Galloway in
Focus
or you can access
Focus magazine via the GCA website.
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You, too, can own the lovely 2017 GCA Annual Meeting Scarf
https://www.gcamerica.org/members/shop
Garden Club of Evanston Walk a Winner!
On Saturday, November 12th, Helen Balch, Joan Dodson, and Beth Glass attended the Evanston House Walk & Holiday Boutique. What a treat they had; the day was beautiful, the homes were outstanding, and the flowers arrangements were creative and gorgeous. Three of the four homes were in the Evanston Lake Shore Historic District, and the fourth house was a 1960's mid-century modern ranch. Of the three historic homes, two were meticulously restored and turned into Bed & Breakfasts. The owners spared no expense during remodeling, and our KGC ladies highly recommend both places if you are looking to stay in Evanston! For more information, look online:
Stone Porch by the Lake or
Stone Terrace
Congratulations to our Evanston Garden Club friends on such a wonderful event!
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Beth Glass
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Thank you to KGC (and GCA) members who spread some extra holiday cheer in November:
Elizabeth Dugan and Kelly Chestnut for the outstanding Nancy Chase program;
Cheryl Anderson, Helen Balch, Jeanne Daniel, Elizabeth Drake, Mary Gleurm, Mary Gordon, Polky Kibler, Pam McClamroch and Barb McDonough, our cheerful hostesses who warmly welcomed our Kenilworth guests at our November program;
Stacey DeLuca and Chris Wiedrich who beautifully photographed our November program;
Our Misericordia Outreach Elves who bedecked the McAuley Courtyard with lights and bows and good cheer, Mary Lois Hakewill, Barbi Paine, Jeanne Daniel, Joan Dodson, Joan Senko, Diane Phillips, Beth Glass, Kelly Chestnut, Chris Wiedrich and Tina Rice;
Sara Morgan, who wrote an article updating KGC's Ware Garden project for publication in
The Real Dirt; and
Marianne Bestler and Ginny Noyes for joining us at our November program. Your presence made the day extra special and we appreciate all that you do for KGC.
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http://www.kenilworthgardenclub.org
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