MARCH 2018
President's Letter

Dear Fabulous Members of KGC,

Isn't it just the best when good things happen! KGC has had many good things happen in February, and more coming in March!!
 
Kim Piekos was able to add Ware Gardens to the GCA Visiting Gardens national public gardens list. It is something that KGC has mused about for years, and Kim has made it a reality. Thank you, Kim, for sharing our beloved garden with GCA.
 
GCA 2017 Medalist Wendy Paulson inspired us during our February meeting, as did our own Mary Lois Hakewill and the Founders Fund Committee. Both made us realize how much mere mortals like us and our neighbors can do to improve the lives of many.
 
Our Ware Garden Co-Chairs filed a Storch Fund request for approximately $27,000 for installation of a bluestone path, replacing the chips that seem to mysteriously find their way into the fountain, the flower beds and all over the grass. This is very good news, indeed!
 
We are looking forward to good things this month from the Benefit Committee (watch for your spectacular invitation!!!), Outreach Committee (the Presbyterian Homes-Westminster Place Outreach Project with Four Finches takes place on March 20 th), the Nominating, Finance and Membership Committees -- and more.
 
One of the great joys of being KGC President is calling the Founders Fund vote. It was an even greater joy -- and thrill -- this year! We voted via email and at our February 21 st meeting. I am pleased to announce that the Zone XI Project (KGC's!!) swept the polling and was the unanimous choice. Thank you to all who voted, and especially members who took the time to email in your votes.
 
Finally, one of our goals these past few years has been to become more active and in touch with GCA. Since hosting the 2015 Zone XI Meeting, we've really upped the ante, proposing or seconding GCA Honorary Members and Awardees, filing a Founders Fund proposal, adding Ware Garden to the Visiting Gardens list, serving in GCA leadership positions, supporting GCA's Haupt Garden efforts, posting many photos to the Zone XI landing page, inviting GCA Leadership team members to our meetings, chairing and participating in the GCA Chicago Council, submitting Raves & Faves speakers to GCA, participating in a GCA Major Flower Show (Show of Summer), submitting articles attending GCA Zone and National Meetings and Conferences, submitting our Newsletters for posting to the GCA website, hosting the KGC website and so much more.
 
Spring is literally just around the corner. I heard a bird chirping outside my window yesterday morning, so I know that blooming flowers won't be far behind. Thank you for all that you do for our fabulous Club!
 
Always,



Your Monthly News & Updates
Upcoming Events

KGC Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, March 21 -- 9:30 a.m.
The home of Mary Lois Hakewill
707 Greenwood Ave., Wilmette
 
Jack Carlson joins us for "Smart iPhotos." We will explore optional lenses to use with your phone in additon to composition. He is a Certified Professional Photographer and has been a photography instructor at the Chicago Botanic Garden, The Grove and Elawa Farm.


KGC Board Meeting
Monday, March 19 -- 10 a.m.
Church of the Holy Comforter,
222 Kenilworth Ave., Kenilworth


Please let Lenore know if you have something to add to the agenda.


Service Spotlight

The Four Finches volunteer sign-up has begun.  You
should have received an
email with a link to Sign-Up Genius.  If not, simply click
the link below.

The March sign-up is full, but you will have a chance to volunteer in June, September and November.


WHAT'S NEW
Seed sowing of native plants is a fun family activity.
February Conservation Program Recap 
 
On February 21, at the lovely home of Sharon Hayes, KGC welcomed Wendy Paulson. Her presentation, " Volunteers:  an essential strategy for lasting conservation - in Illinois and around the world.", was enjoyed by all.
 
Wendy's early work in conservation began in Barrington, where she was hired as "The Nature Lady" for Barrington 220 schools.  
 
Wendy helped start bird classes in New York City public schools with For the Birds, and started a similar program in Chicago, Birds in My Neighborhood, where she still teaches. She is the former director of education for Citizens for Conservation. She is also the former chairman of the New York and Illinois chapters of TNC, and vice-chairman of TNC's International Board of Governors. In addition Wendy has served on the boards of multiple other conservation groups. She currently chairs the Conservation & Policy Council for The Forest Preserves of Cook County.
 
Volunteers getting ready for their day's work. 
 
Wendy shared with us, from her observation locally and globally, "As a society, volunteers are the ultimate sustainable plan for lasting conservation." Her presentation focused on an in depth case study of Citizens for Conservation, a volunteer group in Barrington that began some thirty to forty years ago. Today the group consists of three to four hundred volunteers. Their primary goal, upon meeting every Thursday and Saturday throughout the year, is the restoration of diminishing prairie lands.   From seed collecting to growing seedlings, weeding to eliminating invasive species, the group has volunteers from every age group. Additional conservation interest within the prairie have also been tackled, as volunteers glean an interest to a particular plight and become passionate about discovering a resolution.
 
Volunteers of all ages help plant sedges in place of cattails, which are not nest-friendly for cranes. 
 
Wendy has observed that when people, as a community, become educated about conservation issues around them and are able to experience successes as a result of their participation, it is compelling, whether it be in Illinois or across the globe.
 
                                                              --Kelly Chestnut, Program Chair
BENEFIT
 
   
GET YOUR SUNSHINE ON!
 
WHO:              Mario Nievera, internationally renowned Landscape Architect
WHAT:            FOREVER GREEN, KGC Annual Benefit Luncheon
WHEN:           Thursday, April 19 th
WHERE:         Glen View Club
WHY:               Funds raised support our KGC outreach programs and activities
 
More details...

 

  • We are expecting a 'sold out event' as Mario is a New Trier graduate with a significant local following.
  • Buy your tickets early! Seating is limited. Look for the invitation in early March.
  • Membership is required to buy a minimum of two tickets.
  • Come in your brightest dress!
 
"It's always summer somewhere." - Lilly Pulitzer
 
                                                             -- Kirsten Rider & Sharon Hayes, Co-Chairs

FLORAL
GCA Flower Arranging 201

Molly Stephan & Weezie Monroe demonstrate one form of parallel design.

Lenore Macdonald with Priscilla McIntosh from the Garden Club of Barrington.

Terri Lorenz, with Kirsten Rider, shows offher horizontal design.

Sharon Hayes has a wealth of floral material to choose from while creating her design.

The focus of the afternoon session was underwater design.

PHILANTHROPY
 
Time to Prepare Proposals!
 
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, the Magnolia Garden and, more recently, to the Midwest Care Center, Misericordia McAuley Residence. Kenilworth Beautification, National Park Foundation, the Alliance for the Great Lakes and The Ouilmette Foundation.
 
If you are interested in submitting a charitable funding proposal with a budget, it must be received by April 28. Proposals may be submitted to Kathy Elmer at kelmos3@me.com or mailed to 44 Warrington Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044.
 
                                                                                                     --Kathy Elmer 

To download a copy of the Philanthropy Request form, click here 
 
PHOTOGRAPHY
Zone XI Photography 101 --
Sign-up is still open!

Spaces are still available for the workshop with Lou & Todd Nettelhorst of Nettelhorst Images on Friday, April 13 from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Chicago Botanic Garden.  The cost is $170 and includes presentations on composition and basic camera tools, hands-on shooting and critique of images as well as lunch.  If you are interested, fill out the registration form and return it to Shelley Galloway as soon as possible.

For the Photography 101 registration form,


CONSERVATION
Wendy Paulson, center, with (l to r) Barbara Kehoe, Zone XI Chair; Ann Jones, Lenore Macdonald & Kelly Chestnut.

In the spirit of conservation, our February KCG meeting was a green event.  
 
We had wonderful speaker, Wendy Paulson - the winner of the GCA Margaret Douglas Medal, which is awarded for notable service to the cause of conservation education.
 
In her honor we had a Green Meeting.   All cups, plates, napkins, utensils were reusable - coffee was made at the event rather than brought in from Starbucks in a traveler pack!

 
The arrangements made for the event were all sustainable and will be shared for Outreach.
 

It required a bit more organizing, but we all felt good that we didn't generate any items for landfill!  
 
The prize goes to Elizbeth Dugan for bringing her own coffee mug!
 
Go Green!
 
In the news....
 
--Ann Jones
MEMBER NEWS
A Live Report from WAFA

Approximately 145 participants from about 25 countries have gathered in India for an educational seminar with a lead up to the WAFA India exhibition in Jaipur in 2020.  Over 50 countries have a WAFA chapter.   Our seminar has exposed us to much of the cultural diversity of India.  We have been located in Hyderabad in Telegana and Kochin in Kerala.  Our dynamic hosts are members of the Pushpa Bitan Friendship Society from Kolkota led by Parul Swarup who has her EMC Certificate.  Our first day was a tour followed by team floral work, judged by international judges.  My partner, Marie Francoise Deprez is world renowned.  This was followed by a floral fashion show of National designs.  India knocked it out of the park!!!  Energy and enthusiasm of our hosts is infectious as is their fashion sense.

                                                                                                         -- Shelley Galloway

Leader & host Parul Swarup.







News coverage in Hyderabad.  Martha made the centerfold!
BEAUTIFICATION
Photo by Cheryl Anderson
Beautification Meeting --
February 15, 2018


Kay Alexander has graciously volunteered to act as Secretary for Beautification,
(Kenilworth Council of Garden Clubs). Currently, it is more of  a Committee of the Whole than a fully functioning committee. Usually only the 4 garden club presidents plus Kay attend the meeting, although all are welcome.
 
Lenore gave a brief overview KGC's Founders Fund project. Ladies present all
thought it was wonderful that KGC had taken on this worthwhile project. 
 
The June Goss Memorial Tree will be placed in the Memorial garden by the Historical
Society building. There has not been a final decision as to what kind of tree will be
planted, but they are leaning towards a variety of the hardwood Pin Oak. Its shape is
beautiful and it maintains leaves throughout the seasons.   Beautification may in fact
pay for the tree. The cost includes planting.
 
The tree honoring Lois Stanley's service as President of Beautification for so many
years will be planted in Mahoney Park. Placement considerations of memorial trees
are always thorough, light and water being two of them. It seems that locations with
optimum light, etcetera, are becoming limited in Kenilworth.
 
It was proposed, and unanimously passed, to put an item in the Beautification
budget to pay for the venue costs for the Combined Meeting not to exceed $200
and that each of the 4 clubs would continue to contribute $100/year to the
Beautification Committee.
___________________________________________ ________________________________
A memo from Lois Stanley was read as follows:
 
Maggi & North Park Update
 
1. Maggi Sign
 
We must file an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Architectural Review     Commission for the sign. The $450 sign maker has declined our project. We must either find another less costly sign maker or pay the local sign maker about $2,000. We budgeted for the $2,000 and then Nick Patera gave me the name of other vendors.
 
2. Dead Pine Tree in North Park

I've sent Nick a photo and asked his advice on adding a grove of Hemlock which can live
in the shade. This pine may have been killed by our landscape contractor who kept driving over its roots despite repeated requests.
 
3. More Red Twig Dogwoods

In Maggi Park, the bed along Kenilworth Avenue needs some more dogwoods this spring.
 

Park Drive
 
One hardwood is being removed for safety reasons and several crab apples died and
are being cut down. Last week, Park District staff cut down several crab apples.
___________________________________________ ________________________________
 
A new position, to be filled by a member of one of the four garden clubs on a two-year
rotating basis, was proposed by Valerie Foradas. The position would begin in 2019 as
plans are already in the works for this year. Valerie is preparing a memo about the
position for us, but the main points are:
 
The Park District pays for the plants.
 
The Historical Society pays for their 2 urns.  
 
The spots to be planted are 8 urns, the fountain, the walkways in front of the assembly hall, police station
and the Historical Society and the planter boxes at the train station.
 
Plans outlining exactly what needs to be done every year will be provided to the person taking
on this position.  
 
The "Gardener Designer" will be in charge of choosing the plants, perennial and annual.  
The perennials are kept and replanted in other places in Kenilworth, parks triangles and
Sears school..... so they are not just thrown onto the compost pile.
 
KPD is responsible for the purchase, maintenance, and replacement (if necessary) of the Village plantings; design advice is the only responsibility of the Garden Club, and set up day presence in case the design needs tinkering.  Watering is the responsibility of the KPD.

This proposal was presented in February to the KGC Board and membership during the respective meetings. The KGC Board will vote on this proposal at its March 19th Meeting. If you have any comments or thoughts, please contact Cheryl Anderson or Lenore Macdonald before March 18th.
 
The next Beautification meeting is on April 2 when it is requested that the Program
chairs from each garden club attend with a list of speakers and programs from the
past year or 4 copies to hand out to the others club chairs or president in attendance.
  
                                                                                -- Cheryl Anderson,Civic
GCA & ZONE NEWS



Good news!  KGC has worked with Nancy Lee Kemper, the GCA's Zone XI Visiting Gardens Representative, to secure inclusion of  Ware Memorial Garden in GCA's listing of Public Gardens by State Resource List.   This is long overdue recognition of the beautiful and historically significant garden we tend together!  
 
This is also a good time to remind you to take advantage of this extensive list of gardens worth visiting by state next time you plan a trip. It can found on the Visiting Gardens page of the GCA website under Travel Inspiration and Itineraries.

                                                                              --Kim Piekos, Visiting Gardens Chair
OUT & ABOUT
PARTING WORDS
A Spring Green thank you to these KGC members who made our February so wonderful:
 
February Meeting & Program Home Hostess Sharon Hayes; Hostesses Ann Jones, Beth Glass, Kirsten Rider, Helen Balch, Kendra Cunningham; and, floral designers Marty Shaw and Joan Senko;
 
Kelly Chestnut for the terrific February program;
 
Benefit Chairs Sharon Hayes and Kirsten Rider for all that they are doing to make the 2018 Benefit a great success;
 
Kim Piekos for securing a place for Ware Gardens on the GCA Visiting Gardens list;
 
Jeanne Daniel for getting the Presbyterian Homes-Westminster Place-McGaw Pavilion Outreach Project up and running;
 
Wendy Yamada and Barbi Paine for the Storch Fund Proposal;
 
Julia Kyle for taking minutes at our February Board Meeting;
 
Marty Shaw for organizing Flower Arranging 201 and to KGC for being host club;
 
KGC members Kirsten Rider, Sharon Hayes, Chris Wiedrich, Terri Lorenz, Joan Senko, Shelley Galloway, Marty Shaw and Lenore Macdonald who participated in Flower Arranging 201; and
 
All KGC spouses and family members who offer support to the Club and help to make KGC the wonderful club that it is.
 
The bonzai & succulent section at Cultivate, a wonderful plant shop -- and more -- in southeast Evanston.          

Kenilworth Garden Club             www.kenilworthgardenclub.org