Our programs and volunteer opportunities are open to all. Come join us!
Put-in-Bay / South Bass Island
The picturesque Village of Put-in-Bay is on South Bass Island on Lake Erie in Ottawa County, Ohio, 41.6531° N, 82.8175° W. The colorful island is frequented by many visitors, primarily in the summer months. It is home to approximately 500 year round residents and hundreds more during the warmer seasons. The island community is home to a wealth of historical sites and is a popular Ohio tourist destination.
The Put-in-Bay Garden Club, organized in 2009, is proud of our island and seeks to continually enhance its natural beauty. Our efforts are enjoyed by island residents and the many summer visitors who boat, ferry, or fly to the island. Recognizing the uniqueness of the community and its surroundings, the PIB Garden Club came into existence to help ensure the continued beauty and vitality of Put-in-Bay and South Bass Island for residents and non-residents alike.
The PIB Garden Club's original purpose was the beautification of the DeRiviera Park in downtown Put-in-Bay, which it sought to accomplish by raising money to purchase lamppost baskets for the existing lampposts situated around the park. Members created greeting cards, organized a Garden Tour, and designed shirts, all of which were sold in furtherance of its fundraising efforts. Numerous donations from the community also helped to underwrite these projects. The baskets, soil and plant material were originally purchased in May 2010. Volunteers, both individuals and businesses, maintained the lamppost baskets by watering and fertilizing them. Many of these projects and more continue today.
Given the success of its original project, the PIB Garden Club planned a number of additional projects for future seasons. These included beautification of the island beach, alongside Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, operated by the National Park Services.
The PIB Garden Club currently plants and maintains the Village Lamppost Flower Baskets that grace the enchanting DeRivera Park. The Park lies between the boat docks in the harbor and the colorful shops along the downtown streets. Each year the PIB Garden Club purchases and plants new flowers. Volunteer members lovingly water, fertilize, and maintain each basket on a daily basis.
Please enjoy the monthly programs with speakers and workshops that are open to all members and guests.
The Put-in-Bay Garden Club is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the beauty of South Bass Island.
The Garden Club raises funds to establish and maintain designated green areas of the island, educates members on horticultural topics, sponsors garden-related field trips and social activities, hosts Home and Garden Tours, and engages in other projects to enhance the island's beauty. The Garden Club promotes opportunities to work with volunteers, community members, the Village of Put-in-Bay, Put-in-Bay Township, and DeRivera Park Trust.
Board of Directors
Sheri Murphy, President Pam Rudolph, Secretary Jean Hilt, Treasurer Candy Baker, Golf Cart Lisa Berens, Mayfly Netting Jody Frimel, Flower Advocate Barb Hunter, Gardens Susan Hildebrandt, Programs Kathy Schrader Kathi Spayde, Membership + Social Media 440-856-5437
Put-in-Bay Garden Club P.O. BOX 815 Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456
Bayview and Hartford Garden
DeRivera Park Gardens The new DeRivera Park Gardens were designed by All Seasons Landscaping from Medina, Ohio in coordination with Garden Club members Jody Frimel, Susan Hildebrandt, Sue Thwaite, and board members. Major funding was provided by Put in Bay Village and DeRivera Park Trust. The Put in Bay Garden Club also contributed funds toward the projects. Two of the gardens are located by the lift stations in front of the Beer Barrel and near the Park bathhouse. A garden surrounds the DeRivera Park Sign by the Boardwalk and another is located across from Frosty's Bar. Another garden is across from the Jet Express at Bayview and Hartford Avenues. The newest garden (November-2019) is at the corner of Delaware and Hartford Avenues. Four trees were planted around the Park, as well. The Garden Club maintains the flower beds. These project required many hours, including: design, selection of plant materials, and review and presentation of the concept for approval. The gardens have been added over the last several years.
DeRivera Park Fountain
The PIB Garden Club oversaw the updating of the Park Fountain with new sandblasting, repainting and fundraising to support the project.
Post Office Garden
In 2024, the PIB Garden Club updated the garden at the entry to the post office, giving it a fresh, new look.
Beach Beautification
Yoga on the Beach
In coordination with the Put-in-Bay City Council, the Beach Beautification is another focus of the PIB Garden Club. Our beautification efforts include a charming boardwalk, colorful flowers and picnic amenities. PIB Garden Club members strive to continually enhance the beauty of our natural beach. The beach is alongside and north of Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, operated by the National Park Services. The Memorial is affectionately called The Monument or Perry's Monument by islanders and visitors. The Monument, completed in 1915, rises 352 feet in the air and can be seen from the mainland, as well as the island. Sand has been reclaimed for the project and drainage and other improvements to the property are underway. Fundraising through donations from the public and collection of membership dues allow the PIB Garden Club to seek federal grants to aid in the funding of this ongoing project.
APPRECIATION for GARDEN CLUB - October 19-2017 Thank you for all the beautiful work that you and the Garden Club does for our island community. The bathing beach, DeRivera Park, hanging lamp flower baskets and corner landscaped gardens look amazing each year! Great job! Your efforts are appreciated. ~ Kelly Niese
LAMPPOST BASKETS (posted on Facebook) - July 22-2017 We have the Puti-in-Bay Garden Club, Inc to thank for these beautiful flowers in the light posts around town. They worked hard to put them in and work even harder to keep them looking beautiful! The garden club does so much for the community to keep it looking its best. ~ Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce (PIBCC) Response to PIBCC July 22-2017 FB Post: You are posting the most interesting things, I love reading your posts. I've also loved and admired the flowers on your downtown posts, I never knew who did the work. The work by your garden club adds so much to the charm, they do a wonderful job. ~ Kris Boles Truthan Response to PIBCC July 22-2017 FB Post: The flowers always look so beautiful. Thank you for an excellent job. ~ Lori Coulter Response to PIBCC July 22-2017 FB Post: Looks good and pretty. ~ Phyllis Repka
BEACH PRAISE - August 8-2014 Saw the beach the other day for the first time this year. It is absolutely beautiful. Even took Walt down to show him. Nice job - Garden Club! ~ Sue Duff
PRAISE FROM A BEACH ADMIRER I took my granddaughter and daughter to the beach this past Thursday and was pleasantly surprised that we were able to enjoy an hour while my granddaughter made a sandcastle. The beach looked great! There were probably 20 people there, a couple sunning, a few kids in the water, and parents sitting on the breakwall. Thanks for all you do.
BEACH OBSERVATIONS FROM CHAIR JODY FRIMEL Our weekly beach clean-ups have been really successful. I have been going to the beach nearly every day and have observed so many tourists and islanders using the beach! There have been picnickers, dog walkers, and swimmers in numbers like I've never seen before. I feel very gratified that our efforts are paying off.
BEACH VISITORS Jody Frimel, Beach Beautification Chair spoke to a couple from Zanesville, Ohio while they were visiting our beach on Saturday, July 26th. After reading about the Garden Club's beach clean-up efforts in the Put-in-Bay Gazette, they were anxious to see it and noted that they were not disappointed. "It's beautiful," they exclaimed. ~ Thank you Jody for the information and for your fabulous work.
PIB GAZETTE ARTICLE - February, 2016 Now, the Bathing Beach has changed and been loved recently by some local volunteers - thank you! I know I've seen your pictures in The Gazette. You all have spent hours adding sand, plants and a nice walkway, complete with heavy ropes. So pretty. ~ ISLAND GIRL, Christine Ontko