​The monarchs have returned- a  sure sign that summer is on the wane.The Garden Club, however, continues to keep the island looking good, watering baskets and tending to the gardens in DeRivera Park. Thanks so much to all the wonderful volunteers who have devoted their time and energy to these tasks this year. Thanks also to Val Chornyak, Reni Miller, Peggy Leopold, and Barb Hunter who coordinate these efforts for us. To these women and their committee members, as well as all others who helped out with Garden Club activities this year, please know that your efforts are truly appreciated!
 
The Garden Club’s final program of the year and annual potluck will be held at the Yacht Club on Thursday, September 13. The program will begin this month at 5:00 pm when Jody Frimel will discuss Fall Containers. She will demonstrate how to arrange a colorful container for Fall. Plants demonstrated will be available for purchase at wholesale prices.
 
The annual meeting and potluck will begin at 6:15. We ask that you come equipped with ideas for projects, trips, or educational programs you would like the Garden Club to consider for next year. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck. We look forward to seeing you then.

​Let’s begin with a HUGE  thank you to Kathy Schrader and all who were involved in making this year’s Home and Garden tour such a wonderful event! On July 25, one hundred eighty participants enjoyed the tour of eight island properties and a beautiful lunch at the Crews Nest Pavilion. It takes many hands to pull off an event of this size, so we especially thank Committeee Members Kathi Spayde, Jean Hilt, Dianne Smith, Pati Arth, Barb Hunter, Donna D’Amico, Susan Hildebrandt and Joan Kempf for their contributions to the day’s success!   Thank you also to Gloria Lawson, Amy Carper, Sherri and Dave Murphy, Jim and Susan Hildebrandt, Bill and Alice Boag, John and Amy Murphy, Craig and Sharon Cox, and Ed and Jenna Gonzalez for graciously opening their homes and gardens for all to enjoy.  Our hosts provided an eclectic mix of homes, large and small, old and new, and so many interesting landscapes to explore. The time, energy, and effort homeowners expended in preparing their properties for the tour was evident to all and greatly appreciated! Lastly, we extend a special thank you to the Crews Nest and Island Bike rentals for their generosity and support of this event.
 
The Garden Club also enjoyed a trip to Akron on July 31 to tour the Stan Hwyet mansion and gardens. This trip was organized by the Catawba Island Garden Club and included 46 guests from their club and 17 members and guests of the Put in Bay Garden Club. Thanks to all involved in organizing this event, especially to Pati Arth who was in charge of reservations and lunch arrangements.
 
The August meeting of the Garden Club will take place Thursday, August 16, at the Yacht Club. Social hour begins at 5:00, and the program will start at 5:30. This meeting will be a participatory event. We ask that you come equipped with garden-related questions for our panel of experts. We would like to take the mystery out of gardening for you by providing research and experience-based solutions to your garden dilemmas. If you prefer, you may submit questions in advance by e-mailing them to putinbaygardenclub.com. Participants will also be provided with a list of great gardening websites. We hope to see you on the 16th, as well as at our potluck and final meeting of the year on September 13th. 

Mayfly season began in earnest on June 17 this year, so hopefully, by the time you are reading this article, they will be long gone and the netting used to protect the lamppost flowers will be removed. Now we can begin another beautiful summer on Put in Bay!!!
 
The first Garden Club program of the year was held June 21 at the Yacht Club. Susan Hildebrandt presented a talk on dealing with unwelcome wildlife in our gardens. Diversification and Perseverance seem to be the keys to success in the battle against rabbits, voles, chipmunks, deer, geese and other critters invading our landscapes. Visit our website to learn more about specific strategies and products that will make our landscapes less attractive to invaders.
 
The Park Gardens are thriving, thanks to the efforts of Park Gardens Chairperson Barb Hunter. She is now looking for volunteers to help her maintain the gardens throughout the summer. Please contact Barb at 216 789-9003 if you are able to give an hour or so a week to help with the weeding and feeding tasks. This is just one of the ways you can make a difference in helping to beautify our island.
 
The Garden Club is once again sponsoring a Home and Garden Tour this year. The tour of seven island properties will be held from 10 am to noon on Wednesday, July 25. The tour will be followed by a luncheon at the Crews Nest Pavilion and a garden themed raffle. The cost of tickets is $40.00 per person. They are available for purchase through our website, putinbaygardenclub.com, or by contacting Tour Chairperson Kathy Schrader at 440 773-5413. This popular event was sold out last time it was held, so be sure to buy tickets now to avoid disappointment.  [Editor’s Note:  The Home and Garden Tour is sold out.]
 
Also in July, the Garden Club will join the Catawba Island Garden Club on a bus trip to visit the beautiful Stan Hywet Gardens and Estate in Akron. The bus will leave at 7:45 from the Catawba side of the Miller Ferry dock and will return around 4pm. Tickets for this event are sold out, so we hope you were able to purchase before the deadline. We welcome your suggestions for garden-related trips you may want us to schedule in the future.
 
Please mark your calendars for 5pm August 16 when we will present a hands-on program entitled “Creating with Succulents”. On September 13, we will transform droopy summer containers into luscious fall containers and then celebrate with our annual potluck dinner. All programs are held at the Yacht Club, unless otherwise noted. Please visit our website for more details. We wish you a summer filled with fun events, good friends, and joyous gardening!

​The lamppost flower baskets are blooming  once again, thanks to organizer Val Chomyak and the efforts of Garden Club volunteers who helped with the planting in May.   We want to especially thank the companies and individuals who provided and operated the lifts needed to complete the task: Richard Gump Construction;  Mitch and Todd Blumensaadt and PIB Investments;  Mike McCabe and Baycraft Builders; Scott Sneller and The Village of Put-in-Bay; Michael McCann and the Roundhouse Bar; Teddy Mccann and Ian Ladd and Miller Boat Line and Marina.
In addition, we want to thank those who donated money to fund the baskets this year. The Garden Club spends approximately  $4500 annually on this project and so appreciates the support of our island community.                                                         ·
 
The 2018 summer season will be an active one for Garden Club members. The first program of the year will be held at 5 p.m., June 21st, at the Yacht Club when Cuyahoga County Master Gardeners will present a talk on dealing with wildlife in our island landscapes.
 
The 2018 Put-in-Bay Home and Garden Tour will be held Wednesday, July 25th,   beginning  at 10 a.m.  Tickets can be purchased for $40 each at putinbaygardenclub.com, or by  contacting  event chairperson,  Kathy Schrader at 440-773-5413.  Please join us for this tour of eight island properties, followed by a luncheon and garden raffle in the Crews Nest Pavilion. Ticket numbers are limited, so
book now to avoid disappointment.
 
On Tuesday, July 31st,  we have been invited to join the Catawba Island Garden  Club on a full day trip to Stan Hywet Gardens in Akron. The tour bus will leave the Catawba Island Miller ferry dock at 7:45 a.m. and return around 5 pm. The $55 ticket will include round trip coach transport to Akron, tours of the mansion and gardens at the Stan Hywet Estate, as well as a boxed lunch prepared by Stan Hywet caterers. We have only 25 tickets available to our group; deadline for ticket purchase has been extended to June 10th.
 
On August 16th and September 13th, we will host hands-on programs at 5 p.m. at the Yacht Club.
Our August topic will be Creating with Succulents. In September, we will create Fall container gardens. New members are always welcome!

Spring has sprung at last! Time again to play outside and enjoy your gardens. It is also time to spruce up De Rivera park with our beautiful lamppost baskets. We hope you will join the planting party on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 15th and 16th at 9 am. We will meet across from Frosty’s at 9 both days, and your work will be rewarded with a free meal! Not only is the comradery wonderful, but you also gain such a sense of accomplishment once the job is finished. And then all summer long, as you drive past the park, you know that YOU were a part of its beautification!  Valerie Chornyak is in charge of the park planting, and can be reached at 419 285-4030 if you have questions. We invite you to come on down and help the cause!

As always, Kathi Spayde has done a great job of updating our webpage. You can view our calendar of events for this summer by visiting putinbaygardenclub.com. Our first program of the year will be held Thursday, June 21 at 5pm at the Yacht Club. After our social gathering, Cuyahoga County Master Gardeners will present a discussion on how to keep wildlife from damaging our landscapes.

On July 25, we will host a Put in Bay Home and Garden Tour, followed by a luncheon at the Crews Nest Pavilion. Tickets for the tour will go on sale June 1. Numbers will be limited so we encourage you to visit the website and book early. You can also purchase tickets or volunteer to help with the event by contacting event chairperson, Kathy Schrader at 440 773-5413.  If you wish to donate articles for the garden-themed raffle, please contact Barb Hunter at 216 789-9003.

On July 31, we will be joining the Catawba Island Garden Club on a bus trip to the beautiful Stan Hywet Gardens in Akron. The bus will leave from the Miller Ferry Dock at Catawba Island promptly at 8 a.m. and should return to the dock by 4:00 pm. Tickets will be $55.00 per person, and will include guided tours of the estate’s mansion and gardens, a box lunch, and round trip bus transportation. Numbers will be extremely limited, so again, please book early by visiting our website, or by contacting Susan Hildebrandt at 440 409-1958. Tickets for this event will go on sale May 8.

Our August 16 program is a hands-on demonstration entitled Creating with Succulents, and on September 13, we will help you transform your tired-looking summer containers into beautiful and lush fall containers. We hope you will join us for our summer activities and also volunteer to help in our island beautification projects.
Barb Hunter is chairman of the four DeRivera Park Gardens that we have helped fund and that we maintain. She is happy to have helping hands in the weekly maintenance of these gardens and to teach you good gardening practices in the process. If you wish to join the Park Gardens Committee, please contact Barb (number above).  Be sure to check out our newest Park gardens that were planted last fall adjacent to Will’s Playground!  

We are also seeking volunteers to assist in watering the lamppost baskets.  The baskets are watered daily so we are always in need of individuals to help fill out our calendar. Please contact Reni Miller at 440 476-2047 if you can help. Free coffee and a pastry are your rewards!

The bathing beach has taken a major hit with the spring storms, so we will keep you posted on the status of our gardens there. Joan Booker and Jody Frimel co-chair the Beach Committee and have scheduled beach clean-ups at 9 am for the 4th Friday of every month, May through September.  All dates are listed on the garden club website calendar.
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As you can see, we are an active and dedicated group, and we have fun in the process of maintaining and enhancing the beauty of Put in Bay.  We hope you have renewed your Garden Club membership by now. If not, you can do so online or by mailing in the renewal form which you should have received by now. We hope to see you soon to share the wonderful summer ahead!

Spring is just around the corner, so Gardeners, prepare your spades! It’s almost time to dig in again!

The Garden Club Board has been busy preparing another wonderful summer of activities and programs for you. Please check putinbaygardenclub.com to see the complete calendar of events.  Be sure to mark your calendar now for July 25, when we will once again host a Home and Garden Tour on the island. The tour will feature seven great properties and will be followed by lunch and a raffle at the Crews Nest Pavilion. Tickets will be available for sale after June 1.  

We hope you will join us May 15 and 16 to help plant the lamppost baskets in DeRivera Park. Your reward will be a free breakfast and wonderful comradery! You should also check out the newest De Rivera Park Garden which was planted this fall adjacent to Will’s playground.

The first Garden Club program of the year will be held Thursday, May 24, at 5 pm at the Yacht Club.  Cuyahoga County Master Gardeners will discuss the biology and habits of those pesky rabbits, skunks, chipmunks, and deer on the island, and teach us how to prevent them from eating our plants and damaging our landscapes.  We look forward to seeing you soon! 

​Fall is the perfect time for planting trees, shrubs, and perennials, and that is exactly what the Garden Club has been doing! Check out the newest Gardens across from the Jet Express dock and adjacent to Will’s playground. The Garden Club and the Village of Put in Bay shared the expense of the gardens, and the Garden Club will be in charge of maintaining them. Many thanks to Jody Frimel who spearheaded the project, obtained funds from the Village, and worked closely with All Seasons Landscaping to ensure the gardens were planted this fall. Thanks also to Committee members Barb Hunter and Susan Hildebrandt who provided feedback on the design. Our goal with these new  gardens is to provide a warm welcome to island visitors entering the park from the Jet Express dock.
 
We would also like to give a sincere thank you to Pauline Garsteck, owner of the Village Bakery, who provided free baked goods and beverages to our lamppost watering crews this past season. Pauline’s donation was made in honor of her daughter Beth who passed away this year. We offer our deepest condolences to Paula. Her gesture reminds us once again what a privilege it is to be a part of this generous and supportive community.
 
The Garden Club website will continue to be updated throughout the winter, so stay connected to learn more about next year’s plans and to check out our educational links. Mark your calendars now for the PIB Home and Garden Tour scheduled for July 25, 2018 and the trip to Stan Hywet Gardens on July 31. In the meantime, we wish you a wonderful holiday season, and a peaceful winter, wherever you are! See you next Spring!

The annual meeting of the Put in Bay Garden Club was held Thursday, September 7 at the Yacht Club. Participants in the September program created terrariums to take home and green up their winter abodes. The program was followed by a pot luck dinner, after which all Committee Chairs and Board members gave their reports on the past season’s activities and presented preliminary plans for next year.  Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, July 25, 2018, when the Garden Club will once again host its Home and Garden Tour on the island. The tour will be followed by lunch at the Crews Nest and a garden raffle! Contact Kathy Schrader if you would like to be involved in the planning of this mega-event. Many hands make light work, and we are always seeking new members and volunteers looking to take a more active role in the Garden Club. Also on the agenda for next summer is a July 31 bus trip to visit the beautiful Stan Hywet Gardens and Mansion in Akron. This trip is sponsored by the Catawba Island Garden Club who has invited us to join them for this very special day.
 
The end of the season for the Garden Club will be marked by the take down of flower baskets in DeRivera Park. Please join us at 9 am Thursday, October 5 as we gather for this final chore. Volunteers will be treated to a free breakfast as a thank you.
 
The Garden Club is planning for one more garden this year in DeRivera Park, at the corner of  Bayview and Hartford. This garden is designed to welcome visitors as they enter the park from the Jet Express Dock.  It will also feature plants surrounding the Battle of Lake Erie Plaque in order to highlight this important historical marker. The Village will fund part of the new garden and the Garden Club has earmarked $5,000 for this project. Jody Frimel, Barb Hunter, and Susan Hildebrandt are working with Todd Giesen of All Seasons Landscaping to fine tune the design. The garden will be planted this fall so we can all enjoy it next summer.
 
As the season ends, the Garden Club Board want to extend a very sincere thank you to all volunteers who helped with the watering, beach clean ups, garden maintenance, planting and takedown of baskets this year. Thank you also to Chan Stevens for his continued generosity in supplying the golf cart for our watering needs. It has been a great summer and we look forward now to 2018 for more garden fun and comradery. Enjoy this beautiful fall! 

 t's September and time for the Garden Club's final program of the year and annual potluck dinner.  Please join us at the Yacht Club at 5:00 Thursday, September 7, for a one­-hour "make and take workshop" on terrarium planting.  The cost for participants to create their own masterpiece is $10 per person.  The fee is payable at the workshop, but in order to supply adequate materials, we must ask you to register by Sept. 4th by calling or texting Susan Hildebrandt at 440-409-1958. The one-hour workshop will be followed by the annual Garden Club meeting and potluck dinner at 6 p.m.  All are welcome to attend. If you can, please bring a dish to share.  If you can't, come anyway to share the comradery!  We look forward to seeing you there!
 
The PIBGC July trip to Schedel Gardens was a wonderful visit, and participants learned a great deal from our excellent guide who shared her knowledge of the trees, shrubs, and  perennials on this beautiful seventeen acre estate. We encourage anyone who loves gardens to make the thirty-minute trip from Put in Bay to Elmore to witness this spectacular landscape first hand. We look forward to planning more garden visits in the future.  If you have program ideas for next year, please contact one "of our Board Members so the Club can respond to your interests and your gardening needs. If you are interested in playing a more active role in the Garden Club, please contact a Board Member to let them know of your interest in that regard as well. We welcome new faces, new talents, new enthusiasm, and new friends!
 
In August, Jackie Taylor of the Put-in-Bay Nature Center gave an excellent presentation to Garden Club members on the importance of bees and butterflies in our gardens. Gardeners are all encouraged to avoid using harmful sprays and to select plantings for our landscapes that will attract these most essential pollinators.
 
We want to thank the volunteers who have helped with the many garden club chores and activities this year. Praise to the caretakers of the DeRivera Park gardens, to the basket planters, waterers, fertilizers, and lift-suppliers, to the beach clean-up crew, to the event organizers.jo the web master, to the Mayfly netting putter uppers and taker downers, to our program presenters, and to Chan Stevens for supplying the golf cart, free of charge, to the Garden Club again this year!  It takes a village, and we are grateful to everyone who has come out to lend a hand this year! Please be assured that our island was just a bit more beautiful this summer because you volunteered to help!

​Hats off to Put in Bay Garden Club Board member Kathy Schrader for organizing a very successful trip to Schedel Gardens in July. Approximately 30 individuals made the trip to tour this gorgeous 17 acre estate and learn all about its horticultural secrets.
 
The next Garden Club program will be held at 5:00 pm Thursday, August 17, at the Put in Bay Nature  Center. Naturalist Jackie Taylor will address the group on the importance of attracting bees and butterflies to our gardens and discuss which plants will help do the job!
 
The final program of the year will be held Thursday, September 7, at 5:00 pm. This will be a hands on program on planting terrariums and will require advance registration and a $10.00 fee. If you are interested in participating, please call Susan Hildebrandt to register at 440 4091958. The $10.00 fee will be payable at the start of the program. Supplies will be ordered only for those who register by September 1. Call now so you don’t miss out on an opportunity to learn and to create together! The program will be followed at 6:00 by the annual meeting and potluck dinner. We look forward to seeing everyone there!