August-2016 Update

How is it that August has arrived so quickly?! It must be true that time flies when you’re having fun.
 
Over 175 participants at the Garden Club’s Home and Garden Tour were all guilty of having fun on Wednesday, July 27. After touring six of the island’s very special homes and landscapes, they enjoyed lunch at the Crew’s Nest Pavilion. Many went home with raffle prizes from the event, and everyone went home with memories of the day. Well done, event chairperson, Kathy Schrader, for organizing it all and creating such a fun day for so many!  Thank you to the many people who generously donated goods for the raffle, and to the homeowners who allowed so many visitors to view their homes and property: Trey and Sarah Sheehan, Marty and Rory DePerro, Bob and Jody Frimel, Steve and Denise Snyder, Jack and Kathi Spayde, and Bryan and Jerry Kasper.  You inspired us all with your beautiful homes and gardens! Thanks also to the Crew’s Nest for a fantastic luncheon, to the Village Bakery for delicious desserts, and to Jordan Market at E-Carts for offering discounted rates to Garden Tour participants from off island. It always takes a village to pull off an event of this size, and we appreciate everyone who helped make the day such a success.
 
The mayflies have come and gone and the netting installed around the baskets prevented the pesky critters from smothering the flowers. Thank you to John and Peggy Leopold who designed the system, and climbed the ladders to install and remove the netting from the baskets. Thanks also to the faithful Garden Club volunteers who water the flower baskets every day.
 
To show appreciation for our awesome volunteers, the Garden Club hosted a Beach barbecue on Sunday evening, July 17, at the public bathing beach.  Over thirty people attended the party, and they all agreed this should be an annual event. Thank you to organizers Jody Frimel, Joan Booker, and Susan Hildebrandt. A big thank you also goes out to grill master extraordinaire, Jim Hildebrandt.
 
Let it be known that the Garden Club has decided to cancel their program scheduled for August 11 so members can instead participate in the Island Green Week activities. Lighthouse visits, guided nature tours, fishing, bird watching, and a meteor shower cruise are among the activities planned for this special week dedicated to the natural beauty of the islands. For details, visit lakeerieislandswildlife.com.  Also, in celebration of Green Week, the Garden Club will have a beach cleanup at the bathing beach on August 13 at 9:00 am.
 
The Garden Club’s final meeting of the year will be held as scheduled on September 8 at 5 pm at the Yacht Club. This will be our annual meeting and dinner, followed by a short program focusing on Fall Garden Chores. We hope to see you there!