WE DID LUNCH!

Another enjoyable luncheon marked the official close of the 2021-2022 Garden Club season.  Committee Co-Chairs Deb Duerr and Kathy Maher arranged a flawless event for our members on May 12th.  The room was abuzz as arrival, sign-in, and beverages proceeded to warm and friendly greetings among attendees.  As members settled into their seats for a tasty meal, lively conversation was interrupted only by door-prize drawings as we checked our tickets for each prize drawn.  Adding to the delight of winning ticket holders, all members received a swag bag containing items for indoor and outdoor planting.  At departure, everyone was invited to select from assorted herb plants that made up the creative table centerpieces. 

Club President Karen Nuttall presented the remaining business matters of the year for resolution by vote, including the nominated slate of incoming officers.  She then delivered remarks highlighting this season and acknowledging everyone who served the club in various capacities.  She thanked all members for their participation, enthusiasm and support, and shared a beautiful poem with deep sentiment spanning personal memories and club friendships.

By all accounts, this was a successful garden club year. The club resumes in September with new Officers at the helm.  Along with Karen Nuttall (returning as President), they are: Carol Price, Vice President; Patti Tully, Treasurer; Ann Bavier and Sally Boudinot, Recording Secretaries; Joyce Markwell, Corresponding Secretary.

There are, of course, many additional roles to fill in an energetic club and committees are a great way to participate.  It's not too early to make your interests known. 

Have a great summer!

       

 2021-2022 Garden Club Philanthropy & Outreach

This year's donations are awarded to Haut Gap Middle School, Sea Island Water Wellness Mission, and Trident Technical College.  

The Haut Gap school project has been on our radar for several cycles.  Committee member Ann Bavier kept the Executive Board apprised of changing circumstances and challenges impacting the school's garden program. The timing of recent events at the school made it advantageous for our club to support construction of new plant beds and augment projects pledged to the school by other donors.  The work in the garden is done by the students and is integrated with lessons in calculating required supplies through implementation of planting, harvesting, and distribution of the fresh vegetable yield to local charities.

Most of our community residents are familiar with the Water Wellness Mission, and the great need for available, safe water in the many at-risk homes not so far from our own community.  Our donation supplements the ongoing projects of drilling wells as the wait list for vital clean water is addressed, one well and one home at a time.

Trident Tech has long been a recipient of a club award designated toward the education expenses of horticulture program students.  This year's award was presented in person to our April program speaker, and Coordinator of Horticulture Technology, who updated the membership about Trident's curriculum and activities.

As our club membership grows, our membership dues allow us to participate in such worthy causes as these.  It means so much to those whose names we may never know, but we can all feel a sense of pride in belonging to an organization that puts our dues to good use.

Q:  WHAT'S THE RUSH?

A:  Listen to this captivating recording of April 6th by Doug Tallamy, Co-Founder of Homegrown National Park.  For the answer, click here:  

What’s the Rush? Doug Tallamy, Co-Founder Homegrown National Park® (vimeo.com)

Mr. Tallamy presents the science-based solution to the biodiversity crisis and what each of us can do--beginning with the flowerpots on our porches, decks and patios, and expanding throughout our personal properties, right where we reside--to improve our piece of the planet in the fight against the genocide of nature.

Learn how practicing conservation on private property is essential to each and every living being, now more than ever.  It's less than 25 minutes and worth the time!

We thank club member Lee Hurd for submitting this link to the virtual presentation, also embedded in the organization's website, which you are encouraged to visit by clicking here:  HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK

Lee was keen to share this knowledge with our Club.  She is, no surprise, already at work implementing many of these tactics within her own property.

LET'S CELEBRATE!

 

DID YOU  HEAR?

That's the first question.  The second question is, "What is that?"

If you are a regular public radio listener, you are likely tuned in when  nature notes with Rudy Mancke comes on.  Just a few words into a recent program, "Patricia Schaefer, Seabrook Island" was named, so you already know the answer to the second question if you were listening in.

Patricia is a garden club member and also maintains a plot at the POA community gardens.  Her natural curiosity led her to the topic of migratory butterflies in fall 2020, and she submitted an article (which you can find in the Blog Archive) that educated us on the importance of cutting back tropical milkweed plants in late fall.  On this recent occasion, she submitted a photo of something she found on our beach to Rudy Mancke and he made it the topic of one of his programs.

Here's the photo.  Do you know what it is?

If you cannot identify this mysterious object and/or didn't hear the program on nature notes with Rudy Mancke, here is a link:

Mystery skull on the beach | South Carolina Public Radio

(or you may copy and paste the following URL to your browser):

https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/show/naturenotes/2022-03-24/mystery-skull-on-the-beach

Okay, the answer is partially disclosed in the link title, but the listening time is just 1 minute and well worth the education as there is much more to it than the image reveals.  Patricia learned from family and friends that her submission had been featured on the program.  She was kind enough to complete the mystery by providing this photo.

We're always happy to celebrate garden club members.  We enjoyed a presentation about daffodils by member Julie Minch, American Daffodil Society Judge, at the March meeting.  Member Cindy Willis was recently  featured in Tidelines Community Blog for keeping The Lake House lending library organized and ready for readers.

Our club membership is one of diverse interests, talents, and accomplishments.  Don't be shy--there are many within the group we'd all be interested in learning more about!

 

Time flies when you’re having fun . . .

is proven by the fact that Garden Club has already crossed into the second half of this 2021-22 season.

The groundwork laid by our Officers over the summer launched the season to an enthusiastic reception by returning and new club members—and membership increased 22 percent over last year, also a banner year for membership.  President Karen Nuttall (doing double-duty as Vice President), Carol Price (Treasurer), Laura Simpson (Corresponding Secretary), and Ann Zielinski (Recording Secretary)—with the assistance of committee chairpersons and all member volunteers—deserve high praise for bringing us to this point in the year.

Let’s recall a few highlights of the season so far: 

• The traditional yearbook commemorating the previous club season was completed and is on display at each meeting.  Page through and see how many of our members you recognize behind their masks!

• Our second comprehensive digital membership directory, enhanced with beautiful photography, was launched in early fall.

• Members had the opportunity to exhibit their club pride by purchasing our first-ever logo apparel and drinkware.

• Riding in annual holiday parade, "mingling and jingling" at members' holiday social, decorating the Lake House indoor tree, contributing toys to SJFD Stuff-A-Truck for Families in Need, and sponsoring the second annual community Light Up contest were some of the ways members got into the holiday spirit—and lifted the spirits of others.

• We’ve come to expect insightfully curated topic programs, field trips, and activities that educate, engage, and entertain us—we haven’t been disappointed!

For a more complete review of this season’s activities to date, click on the Events tab.

There’s more to come as we advance toward the club’s signature member event, our End-of-Year Luncheon, when we will celebrate what promises to be another memorable club year.

Note your calendar for our monthly meetings on the second Friday of every month, and watch for more club events and information through our various publicity and communications media!

 

ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS

                   WELCOMING RETURNING MEMBERS

Whether you are an experienced gardener, or just someone who enjoys the beauty of the flora and fauna of our beautiful island, we welcome you to the Seabrook Island Garden Club.  The time has come to renew your membership or join for the first time for the 2021-2022 year!

For more information, click the JOIN US tab above.