Gardening Together
Past, Present and Future
Sally Gray, Meridian Garden Club President
Our programs and events this year focus on past, present, and future. In mid-November, Lois Snover-Hanson will give a
presentation on the History of Swags; we will also make swags to decorate the village. In September, Rebecca Grumet,
MSU Dept of Horticulture, will describe plant breeding past, present, and future. The Yesteryear Flower Show in late September provides entrants an opportunity to get creative with historical themes. The show will include quilts from the District 2B Quilter’s Circle.
Themes of the present reoccur as we focus on current and ongoing gardening practices. Our spring plant sale now offers
native plants, and local plant expert, Emma Campbell, is on hand to answer questions. In February, extension specialist
Tom Smith will also give a presentation on the benefits of incorporating native plants into the landscape. Encouraging butterflies in the garden is also a current theme for gardeners. Jolanta Piecuch, a former member, will enlighten us about plants that attract butterflies.
The idea that “children are our future” is exemplified in Meridian Garden Club’s focus on youth programs. During the spring
our club hosts classes from the local elementary schools. Children can often be seen in the Backdoor Garden planting, caring for,
and harvesting vegetables. So far, the new School Grants Program has supported the installation of a pollinator garden at
Ralya Elementary School in Haslett. We are hopingthat grants like this will generate school supported garden clubs.
We hope these opportunities and events bode well for a fun and exciting year.
