Valparaiso Garden Club
Valparaiso Garden Club meets each month (September through May) at the Mitchell Building in Valparaiso (459 Valparaiso Parkway) (next door to the Valparaiso Community Library) at 9:00 a.m.
An exciting year has been planned for club members. President Kay Parsons has chosen "Focus on Conservation" as her theme. Programs have been geared around her theme, so members will learn many ways that they can help to protect our environment. Below is a list of this year's programs and a list of the club's projects for the coming year.
Anyone interested in learning about gardening, caring for our environment, and floral design is invited to join. E-mail marieharrison@valp.net for more information.
Programs for the Year
Special Programs and Events
September
“Camp Wekiva—What’s it All About?”
Jane Brewer, volunteer at Camp Wekiva and member of Panama City Beach Garden Club will introduce/review the purposes and goals of FFGC’s camp for youth.
October
“Native Plants Selections for Okaloosa County”
Emily Peterson of the Garden Gate Nursery will bring some native plants from her nursery that are great additions to landscapes in our area. The club will follow this program with a field trip to the Garden Gate in Gulf Breeze.
November
“Contrived Flowers”
Judy Kiliher, member of the Pensacola Federation of Garden Clubs and winner of the Educational Award at last year’s state flower show, shows off her beautiful contrived flowers and gives insights into how we can make them and use them in designs.
December
Christmas Luncheon – Covered dish at our regular meeting place at 11:30 am.
Bring nonperishable food items for Sharing and Caring.
January
“Sustainable Gardening”
Snookie Parrish of Snookie Parrish Landscape Consulting, LLC, will explain various practices that will make our gardens more sustainable and environmentally responsible.
February
“Pruning Common Landscape Plants”
Lynn and Ed Fabian,
Okaloosa County Master Gardeners, will demonstrate proper pruning techniques for
some of our most common landscape plants.
March
“Propagating and Growing Plants”
Bob Bayer, Okaloosa County Master Gardener, will demonstrate various techniques of propagating plants and will share information about how to successfully grow them in the garden.
April
Benefit Auction
Members will bring a plant to auction. Proceeds will be contributed to Habitat for Humanity Landscape Projects.
May
Luncheon and Installation – 11:30
Chaired by the losing team of the Green and White Contest
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Valparaiso Garden Club Board of Directors’ Meeting Schedule
2:00 P.M. at the home of the persons listed below.
September 7 – Kay Parsons
October 4 – Marion Bushey
November 2 – Darolyn Weiss
November 30 – Marie Harrison
January 4 – Scotta Mahugh
February 1 – Carole Martin
March 1 – Kathy Gresko
April 5 – June Jepson
May 3 – Beverly Barefield
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Growing and Showing
Mitchell Building at 9:00 A.M.
(A program for those interested in learning more about floral design, horticulture, and exhibiting in
Standard Flower Shows. Taught by Accredited Flower Show Judges. Open to the public)
September 14 – Roses, Design Basics
October 12 – Spatial Thrust Designs, Horticulture Exhibiting Basics
November 9 – Small and Petite Designs, Collections and Displays
December 14 – Angular Design, African Violets/Gesneriads
January 11 – Camellia, Arboreal Exhibits
February 8 – Still Life, Container-grown Plants, Combination Plantings
March 22 – Ferns, Functional Table Designs, Botanical Nomenclature
April 12 – Review Design Types, Herbs
May 10 – Hydrangeas, Flower Show Entry Cards
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The Creative Gardener and Floral Designer
Mitchell Building, 6:00 P.M.
(An evening program for anyone interested in floral design and gardening in our area.
Taught by a variety of club members and local experts. Public invited.)
October 5 – Construct a Fall Wreath
November 2 – Construct Holiday Centerpiece
December 7 – Forcing Bulbs
January 18 – Patriotic Floral Design
February 15 – Pruning Basics
March 15 – Caladiums
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Floral Design Studies, Pensacola
PFGC Garden Center
October 19 – Unit I
November 16 – Unit II
December 14 – Unit III
January 18 – Unit IV
February 22 – Unit V
March 15 – Unit VI
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NEW PROJECTS FOR CURRENT YEAR
1. Observe National Garden Week through a variety of activities, including a Standard Flower Show.
2. Concentrate on publicity for garden club projects and programs.
3. Use the “Creative Gardener and Floral Designer” Monday evening series as a springboard to an evening garden club or circle.
4. Encourage and mentor new Student Flower Show Judges as they write the schedule for the June 2009 flower show and as they continue meeting criteria to become Accredited Flower Show Judges.
5. Invite other garden clubs to participate in “Growing and Showing.”
CONTINUING PROJECTS
1. Make rain barrels, decorate, and distribute them to members and to the public to reinforce our commitment to water conservation.
2. Continue the “Growing and Showing” workshops on Monday mornings as scheduled.
3. Plan and organize field trips to enhance members’ knowledge and enjoyment of gardening.
4. Instigate new ways to raise money to support club projects.
5. Emphasize native plants throughout the year. Include an article in each issue of the newsletter featuring a native plant and discuss it and show samples at each club meeting.
6. Encourage civic pride by continuing our "Yard of the Month" program in Valparaiso and Niceville in recognition of excellence in landscape design. Signs will be displayed in deserving landscapes, pictures will be placed in the newspaper, and pictures and announcements will be sent to our local television station.
7. Continue to maintain container gardens at the Heritage Museum and Valparaiso Community Library.
8. Work to increase knowledge of floral design and gardening techniques by offering or supporting special clinics and seminars throughout the year.
9. Increase membership by offering high quality educational programs and opportunities for worthwhile community service related to gardening.
10. Learn about horticulture and floral design by continuing our "Green and White" contest.
11. Donate a scholarship of $200 to Wekiva Youth Camp in memory of Dr. Fanny-Fern Davis (or send a camper to Wekiva).
12. Donate $200 to S.E.E.K (Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge), FFGC’s Conservation program for high school students.
13. Contribute to World Gardening (E.C.H.O.) ($25), Nature Conservancy ($25), District I Fund ($1.00 per member), National Arbor Day Society ($25), Habitat for Humanity (Proceeds of April plant auction), Sharing and Caring (Collection at Christmas Luncheon), Friends of the Milton Gardens ($50), and other charities and causes that share garden club goals and purposes.
15. Continue to monitor trees planted by the club in Florida Park and ensure their welfare by seeing that their cultural needs are met.
16. Continue to provide horticultural education for local residents through lectures, newspaper and magazine articles, programs, and/or garden tours.
17. Continue to award a $500 scholarship to a deserving high school or college student enrolled in a field of study related to the goals of NGC.