Calendar
Does your WGCF club have an event planned that should be included on the calendar?
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Please send the pertinent information to CONTACT US.
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CELEBRATE A MILESTONE WITH US! Milwaukee District's 90th Anniversary
Flower Show and Fall VIP Luncheon Thursday, October 20, 2022
North Hills Country Club • N73 W13430 Appleton Avenue • Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 8:30am
Coffee and Registration • 9:00–11:30am Business Meeting • 12:30pm Lunch
Registration details
North Hills Country Club • N73 W13430 Appleton Avenue • Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 8:30am
Coffee and Registration • 9:00–11:30am Business Meeting • 12:30pm Lunch
Registration details
Plant America for the Birds and the Bees, the Flowers and the Trees
Central Region Convention in Minnesota: Oct. 16-18th
Make plans now to gather with gardeners from throughout the region at the Hyatt Regency, Bloomington, Minnesota.
The presenters:
Hotel registrations should be made by Spetember 18th.
The presenters:
- Dr. David Gentry from the Audubon Society will talk on Birds, the environment, and the plants that birds depend on.
- Linette Sorrentino and her husband David, Board Member National Peony Society & Vice President will give a talk on (Flowers) peonies and are donating many varieties of peonies to be auctioned to attendees.
- Jennifer Teegarden from the Minnesota DNR will talk on Trees, including the importance of urban forestry and trees in our landscape.
- Gail Hudson writes and photographs gardens for Northern Gardener magazine. She will talk on sustainability.
- Floralia Arrangers is sponsoring an NGC Petite Specialty Flower Show.
Hotel registrations should be made by Spetember 18th.
Native Plant Gardening for All - A Success
Choosing their plants: Linda (1st VP) & Chuck McCafferty and WGCF president, Laura Skoff.
The St. Croix District recently sponsored a native plant workshop. The interest in incorporating native plants into our landscapes is strong. The group planned for 40 attendees, hosted 70 and turned others away. Speakers addressed planning gardens using natives, plant choices, rain gardens and native plant propagation. Tours featured the Irvine Park Wildflower Sanctuary created by Lake Wissota Garden Club and Lake Wissota Garden Club members' Gail Fox and Kristen Brown shared their gardens which incorporated many natives to the group. Dragonfly Nursery of Amery supplied plants for attendees as part of the registration giveaway and for purchase. Evaluations are positive and a similar event has been requested for the future. Thank you to the many WGCF members who attended and also to WGCF and NGC for the grants received to support this endeavor. A Thrivent grant was also awarded for the event.
MILWAUKEE DISTRICT CELEBRATES 90 YEARS: Oct. 20, 2022
Join the Milwaukee District in "Celebrating Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" at the North Hills Country Club in Menomonee Falls. The Town & Country and Western Acres Garden Clubs are sponsoring a NGC Flower Show as part of the festivities. All members of the Town and Country and Western Acres Garden Clubs plus WGCF members are encouraged to enter the Design, Horticulture and Botanical Arts, Crafts Divisions.
FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULE
FLOWER SHOW SCHEDULE
INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION TOUR
From L to R: Al & Mary Ellen Sedlachek(Scholarship Chair),Nancy Gregory, Chuck & Linda McCafferty(1st VP), Laura Skoff (President), Jerry Skoff, Gretchen Vest(Parliamentarian), Jim Vest (President’s Project Chair).
WGCF's President Laura Skoff's President's Project is raising money in support of the continuing restoration of Federation Fields at the International Crane Foundation near Baraboo. This project focuses on a ¾ acre hillside converting it to prairie and oak savanna vegetation. WGCF has been involved with the International Crane Foundation for many years. The organization has purchased and donated 10 acres to ICF and in 1984 donated $4,000 for seeds for what has become Federation Fields.
Recently a small group toured ICF taking advantage of a lovely day and the beautiful facilities.
Interested in supporting the President's Project? Use the DONATE button at the top of this page.
Recently a small group toured ICF taking advantage of a lovely day and the beautiful facilities.
Interested in supporting the President's Project? Use the DONATE button at the top of this page.
Seed Swap and Plant Sale
The newest club to WGCF, the Waushara Gardeners held a seed swap where members could choose form 44 flower and vegetable varieties. As part of their public outreach, they worked with Hannah Klusmeyer and Morgen Borznick from the Wautoma Public Library to support the Seed Library Program. The club helped defray the cost of their program and also donated seed packets to the program. Their plant sale held at the Waushara County Fairgrounds included plants, garden related items and also collaborated with a local 4-H club.
ART IN BLOOM at Milwaukee Art Museum
Congratulations to the Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club on their sponsorship of the inspiring Art in Bloom weekend at the museum. The 27 designs created by WGCF members and local florists were beautiful interpretations of the works of art. The popular event was sold out in advance. The Milwaukee Magazine has an excellent article and photos of some of the artwork and designs.
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Joe Divine of Hartland’s The Flower Garden was awarded the People's Choice for his interpretation of the Fireplace Surround from the Henry Harnischfeger Residence.
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Madison District Makes Its Presence Known at the Wisconsin Garden and Landscape Expo!
Gardening Through the Years: A Standard Flower Show Presented by the Madison District Garden Clubs
Spring came early to Madison as the Madison District Garden Clubs’ members hosted a Standard Flower Show at the PBS-Wisconsin Garden and Landscape Expo in February. Highlighting design and gardening styles of the past centuries, the Flower Show welcomed Expo attendees into the exhibit hall. Tropical foliage plants, last summer’s flowering annuals, succulents, planters and woody plants brought “a breath of life” to Garden Expo according to one of the organizers. Floral design types ranged from traditional mass and still life to more advanced hanging spatial and tubular. Botanical arts created a touch of whimsy to the show with wreaths, collages and veggie inspired swags. Education exhibits displayed garden clubs activities since the early 1900’s and community involvement in sharing garden plenty with those in need. Viewed by almost 11,000 visitors, Gardening Through the Years showcased garden club activity and WGCF members from across the state. Ian Lewitz of PBS-Wisconsin interviewed the Flower Show Chair, Gerianne Holzman prior to the event. Interview link.
New, this year, the District sponsored a presentation loosely based on the TV show “Chopped.” Four WGCF members took on the Designer’s Challenge to create a floral masterpiece in front of a lively audience. Prior to going on stage, they did not know the style, materials or container of their design. They had to do all this in less than 30 minutes! The designers rose to the challenge and created lovely pieces to enhance the exhibit hall.
Spring came early to Madison as the Madison District Garden Clubs’ members hosted a Standard Flower Show at the PBS-Wisconsin Garden and Landscape Expo in February. Highlighting design and gardening styles of the past centuries, the Flower Show welcomed Expo attendees into the exhibit hall. Tropical foliage plants, last summer’s flowering annuals, succulents, planters and woody plants brought “a breath of life” to Garden Expo according to one of the organizers. Floral design types ranged from traditional mass and still life to more advanced hanging spatial and tubular. Botanical arts created a touch of whimsy to the show with wreaths, collages and veggie inspired swags. Education exhibits displayed garden clubs activities since the early 1900’s and community involvement in sharing garden plenty with those in need. Viewed by almost 11,000 visitors, Gardening Through the Years showcased garden club activity and WGCF members from across the state. Ian Lewitz of PBS-Wisconsin interviewed the Flower Show Chair, Gerianne Holzman prior to the event. Interview link.
New, this year, the District sponsored a presentation loosely based on the TV show “Chopped.” Four WGCF members took on the Designer’s Challenge to create a floral masterpiece in front of a lively audience. Prior to going on stage, they did not know the style, materials or container of their design. They had to do all this in less than 30 minutes! The designers rose to the challenge and created lovely pieces to enhance the exhibit hall.
Citrus Tree - Arboreal Award
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Age of Aquarius - Tubular Design
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Decades of Door Decorating - Wreath
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Viewers Choice Award
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80 Years of Service
Congratulations to the Sunset Garden Club of the Madison District as they celebrate 80 years of gardening for good in their community. Always active in the community, Sunset Garden Club has been instrumental in creating Monarch Waystations/pollinator gardens at Fire Station #9 and also at Midtown Station.
An afternoon of celebration was held on Sunday, October 2nd at Olbrich Gardens in Madison.
An afternoon of celebration was held on Sunday, October 2nd at Olbrich Gardens in Madison.
Judges Council Symposium in Iowa
An advantage of being part of the NGC organization is the educational opportunities that you can participate in throughout the nation. Recently WGCF members Gerianne Holzman, Lynne Ehnert, Kerry Krokos and Wendy Kramer attended the 51st Iowa Federated Judges Council Symposium in Madrid, Iowa on August 23-24, 2021. It was a packed 2 days of learning how to judge “Cucurbita Genus: Pumpkins, Squash, Gourds”; “Foliage Container Plants in Horticulture Specialty Shows” how to “Beat the Clock”; “Ethics and Etiquette” and “Is It This or Is it That?” Design instructor, Julia Clevett, instructed us on comparing the differences between traditional, creative, and abstract creative designs. Horticulture and Flower Show procedure instructor, Dottie Howatt, taught us how to judge squash, foliage plants, in addition to etiquette and how to keep on time when judging a show. Dottie encouraged us to incorporate creative staging into the flower show.
A way to incorporate creative horticulture staging in a flower show using upside down fabric covered crates.
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A way to incorporate creative horticulture staging in a flower show using a wood or metal sculpture to hold plant material.
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In this creative design example, Julia encouraged us to keep the staging panel and underlay in proportion to the design.
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This is a traditional mass design. Note how your eye moves throughout the design and the lovely harmonious design colors.
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WGCF POLLINATOR GARDEN SIGNS
 Western Acres members promoting membership and offering pollinator signs at Brookfield's Farmers Market.
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Promote your pollinator garden(s) with an attractive sign! Orders may be placed online and will be delivered through WGCF’s District Directors. Orders are considered placed when payment is received. Clubs may combine their orders and submit them to make distribution easier. Cost per sign is $20.00. Suitable three foot metal posts are available from Menard’s, Home Depot or Fleet Farm.
Signs are 10″ x 15″ and are made out of coated aluminum composite with an average lifespan of 3 – 5 years. |
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If you need some to sell at events, contact your district director.
Order Form
Order Form
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The Wisconsin Garden Club Federation founded in 1928 is a charter member of the National Garden Club organization. As an organization, we are proud of our heritage of developing relationships with fellow gardeners, learning, and gardening for good in our communities.
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