Calendar
Does your WGCF club have an event planned that should be included on the calendar?
Please send the pertinent information to CONTACT US.
Please send the pertinent information to CONTACT US.
If you would like to support our efforts to GARDEN FOR GOOD, consider contributing to one of our projects. Thank you!
WGCF is a non-profit 501c3 organization. To donate to WGCF undertakings via PayPal or credit card:
WGCF is a non-profit 501c3 organization. To donate to WGCF undertakings via PayPal or credit card:
PBS Wisconsin's Garden & Landscape Expo
PBS Wisconsin's Garden and Landscape Expo is fast approaching (Feb. 10-12) and the Madison District Garden
Clubs are making their presence known! They'll be presenting a Standard Flower Show "Captivating Color." You
are invited to join the fun and try out your design skills. This is open to WGCF members and others. Registration
is now open.
This is definitely an event that has grown in popularity over the years.
Flower Show Details
WGCF 95th Annual Convention 2023
“ROLLING ON THE RIVER”
The Coulee and Madison Districts invite you to join us for the WGCF 95th Annual Business Meeting and Convention “Rolling on the River”, May 21-23, 2023 at the Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska. There promises to be something for everyone.
There is a pre-convention tour of the Riverside International Friendship Gardens and a Mississippi River excursion on the La Crosse River Queen that promises to entertain with sightings of eagles and other wildlife.
Convention program speakers include Tiana Lueck from the National Eagle Center, Wabasha, Minnesota, with information on eagle behavior, biology, and past conservation efforts to save the bald eagle from extinction. Meet a live ambassador of this avian family! Our breakout sessions will include the renowned and inspiring Soil Sisters, a network of women farmers that promote sustainable farming; Gardening by the Moon Phases with popular Jane Hawley Stevens; Secrets on Caring for Summer Bulbs with Andre Paquette; and tips for Connecting with Facebook with WGCF Webmaster, Debby Walters.
Sunday evening our Bronze Award winner, Steve Glandt will speak on the journey of aquaponic farming in establishing Lyfe Gardens, sustaining and supplying locally grown food sources. Monday evening sit back and enjoy a floral design competition featuring some of our very own members of Judges Council and emceed by talented designer Dawn Mozgowa. Following the installation of officers at Tuesday’s luncheon, Linda McCafferty will share her vision and President’s Project.
There will be opportunities to make new friends and visit with old friends at the event. See the Registration and Hotel information below. We look forward to seeing you in May!
Registration:
You can register with the registration form below, print and send to the registrar. The form is also available on page 7 of the Winter 2023 Wisconsin Gardens.
Registration Form
Hotel Reservations:
STONEY CREEK HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
3060 South Kinney Coulee Road, Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650
The room rate is $85.00 per night, plus tax. Deadline for the room rate is April 20, 2023. Rooms available include Deluxe King, and Deluxe Queen. Deluxe King and Queen Accessible are available at request. Continental breakfast is included.
ONLINE RESERVATION:
1. Go to https://reservations.travelclick.com/109238#/guestsandrooms.
2. Ensure that the top of the website says, La Crosse.
3. Select Add Code and from the drop down, select Group Attendee.
4. Enter the correlating block code, 2305WISCON
PHONE IN RESERVATION:
Reservations can be made by calling the Hotel at 608-781-3060 and pressing 3 to reach the front desk. Attendees can notify them of the block code: 2305WISCON.
There is a pre-convention tour of the Riverside International Friendship Gardens and a Mississippi River excursion on the La Crosse River Queen that promises to entertain with sightings of eagles and other wildlife.
Convention program speakers include Tiana Lueck from the National Eagle Center, Wabasha, Minnesota, with information on eagle behavior, biology, and past conservation efforts to save the bald eagle from extinction. Meet a live ambassador of this avian family! Our breakout sessions will include the renowned and inspiring Soil Sisters, a network of women farmers that promote sustainable farming; Gardening by the Moon Phases with popular Jane Hawley Stevens; Secrets on Caring for Summer Bulbs with Andre Paquette; and tips for Connecting with Facebook with WGCF Webmaster, Debby Walters.
Sunday evening our Bronze Award winner, Steve Glandt will speak on the journey of aquaponic farming in establishing Lyfe Gardens, sustaining and supplying locally grown food sources. Monday evening sit back and enjoy a floral design competition featuring some of our very own members of Judges Council and emceed by talented designer Dawn Mozgowa. Following the installation of officers at Tuesday’s luncheon, Linda McCafferty will share her vision and President’s Project.
There will be opportunities to make new friends and visit with old friends at the event. See the Registration and Hotel information below. We look forward to seeing you in May!
Registration:
You can register with the registration form below, print and send to the registrar. The form is also available on page 7 of the Winter 2023 Wisconsin Gardens.
Registration Form
Hotel Reservations:
STONEY CREEK HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
3060 South Kinney Coulee Road, Onalaska, Wisconsin 54650
The room rate is $85.00 per night, plus tax. Deadline for the room rate is April 20, 2023. Rooms available include Deluxe King, and Deluxe Queen. Deluxe King and Queen Accessible are available at request. Continental breakfast is included.
ONLINE RESERVATION:
1. Go to https://reservations.travelclick.com/109238#/guestsandrooms.
2. Ensure that the top of the website says, La Crosse.
3. Select Add Code and from the drop down, select Group Attendee.
4. Enter the correlating block code, 2305WISCON
PHONE IN RESERVATION:
Reservations can be made by calling the Hotel at 608-781-3060 and pressing 3 to reach the front desk. Attendees can notify them of the block code: 2305WISCON.
MEMBERSHIP MONDAYS - Courtesy of NGC
Membership Monday is a free monthly Zoom event for all federated garden club members. Join us on the 2nd Monday of each month from 2PM - 3PM EST. Learn new skills, share success stories, resolve commonly encountered issues, and brainstorm solutions with fellow members across the Americas.
Membership Monday workshops present a topic of the month with a special guest speaker, followed by a Q&A session and follow up. We may not have every answer, but NGC Membership is committed to bringing us all together to explore solutions in a spirit of collaboration.
Visit the National Garden Club site to register.
Membership Monday workshops present a topic of the month with a special guest speaker, followed by a Q&A session and follow up. We may not have every answer, but NGC Membership is committed to bringing us all together to explore solutions in a spirit of collaboration.
Visit the National Garden Club site to register.
Lake Wissota's Spring Brook Waterfall Project
Lake Wissota Garden Club established a wildflower sanctuary in Irvine Park, Chippewa Falls ten years ago. Each year it has expanded and been maintained. A recent grant from the Community Foundation of Chippewa County helped to fund the renovation of Spring Brook Waterfall and its surrounding plantings.
FALL IS IN THE AIR!
WGCF Garden Clubs celebrate fall in a variety of ways. The Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee recently held a fall wreath making workshop at the Boemer Botanical Gardens. The wreath making was led by floral designer, Nancy Cody. The resulting wreaths are beautiful and unique to each participant. Definitely an enjoyable activity.
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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.
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.
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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