Activities
The members of the Meridian Garden Club are an active bunch. In addition to the work projects discussed elsewhere on this site, the club provides opportunities for social interaction, field trips, floral design competition, sharing the joy of gardening with young people, and sharing our knowledge of gardening and floral design with our community.
HOM TV reporter April Jones spent a few days in the summer of 2014 following the club. She captured one of our summer tours, spoke with members, attended the rededication of a memorial garden.
HOM TV reporter April Jones spent a few days in the summer of 2014 following the club. She captured one of our summer tours, spoke with members, attended the rededication of a memorial garden.
Education Outreach
This program is intended to raise community awareness of the Meridian Garden Club and to educate community members about gardening practices and the benefits of gardening. It visibly demonstrates the encyclopedic gardening knowledge of club members. In 2013/14, members made presentations on horticultural topics and floral design at a local bookstore, demonstrated container design at a local senior center, published articles on horticultural topics in a community magazine, and undertook a program to read books on nature and gardening to pre-school children. The Club's youth initiatives are designed to encourage an interest in gardening and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Club's Backdoor Gardeners spent a day with local second graders, who learned about the origins of pioneer food and the contributions of Native Americans living in the area before tucking earthworms into the garden soil and planting beans in pots to be taken home. At the August Historic Village day camp, young visitors learned about pioneer farmers and helped install "Marley", the scarecrow, into the picket fence garden.
This program is intended to raise community awareness of the Meridian Garden Club and to educate community members about gardening practices and the benefits of gardening. It visibly demonstrates the encyclopedic gardening knowledge of club members. In 2013/14, members made presentations on horticultural topics and floral design at a local bookstore, demonstrated container design at a local senior center, published articles on horticultural topics in a community magazine, and undertook a program to read books on nature and gardening to pre-school children. The Club's youth initiatives are designed to encourage an interest in gardening and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Club's Backdoor Gardeners spent a day with local second graders, who learned about the origins of pioneer food and the contributions of Native Americans living in the area before tucking earthworms into the garden soil and planting beans in pots to be taken home. At the August Historic Village day camp, young visitors learned about pioneer farmers and helped install "Marley", the scarecrow, into the picket fence garden.
|
Fundraising
The Club conducts fundraising activities to support the work it does in designing and maintaining Meridian Gardens, education programs for members, education outreach programs, youth programs, and charitable giving. The club sells bulbs several times a year. Members provide the plants and garden goodies for the annual May plant sale and they gather several times a year to create floral arrangements and a variety of crafts. The crafting workshops are a lot of fun and a great way to learn how to make attractive wreaths, cards, art and other items. |
Plant Sale Each year, club members brave the early spring weather to divide their perennials and pot up the spare plants for the club's annual May plant sale. Some also donate houseplants, garden ornaments, and other garden-related items to the sale. This is the club's principal source of fundraising. Proceeds of the sale support the club's charitable giving, education programming and maintenance of several Meridian community gardens. |
Charitable Giving
The Club's charitable giving is supported by its fundraising activities. The Club has made contributions to several charitable organizations, including: Fenner Conservancy, Friends of Historic Meridian, Harris Nature Center, Haslett Beautification Association, Michigan Garden Club Scholarship Fund, Greater Lansing Food Bank, MSU 4-H Children's Garden, etc
.
The Club's charitable giving is supported by its fundraising activities. The Club has made contributions to several charitable organizations, including: Fenner Conservancy, Friends of Historic Meridian, Harris Nature Center, Haslett Beautification Association, Michigan Garden Club Scholarship Fund, Greater Lansing Food Bank, MSU 4-H Children's Garden, etc
.
Gallivanting Gardeners Gallivanting Gardeners offers opportunities during the months of June, July, and August for members to share their gardens and to visit public gardens, nurseries, and nature areas. Every garden offers interesting plant combinations, landscape designs, plant material and hardscape, so we come away refreshed and with new ideas to try in our own gardens. It's a fun way to get better acquainted, too. |
Flower Shows
Many club members are talented floral designers and participate in the numerous flower shows sponsored by federated garden clubs in the mid-Michigan area. Click here for information on upcoming flower shows.
Many club members are talented floral designers and participate in the numerous flower shows sponsored by federated garden clubs in the mid-Michigan area. Click here for information on upcoming flower shows.