Contributions to Our Community
Financial Contributions 2022-2023
Charitable Gifts
Fenner Conservancy $300
Friends of Historic Meridian $350
Harris Nature Center $300
Haslett Beautification Association $300
Michigan Garden Club Scholarship in the name of our club to MSU Horticulture student $1000
Greater Lansing Food Bank $350
Michigan State University Children’s Garden $300
Okemos Montessori School Foundation
Children’s Garden $100
School Gardens for Meridian Township $500
Inspiration Circle Garden, Howell $100
Meridian Cares (Member Donations) $1,150
Meridian Public Gardens $1,214
New School Garden Grants Program
A new grant program was created in 2023 to encourage the installation of gardens at our local schools, with the requirement that students be involved in the creation and maintenance of the gardens. In partner-ship with the Meridian Green Grants program, a $500 grant will be offered to support each proposal that is endorsed. For each project, a liaison from the club will offer suggestions, advice, and encourage-ment. The first project proposed and undertaken in the summer of 2023 was the installation of a pollina-tor garden near the front entrance of Ralya Elementary School in Haslett. One of our members (Sarah Haagensen) is a fifth grade teacher there, and she oversaw the project, together with the head STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) teacher at Ralya, Stephanie Horwath. The installation involved fourth and fifth grade students and the school's Earth Club.School Representa-tives (left to right): Sarah Haagensen , teacher, Ralya Elementary Erin Bryant, Family Council, Bennett Woods Elementary Christine Batora, teacher, Okemos Central Montessori
Black Swallowtail Butterfly Initiative
Michigan is the only state that has neither a state insect nor a state butterfly. For many years the Michigan Garden Clubs (MGC) has championed legislation to name the Black Swal-lowtail the official butterfly of the State of Michigan because it is native to our state and is a valuable pollinator.
In the last year, the legislation has made substantial pro-gress. As of this writing, the bill was passed by the Michigan House and is scheduled to be considered by the Michigan Senate. This is the most promising position we’ve seen since we first supported legislation to select the Black Swal-lowtail as Michigan’s official state butterfly.
Our local representative, Julie Brixie, deserves much credit for this success. Please consider thanking her at: [email protected]
Community Outreach Project
In April 2023, our club initi-ated a bouquet making project with residents at the Ingham County Medical Care Facility on Dobie Road. We work as volunteers with Cassie Weston, Life Enrichment Manager. Around 15+ residents attend our activity each time we visit.
Many of these residents enjoyed gardens of their own when they lived independently. They are enthusiastic about picking their favorite flowers and creating bouquets to take back to their rooms.
Okemos Kroger generously supplies the beautiful “past sale” flowers from their floral department. We tie small MGC/ Kroger gift tags to each vase with ribbon. Six club members attend and participate each month.
Service Contributions
Blue Star Memorial Rededication 2022
National Garden Clubs, Inc., reports that there are 3,334 Blue Star and 99 Gold Star memorials nationwide. Blue Star honors the service and sacrifices of veterans and their families. Gold Star honors veterans who died serving their country. Michigan now has 106 Blue Star and 3 Gold Star memorials, including ours, dedicated in 2008, which is number 37 in Michigan. Two special people are commemorated: Sharon Hudson, deceased club member (2013), and an army nurse and midwife, and Paul Cassidy a township employee, and Army Reservist killed in Iraq in 2003.
Plant it Pink Garden
Our Plant It Pink Garden (PIP) was dedicated in October 2017 to promote awareness of the fight against breast cancer and to honor its victims and survivors. This was a National Garden Club project. By planting pink gardens in public places, clubs joined with local community groups to create hope for a breast cancer-free world.
Memorial bricks are a special feature in our garden. Currently there are 25 inscribed bricks, with an additional three awaiting installation in the walkway. If you would like to order a brick, send your request and check ($75) to club Treasurer Carole Armstrong. Click HERE for the order form. A portion of the purchase price of each brick helps to support future maintenance of the PIP garden.
National Garden Clubs, Inc., reports that there are 3,334 Blue Star and 99 Gold Star memorials nationwide. Blue Star honors the service and sacrifices of veterans and their families. Gold Star honors veterans who died serving their country. Michigan now has 106 Blue Star and 3 Gold Star memorials, including ours, dedicated in 2008, which is number 37 in Michigan. Two special people are commemorated: Sharon Hudson, deceased club member (2013), and an army nurse and midwife, and Paul Cassidy a township employee, and Army Reservist killed in Iraq in 2003.
Plant it Pink Garden
Our Plant It Pink Garden (PIP) was dedicated in October 2017 to promote awareness of the fight against breast cancer and to honor its victims and survivors. This was a National Garden Club project. By planting pink gardens in public places, clubs joined with local community groups to create hope for a breast cancer-free world.
Memorial bricks are a special feature in our garden. Currently there are 25 inscribed bricks, with an additional three awaiting installation in the walkway. If you would like to order a brick, send your request and check ($75) to club Treasurer Carole Armstrong. Click HERE for the order form. A portion of the purchase price of each brick helps to support future maintenance of the PIP garden.
Historical Village Decorating(November and December)
We will hang swags in the Meridian Historical Village for the 2023 holidays.
We will hang swags in the Meridian Historical Village for the 2023 holidays.
Meridian Garden Club Youth Outreach
Girls Scout Troop 30269 planted tulip bulbs and prepared the garden
for the winter by disposing of the spent annuals and pruning the
current blooms. The troop returned in June to plant the annuals and mulch around the firehouse.
Girls Scout Troop 30269 planted tulip bulbs and prepared the garden
for the winter by disposing of the spent annuals and pruning the
current blooms. The troop returned in June to plant the annuals and mulch around the firehouse.
Recycling
We publish a listing of community recycling resources on our website, www.meridiangardenclub.com.
Accolade Elm Tree
An Accolade Elm was planted by Meridian Garden Club in 2011. This Dutch elm disease resistant tree was chosen to represent the 1840s era in the Historical Village.
Community Garden Maintenance
During the spring, summer and fall, our members work to maintain 13 Meridian gardens. Some work in multiple gardens, contributing over 1200 hours of service to the community.
We publish a listing of community recycling resources on our website, www.meridiangardenclub.com.
Accolade Elm Tree
An Accolade Elm was planted by Meridian Garden Club in 2011. This Dutch elm disease resistant tree was chosen to represent the 1840s era in the Historical Village.
Community Garden Maintenance
During the spring, summer and fall, our members work to maintain 13 Meridian gardens. Some work in multiple gardens, contributing over 1200 hours of service to the community.