| SPRING EVENTS | PLANT SALES | PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST | FLOWER SHOWS | FUND RAISERS |
| MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS |
| MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS |
Register to Attend MDGC Spring Meeting and Luncheon
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Don't miss the MDGC Spring Meeting and Luncheon on Wednesday, May 7, at Meyer's Restaurant in Greenfield. We'll hear from Joe Polewlka, President of the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation and elect and install new MDGC executive officers.
Lunch will be served family-style and includes broasted chicken, pork tenderloin, soup, rolls, mashed potatoes, veggie, dessert, tea, coffee, milk and water. Download the meeting flyer to learn more and register by mail. To RSVP online, click HERE. |
Spring Events
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South Shore Garden Club Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show
Saturday April 26, 2025 from 9am to 1pm The Wisconsin Club - City Club, 900 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee Kick off spring by going to the South Shore Garden Club's annual spring luncheon and fashion show April 26 at the Wisconsin Club. The theme of this year's event is "The Beauty of Geraniums." The event starts at 9am with a social hour where you can check out floral competitions and a silent auction. You can also shop with several local vendors. Lunch is served at 11am and the fashion show, which is presented by Delafield Main Street Boutique, begins at 12 noon. If you're interested in attending, you can learn more HERE. The deadline to RSVP and buy tickets is Friday, April 11. Ikebana International Milwaukee Chapter #22 and Pabst Mansion: Floral Reflections May 2 to 4, 2025 from 10am to 4pm Pabst Mansion, 2000 West Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233 The Pabst Mansion has partnered with the Milwaukee chapter of Ikebana International to synthesize the beauty of the Mansion and the art of Japanese floral arrangements. More than 20 Ikebana displays will be positioned throughout the historic home and there will be demonstrations each day at 11am. Space is limited and it's recommended that you buy tickets in advance to see the arrangements and tour the mansion. Visit the Pabst Mansion website to learn more and buy tickets. |
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Plant Sales
South Shore Garden Club Annual Fundraiser Plant Sale
May 1 to 31, 2025 – Shop the whole month!
Paul's Petal Pushers Greenhouse, 28058 North Lake Drive, Waterford WI
Visit Paul's Petal Pushers Greenhouse, make your selections and let them know that you are purchasing for South Shore Garden Club. A percentage of your purchases will be donated to the garden club. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Fox Point Garden Club's 54th May Market
Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 9am to 12 noon
Longacre Pavilion by Stormonth School, 7301 Longacre Road, Fox Point, WI 53217
Fox Point Garden Club's annual plant sale features plants from members' gardens, dug and potted just for you! The club's annual fund raiser helps provide materials for the gardens that it maintains in the community. Detailsfor the plant sale are being finalized.
Four Seasons Garden Club's Annual Plant Sale
Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 9am to 3pm
Kenosha Harbor Market, 3030 39th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144
Four Seasons Garden Club is getting ready for its annual plant sale at the Kenosha Harbor Market. Mark your calendar and get a head start on your gardening this year.
Photography Contest
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Central Region Photography Contest:
"Nature is Imagination Itself" Wisconsin is holding the 2025 Central Region Convention in October at the Osthoff Resort. The convention will feature a photography contest open to members of any federation garden club in the Central Region. Entries may be submitted from Jan. 1 through Aug. 1, 2025. Finalists in each category will be displayed at the convention. The categories are: Class 1. Through the Looking Glass: a photo featuring reflection Class 2. Flying High - featuring movement in nature Class 3. Down by the Water – a color or monochromatic image showcasing the lakeside and/or wetlands Class 4. This really Bugs Me! - A close-up or macro image celebrating pollinators, pests and or predators in our habitats Class 5 Nitty Gritty – a still life or still image featuring some natural components Class 6. This is Wild! - a photo of a subject in nature changed by your use of creative techniques. |
Flower Shows
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Wisconsin State Fair Flower Show Features "CREAM of the CROP" Entries
Floral Designers of Wisconsin celebrated 100 years of cream puffs at the Wisconsin State Fair with its 2024 flower show called "Cream of the Crop." This year's state fair attendance set a new record of 1,136,805 fairgoers and 352,000 Original Cream Puffs were served. During the Aug. 8 to 11 NGC Standard Flower Show, people from across Wisconsin checked out the "cream of the crop" entries in the Design, Horticulture and Education Divisions. In addition, to the standard and exhibition tables, there were some unusual designs in the creative mass, low profile and illumination classes. Flower shows educate the public and several fairgoers went home with new creamy hosta varieties and how to create a moon garden after viewing the educational exhibits. The rainy spring produced some great horticulture and there were more than 110 entries. Kitty Larkin, president of Floral Designers of Wisconsin and the show chairman, was pleased with all of the entries. "We had some great floral designs and horticulture entries – it was a competitive show! We're looking forward to 2025." |
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District Fund Raisers
Western Acres members promoting membership and offering pollinator signs at Brookfield's Farmers Market.
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Pollinator Garden Signs
Promote your pollinator garden(s) with an attractive sign! You don't have to be a garden club member to buy a sign. Also, garden clubs may combine their orders and submit them to make distribution easier. Cost per sign is $18 or 2 for $35. Signs are 10″ x 15″ and are made out of coated aluminum composite with an average lifespan of 3 to 5 years. Suitable three foot metal posts are available from Menard’s, Home Depot or Fleet Farm. Contact: Diane Olsen |
Meetings and Conventions
Membership Panel Discussion, VIP Awards Highlights MDGC Fall Meeting
Discussing membership development and honoring VIP members were the highlights of the Milwaukee District's annual fall meeting Oct. 14 in Mequon. In addition to reports from the MDGC officers and chairs of the standing committees, garden club presidents shared their clubs' work and projects during 2024 and plans for 2025. During the MDGC business meeting, the bylaws were updated and the scholarship fund was increased.
The Wisconsin Garden Club Federation's (WGCF) Future's Subcommittee lead a panel discussion on membership development – how to enhance member experiences, increase and retain membership and have fun! The Future's Subcommittee is part of the WGCF Strategic Planning Committee. Participating in the panel discussion were:
Sue, Karen and Kathy talked about ways to implement the National Garden Club's goals of recruiting, retaining and revitalizing membership. They provided a list of resources and discussed what they have learned from other national groups such as the American Hosta Society and Wild Ones. To learn more about the subcommittee and its resources, visit the WGCF website HERE.
VIP members nominated by their garden clubs for their dedicated service included Norma McReynolds of Floral Designers of Wisconsin Garden Club, Mary Jo Wellenstein of Fox Point Federated Garden Club and Judi Wisla of Hawthorn Garden Club.
The Wisconsin Garden Club Federation's (WGCF) Future's Subcommittee lead a panel discussion on membership development – how to enhance member experiences, increase and retain membership and have fun! The Future's Subcommittee is part of the WGCF Strategic Planning Committee. Participating in the panel discussion were:
- Sue Wallace – WGCF Executive Committee Recording Secretary and member of the 2025 Convention Committee
- Karen Merlau – Sheboygan District Director and Environmental School Chair
- Kathy Shaw – Fox River Valley District Secretary, Waushara Gardeners President and Bird Committee Chair
Sue, Karen and Kathy talked about ways to implement the National Garden Club's goals of recruiting, retaining and revitalizing membership. They provided a list of resources and discussed what they have learned from other national groups such as the American Hosta Society and Wild Ones. To learn more about the subcommittee and its resources, visit the WGCF website HERE.
VIP members nominated by their garden clubs for their dedicated service included Norma McReynolds of Floral Designers of Wisconsin Garden Club, Mary Jo Wellenstein of Fox Point Federated Garden Club and Judi Wisla of Hawthorn Garden Club.
WGCF Convention Is Serendipitous Occasion
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The 96th Annual Business Meeting and Convention of the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation (WGCF) was held May 19 to 21, 2024 at the Milwaukee Marriott West in Waukesha, WI. Hosted by the members of Milwaukee District, it was a serendipitous event for WGCF members with informative speakers, creative workshops and breakout sessions and a mini-craft fair.
See the summer issue of Wisconsin Gardens on the WGCF website for photos and a recap of the convention. |
Milwaukee District Garden Clubs and Members Win Awards
Several garden clubs and their members received awards for their work at the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation's (WGCF) state convention and at the Milwaukee District Garden Clubs (MDGC) spring meeting in May.
The following garden clubs and members from the Milwaukee District were honored at the state convention:
At its May 23 spring meeting, MDGC presented monetary awards to the following garden clubs for their outstanding yearbooks:
The following garden clubs and members from the Milwaukee District were honored at the state convention:
- Creative Horticulture Award – Nicholas Lemus, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee
- Ruth West Horticulture Award, Honorable Mention – Hawthorn Garden Club
- Wisconsin Civic Achievement Award – Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee
- Certificate of Merit – Debra Koenig, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee
- Pat Dvorak Yearbook Award – Hawthorn Garden Club
- Honorable Mention – Elmbrook Garden Club
- And-Then-Some VIP Award – Susan Balije, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee
- Gardening for Wildlife – Nicholas Lemus, Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee
At its May 23 spring meeting, MDGC presented monetary awards to the following garden clubs for their outstanding yearbooks:
- Hawthorn Garden Club (15 members or less)
- Town and Country Garden Club (16 to 39 members)
- Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee (40 plus members)
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Milwaukee District Garden Clubs (MDGC) was founded in 1932 as a part of the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation which is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc. and its Central Region. A not-for-profit educational organization, we serve gardeners in Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties who are gardening for good in our communities.
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