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Milwaukee District Garden Clubs (MDGC) is involved in numerous projects, programs and activities. MDGC members help coordinate and volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity plant share, and we participate in Wisconsin Garden Club Federation (WGCF) and the National Garden Clubs' (NGC) projects such as the Blue/Gold Star Memorial Markers. In the past, several District Directors have promoted the Hank Aaron State Trail as their project and raised funds for improvements on the trail.
124 Habitat Homeowners at Plant Share
The Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity held its 20th annual plant share June 7. A record 124 families attended.
The plant share has been a project of the Milwaukee District Garden Clubs for many years. This year garden clubs throughout the Milwaukee District participated by volunteering, donating plants, money, books, gardening accessories and even birdhouses made from seed packets. The event took months to plan, two days to set up and 5 hours to help families who left with smiles on their faces and plants and soil in their wagons and carts.
At least 75 garden club members from the Milwaukee District worked together to make this year’s event a success. They shared their knowledge of plants and gardening and became teachers as the families asked many questions before selecting plants. Families were able to select vegetables, annuals, perennials, garden tools and accessories and make a hanging basket or porch pot. This year children were able to pot their own plant, have their face painted and color sheets filled with butterflies, bees and flowers. Each child also received a special birdhouse made of seed packets.
Susan Miller, who is the District's chairman of the plant share project, said afterwards, "It was a joy to see and feel the excitement. I am so grateful to all who helped in some way to make this year’s Habitat for Humanity Plant Share a huge success."
Thanks to the donations of eight Milwaukee District garden clubs, MATC Mequon, nine professional greenhouses and several master gardeners, the parking lot at 3726 North Booth Street was filled with plants. Habitat families were able to select vegetables, annuals, perennials, yard accessories and create their own porch pot. With the help of money received from two grants, every family went home with a bag of potting soil. Milwaukee District Garden Club members helped the families select plants and shared planting and growing tips.
The plant share has been a project of the Milwaukee District Garden Clubs for many years. This year garden clubs throughout the Milwaukee District participated by volunteering, donating plants, money, books, gardening accessories and even birdhouses made from seed packets. The event took months to plan, two days to set up and 5 hours to help families who left with smiles on their faces and plants and soil in their wagons and carts.
At least 75 garden club members from the Milwaukee District worked together to make this year’s event a success. They shared their knowledge of plants and gardening and became teachers as the families asked many questions before selecting plants. Families were able to select vegetables, annuals, perennials, garden tools and accessories and make a hanging basket or porch pot. This year children were able to pot their own plant, have their face painted and color sheets filled with butterflies, bees and flowers. Each child also received a special birdhouse made of seed packets.
Susan Miller, who is the District's chairman of the plant share project, said afterwards, "It was a joy to see and feel the excitement. I am so grateful to all who helped in some way to make this year’s Habitat for Humanity Plant Share a huge success."
Thanks to the donations of eight Milwaukee District garden clubs, MATC Mequon, nine professional greenhouses and several master gardeners, the parking lot at 3726 North Booth Street was filled with plants. Habitat families were able to select vegetables, annuals, perennials, yard accessories and create their own porch pot. With the help of money received from two grants, every family went home with a bag of potting soil. Milwaukee District Garden Club members helped the families select plants and shared planting and growing tips.
Judy helps a Habitat homeowner at the 2022 plant share.
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Habitat for Humanity Award Honors Former MDGC Plant Share Chair
For many years, Judy Newman chaired the Milwaukee District Garden Clubs Habitat for Humanity committee. She helped coordinate the annual MDGC's plant share until she passed in December 2023. To honor Judy's work and dedication, Milwaukee Habitat created and gave the Judy Newman Building Beauty Awards this year. Read more about the awards and Judy's work at here. |
Blue/Gold Star Memorial Markers
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MDGC Installs Blue Star By-Way Marker on Hank Aaron State Trail
Milwaukee District Garden Clubs (MDGC) installed a Blue Star By-Way Marker on the Hank Aaron State Trail May 22. The marker is next to the MDGC bench that is located on the trail west of the South 89th Street Trail Head Entrance in West Allis. Mayor Dan Devine of West Allis attended the Blue Star By-Way Maker dedication. The marker is to the left of the public art memorial that reflects West Allis's history. The public art was created by students at Milwaukee High School of the Arts in collaboration with the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. The ADA-accessible bench was installed by MDGC in 2024 as Diane Olsen’s MDGC District Director’s project. Additional funds were raised during Diane’s second term as District Director for the Blue Star By-Way Marker. National Garden Clubs (NGC) began the Blue Star Program in 1945 to honor all men and women who served in the US Armed Forces. The Wisconsin State Garden Club Federation (WGCF) is involved in locating Blue and Gold Star Memorials across Wisconsin – from Superior to Milwaukee. Garden club districts and their clubs fund and maintain the markers in the state. |
West Allis Mayor Dan Devine; Diane Olsen, MDGC District Director; Nancy Gregory, MDGC Blue Star Chairman; and Roberto Ayala of the Department of Natural Resources attended the dedication of the Blue Star By-Way Marker on the Hank Aaron State Trail.
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Perennials Planted at Blue Star Memorial Marker on Milwaukee VA Hospital Grounds
MDGC planted red, white and blue perennials at the Blue Star Memorial Marker June 17, 2023, on the grounds of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center across from the Fischer House. Nancy Gregory, MDGC Blue/Gold Star Marker Chair, coordinated the planting. Nancy used funds from Lynne Ehnert's Director's project to buy seven Knock Out roses, 48 sedums and 24 Lion's paws. She worked with Paul Brunette, the VA grounds keeper (pictured on the right in bottom photo), who provided mulch and soil amendments. In addition to volunteers from the Town & Country Garden Club, 12 members of IBEW Local 2150 Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (led by their Secretary/Treasurer Doreen Reske in green vest in bottom photo) provided the muscle and helped with the clearing of the beds and digging holes for the perennials. Click HERE to learn more about the history of the Blue/Gold Star Memorial Markers and how involved garden clubs have been in establishing and caring from them in Wisconsin and across the nation. |
Hank Aaron State Trail
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Milwaukee District Garden Clubs raised funds for an ADA bench on the Hank Aaron Trail that was installed July 12, 2024, at the Hank Aaron Trail Head access point located at South 89th and West Schlinger Avenue in West Allis.
Under Diane Olsen's leadership, MDGC raised funds for the ADA bench and the three native American Plum trees that were planted near the bench. Constructed of recycled plastic lumber. the bench has a plaque commemorating the MDGC donation. The Department of Natural Resources maintains the area around the bench and waters the plum trees. Also, under the leadership of Cheryl Lausten, MDGC was a major contributor to the "People of the Roads" sculptures that honors the railroad workers who carried Milwaukee’s name across the country on rails. A world-class urban trail, the Hank Aaron State Trail is a 14-mile paved, continuous east-to-west connection from the shores of Lake Michigan to the Milwaukee/Waukesha county line and the Oak Leaf Trail. You'll find some of Milwaukee's top destinations along the route as well as a variety of environments ranging from urban, to river views, to prairie and wooded surroundings. |
At the installation of the bench on the Hank Aaron Trail were (left to right, back row) Norma McReynolds, Susan Miller, Kerry Krokos, Diane Olsen and Lynne Ehnert and (sitting on the bench) Nancy Gregory and Kitty Larkin.
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