Author: Edith Nelson

This letter was sent to the South Atlantic Region Key Notes

The beginning of a new year is a time for reflecting on the accomplishments of the past year and a time to plan and focus on new ideas and projects for 2017. As you spend winter days with your gardening books and seed catalogs, remember to select seeds for native plant pollinator gardens and monarch waystations.

The Garden Club of Kentucky has seen a big increase in the number of certified gardens that ensure a brighter future for pollinators in our state. Kentucky has increased the number of Certified Monarch Waystations from 36 in 2013 to 404 through October 2016. Thanks to State Park Chairman, Joanna Kirby, we now have Monarch Waystations in 15 Kentucky State Parks. Linda Porter, Pollinator and Butterfly Chairman reported that public and private agencies across the state have joined forces to develop a Monarch Conservation Plan for Kentucky.

A park in Henderson, Kentucky has been offering to the public the opportunity to catch and tag Monarch butterflies to aid in tracking their migration paths to Mexico for the winter. Before being released, a small round sticker with identifying information is placed on the underside of the Monarch’s back wing.

Our garden club members have a huge impact in their communities as they beautify and improve them with the many volunteer hours spent each year. They continue to maintain gardens and waystations at Regional Airports, Arboretums, Nursing homes, Assisted living homes, Historical Society, National and State Parks, City welcome signs, and our State Headquarters. Garden Club for Noble Park received a $5,000 watershed grant to sponsor a rain garden workshop and to develop a rain garden to remedy a major water problem in the Parks Children’s Memorial.

While Paving the Pathway to the Future, we are making progress with our youth clubs. Youth Chairman, Ann Kowalkoski, and her committee report that all five districts have participated in youth activities including projects at a public library, work day at a park with pollinators, hands on activities, and applying for Youth Awards.

Many flower shows have been held this year. One show was held in conjunction with a district meeting. Members placed entries in shows at fairs and city celebrations. Programs included creative designs and how to prepare for a flower show. The Garden Club of Kentucky and Middlesboro Garden Club will host Flower Show Course IV on March 16 17, 2017 in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Our Symposium, sponsored by Kentucky Council of Nationally accredited Flower Show Judges of GCKY, will be held June 14 15, 2017 at Carter Caves State Park, Olive Hill, Kentucky.

Corbin Garden Club and Lady Slippers Garden Club in Mountain Laurel District, each installed and dedicated a Blue Star Memorial Marker for Veterans Day. What a beautiful way to honor our servicemen and women with a memorial that will beautify and preserve the land for which they fought.

I’m looking forward to seeing each of you at South Atlantic Region Convention in White Sulphur Springs, WV, on March 26-28, 2017.
Edith S. Nelson, GCKY President

It was an honor and pleasure that I attended each of the 5 District Meetings in October.   My first meeting was Friday, October 2, 2015 the Blue Grass District meeting at Crestwood Christian Church in Lexington hosted by Lexington Council Garden clubs.  The district provided a wonderful overnight stay at The Inn on Broadway with dinner at the Campbell House. The program was Fun & Easy Container Gardens You’ll Love all Season Long by Kim Ellington of United Landscape

The next day, Saturday October 3, was Limestone District Meeting hosted by The Painted Hills Garden Club at First Baptist Church of Morehead. I enjoyed an overnight stay at the home of Ann Fiel which included a great dinner. The program was Landscaping for the Last Great Necessity by Dr. J.D. Reeder, Historian.

On Thursday, October 8, the Dogwood District meeting was hosted by The Cardinal Council and held at Bowling Green Country Club. A wonderful evening meal was at The Bistrol Restaurant with  10 people attending.  The program was Beekkeeping-Finding the Pathway to Pollinators by Michelle Boling, Bee Keeper.

Thursday, October 15 meeting was Audubon District at Cadiz Christian Church hosted by Gateway Garden Club.  My overnight accommodations was at the Lake Barkley State Resort Park with dinner in the dinning room over looking the lake. The program, Designing for Pollinators was presented by Carolyn Roof, Beth Carey and Carol Ullerich from Open Gate Garden Club

The last of the 5 District meetings was Saturday, October 24, at Corbin Center hosted by Corbin Garden Club and Cumberland Falls Garden Club. The program, Garden Club Tidbit, was presented by Sandra Robinson, NGC President.  0vernight accommodations at Comfort Inn Suites and dinner at the fantastic Season’s Restaurant.

Visiting the District meetings was the highlight of my year.

Edith Nelson

GCKY President

Key Notes Article January 2016

Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc.

Edith S. Nelson, President

Now that 2015 is coming to a close, I hope each of you will reflect back on the many accomplishments that you have achieved during this past year and focus on new ideas and projects to make 2016 even better and more productive.

When I was installed as president in April 2015, I had high hopes for The Garden Club of Kentucky members to involve our youth in garden club activities and stimulate their interest in the environment. I wanted them to learn about our beautiful earth and how to take care of and preserve it, for they are our future stewards of this land.  It is our responsibility as gardeners to share our knowledge.

Looking  over year-end reports has proven that my hopes have not gone astray.  Special Project Youth Advisor Chair, Ann Kowalkoski  with the help of our five district Youth Chairmen have reported that our clubs are very busy working within their own communities with local libraries, presenting  gardening workshops with Kids Club at a church, working with a county 4-H Director who provides after School Youth and Junior Gardening Projects.  One club is working with a Girl Scout Troop to earn the Native Plant Patch.  Activities with the youth include making concrete stepping stones , releasing  5,000 ladybugs, flower pounding to make stationary, study of native plants, identification of trees by their leaves, recycling programs for sculptures, and participating in flower shows.

Native Pollinator Conservation for Youth is another of my special projects with emphasis on South Atlantic Region’s theme  Inspire Conservation through Education. State chairman Linda Porter is coordinating this initiative and provides our clubs with information needed for planning and completing their projects.  She has put together a Pollination for Kids PowerPoint presentation to be used with primary grade children.  The presentation could be easily adapted for upper elementary grade children.

Club members are supporting  National President  Sandy Robinson’s special project Service in Action protecting the Monarch Butterfly by planting and maintaining  Monarch Way Stations.  As we build on the accomplishments of the previous administration, Kentucky now has over 300 Way Stations and more are planned in 2016.  Members are providing milkweed seed to students to plant in children’s gardens at school and libraries.

The Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc. and Middlesboro Garden Club hosted Flower Show School Course I on November 12-14, 2015 in Middlesboro, KY with 24 students in attendance.   Plans are underway for hosting Course II.

Wishing each of you a Happy New Year.

Edith S. Nelson

 

Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc.
President’s Special Youth Projects Awards
2015-2017

 Award #1 Native Pollinator Conservation

Certificate and $25 to a club that presents the most outstanding program or activity in the field of environmental education and native pollinator conservation involving the youth.

1a Small club of 29 members and under

1b Club with more than 29 members

Book of evidence must include pictures and documentation of number of youth involved, list of native plants, and a copy of the program. Use the GCKY Application form. Email to enelsoninbg@aol.com  by December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016. Awarded each year of my administration.

Scale of points for judging
10        Presentation
35        Involvement of youth
35        Use of Native Plants
20       Environmental education

Award #2 New Youth Garden Club

Certificate and $25 to each club that organizes and sponsors a new Youth Garden Club with a minimum of 5 members and 5 meetings a year as required by National. Award Application must include name of Youth Garden Club, address, number and picture of members, schedule of program or activities for the 5 meetings. Application form may be emailed to enelsoninbg@aol.com by December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016. Use the GCKY application form. Awarded each year of my administration.

Edith Nelson
President

I left Bowling Green at 9:30 today to attend the Monarch Way Station dedication at the Governor’s Mansion in Frankfort.  After driving through heavy rain from Elizabethtown to Bardstown, it was a welcome change to see the sunshine at the Frankfort exit off Blue Grass Parkway.  After parking in the Governor’s Mansion parking lot, I was happy to see smiling garden club members attending the dedication.  It was a great presentation by Joanna Kirby and Linda Porter.

 

 

 

After leaving the dedication, I drove around the circle drive where I stopped and viewed the beautiful floral clock and admired the architecture of our Kentucky State Capital Building.

 

From there I stopped at the Governor’s Mansion and to my surprise met Bluegrass District Director, Evelyn Hance and Boone County Garden Club President, Judy Biedenharn. We were happy to get our photo taken in front of the Governor’s Mansion.

If you haven’t visited our Capital in Frankfort, I encourage you to make the trip.  I enjoyed my visit and had a wonderful day.

Happy Gardening,

Edith

 

The Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc.

Edith S. Nelson, President

“Paving the Pathway to the Future”

Congratulations and many thanks to Ann Fiel, National Garden Clubs, Inc., 2015 Convention Chairman, and Joan Wipperman, Convention Co-Chairman, and the members of the Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc., for hosting a wonderful National Convention.  We give a “Big Thanks” to all the South Atlantic Region members who helped make the 2015 NGC Convention a success.  We could not have done it without your help!  We thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts.

The theme for The Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc., for 2015-2017 is “Paving the Pathway to the Future” with emphasis on Youth Gardening and Native Pollinator Conservation.  Our youth is our future and we especially want the pathway to lead to the encouragement of youth involvement.  If our youth becomes involved with conservation and environmental concerns, we will have a smoother pathway to the future.

Our garden clubs will be working within their own communities to explore ways to conserve pollinators through good gardening practices and the planting of pollinator and butterfly gardens and involving the youth.

Early reports of youth activities for Arbor Day and National Garden Week include children planting a flower garden at a local library with 17 children and 10 adults attending the program. Several clubs reported Arbor Day celebration with youth activities and tree planting ceremonies.

We are partnering with the Kentucky Governor’s office and the Kentucky Department of State Parks to encourage conservation of one of our most important resources our pollinators.  Governor Steve Bashear has designated September as Monarch Awareness Month.  Our first Butterfly and Native Plant Weekend will be held at Jenny Wiley State Park in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, September 25-27.  Events will include seminars, field trips, plant sales and children’s activities on butterflies, native plants and native pollinators.

As the new president of the Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc., I am looking forward to Paving the Pathway to the Future with our members and enjoying an exciting and wonderful two years

Edith S. Nelson

 

I consider it an honor to have the opportunity to serve as the President of The Garden Club of Kentucky, Inc. I truly appreciate the support and encouragement that you have given me as fellow gardeners. I am so grateful to my family and friends for their support and understanding in my undertaking of this position for the next two years.

My theme for this term is “Paving the Pathway to the Future” with emphasis on Youth Gardening and Native Pollinators Conservation. Our youth is our future and I especially want the pathway to lead to the encouragement of youth involvement. If our youth become involved with Conservation and Environmental Concerns, we will have a smoother pathway to the future.

I have appointed Ann Kowalkoski as Youth Advisor Chairman. Serving on her committee will be a representative from each of the five districts. I am asking club presidents to please appoint a youth chairman for their club. The committee will compile a quarterly report of youth activities and involvement across the state. This information will be used in the Bulletin and SAR Keynotes.

Linda Porter has graciously accepted the chairmanship for Native Pollinator Conservation along with continuing to chair the Monarch Waystations. Her involvement as Chair of Monarch Waystations Committee for Wild Ones has been extended to include all pollinators. She will be providing educational material and publications for our youth.

I appreciate those willing to serve as chairmen of the various committees. Together with the members across Kentucky, we can “Pave the Pathway to the Future” with and for our youth. Let’s keep the communications flowing.

Happy Gardening,

Edith Nelson