Michigan garden clubs search for missing Blue Star Memorial markers

Many thanks to Traverse City (Mich.) Record-Eagle.com for publicizing the work of Elk Rapids Garden Club member Loraine Mottern and Lorrie Dyal, chairperson for the Michigan state garden club's Blue Star project.

Blue Star memorials, which honor American service men and women, are among the most popular projects sponsored by National Garden Clubs' local and state organizations nationwide.  According to the Record-Eagle article, 51 markers have been placed in Michigan  since 1946, mostly along highways, but 10 had gone missing. Seven have now been accounted for thanks to the efforts of Dyal and local garden club members.  Mottern is still on the hunt for a marker once placed near Elk Rapids that has been missing since the 1950s.

Here's the complete story:
http://record-eagle.com/local/x1644854839/Gardener-searches-for-missing-marker

Reprieve for U.S. National Arboretum's Azalea and Boxwood Collection

As the Washington Gardener blog reports, the USNA azalea and boxwood collection, which had lost its funding, has been given a reprieve, thanks to public outcry and support from National Garden Clubs and other organizations.

http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2011/02/usna-azalea-and-boxwood-collections-get.html

Reasons to Join a Garden Club

Early Spring is a great time to join a garden club!  Find out more here.

National Garden Clubs Membership Brochure

La Jolla (Calif.) Floral Designer Offers Tips

http://www.lajollalight.com/2010/11/23/floral-design-celebrity-shares-her-secrets-at-la-jolla-garden-club-meeting/

Thanks to La Jolla Light for this interesting story about a floral design celebrity!

National Garden Club Greens The Gulf Coast

NGC works to restore public spaces damaged by Hurricane Katrina as part of its national "Green The Gulf Coast" program. The Mississippi Press. http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-living/2011/02/making_gautier_golden_civic_groups_receive_donated_narcissus_bulbs_for_beautification_project.html

California Garden Clubs Landscape School Announcement

California Garden Clubs Landscape School News

Shout Out to Garden Club of Back Bay

Check out this excellent blog and the related Facebook page. Wonderful information of interest to all garden club members and gardeners.

http://www.gardenclubbackbay.org/

More scholarship opportunities from Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts

http://www.gcfm.org/Education/Scholarships/GCFMA.aspx

Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts offers additional scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship deadlines March 1

National Garden Clubs Inc College Scholarships

(From the National Garden Clubs website at www.gardenclub.org)

NGC is proud of its college scholarship program which offers financial aid to students majoring in fields of study related to horticulture and the environment. Thirty-five (35) advanced annual scholarships were awarded in 2010 for the academic year of 2010-2011, each in the amount of $3,500.

Thirty-five (35) advanced annual scholarships are available for the academic year of 2011-2012, each in the amount of $3,500.

DETAILS OF THE AWARD

• One-year scholarships are available to juniors, seniors and graduate students pursing a Master’s Degree
• Sophomores may make application for their junior year
• College/university must be accredited and listed on the official website of the U.S. Department of Education http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

Link to Youth Scholarship details National Garden Clubs

National Garden Clubs Scholarships

National Garden Clubs Inc. offers college scholarships to students who plan to concentrate their studies and work in garden-related industries. Nancy Peck http://gardenclubsalon.wordpress.com/

Teacher Enters Photos of Martha Franck Fragrance Garden in 2010 Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest

Fragrance Garden article from Ourstate.com

Red Bluff Garden Club Offers Tips for Winter Gardening

http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_16928286

Columbia (S.C.) Garden Club Maintains Blue Star Memorials

News from Columbia (S.C.) Garden Club -- Maintaining Blue Star Memorials and contributing to care for "orphaned" markers

http://columbiagardenclub.com/community/%C2%A0blue-star-memorial-highway-marker.html

Kermit Garden Club dedicates Blue Star Memorial

See article--Kermit Garden Club in Odessa,Texas



http://www.oaoa.com/news/garden-57432-club-kermit.html

From HMBD.org -- America's First Garden Club

Article on America's First Garden Club Marker

Interesting article!

Boston Area Garden Club Hosts Marathon 'Wreath Week'

"If Santa Were A Gardener, This Is What His Workshop Would Look Like," from the Back Bay Patch.http://backbay.patch.com/articles/back-bay-garden-club-wreath-project-works-to-fill-more-than-400-wreath-orders#video-3733260

California Garden Clubs Replant National Forest Through Penny Pines Program

Penny Pines article


Through Penny Pines, a national program by National Garden Clubs Inc., California Garden Clubs, Inc. helped fund the replanting of 7,100 Western white pine trees over 40 acres on the Kern Valley Plateau. The planting area was situated in the Vista Fire area which burned 420 acres of national forest in 2007. 

Connecticut Garden Club Promotes Civic Beauty For The Holidays

Article from the Post-Chronicle:
http://www.ctpostchronicle.com/articles/2010/12/10/life/doc4d0273a15c263544635978.txt
Members of the Wallingford Garden Club of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut and National Garden Clubs Inc., held a holiday wreath-making workshop for volunteers.

Florida Garden Club Discovers, Restores Historic Blue Star Memorial

A piece of history in Pompano Beach, Fla.--a Blue Star Memorial Marker--was discovered and has been restored and rededicated by members of the Pompano Beach Garden Club of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and National Garden Clubs Inc.--just in time for the national observance of Pearl Harbor Day. http://pompanopelican.webs.com/apps/blog/show/5502602-chance-find-returns-blue-star-memorial-in-time-for-pearl-harbor-day

Florida Garden Clubs Offer Tips on Creating A Community Garden

Create social change and environmental awareness by organizing, restoring or revitalizing a community garden in your area with tips by The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Inc. of National Garden Clubs Inc. http://www.ffgc.org/projects/community_gardens/index.html