About Mary

Mary is a dear friend to many, especially the members of the Elmhurst Garden Club. She has served the club in so many ways with her knowledge, determination, good grace and sparkling wit. Mary was instrumental in helping to rally members in an effort to save the Great Western Prairie, among other endeavors and held many club positions. She remains inspiration to me; an ever-blooming flower in the garden of my life.

These days, Mary can’t get out and about like she would like to. Health issues necessitated her moving from her home to assisted living and have limited her participation in the many activities she enjoyed. It could not have been easy for her to face so many life changes, yet she has done so with her sense of humor intact, participating in activities she can, and she is embarking on new adventures.

On Monday, our garden club held an auction in lieu of a program. Members donated fine items they no longer use; hand painted children’s furniture, crystal candle holders, tea sets, even original artwork. We are gardeners; progressive when it comes to the environment, horticulture, sustainability, scholarship, saving the monarchs. We are equally conservative when it comes to what and how we spend money. All this to say that none of the winning bids were exorbitant. We could all afford to eat dinner last night, some left with presents to tuck away for the holidays, and we had fun in the process as the garden club’s coffers increased a bit.

One of the auction items was a painting. A simple clay pot of purple flowers as bright as an April day. I could almost feel the dirt under my fingernails and the sunshine on my face. The painting is now mine; it’s soft, muted colors of periwinkle and sage politely waiting to be framed. The artist was our Mary, who recently took up painting!

What an inspiration Mary is. This endearing potted plant is just what I needed, not only to focus on what is really important, but to be uplifted by Mary’s example of fortitude and her endeavors to continue to learn something new. Her creativity and never-ending ability to give to others, along with her budding talent, are a gift to us all, and now, dear reader, my gift to you.

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Feather duster or flowerpot?

I’m trying to decide if I want to put a flower or a feather in my hat.

Important decisions such as a these take time, especially if you are someone like me who does not look particularly fetching in a hat. One’s hair must be right and the tilt of the hat just so. The only way a hat’s tilt looks fetching on me is if my head is lilting starboard

Then, there’s the issue of proper attire. Glovesl, jewelry and such. I’ve been rummaging around in the closet to find the proper outfit. No luck finding something as proper as this.

Now, you might ask, what is all this fuss about?

 I will tell you.

Our garden club’s meeting is to begin with High Tea. Hats and gloves optional.

 Members will be bringing sweets and savouries and we will be having a presentation by a local tea shop, Serene Tea.

My challenge will be to bring members down to earth afterwards for our business meeting (I’m president).

 I’m off to bake some cupcakes – and decide if it’s a feather duster or flowerpot that will be my crown.

While I’m tending to that, I’ll pose a challenge. Can you guess who this lady is with plumes on her hat? I’ll give you some clues.

As a girl, she disliked wearing hats.

She lived in cabins, log homes, and even a sod house.

She traveled across the prairies in covered wagons.

I’ll tell you tomorrow, after High Tea.

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Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire

The members of the garden club I am in, the Elmhurst Garden Club, are as busy as bees in a hive getting ready for the annual walk this coming Sunday.

Those of you who have been involved in any kind of house or garden walk, festival or gala, know the amount of work involved and you all give of your time, money, and efforts for good causes. From breast cancer to juvenile diabetes, scholarships to aiding a family in need after a hardship, church building funds or public awareness, community events such as these are the meat upon the bones of our lives.

There are also the wonderful folks who open up their homes, their kitchens, their gardens for hundreds upon hundreds of interested

I just love the creativity of the gardeners.

and curious to observe. Make no mistake, these folks work hard and often spend a considerable amount of personal money to make it all happen.

So, if there is a fair or festival or garden walk in your area, consider going.

Of course, if you are in the Chicagoland area, I can tell you for sure that the Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire will knock your garden gloves off!  You will see everything from fig trees thriving in our zone 5 climate, to a healing garden, lunch in the Wilder Mansion, and a garden fair to simply delight.

 www.elmhurstgardenwalk.com/

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