September 2023 Newsletter from Director Mitch Grospe Summer seemed to hang on, beautiful blue skies, and flowers continuing to bloom. Then wildfires. Our beautiful summer turned to a toxic mix of unhealthy air, which made it hard to be outside in the garden. When I found our May Speaker, Cheryl Prescot from the Rose Society, I drove to meet Cheryl at her place in Snohomish; I got lost but happened to find our speaker for September. Our District met at UW Center for Urban Horticulture in September, with high rent, I worked with our speaker of the day, Gil Schieber from Skipley Farm. An all-Organic apple and edible fruit farm in Snohomish, it’s an organic u-pick farm, one of the only like farms in the country. I volunteered at the farm to reduce his cost to speak. What a continuing great experience. After that September meeting, I stayed late to chat with Gil and Maureen, the manager of the center. After about an hour of conversation, Maureen offered Wisteria Hall in the Arboretum at a reduced rate. Hence, our November Meeting will be in a new location. Our speaker will be Ethan Childs, tree specialist, talking about the healthcare of trees. Thank you for all the hard work and all those who contributed the intensive legwork of running all over this state and Oregon. October 18th ‘A Day to Remember’. What a great experience. To have 2 wonderful veterans to Garden Clubs, Carolyn Erickson and Lona Carter, also Sean, Amanda, Kathy, Gretchen, Teenie, Evie, Juanita, Penny, Laurie, Chris and JoAnn. Without them, our District couldn’t have pulled off this event. I hope you didn’t miss it - what a wonderful turnout to a beautiful event. The energy was through the roof. Thank you to all who came and supported our district. Some of our Clubs are struggling while others are doing amazing things. We are planning more fun events that hopefully will bring more members to our general meetings. I will be working with our clubs to engage in conversations to find solutions to their needs to strengthen their group.
JUNE 2022 Newsletter from Director Mitch Grospe As the world finds its way back to a “normal” way of life. The Greater Seattle District limps along trying its best to enjoy and share our love of gardening.
After our wonderful in-person February general meeting, and the District board meeting in April went back to Zoom.
May was a busy month. Being the President of Seattle Civic, I had to manage this year’s 70th ‘Gardener of the Year’. Debbie Angel was the recipient of the award which was held at the Bellevue Botanical Garden during the ‘All Shook Up’ Flower Show by Terra Tillers of ELWD. I also entered a design, representing Avant Designs Guild.
The GSD also had its General Meeting. This was an exciting meeting for me as I got to run the meeting as I wanted. Our speaker, Cheryl Prescott, is a master gardener and member of the Seattle Rose Society. She gave a beautiful presentation with roses as giveaways. We had about 20 people—at least 1 person from each club—who shared the exciting things being done in their club. Many had plant sales, field trips to various gardens, and civic projects. With COVID lurking in the air, people getting sick, and getting harder for our older members to participate, attendance was down.
Looking forward. I’m working on getting my speakers for the last two meetings of this year 2022. September- Gil Schieber (Farmer, Horticulturist, Plantsman topic) to be determined. November- State President Anne Sullivan visits our General District Meeting for an update. Speaker Ethan Childs from Seattle Tree Care discusses the care of trees and Agrilus anxius (beetle).
I admire the members of each club in this organization, the energy it takes to keep these clubs together is daunting. For me as director, to enrich their experiences in Garden Club, reinvent them one day, and o encourage them to invite others to join is the greatest and most rewarding challenge.
March 1, 2022 Newsletter from Director Mitch Grospie - NW Flower & Garden Show February 9-13, 2022
I want to thank Linda White and everyone in Greater Seattle and East Lake Washington Districts who was involved in the NW F&G Garden Show. As the holidays towards the end of the year were fast upon us. In Fall 2021 Linda and Myself took on the challenge to rally our districts to enter into the 2022 Northwest flower and garden show. We took a break for the holidays, but after the New Year, our phones lit up and work began. A 10x10 booth was where it started. what would go into the booth? With 4 people from GSD and 5 from ELWD our committee of 9, we meet over zoom and came up with ideas to what our booth would look like. A rug, tables, tablecloths, props, signs, broachers, cards, plants and of course candy. Oh, don’t forget the Volunteers to man the booth On Sunday February 6th. Linda, John, Sean and Myself, met at 8am to put the booth together. Everything came together and looked great. I had a wonderful time manning the booth daily with Sean, met some wonderful people, became a member of ELWD Avant. This experience encouraged me look to the future and think of the possibilities for what’s next. This was a great group of people and I know there are more out there, they just need that encouragement to participate feel safe and have fun.