NEWS from the Spring 2015 THE Plant Sale May1-3 “Building community through gardening education and environmental stewardship.” The Annual Plant Sale issue is here and we’ve got a lot to tell you about… CGC Staff and volunteers have been planning for our 2015 event for ...well, just about for a year now! Truthfully, the 2016 event will begin planning the moment our gates open for the Preview Party this May 1st. The Board, staff and volunteers all know the value of good customer service that begins with “listening” and each year we look to make changes and improvements based on comments from our over 2000 weekend guests. Change IS good! Gardeners know how to appreciate change; we do it 4 times a year, right? Here are some of the good things happening this year: The Ricky Nye Trio and Jeff Thomas Catering kick off the Preview Party on Friday night, tickets are $45 in advance. Milkweed is back! Thanks to the folks at the Cincinnati Nature Center, we’ll have free milkweed seed for Monarchs with the munchies. Milkweed plants will be available again at the Ask the Experts Booth. The return of coffee was high on the list of many shoppers needing to round out the nearly 1/4 mile of plants for sale. Find a good read from Used Books, coffee and a sweet treat from Baked Goods in the Cottage. If you have burning questions about tomato growing, check in with Jerry Luebbe at the Veggie Booth; he’ll have about 30 varieties available. Shade Perennials and Hostas are combined for those who enjoy companion planting. This year BREADSMITH has put variety into our herbed bread selection with several aromatic selections—try them all! Looking for something unusual? Check our the Rare Plants section of the Friday night’s Silent Auction. We could go on and on, but the best way to find out what to see is to come and share the experience—see you there! First-timer at THE Plant Sale? No problem...take the William Howard Taft exit from I-71 and turn right onto Read- ing Road at the White Castle. THE Sale entrance is at Reading and Oak and there are plenty of parking options— just watch for the signs. For more information, call 513-221-0981 or visit www.CivicGardenCenter.org . IN THIS ISSUE A limited number of carts and Executive Director’s Message 2 baskets are available during Board President’s Message 3 THE Sale. We recommend Recent Grants and Donations 4-5 VIP Preview Party Hosts 7 bringing your favorite Community Gardens 9 BAGS Classes & Workshops 10—12 Silent Auction 13 BASKET Volunteering 14 WAGON THE Plant Sale Booth List 15 Green Envy Order Form 16 to hold your plant Horticulture Corner 17 selection. Educating Youth 18 Green Learning 19 Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati 2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45206 Lobby hours: 9-5 M-F, 9-4 Sat., Closed Sunday Executive Director’s Admission to the facility and Hoffman Library is free. Message Phone: 513-221-0981 FAX: 513-221-0961 Vickie Ciotti www.civicgardencenter.org As we prepare for THE Plant Sale each year, my mind goes back to my introduction to this event. I had never been to the Garden CGC Staff Center, let alone the sale. A good friend who loved the place Vickie Ciotti (x12) nagged me for years to attend. Finally one year I persuaded a Executive Director friend to go with me and we made our way to the Civic Garden [email protected] Center. The experience was nothing like I had imagined. I tried to take in the event and the place and it was next to impossible to ● Terry Houston (x18) absorb it all. It was obvious that many of these people knew one Executive Assistant another and were renewing old friendships. The grounds were [email protected] beautiful and there were many plants I had never seen before. As I looked more closely at the plant booths I noticed several varieties of ● Jan Kivora-Simms (x14) witch hazel. I had been looking everywhere for probably 3 years! Volunteer Coordinator Yes, this place was special. [email protected] ● Mary Dudley (x11) Several years later I experienced my first sale as a staff member. I Youth Education Coordinator remember the meetings leading up to the big weekend. It was fun [email protected] to see the booth chairs share their enthusiasm, and like my first Plant Sale, I saw that they all really enjoyed one another. The thing ● Bennett Dowling, Horticulturist (x26) that really struck me was how this event had a life of its own. How [email protected] could this many people come together and already know what their jobs were and how their role fit perfectly with everyone else? I ● Kylie Johnson (x22) jokingly tell people that if we would ever decide to not have the sale, Green Learning Station Coordinator I think the volunteers would still get together and the weekend would [email protected] happen anyhow. These incredible people come together after months of planning to work harder than I’ve ever seen anyone work. ● Greg Potter (x16) Most practically live at the Garden Center the week of the sale. Community Gardens Coordinator They come early to set up and stay late to inventory their booths or [email protected] otherwise prepare for the next day. They take pride in how well their booth does to raise money for the Garden Center and before the Tom Paquette (x19) weekend is even over, they’re planning for the next year. Finance Manager [email protected] There is a moment before the sale begins each year when I’m up near the Donated Booth. From that vantage point you can take in ● Mary Lou Schueler (x17) most of the layout. As I watch all the volunteers and the perfectly Bookkeeper displayed plants I am filled with such warmth toward each of them, [email protected] and excitement at what is about to take place. I’m so very grateful to be a part of this event, and this place. NEWS from the Civic Garden Center Published by Jan Simms Are you or your business Interested in Ad- vertising in our quarterly publication? Contact Jan at [email protected] for a fee schedule. 2 Greetings from the President CGC Board of Directors Thanks to these folks for overseeing the CGC opera- of the Board of Directors tions and for the direction they provide. James Allen Patrick Polley Mary Bishop Jared Queen “Every spring is the only spring, a Chris Doan Miguel Rueda perpetual astonishment.” Patrick Edmunds Sarah Schuck Kara Troquille Gunsch Amber Shidler Ellis Peters, author of this quote is Mary Nippert Pete Singer obviously a gardener, since she Matt O'Connell Susan Sturgeon captures so well the wonder and Mary Bishop splendor of spring. Reflect a Kevin O'Dell moment, doesn’t this quote also describe THE Plant Sale? For 55 years Civic Garden Center has annually held a plant sale fundraiser, and though the framework may repeat from How You Can Contribute the previous year, every spring brings a unique staging and experience. Our Chairperson, Jared Queen, volunteers, If you would like to make a donation to support any of and staff, are devoting countless hours to making 2015 THE our programs – Community Gardens, Youth Educa- best ever and THE only Plant Sale. tion, Horticulture Education, the Green Learning Sta- tion, the Serenity Garden – or to offer general support I hope our readers will help us make THE Plant Sale 2015 a to the Civic Garden Center, please contact Executive perpetual astonishment. Begin by telling your friends, Assistant,Terry Houston at (513) 221-0981 ext 18. colleagues, and neighbors about our event. What better Donations can be made any number of ways including time to introduce newcomers to Civic Garden Center than automatic monthly credit card deductions, on-line and the weekend of our marquee event. Our grounds are splendidly gorgeous, the variety of plants for sale is stellar, through stock transfer. and there are so many experts staffing our booths that it is impossible not to pick up some gardening tips or advice. Check Out the Whether your friends wish to delight in the festivities of our Friday night garden party, or join the mad Saturday morning Clipboards! rush to grab the newest perennial cultivars or cherished heirloom tomatoes, or leisurely stroll and shop our grounds My Tally is part of our revised on Sunday there is something for everyone! check out process at THE Plant Sale in 2015. Be sure to grab a a clipboard as you enter THE Plant Sale is our major fundraising event for the year, and we’ll explain how it works ! so please tell your gardener friends that every plant they buy will help provide funding for our gardening, educational, and environmental stewardship programs. Yes, a garden is Other tips for “doing” THE Sale… a perpetual astonishment, and you can help make our garden grow, spreading more of this wonder throughout our Wear comfortable shoes city. Dress for the weather Bring a basket, cart or wagon Don’t forget your camera Hat or sunglasses Umbrella for Rain or SUN Save time to browse Clay Alliance Pottery sale A little cash is helpful for purchasing Used Books, Bake Sale items, beer and snacks 3 Civic Garden Center Donors Thanks to all who donated. We are grateful, no matter the size or scope of your gift. HAUCK SOCIETY The following individuals have given major finan- cial gifts to the Civic Garden Center.