LOVELAND GARDEN CLUB The club developed an extensive landscape design for an enclosed courtyard at the King Science Center, located in an impoverished area of CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORICAL Omaha. The following vision was adopted for the design: “The garden at the King Science Center would be aesthetically pleasing; provide SUMMARY students with a ‘hands on’ gardening experience; contribute materials for art projects, cooking classes, woodworking, bird and butterfly study 1983-1984 – Seven enthusiastic gardeners, Fran Dowd, Sue Feagler, and conversation; instill students with a sense of pride and stewardship Judy Gacek, Marge Gardner, Gail Klauschie, Paula Howard and Joan about their environment and make available opportunities for the Wolfgram founded the Loveland Garden Club. surrounding community to experience the garden.”

A steering committee created a mission statement and bylaws and 1989-1990 – Club members toured the Bluebird Nursery in Clarkson, nominated officers. The first meeting was held on September 27, 1983. . Members also participated in educational classes on Loveland Garden Club’s mission statement reads, “The objective of the ornamental horticultural at Metropolitan Technical College. club shall be to stimulate the love of gardening, encourage home and community beautification, promote horticultural practices and The club approved a $100 donation and administrative support to be encourage all forms of conservation.” given for the development of the Omaha Botanical Gardens. The

membership provided an additional $100 donation in both 1992 and 1984-1985 – The club launched its first civic project, the renovation and 1993 for this purpose. Loveland Garden Club members continue to maintenance of the grounds and landscaping of the annual Omaha serve on the Board of Directors. Symphony Designer Showhouse. The club participated in this project through 1994. 1990-1991 – LGC members created and implemented a new landscape

design for the front entry of Loveland Elementary School in District 66. Members traveled to Pella, to visit the annual tulip festival.

The club began an alliance with the Omaha Habitat for Humanity, Inc., 1985-1986 – LGC members dedicated the year to educational outreach. whose goal is to eliminate poverty housing. Members approved $4000 Club programs focused on the development of basic knowledge of in financial aid and provided countless hours of volunteer labor in gardening, exploring topics ranging from starting a bulb garden, renovating and planting the landscapes of twelve houses. learning about plant life that attracts birds and wildlife, planting summer pots and planters, creating fall decorations and learning about the Members traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to visit the Des Moines fundamentals of landscaping. The club traveled in 1986, 1987 and 1988 Botanical Garden and the hosta gardens of Russ O’Harra, retired editor to Kansas City to view the Kansas City Showhouse and gardens. of Better Homes and Gardens. The group also toured the nationally Members visited the Omaha City Greenhouse and Neale Woods Nature recognized gardens of Karen Strohbeen and Bill Luchsinger, which have Center for programs on butterfly gardens and prairie flowers. been featured in Midwest Gardens and public television programs. The

club sponsored a trip to Kansas City, , to participate in the Meyer Rehabilitation Institute’s Garden Walk featured several Loveland Wellesley Garden Tour and visit the Powell Gardens. Additional visits members’ gardens. to the Strohbeen/Luchsingerr gardens happened in 1991 and 1999.

1986-1987 – The club established its first annual fund raising project, Members approved a $200 donation to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo for “Loveland Luminaria Night”. The soft glow of the “little lights” lined the purchase of plants for the Lied Jungle. the Loveland neighborhood streets and entrances to homes on the

Sunday before the holidays.

1991-1992 – Club members attended the “Great Gardeners in 1988-1989 – Members participated in environmental recycling by Symposium” in Kansas City, Missouri to be educated by such well- collecting and transporting aluminum cans to a local recycling center. known gardeners as Rosemary Verey, Penelope Hobhouse, Ken Miller, This effort preceded the development and establishment of Omaha’s Marco Polo Destefanio, Rachael Snyder and Allen Lacey. recycling program.

Club members organized and attended tours of the Memorial Iris Members voted to develop, fund and implement a landscape for the Gardens, sponsored by the Omaha Iris Society, the Kansas City entrance to Sacred Heart School, located in an impoverished and Wellesley Gardens and Jan Riggenbach’s garden in the Loess Hills of blighted area of Omaha. The Club also provided educational Iowa. LGC members participated in a flower arranging seminar experiences for the students regarding horticultural priorities. The sponsored by a local florist. objectives were as follows: to provide and install plantings on the school grounds to beautify the area; to show the students, parents, and staff of 1992-1993 – The club focused on educational programs and the school that people in the community care about them and want to opportunities for members. Programs included landscape design, dried invest in their mission; to donate financial support to help accomplish floral arrangements and wreaths, and the care and growing of orchids. these goals; to provide an educational experience to the students to help Members visited the Boys Town Biblical Garden and the Kansas City them learn about the needs of plants and to educate the students about Wellesley Garden Tour. the new plantings so that they will maintain and protect them.

Members approved a $1000 gift to the on-going development and The club organized the second and third annual membership drives for establishment of the Omaha Botanical Gardens. In addition, the club the Omaha Botanical Gardens. voted to fund landscape design and plants for three Habitat for Humanity homes. The newly developed Omaha Botanical Gardens requested Loveland Garden Club to plan the first friend and fund raising event held at the 1994-1995 – Loveland Garden Club hosted a luncheon to promote garden. “Our Secret Garden”, an evening reminiscent of an old-fashion camaraderie for members and guests, featuring “A Garden Talk” by garden party included a treasure hunt for the “secrets” of the garden, a Mary Maxwell and concentrated on club unity by providing educational silent auction, dinner and entertainment. The club created fresh floral experiences and maintaining on-going projects: Habitat for Humanity, arrangements for the auction tables. The event generated $16,000. Loveland Luminaria Night and the Omaha Botanical Gardens. Members funded and planted a landscape for the club’s sixteenth Members attended “Spring Affair” sponsored by Nebraska Statewide Habitat for Humanity home. The club designed and planted a Victorian Arboretum in Lincoln, Nebraska. This event featured a variety of garden at the Kierle House, a home site listed on the Nebraska Register horticultural speakers. of Historic Places. Members prepared the garden beds, rescued on-site plants and donated appropriate plantings. The club groomed existing 1995-1997 – The club focused on evaluating and restructuring the plant material, cleaned flower beds and planted new flowers at Sacred Loveland Garden Club. Special committees reviewed and recommended Heart School. Members donated and planted hostas from their gardens bylaw changes, revised officer and committee job descriptions and and from local nurseries at the front entry gate shade garden of the developed a written history of the club’s projects. Omaha Botanical Gardens.

Members initiated, planned and conducted the first annual membership The club focused on completing the admittance process into The Garden drive for the Omaha Botanical Gardens generating over $15,000. Club of America. Loveland Garden Club became the 192nd member club of the Garden Club of America. The President and a delegate The 28th Annual Meyer Rehabilitation Institute Garden Walk featured attended the Annual Meeting of the GCA. several Loveland Garden Club members’ gardens; the Omaha World- Herald newspaper provided coverage of the event. 1997-1999 – The club redesigned its structure to conform to committee The club continued an ongoing affiliation with Fontenelle Forest and requirements for the Garden Club of America. In addition, the club Neale Woods Nature Center. The private, non-profit organization applied for 501-C3 tax exempt status. A committee revised the includes over 2,000 acres of hardwood forest, rolling prairies and admissions process and set forth requirements for a Provisional marshlands along the Missouri River and provides year-around nature member’s first year of membership. programs. Club members serve on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Guild Board. The centers provide the Club with diverse educational programs. LGC’s association dates back to 1990. Club members directed efforts to establish a Guild for the Omaha 1999-2001 – Loveland Garden Club continued its support of the Omaha Botanical Gardens and assisted in planting 5,000 tulip bulbs in the Botanical Gardens by doing the mailing, staffing and underwriting for garden. the “Art of Gardening” event featuring Molly Chappelet, author of Gardens of the Wine Country. In 2000-2001, LGC took the lead in the Members continued maintenance of the Victorian gardens at the Keirle formation of the Omaha Botanical Gardens Guild by writing the mission House and the garden at Sacred Heart School. The club funded and statement, by-laws and setting guidelines for charter and general planted the 17th and 18th Habitat for Humanity homes. Club members membership. Members filled many of the initial officer positions. The also designed and installed a landscape for Safe Haven, a shelter for club donated $5,000 for two urns at the entrance of the new visitor victims of domestic abuse administered by Heartland Family Service. center and planted spaces around the new offices and entrance gates. Spencer Crews, Director of the Omaha Botanical Gardens spoke at a Loveland Garden Club distributed 3,500 trees and educated the public meeting and the club presented him with a copy of Gardens of Colony on proper planting techniques and care tips for a program entitled and State for the library at the garden. “Branching Out”. The program, established by community leaders, was an effort to replace the 1,000,000 trees lost in the ice storm of October, Club members landscaped Habitat for Humanity homes and cleaned up 1997. Members conducted a Teacher Appreciation program at Sacred homes previously designed. The Coalition of Churches presented the Heart School. Fundraising projects included the annual luminaria sales. club with a certificate of thanks for its continuing assistance.

LGC organized trips to Weston, Missouri for the Weston Christmas The club planted a tree dedicated to the teachers of Sacred Heart School, Tour and to Kansas City for the Westport Garden Club Home and organized teacher appreciation luncheons and provided two large Garden Tour. planters to brighten the school’s entrance. The Provisional Project provided a tour of the Omaha Botanical Gardens for Sacred Heart The club sponsored a Patron Party in conjunction with the first annual students. Club members continued support of Safe Haven by donating “Art of Gardening” event at Regency Fashion Court. Elizabeth Murray, two filled planters. author of Cultivating Sacred Space and Jonathan Quinn spoke at the lecture/luncheon. LGC created a window display “Elegant Picnic” at The Garden History and Design Committee submitted the Marshall the second “Art of Gardening” event. garden to be included in the GCA’s Archives of American Gardens.

Club members approved the donation of $1,000 to the Butterfly Garden, The club held its first in-house flower show. A workshop on the Garden Club of America’s Project 2000 located in Washington D.C. propagating plants from roots, seeds, and cuttings held in October A plaque listing Loveland Garden Club as one of the donors is on produced plants sold to club members at the March meeting. Club display at the Butterfly Garden. fundraisers included bulb and plant sales.

Addie Kinghorn received the Golden Trowel Award for service above Club members approved donations to the Nature Conservancy, and beyond the call of duty. The club awarded City Sprouts the Merit Groundwater Foundation and City Sprouts. Award for its outstanding contributions to the community. 2001-2003 – Loveland Garden Club’s programs and study groups Loveland Garden Club submitted its first garden, the Feagler garden, to focused on Flower Arranging and Horticulture. The Horticulture study the Garden Club of America to be included in the Archives of American group began in 2002. Several members participated in out of town Gardens on record at the Smithsonian Institute. flower arranging shows. Maryjo Garre visited Omaha for a two-day flower arranging workshop. Addie Kinghorn received a Zone The club received commendations (18 points) for plant material Horticulture Award. submitted to the Plant Exchange at the Annual Meeting in both 1998 and 1999.

The club assisted with the Opening Gala Weekend for the Lauritzen The club approved funds for gift bags for the Lauritzen Gardens Antique Gardens (formerly Omaha Botanical Gardens) and submitted a Founders Show (2004-2005). Fund proposal to benefit the garden. Members approved a donation of $1,000 each year to Lauritzen Gardens. LGC hosted a luncheon for the Karen Kennedy served as Zone XI Awards Chairman. Des Moines and Westport Garden Clubs to celebrate LGC’s 5th year of membership in the Garden Club of America. The club approved funds to provide a historical renovation of the entrance gardens at the Joslyn Castle. Members donated appropriate The club continued support of Sacred Heart School by providing entry plant material, planted and maintained the gardens for two years. planters, lunch for the staff and a field trip for the sixth grade class to Lauritzen Gardens. Members provided funds for and planted a LGC received two Horticulture Certificates of Merit for Propagation landscape for a Habitat for Humanity house. The 2002 Provisional class (Plant Material for PX) at the GCA Annual Meetings in Washington planned a new “teaching” garden at the Omaha Hearing School; D.C. and in Kansas City, Missouri. The club presented Certificates of members planted the garden. Appreciation to Judy Gacek, Karen Kennedy and Kathy Quinlan. Joyce Marshall received a Club Civic Improvement Certificate. The club established a new committee to explore civic issues. The Long Range Planning Committee presented the results of its extensive study. Fran Dowd, Judy Gacek, and Kathy Quinlan served as Chairmen of the Garden History and Design submitted the Francis Simonds garden to be “Pilots and Hostesses” Committee for the 2005 GCA Annual Meeting in included in the Garden Club of America’s Archives of American Kansas City. Members assembled Gift bags of chocolates for Presidents Gardens. and Delegates for the Annual Meeting.

In 2001-02, members attended the Zone Meeting in St. Louis, the The club wrote a seconding letter for GCA Medal of Honor Award Annual Meeting in Dallas, the Conservation Meeting in Washington, winner, Mr. John Ruan of Des Moines, Iowa (2004) and a seconding D.C., and the Horticulture Meeting in Santa Barbara. In 2002-2003, letter for Margaret Hill, Westport Garden Club for the Zone XI Creative delegates attended the Zone meeting in Chicago and the Annual Award – Flower Arranging. Meeting in Rye, New York. The first Loveland Garden Club tag sale was a huge success. Club fundraisers included a sale of bulbs and spring perennials, “dip-it”, calendars and an “empty your coin purse!” 2005-2007 - The club hosted Alice Goltra, Zone XI Chairman, at the March meeting. Opportunities for enjoyment with “fun and food” occurred at the New Member Luncheon, Annual Meeting Potluck, Summer Party and LGC received a Horticulture Certificate of Merit at the GCA Annual December Holiday Gift Exchange. Meeting in Denver. Tag Sales continued to be a successful fundraiser.

A wonderful cookbook of recipes and garden pictures celebrated The Garden History and Design Committee documented the Ferguson Loveland Garden Club’s 20th anniversary. Garden, known as the “Prairie Garden” and submitted it to the Garden Club of America to be included in Archives of American Gardens. 2003-2005 – Loveland Garden Club had a successful in-club fundraiser, a gift bag filled with fall bulbs. Members traveled to New York City and visited the Garden Club of America Headquarters. Members participated in the Conservation, Flower Arranging and Horticulture study groups. In the fall, the Conservation Committee Loveland Garden Club established its first annual endowed lecture at planned activities and visits for our GCA guests. Club members Lauritzen Gardens which was held on October 16, 2007. Holly Shimizu, participated in a photography show “Focus on Trees” at the 2004 Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden, spoke on “The Annual Meeting in Kansas City. Garden as Sanctuary”. Zone XI Director Mary Stanley and Zone XI Chairman Alice Goltra attended the lecture. The club also completed payment of its $25,000 pledge to fund the lecture series! The club participated in Table Art 2006. Members created floral Loveland Garden Club members participated in a “Seed Saver” arrangements for The Good Samaritan Home and for the families at the program in conjunction with the local Nature Conservancy chapter. Ronald McDonald House. Members received a variety of seeds to grow and harvest during the summer and fall. The goal of the program is to expand the use of The Horticulture Committee presented workshops on all things grown in native plants in our landscapes as well as statewide. shade. The Conservation Committee educated members about issues concerning global warming, water rights, energy and genetically modified foods and challenged members to contribute to change and 2008-2009 Club focused on its Loveland Garden mission by preservation of the global environment. The Visiting Gardens Committee arranged for tours of several gardens in Omaha and Iowa. stimulating the love of gardening through a variety of speakers, promoting horticultural practices through workshops held Club members continued maintenance of the “teaching” gardens at the throughout the year and encouraging all forms of Omaha Hearing School. conservation. The club continued support of Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center through financial Spencer Crews received the Zone Civic Improvement Award; Roland contributions and volunteer efforts. Barth, Neal Ratzlaff and Marge Gardner received Garden Club of America Club Awards. In March the fourth Loveland Garden Club Endowed Lecture Series

featured Panayoti Kelaidis, Director of Outreach, Denver Botanic Loveland Garden Club member Karen Kennedy assumed the position of Gardens, who shared information about sustainable plants for our Vice Chairman of Zone XI after serving as Zone XI Founders Fund Chairman (2005-2007) area.

2007-2008 Loveland Garden Club welcomed three new Julie Linn, Zone XI Awards Chairman, visited Omaha and Provisionals. Members continued participation in existing presented two zone awards. Margaret From received a Zone XI community projects: the “teaching gardens” at the Omaha Hearing award for her pioneering research with orchids(it was really her School, Habitat for Humanity and The Ronald McDonald House. achievement in horticulture) and Fran Dowd received a special The club hosted two endowed Loveland Garden Club lectures at the Director’s Award for her leadership as a founding member of LGC. Lauritzen Gardens. Members participated in and attended the Memphis Flower Show, The Conservation Committee created three study groups focused on the National Conservation Meeting in Washington D.C. and the environmental needs in Nebraska as well concerns nationally. A Shirley Meneice GCA Horticulture Conference. LGC representative attended the NAL/Conservation meeting in Washington, D.C. in February and shared information with Members ventured on field trips to World Herald Columnist and members. author Jan Riggenbach’s garden and to Forest Lawn Cemetery for a “tree identification” class with horticulturist Addie Kinghorn and The Horticulture Committee taught and entertained members with retired City Forester Phil Pierce. Members also visited the guest speakers on water gardening and tropical plants. LGC Whiterock Conservancy in Coon Rapids, IA with the Des Moines members led study groups in ground covers and vertical gardening. Founder’s Club in July.

The Flower Arranging committee provided four workshops, all with hands on participation for the membership. Each workshop participant had the opportunity to ask questions from a professional flower arranger and take home a seasonal creation.

2009-2010 ANNUAL REPORT Four LGC members attended the annual GCA meeting in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and three of the same four attended the LGC’s rose bed started blooming with our fall 2009 news that Zone XI meeting in Lake Geneva, WI. Two of these members are Spencer Crews, Executive Director of the Laurtizen Gardens/ LGC Zone XI chairmen of Bulletin, Karen Kennedy and Omaha’s Botanical Center, had been accepted as an Honorary Conservation, Sharon Blackburn. Member of the GCA. We toasted Spencer with Margaret Hall and Lulu Lubbers, Zone XI Director and Zone XI Chairman respectively, As a fundraiser each LGC member purchased 50 GCA daffodil in attendance. Spencer was officially elected at the New Jersey GCA bulbs. Each member kept 25 for themselves and donated 25 to the Annual Meeting in May. Lauritzen Gardens.

Starting with our fall meetings, LGC reviewed chapters of The Edi Pierce, Loveland Garden Club President Nature of Nebraska, by Paul A. Johnsgard to learn the historical May, 2010 perspective of our state. An additional Habitat for Humanity home 2010-2011 Annual Report was landscaped in the fall. The Horticultural and GCA Centennial Tree Project combined to refine our project as O! Oaks! And the The first Annual Flower Arranging Fund Raiser was March 30, 2011 LGC members prepared welcome bags for the antique dealers at the attended by over seventy community and club members in three annual fall Lauritzen Gardens Antique Show. sessions. Master Flower Arranger Lilian Jacobitz, who was trained in Austria, demonstrated several techniques and led the hands-on In April our Endowed Lecture Series brought Claire Sawyers, lime green four inch ceramic cube with spherical wire frog director of the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College to Omaha. arrangement that attendees took home. Funds raised were $3,000.00. Claire talked about The Authentic Garden: Five Principles for Cultivating a Sense of Place. Seven new provisional members were introduced at our annual meeting and luncheon at Laurtizen Gardens on May 24, 2011. A May brought LGC to Lauritzen Gardens for our Annual Meeting Sawtooth Oak and a Chinkapin Oak were planted on the Lauritzen and, LGC awarded the first Kimball Award to our own member Hani Garden grounds by our members that day. Kenefick. The Kimball Award is dedicated to the memory of LGC member Kimball Lauritzen whose family name is now a part of the The Kick-off of the four year LGC/GCA Centennial Tree Project Omaha Botanical Center. Bruce Lauritzen participated in presenting was held at the Historic Joslyn Castle on Friday March 18, 2011. Hani this award. Hani was involved in the garden since its inception This event was co-sponsored with the Nebraska Statewide and given huge amounts of her time and energy bringing the Arboretum and the Omaha Council of Garden Clubs. Speakers Lauritzen Gardens to reality. A GCA Club Award was presented to included Harlan Hamernik, plant explorer of Blue Bird Nurseries, Mary Ochsner, a Past President of LGC. Bob Henrickson, native plants man from NSA and Christina Karloff from Papio Valley Nurseries. Oak tree seedlings were given away to In June our club gathered with husbands for a garden dinner party. attendees. Members competed in table settings and a silent auction added an additional fund raising flare. Over one thousand GCA daffodil bulbs bloomed in the Memorial Garden at Lauritzen Gardens in the spring. Reorganizing our committee structure to a “4 Team Approach,” blending in the smaller tasks into larger ones with a Sign Up Day The sixth annual Loveland Garden Club Endowed Lecture Series was a new approach this year. During the summer a Summer featured speaker Ken Druse on April 2, 2011. This year Loveland Membership Study was conducted as we look to welcome new Garden Club donated $6,500.00 toward this project. members. Edi Pierce, Loveland Garden Club President DELEGATE HISTORY PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS ANNUAL AND ZONE GCA MEETINGS The Loveland Garden Club has supported the following organizations: 1997 ANNUAL MEETING, PHILADELPHIA, PA President – Kathy Quinlan (Mrs. Jim) Botanical Garden Guild Delegate – Fran Dowd (Mrs. Duane)

City Sprouts 1997 ZONE MEETING, EVANSTON, Douglas County Historical Society For President Sue Feagler…Judy Gacek (Mrs. Fred) Family Service Women’s Shelter Delegate – Sharon Blackburn (Mrs. Randy) Fontenelle Forest & Neale Woods Nature Center GCA Butterfly Garden, Washington, D.C. 1998 ANNUAL MEETING, WILLIAMSBURG, VA Groundwater Foundation President – Sue Feagler (Mrs. John) Habitat for Humanity Delegate - Gail Klauschie (Mrs. Hank) Henry Doorly Zoo Heron Haven 1998 ZONE MEETING, MINNEAPOLIS, MN Joslyn Art Museum For President Sue Feagler….Karen Kennedy (Mrs. Howard) Joslyn Castle Delegate – Linda Hall (Mrs. Bob)

Keirle House 1999 ANNUAL MEETING, PARSIPPANY, NJ King Science Center President – Sue Feagler (Mrs. John) Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center Delegate – Mariana Myers Loveland Elementary School Loveland Luminaria Project 1999 ZONE MEETING, WINNETKA, ILLINOIS Meyer Children’s Rehabilitation Institute Garden Walk President – Sue Feagler (Mrs. John) Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Delegate – Addie Kinghorn Nebraska Extension Agency Omaha Hearing School 2000 ANNUAL MEETING, CLEVELAND, OHIO Omaha Symphony Showhouse Garden and Grounds President – Karen Kennedy (Mrs. Howard) Omaha Symphony Table Art Delegate – Kristy Stave (Mrs. Ron)

Project Hope 2000 ZONE MEETING, DES MOINES, IOWA Ronald McDonald House President – Karen Kennedy (Mrs. Howard) Sacred Heart Grade School Delegate – Hani Kenefick (Mrs. John) Save the Redwoods State of Nebraska, Master Gardener Agency 2001 ANNUAL MEETING, ORLANDO, FLORIDA The Garden Club of America Gulf Coast Restoration Fund President – Karen Kennedy (Mrs. Howard) The Garden Club of America Scholarship Fund Delegate – Susan Edmunds (Mrs. Renne The Nature Conservancy 2001 ZONE MEETING, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI President – Sharon Blackburn (Mrs. Randy) Delegate – Mary Ochsner (Mrs. William)

2002 ANNUAL MEETING, DALLAS, TEXAS 2008 ANNUAL MEETING, NORFOLK, VA President – Sharon Blackburn (Mrs. Randy) President – Kathy Gross (Mrs. Michael) Delegate – Judy Gacek (Mrs. Fred) Delegate – Julie Kenney (Mrs. Steven)

2002 ZONE MEETING, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 2008 ZONE MEETING, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA President – Sharon Blackburn (Mrs. Randy) President – Kathy Gross (Mrs. Michael) Delegate – Cyndi Hartman (Mrs. Herb) Delegate – Linda Hall (Mrs. Robert)

2003 ANNUAL MEETING, RYE, NEW YORK 2009 ANNUAL MEETING, PROVIDENCE, RI President – Sharon Blackburn (Mrs. Randy) President – Kathy Gross (Mrs. Michael) Delegate – Sue Meusey (Mrs. Joe) Delegate – Babs Weinberg (Mrs. Mike)

2003 ZONE MEETING, ST. PAUL, 2009 ZONE MEETING, ST. LOUIS, MO President – Mary Ochsner (Mrs. William) President – Kathy Gross (Mrs. Michael) Delegate – Stephanie O’Keefe (Mrs. Denis) Delegate – Edi Pierce (Mrs. Phil)

2004 ANNUAL MEETING, WASHINGTON, D.C. 2010 ANNUAL MEETING, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ President – Mary Ochsner (Mrs. William) President – Edi Pierce (Mrs. Phil) Delegate – Hani Kenefick (Mrs. John) Delegate – Mariana Myers

2004 ZONE MEETING, LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS 2010 ZONE MEETING, LAKE GENEVA, WI President – Mary Ochsner (Mrs. William) President – Edi Pierce (Mrs. Phil) Delegate – Nancy Webster (Mrs. John) Delegate – Cheryl Smith

2005 ANNUAL MEETING, KANSAS CITY 2011 ANNUAL MEETING, INDIANAPOLIS, IN President – Mary Ochsner (Mrs. William) President - Babs Weinberg Delegate – Karin Nilsson (Dr. Tom) Delegate – Ann Hosford

2006 ANNUAL MEETING, DENVER, COLORADO 2011 ZONE MEETING, MILWAUKEE, WI President – Nancy Webster (Mrs. John) President – Babs Weinberg Delegate – Jane Conley (Mrs. Paul) Delegate – Sharon Larmore

2006 ZONE MEETING, KETTLE MORAINE, WI 2012 ANNUAL MEETING, SAVANNAH, GA President – Nancy Webster (Mrs. John) President - Babs Weinberg Delegate – Susan McWhorter (Mrs. Steve) Delegate – Anne Carter

2007 ANNUAL MEETING, BOSTON, MA 2012 ZONE MEETING, EVANSTON, IL President – Nancy Webster (Mrs. John) President – Babs Weinberg Delegate – Susan Zeilinger (Mrs. John) Delegate – Gail Klauschie

2007 ZONE MEETING, BARRINGTON, IL President – Kathy Gross (Mrs. Michael) Delegate – Mary Dowd (Mrs. Matthew) GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA ZONE AWARDS Zone Conservation and /or Civic Improvement Award GCA Club Certificate of Appreciation 2000 Helen Kenefick 2003 Judy Gacek “Who has devoted her heart, her hands and financial resources to civic For “exceptional leadership as a founding and sustaining member of Loveland beautification through horticulture.” Garden Club.”

Zone Horticulture Award GCA Club Medal of Merit 2001 Addie Kinghorn 2003 Fran Dowd “Through teaching, service and an unselfish sharing of your extensive For “exceptional leadership as President, Vice President and Treasurer of knowledge, you have instilled in so many people a newfound passion for the Loveland Garden Club and as GCA Awards and Program Committee horticulture.” Representative for Zone XI.”

Zone Conservation and /or Civic Improvement Award 2007 Spencer Crews GCA Club Horticulture Certificate of Acknowledgement to Non- “Who by his creation and continued development of Lauritzen Gardens, has Member given the city of Omaha one of the country’s leading botanical gardens.” 2003 Spencer Crews For “his lifelong passion for horticulture and for creating and sustaining Zone Horticulture Commendation Award Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center.” 2008 Dr. Margaret From “For her achievement in horticulture and her dedicated leadership in using GCA Club Certificate of Appreciation her expertise to serve the needs of the worldwide community through 2004 Kathy Quinlan horticulture studies.”Zone Directors Award For “her exceptional foresight, leadership and guidance in directing the club’s long range plan and her guidance in the process of applying for 501 2008 Fran Dowd C3 status.” “As a founding member with twenty-five years service, she has played a key role in developing the Loveland Garden Club.” GCA Club Civic Improvement Achievement Certificate 2004 Joyce Marshall For “her tireless efforts and dedication in leading the club to complete their GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA CLUB AWARDS landscaping of twenty homes for Habitat for Humanity.”

GCA Club Horticulture Certificate of Acknowledgement to Non- GCA Club Horticulture Certificate of Acknowledgement to Non- Member Member 2000 Helena Street 2005 Dr. Margaret From For “her vision, influence and persistence that were a driving force behind For “her achievement in horticulture and her dedicated leadership in using what became the Lauritzen Garden, Omaha’s Botanical Center.” her expertise to serve the needs of the worldwide community through horticulture studies.” GCA Civic Improvement Certificate of Acknowledgement to Non- Members GCA Club Civic Improvement Achievement Certificate 2000 Dundee Memorial Park Association 2005 Kimball and Bruce Lauritzen For “the shining example of the contribution a well organized, highly “In recognition of your contributions to Omaha’s beautification through motivated neighborhood association can make to improve the quality of life, establishing the Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center and the park beautification and community spirit of a neighborhood.” setting of the new First National Bank Tower.”

GCA Club Horticulture Certificate of Acknowledgement to Non- GCA Club Certificate of Appreciation Member 2005 Karen Kennedy 2003 Todd Morrissey For “your exceptional leadership as President of the Loveland Garden Club For “his horticultural achievement and dedication to the Lauritzen Gardens, and as Zone XI Garden Club of America Awards Representative for the Omaha’s Botanical Center.” past two years.”

GCA Club Horticulture Certificate of Acknowledgement to Non- Member 2007 Roland Barth and Neal Ratzlaff “For outstanding academic achievement and years of dedication to Fontenelle Nature Association in the field of Horticulture.”

GCA Club Conservation Commendation 2007 Marge Gardner “For outstanding and sustained service to the Loveland Garden Club in the area of conservation leadership.”

GCA Club Horticulture Commendation 2008 Harlan Hamernik “For his ongoing dedication to horticulture. He is a plant enthusiast, an explorer and a catalyst for growing first of its kind perennials in Nebraska.”

GCA Club Appreciation Award 2009 Gail Klauschie The purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the “As a founding member with twenty-five years of exceptional service, she knowledge and love of gardening; to share the advantages of has played an integral role in developing the Loveland Garden Club. association by means of open meetings, conferences,

GCA Club Appreciation Award correspondence and publications; to restore, improve and 2010 Mary Ochsner, for her dedication to GCA and Loveland Garden protect the quality of the environment through programs and Club and outstanding efforts as president of LGC. action in the fields of conservation, civic improvement and education.

The Kimball Award (in memory of Kimball Lauritzen for her devotion to the Lauritzen Gardens) National Headquarters 2010 Hani Kenefick, for her extraordinary gifts of time, talent and The Garden Club of America th treasurer benefiting the Lauritzen Gardens. 14 E. 60 Street New York, NY 10022-1006 2012 Mary Siena, for her outstanding leadership in founding and 212-753-8287 chairing the Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show FAX 212-753-0134 GCA Club Civic Improvement Award E-MAIL [email protected] 2012 Ann Strauss Hosford WEBSITE www.gcamerica.org “To recognize outstanding leadership of the O!OAKS Centennial Project USER NAME: gcamember PASSWORD: compost and the planting of 100 oak trees to beautify the community and support wildlife."

FAX (262) 567- 2166 FAX (319) 362-4494 GCA PRESIDENT [email protected] [email protected]

Marian Hill (Mrs. Benjamin A.) PEACHTREE GARDEN CLUB, ZONE VIII 2625 WOODWARD WAY, NW ZONE XI – MEMBER CLUBS ATLANTA, GA 30305-3561 Garden Club of Barrington – Barrington, IL (404) 231-9249 Cedar Rapids Garden Club – Cedar Rapids, IA FAX (404) 467-1228 Des Moines Founders Garden Club – Des Moines, IA [email protected] Garden Club of Evanston – Evanston, IL Garden Guild of Winnetka – Winnetka, IL XI Meeting Green Tree Garden Club of Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WI September 19-20, 2012 Kenilworth Garden Club – Kenilworth, IL Evanston, IL Kettle Moraine Garden Club – Milwaukee, WI Ladue Garden Club – St. Louis, MO Annual Meeting Lake Forest Garden Club – Lake Forest, IL April 30-May 2, 2013 Lake Geneva Garden Club – Lake Geneva, WI Philadelphia, PA Lake Minnetonka Garden Club – Minneapolis, MN Loveland Garden Club – Omaha, NE XI Meeting Garden Club of St. Louis – St. Louis, MO May 21-23, 2013 St. Paul Garden Club - St. Paul, MN Omaha, NE Town and Country Garden Club – Sheboygan, WI Westport Garden Club – Kansas City, MO Zone XI Director Winnetka Garden Club – Winnetka, IL ALICE GOLTRA (MRS. O. RENARD) LAKE FOREST GARDEN CLUB P.O. BOX 721 CONSERVATION LAKE FOREST, IL 60045 (847) 234-0043 CON-WATCH is an internet publication of The Garden Club FAX (847) 234-3126 of America. It is a newsletter devoted to issues directly related [email protected] to how we can all actively participate to preserve and save the earth today and tomorrow. It includes timely information on a The Zone Chairman acts as a liaison between the national broad range of issues as well as suggestions that we can all board in NY and Clubs within her zone employ to contribute to this effort. It can be found on the GCA website on the toolbar of the members’ home page. Zone XI Chairman Zone XI Vice Chairman COLLEEN MORTONSON Julianne Taylor Con-Watch GCA Zone XI (Mrs. Christopher) (Mrs. William) Editor Conservation Representative Kettle Moraine Garden Club Cedar Rapids Garden Club 4323 West Beach Road 2910 Indian Hills Rd SE Candace Lyche Sharon Blackburn (Mrs. Randell) Oconomowoc, WI 53066-4024 Cedar Rapids, IA 52403-1518 Hillsborough Garden Club Loveland Garden Club (262) 567-2166 (319) 362-4494 [email protected] 402-502-1203 [email protected]

FLOWER ARRANGING Photographs and information about all of these gardens can be viewed on the internet at http://www.siris.si.edu and at the GCA BY DESIGN is dedicated to informing members about office of the Archives of American Gardens in Washington, current flower shows and events and to educate members about D.C. the latest styles, trends and materials used in flower arranging both in the United States and internationally. It is published HORTICULTURE quarterly. A subscription form can be found on the GCA THE REAL DIRT is an internet publication of the Garden website under committees—Flower Arranging Study Group— Club of America. It includes articles covering such diverse GCA by Design. subjects as planting troughs, environmental issues, propagating

hellebores, cemetery roses, looking at tree bark, photography,

and Ask Mr. Hortus! It is designed to inspire all to grow, show GARDEN HISTORY AND DESIGN and share. It can be found on the GCA website on the toolbar

of the members’ home page. The Garden History and Design Committee continues to educate members about the historic significance of gardens and NATIONAL AFFAIRS AND LEGISLATION their design as well as trends in contemporary American landscape and garden design. This committee also is NAL is the NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE emailed responsible for adding to the Archives of American Gardens at to your desktop. It is designed to alert subscribers to the Smithsonian Institute. The following is a list of the gardens committee hearings and bills actively before Congress. NAL researched, documented and photographed by the Loveland Committee and the Conservation Committee of the Garden Garden Club. All have been accepted by the Smithsonian Club of America follow issues that relate to GCA’s Institute as a part of the Archives of American Gardens. commitment to restoring, improving and protecting the quality of the environment. All of these issues are complex and 1999 2001 deserving of our consideration. The update also includes a The Feagler Garden The Marshall Garden legislative status chart. Subscribe to the NAL Update on the th 8215 Hickory Street 1105 South 80 Street GCA website under NAL Committee. Voice your opinion and Omaha, NE Omaha, NE make your voice heard. Members wishing to express an opinion should do so as individuals and not as members of the 2002 2006 Loveland Garden Club. Post 9/11 the preferred and most The Simonds Garden The Ferguson Garden expedient method to do so is via email. 11424 Francis Street 6435 Prairie Avenue

Omaha, NE Omaha, NE

2010 focus is an internet magazine of The Garden Club of America. The Dowd Garden Its mission is to enhance the knowledge and enjoyment at all 8109 Hickory Street levels of involvement in the art of photography and to Omaha, NE appreciate its unique blend of technical skill, knowledge of composition and creativity. Editor: Blair Matthews Louis Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality 402-471-2186 [email protected]

LEGISTATIVE ISSUES CONTACTS SPENCER CREWS, Directory of the Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, became an honorary Member of The Garden Clubs of America in 2010. Representative Lee Terry 1100 Bancroft Street Omaha, NE 68108 11717 Burt Street, Suite 106, Omaha, NE 68144 402-346-4002 ext. 202 402-397-9944 [email protected] Rayburn 2331 House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-4155 On-line: http://www.leeterry.house.gov

Senator Mike Johanns 9900 Nicholas Street Suite 325 Omaha, NE 68114

402-758- 8981

404 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-4224 On-line: http://www.johanns.senate.gov

Senator Ben Nelson 7602 Pacific St., Suite 205 Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-3411 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-6551 On-line: http://www.bennelson.senate.gov

President Barack Obama 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington, D.C., 20500

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Department of the Interior 1849 C St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20240 On-line: http://doi.gov

USGS National Water Information Center 1-888-275-8747