Loveland Garden Club Chronological Historical
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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. Nebraska. 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, Iowa 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, Missouri, 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