KeepersLand of the The Garden Club of Barrington Hosts Zone XI’s Annual Meeting It was a once-every-18-years event: In September 2007, the Garden Club of Barrington had the privilege of hosting 17 fellow Garden Club of America member clubs for the annual Midwest Zone XI meeting. Each member of the zone takes its turn every 18 years, and this year the meeting was held here, at the Chicago Marriott Northwest and in Barrington. The Barrington members’ careful planning provided for a delightful country garden and prairie extravaganza for all who attended. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY LAURA SCOVILLE EKSTROM Previous page, center: Gardens in the Spirit of Place author Page Dickey, Maryjo Garre, Cinder Dowling, Wendy Paulson, Mary McCarthy, Penny Horne, and Sam Oliver. Above left: Pat Ballot and Elaine Burke, winners of the Zone Flower Arrangement Achievement Award and Flower Arrangement Educa- tion Award. Above right: Jane Heidkamp, Peggy Graham, Arlette Weber, Penny Horne, and Kay Schueppert. HE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERica’S (GCA) attendees, including national GCA officers, Zone XI club presidents, and del- 17, 500 members across the United States share the egates from all six states. After attending workshops and seminars, partici- same purpose – to stimulate the knowledge and pants were treated to beautiful garden walks and gourmet dinners in private love of gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of open Barrington-area homes. Hostesses included Pat Ballot, Connie Bischof, Lou meetings, conferences, correspondence and publications, and to restore, im- Flannery, Nancy Hamill, Shirley Irwin, Carol Moorman, Kay Schueppert, prove, and protect the quality of the environment through educational pro- Betsie Smith, and Mary Smith. grams and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement. The Friday began with the Peacock Lecture Series, which was also open to GCA will celebrate its centennial in 2013. the public. The program commenced with an introduction by Garden Club TThe GCA’s 197 member clubs are divided into 12 geographic zones across of Barrington members Penny Horne and Mary McCarthy, who discussed the country. The Garden Club of Barrington is one of six GCA clubs in Illi- Keepers of the Land. Sam Oliver, executive director of Citizens for Conserva- nois, and Illinois joins Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska tion in Barrington, spoke of the ways in which her organization is “Saving to complete Zone XI. Living Space for Living Things” through protection, restoration and steward- Cinder Dowling, president of the Garden Club of Barrington, and Gail ship of land, conservation of natural resources, and education. O’Gorman, who chaired the event, presented the theme “Keepers of the Featured speakers included Wendy Paulson, an internationally known Land,” which reflected a dedication to conservation and the desire to preserve conservationist and environmental educator, who discussed her unique per- open spaces. It is also the title of an award-winning conservation-minded spective on conservation and nature-based education. As wife of U.S. Sec- book that is published by the Garden Club of Barrington and is distributed retary of the Treasury Henry (Hank) Paulson, Jr., she calls both Washing- free to new homeowners as a public service. The book is also available at the ton, D.C., and Barrington Hills home. She is known locally as being the first Barrington Area Historical Society. “Nature Lady” to Barrington schoolchildren. Paulson continues her love During the two-day event, the Garden Club of Barrington welcomed 72 of nature education by teaching bird classes in two New York City public QBarrington.com • Quintessential Barrington 97 Top: Garden Club of Barrington member and current Garden Club of America president Maryjo Garre. Bottom left: Featured speaker Wendy Paulson, an in- ternationally known conservationist. Bottom center: Prairie restoration expert Stephen Packard, director of the Chicago Region of the Audubon Society. Bottom right: Donna Baker. schools. She spoke about conservation efforts in the Barrington area as well After lunch, the ladies were treated to a tour of Grigsby Prairie – a 37-acre as giving audiences an opportunity for questions and answers. prairie contributed to Citizens for Conservation 21 years ago by Garden Club Author Page Dickey spoke about her latest book, Gardens in the Spirit of of Barrington member Peggy Richards in memory of her father, Pete Grigsby. Place. Fourteen gardens across the United States were profiled, each garden Next stop was Peg Olsen’s fabulous garden “Woods Walk,” featuring 15 acres representing an original response to its surroundings. of garden rooms. After the garden tours, tea and refreshments were offered at Those attending the Peacock Lectures were also invited to view the pho- Rolling Oaks Farm. tography competition and the horticulture exhibits. Blue ribbons in photog- The awards dinner on Friday evening recognized several very accom- raphy were awarded to Laura Ekstrom and Dicie Hansen of the Garden Club plished and dedicated individuals from Zone XI garden clubs and their lo- of Barrington, and Best of Show was awarded to Carole Sandner of the Lake cal communities. Garden Club of Barrington member Pat Ballot received the Geneva Garden Club, who is also the current Zone XI chairman. Zone Flower Arrangement Achievement Award, and Barrington Garden Club Then it was off to lunch hosted by Garden Club of Barrington president member Penny Horne received the Zone Distinguished Service Award for Cinder Dowling and Maryjo Garre, who is also the current president of the contributions in flower arranging, conservation, and mentoring. Sam Oliver Garden Club of America and who held the lunch at her home. Guests gath- accepted the Zone Conservation Commendation for Citizens for Conserva- ered in a tent overlooking a lake and Maryjo’s “ungarden” gardens, known for tion. being natural to their settings. Stephen Packard, a prairie restoration expert A special presentation was made to a surprised Maryjo Garre in appre- of the Audubon Society, spoke about Chicago-area prairies. ciation of her service as the first GCA president from the Midwest Zone XI. Continued on page 100 98 Quintessential Barrington • QBarrington.com The stars lined up this year for Maryjo Garre, who Council. She is also past chairman of the Bar- is the first-ever president of the Garden Club of rington Hills Plan Commission. AmericaOnce to hail from the Midwest. This excitingin aThe wifeLifetime of Samuel Garre III and mom to achievement for the Garden Club of Barrington Samuel IV, Gregory, and Karen, Maryjo looks for- was further cause for celebration at this year’s ward to her new role as head of the GCA and GCA’s Midwest Zone XI annual meeting, which appreciates her family’s support. During her rotates between all 18 Zone XI member clubs installation last May in Boston, she shared per- and was held this year in Barrington. sonal sentiments in her acceptance speech: “I Maryjo Garre, the recently installed president accept this gavel as others have before me with of the Garden Club of America, calls herself “a great humility. Receiving this in Massachusetts is native of Barrington” since 1967. Raised in Green- especially meaningful. Many of my happiest mo- wich, Connecticut, Maryjo’s love of gardening ments were in this state: summers at Cape Cod, dates back at least 25 years, when she first joined college in the Berkshires, a blind date with the the Garden Club of Barrington, a CGA member man of my dreams, later a proposal from him, club. She enjoys flower arranging, cooking, golf, and now this.” needlepoint, and reading. Her love of traveling Maryjo says, “The Garden Club of America’s Maryjo appreciates the incredible opportunity will come in handy, as her position with the GCA 197 member clubs are all autonomous, yet each before her: “In the fall, I was at an event at the will require many trips across the United States does what is needed in its own community. Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. The next to meet with her constituencies. Our club has concentrated its efforts on gar- visit was a dinner event at Winterthur, the former Barrington has known Maryjo Garre in her den maintenance – we see ourselves as keep- home of Henry Francis du Pont.” many leadership capacities over the years. She is ers of the land. All of the GCA clubs have com- She says her new position, a one-time only the past president of the Barrington chapter of the mon interests. It will be fascinating to visit the term to last for two years, is a fairy tale come true – Infant Welfare Society, Elgin Academy Mothers various clubs to see what they’re doing in their certainly, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by any Club, and the Barrington Area Development own communities and then share those ideas.” measure. –Lisa Stamos Above: Maryjo Garre (center) receives a painting of her home by American Watercolor Society artist Pat Mead (left). Garden Club of Barrington president Cinder Dowling is at right. QBarrington.com • Quintessential Barrington 99 now under construction visit www.McHenryRiverWalkCenter.com to view floor plans, maps & much more! Affordable, Water-Front Living in beautiful downtown McHenry · Luxury Condominiums with Spacious Floorplans · Boat Slips with Access to the Fox River · Convenient Parking Garage Prices from the mid $200’s Office/Retail Space Now Leasing Top: Garden Club of Barrington president Cinder Dowling with event chair Gail O’Gorman. Bottom: Page Dickey (right), author of Gardens in the Spirit of Place, signs her book for Joan Wolfgram (left). She was presented with a painting of her home by American Watercolor Society artist and Garden Club of Barrington member Pat Mead. The paint- ing featured a great blue heron in the lake in front of her home, which was especially meaningful as it also is represented in the garden club logo and served as the symbol of the 2007 Zone XI meeting.