LIBRARY PROJECT
Weather permitting, the Lake Bluff Garden Club will have its most recent civic project completed by September 1st. Clubmembers approved the plan and financing of further landscaping on the west side of the Lake Bluff Public Library. This represents a continuing commitment to civic beautification in the Village. Cost of purchase and planting of all landscape materials was funded from profits generated by the annual Garden Market in May. This project was recommended by members of the club’s Special Projects Committee.

GREAT BOOKS FLOWER SHOW
Lake Bluff Garden Clubmembers provided five designs for the District IX Flower Show, and 11 Hostesses for the Show. We are very pleased at the response from our members as designers and “welcomers” at the show. See designs in color under the “Gallery” in Special Delivery. The Fourth of July Parade pictures are also in this section.

CENTRAL REGION MEETING
Several members of LBGC plan to attend the 7-state Central Region Meeting at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville October 25-27. The Garden Clubs of Illinois is host for the convention. Lake Bluff Garden Club Creative Design Group is responsible for Centerpieces at the Central Region Convention design banquet, October 26. They will also help with the Club’s Hands-on Design Workshop at its regular meeting on September 23 at the Grace Methodist Church.

The Lake Bluff Garden Club's Garden Market has been held continuously for more than 40 years.  Villagers look forward to it as a traditional Mother's Day weekend event.  In recent years the plant sale has been held in the heart of town on the Village Green.  One of its most popular section is "Donated Plants."  Lake Bluff gardeners, as well as those from neighboring communities are asked to contribute their tried and true perennials, wildflowers, anything that has outgrown its bounds in their home gardens.  Lines form in front of the donated section even before the Market opens.  Many customers return year after year, having discovered that these plants thrive in Lake Bluff's fickle weather.
 
The Garden Market is the garden club's main fundraiser.  Profits help fund our many civic beautification projects.

Thank You
Members of the Lake Bluff Garden Club thank all those people who made our Garden Market so successful.  We recognized  many “old timers” who patronize us every year, and were pleased to welcome those new to our Market.  Once again our Donated Section was a huge draw.  Gardeners who appreciate home grown plants that have proved hardy in this area hurried directly  to that section.  Ladies from Lake Forest Place’s craft group brought smiles to the “Little Sprouts” potting corner.  Their hand decorated pots were charming and appealing to the children as they planted pots for Mother’s Day.  A big thank you to them for sharing their artistry with us. As usual the Village Public Works Department was a big help, and it was comforting to know that the Police Department kept an eye overnight Friday on our tents and plants on the Green.

Garden therapy is a year-long commitment for the Club.          
 
Earlier in the year garden therapy committee members provided a craft workshop for 15 residents of a nursing home in Highwood.   It was well received, as were the cupcakes and punch provided at its conclusion honoring a past member who was celebrating her birthday.
 
Mother’s Day Baskets were delivered to members and friends who, either as home bound or long time contributors to our garden club projects, deserved a blooming reminder of how much they mean to us.
 
As is our custom, flowering plants were provided to Kiley Center for its Chapel
during Easter Season.  Plans are underway to resume our Nursing Home visits
and special programs.
 
Coming up an “October fest” workshop for a nursing home and plans for the Holiday Season!

At the state and national 2009 conventions Lake Bluff Garden Club received a number of  State Awards for its 2008 activities.  We earned the top (Gold Rosette) award for Club Achievement , a silver seal for our ongoing horticulture program, along with the Holiday Decoration Award (Village Greening) and the Club Program Award for the Hands-on Floral Design Workshop.  GARDENGlories, with a LBGC member as editor, won a National Award for a State Publication.

The Lake Bluff Garden Club contributed $1000 to the Village Mural being painted inside the station waiting room. The Club’s annual Garden Market is one of the community’s icons shown. Member Pat F. spearheaded the artistic project for the Artists on the Bluff group.

Village planters of the Lake Bluff Garden Club are responsible for planting and maintaining those containers in the central business district.   They not only solicit the plant material but plant and care for them all year long.  Springtime pansies were coupled with radish and lettuce seeds.  Weren’t they fun?  

Now that July is here, the planters have been changed.   Signs  read “Patriotically planted by the Lake Bluff Garden Club” and on the reverse side Is a “Green Hint.”    Isn’t it great to be red, white, blue – and green? The Public Works department empties and refreshes the planters for each season.  After that it’s our responsibility to plant, water, dead head and provide whatever TLC it takes to make them flourish.   ENJOY THEM when you shop in Lake Bluff.