AGC News Archive 2023

Edible Flowers

Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh is the creator and owner of Backyard Patch Herbs, an online purveyor of salt-free, gluten-free, preservative free herb cooking and tea products. She speaks and shares herb information at The Morton Arboretum, Chicago Flower & Garden Show, and online on the Backyard Patch Herbal Blog. She discussed the edible nature of a wide variety of flowers and flowering  herbs. More than 20 flowering plants were shown with information on harvesting, preserving, and preparing.

I had the honor of attending the District IX annual spring meeting on March 14, 2023, along with Marianne P, Nancy Z, Betty C, Barb G, and Jane B.  We had a really wonderful time.  So great to be with like minded people.

We watched as professional floral designer from Lake Zurich Florist, Mary Cantrell, made these incredible arrangements.  Betty did not win anything.  There is a story there.  Ask her !  Holly Swehla

 Congratulations to Marianne P and the Yearbook Committee for receiving first place for the yearbook, in the medium club division! 

Bee Keeping

Frank Moriarty is a past president and current board of directors member of the Lake County Beekeepers Association Illinois. The purpose of the LCBA is to promote interest in honeybees and beekeeping by encouraging good beekeeping and the utilization of honeybees for pollinations of agricultural crops. He will be speaking about honeybees, bee evolution, and the practice and enjoyment of beekeeping.

Potluck Luncheon

Our June program was a celebration of another club year of gardening.  We had a short meeting followed by welcoming our two newest members. We announced our scholarship winner, Riley Nebel and enjoyed our potluck luncheon.  

Antioch Garden Club members had our first meeting after summer break. We had a great time socializing and catching up with each other before moving the the meeting room for a presentation on mushrooms. "Mrs. Mushroom", aka Lindsay Schwartz entertained and educated us about mushrooms. Lindsay went from a Master's in Applied Nutrition to operating her own gourmet mushroom business. She brought various mushrooms in growing medium to demonstrate how easy it is to grow fresh mushrooms at home. We then enjoyed an amazing pot luck luncheon, followed by our business meeting. What a great start to our new club year!!

Flowering Shrubs, Selection and Care. This month's program was presented by Glenn Grosch, a member of the Chicago Botanic Garden teaching staff, and a retired certified arborist. We learned all about successfully growing deciduous shrubs, including plant selection, planting, watering, fertilizing and pruning. Included will be Midwest shrubs by season: dormancy, full flower, summer foliage and fall color. 

After the program, we had delicious refreshments and our monthly business meeting. We inducted two new member at the meeting. Welcome Chris P. and Susan U.!! 

Larkspur & Leo. This month we welcomed Andrea Persman from Larkspur & Leo. Andrea is a floral designer with a unique style for making beautiful floral arrangements. She shared tips and ways to design and make floral arrangements. One lucky guest was able to create her own arrangement to take home, and one lucky member won an arrangement created by Andrea!  

Refreshments were served and our meeting was conducted. Thank you to all our guests and members who came to our event!