Projects

In 2005, the club had a “Reading Garden” landscaped at the South Haven Memorial Library for the enjoyment of library patrons and the community at large. In 2007, the club landscaped the south side of the library by adding a flagstone path and plantings. We continue to maintain this garden. So if you would like to share your great garden skills please volunteer or just stop by and tidy up the gardens!

How members are expected to participate?

Spring to fall participation is needed for cleaning planting watering and fall clean up. It is a small garden but located next to the farm market which gives us a chance to show off our gardening skills.

How many volunteers are needed?

Needed: 8-10 members participate in pure gardening!

The club budgets $400 a year for plants mulch and fertilizer.
Chairperson: Paula Schultz 269-227-3661
Email: pkschultz@frontier.com

Since 2001, our newsletter has been published 10 times a year. The newsletter was appropriately named The Petunia Patch because the Petunia is the South Haven City flower.

The SH Garden Club members use the Newsletter as an interesting source for information about the club activities, regular meetings, special events, gardening reminders, helpful horticulture tips and information about members’ happenings.

How members are expected to participate?

To contribute information about member happenings, photos, events, write articles on topics of interest and ask questions of Ms. Smarty Plants.
The newsletter is computer generated by the Garden Club volunteers. Most interaction occurs via email so no travel is necessary to volunteer for the newsletter. The current and all past newsletters since 2007 are posted on the Garden Club website and mailed to those who request it.

How many volunteers are needed to do what?

4 total volunteers are needed:
Writer, Editor, Copy/Mail person.
Plus; all club members are encouraged to submit information to be included in each publication.

The newsletter has nominal cost as it is posted on our Web Site for the club members. About 10 copies of the newsletter are mailed out. Stamps are purchased from the US Postal Office. We receive no in kind donations.

2015-2016 Volunteers:
Chairperson: Meme Williamson, writer/production
Joann Johnson , website upload
Jean Christensen, proof reader
Nancy Daugherty, copy /mail provider

The South Haven Garden Club has a number of projects at this Museum. We provide regular upkeep for the National Federated Garden Bench and the Martha Warner Daylily Garden. We also provide financial assistance for the Bailey’s Budding Naturalist program.

It is an especially meaningful to have Club projects at this horticulturally prominent Museum. It is the birthplace and childhood home of America’s “Father of Modern Horticulture” and a founder of the “New Agrarian” philosophy, Liberty Hyde Bailey. It’s wonderful having such an accomplished man come from our small town. Besides being a lovely museum, this is also a National Historic Site, educational outreach center, and culture hub in South Haven.

How can the club members participate?

Club members can do pure gardening here in caring for “our” bench and daylily garden. We do all the normal activities including clean-up of the gardens in spring and fall with watering and dead heading flowers weekly during the growing season.

How many volunteers are needed to do what?:

Need: 2-3 members for garden upkeep
· Skills required: General garden skills
· Time: less than 1 hour per week

The South Haven Garden Club provides plants, shrubs and garden maintenance supplies for our gardens. Plus we donate funds for the Budding Naturalist camp program. We donated $500 for the summer 2015 camp. We do not receive any in-kind donations.
Chairperson: LHBM Liaison: Anne Long

The South Haven Garden Club members provide landscaping or garden(s) at a newly completed Habitat home in the SH area. Recipient of the home helps plan the garden. We are keeping up the tradition to plant a Kousa Dogwood – South Haven’s city tree – at each Habitat house. The front and side of the house is included and sometimes provide a vegetable garden if requested. The planting of the garden personalizes and beautifies their new home – frequently this is the first home the recipient has ever owned. They learn about their gardens, including care and maintenance, which are so important for pride in ownership.

How members are expected to participate?

Club volunteers work with the future home owner to determine what they like or want, provide assistance with the design of the garden(s), obtain all the planting materials, and install the garden.

This is an occasional project occurring every few years. How many volunteers are needed to do what?

6-8 total volunteers are needed: skills required: Consulting, Landscape Design, Purchasing, Plant installation

The South Haven Garden Club provides plants, soil and tools for the homeowner. Costs vary but average is about $500. We don’t receive any monetary in-kind donations. Occasionally local nurseries or landscapers will provide material or labor donations.

For additional information regarding the Habitat Organization: www.vbchabitat.org
Chairperson: Nancy Daugherty 637-7316
Email: dndaugherty@gmail.com

The club maintains a collection of gardening books in its cabinet at the First Congregational Church. The Club librarian displays several books at meetings.

How members participate:

Club members are encouraged to donate gardening books to be used as reference material by other members.
Chairperson: Marilyn Arnott
all members