ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING - Each year members of our Club plant a tree in our community. June 2011 brought a beautiful Strawberry tree to Oaks North Community Center by the entrance gate. The management was very touched by our donation and wrote a lovely thank you letter. Taken by our new Historian, Ellen Balcomb, at the September 15 first General Meeting (photo on the right) is President Liliane Dickinson and an Oaks North Community Center's representative standing next to the donated Strawberry tree. The photo on the left was taken by Audrey Koble one month later with Maxine Schimmel & Liliane Dickinson. Maxine Schimmel - Chairlady.
GARDEN THERAPY WORKSHOP - Members facilitate bi/monthly garden-related projects for approximately 20 senior citizens at the Gateway Gardens Assisted Living. Months this year will include Sept., Nov., Jan., March & May on the 2nd Monday at 10:30 am. We will be helping the residents plant Christmas Cactus in individual containers that should be in full bloom by the holiday. See photos below (submitted by Virginia) from the November therapy program. Please email Virginia Esmond, Chairlady, to volunteer.
GARDEN TOUR - Every Spring we sponsor a local garden tour featuring five gardens and a plant sale. If you click Photo Gallery, you can see last year's fantastic tour. It is a great way to support our club, gather ideas for your own garden and meet some really nice people! This is our major Fundraiser for the year. The proceeds will go toward scholarships for horticulture students at local college/schools. Janet Beck - Chairlady.
The 2012 BGC Spring Garden Tour
ticket sales will begin January 2012
Click HERE to go to the Spring Garden Tour Save-the-Date-flyer
HORTICULTURAL TABLE - Members share information, ideas and recommendations about various methods of plant management at General Meetings. Sharon Tooley - Chairlady.
PENNY PINES -
Members participate in this worthy conservation project by donating money at our monthly meetings towards the cost of Penny Pines Plantations - A plantation consists of approximately 350 trees on a little less than one acre. Our club has donated monies to fund 80 plantations to date for the Cleveland National Forest! Well done, indeed. For more information, go to the Penny Pines Website. Think about honoring someone or an event by making a contribution. Please contact Marion Grant - Chairlady.
POST OFFICE GARDEN (NEW) - A team of about 20 members were involved in planting a drought-tolerant garden in front of the old Rancho Bernardo Post Office (550 sq. ft). We donated several truckloads of compost & mulch, which we collected from the city compost center. River rocks and new plants were also added. The garden has been named "Chelsea's Garden" in honor of Poway's Chelsea King. The garden is located at 16960 Bernardo Center Drive next to the Firestation and has been greatly appreciated by the community. Members provide regular maintenance. To volunteer, email Diane Scharar, chairlady.
As a bonus, your Bernardo Gardeners Club won FIRST PRIZE from the California Garden Clubs, Inc. (See below). First prize out of ALL the clubs in our state! This accomplishment held so many emotions on so many levels. Enjoy viewing the Award Certificate & Ribbon. A special thank you to the people who created & worked so hard on this project.
RANCHO BERNARDO LIBRARY INDOOR GARDEN (NEW) - A group of members overhauled the small indoor garden & provide monthly maintenance. Old plants were replaced, the fountain was cleaned, fresh soil and river stones were donated. Member Linda Freithaler (and other busy bees) cleared the area and began implementing their design. Seeing is believing - just look what they did! To help with the maintenance of this lovely area that they created, please contact Maxine Schimmel - Chairlady.
FLASH! Look at the cute-decked-out-Fall-themed makeover at the library!
AND FOR CHRISTMAS - SEE WHAT SANTA'S LIL' HELPERS
CREATED...HO HO HO
President Liliane Dickinson is at one with the newly designed Holiday Garden at
the Rancho Bernardo Library (Photo by Audrey Koble)
Judy Krupski (in blue & white plaid) made all the little, cute burlap pockets with buttons, beads, flowers n' berries. Judy Blankenship and Phyllis Sullivan assisted.
Photo by L. Freithaler
CLICK HERE to go to the Photo Gallery 2 link and click the link to get to this gallery. See the slideshow of all the Holiday Garden photos in full screen for an awesome experience and then go back and watch it in the filmstrip option to see the captions. You'll be glad you did!
RANCHO BERNARDO LIBRARY FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS - Our club has provided plants for the library & we continue to contribute to their upkeep on a weekly basis.
Club members provide a fresh flower arrangement for the entrance niche weekly. The
following photos are just some of the gorgeous arrangements our members donated in September and October. To volunteer, please email Maxine Schimmel, Chairlady.
Donna Zimmer Mary Wilkinson
Sharon Swildens Helen Harte
RECYCLING PROJECT - Join us as we collect empty inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges, and used cell phones for recycling. This project provides a proactive, effective solution to environmental waste problems. Your children and grandkids will be SO impressed! Members bring these recyclable items to monthly meetings for disposal. Kay Pantelis - Chairlady.
SCHOLARSHIPS - Annually, we provide scholarships to horticultural students at
Cuyamaca College. Click here to learn more about Cuyamaca College Botanical Society. Freddie Cusack - Chairlady.
SERENITY HOUSE - A women's crisis intervention facility located in Escondido, CA. Members collect new toys and toiletries throughout the year to give to this organization at our Happy Holiday Luncheon in December.
Additionally, our Club presents a cash donation to the Director of Serenity House at this event. Click here to learn more about Serenity House.
