Grow and Show Garden Club (GS)

Welcome to the Grow & Show Garden Club! We are a friendly, active group of gardeners who enjoy learning, sharing, and cultivating beauty together. Whether you’re new to gardening or have years of experience, you’ll find a warm community here—one that values creativity, service, and the joy of growing alongside others. Guests are always welcome, and we invite you to explore what makes our club such a rewarding place to belong.

Mission Statement

The object of the club is to stimulate interest in horticulture and environmental concerns.

Meetings

Meetings are the third Thursday of each month, at 11:45, unless otherwise noted. For additional information, please text our Membership & Sunshine Chair, Dianne Herpolshimer, at 810-338-0182

Guests are always welcome at any of our meetings

Programs for 2026-2027

June 18/ Garden Tour at a Lakeside Landscape, Arleigh Smyrnios, NGC Environmental Consultant, Gardening Consultant, and Landscape Design Consultant

Enjoy a guided stroll through a fan-shaped, 3/4-acre garden featuring thousands of plants arranged in more than sixty beds ranging from full sun to deep shade. Softly curving paths wind through rolling terrain, offering new views at every turn. Benches are placed throughout the garden for those who wish to pause and take in the scenery. Many plants are labeled, and our host welcomes questions as we explore this beautifully tended lakeside landscape.

July 16/Caring & Sharing Garden Luncheon

Join us for a summer garden party followed by our annual Caring & Sharing floral project. We’ll enjoy a light luncheon together in a vintage-inspired outdoor setting before using blooms and greens from our own gardens to create 50–60 small flower arrangements to brighten the day of residents at a local care center — a tradition our club has lovingly upheld since 1965. Come help us share a little sunshine, one bouquet at a time.

August 20/Asylum Lake Preserve: Past & PresentMark Hoffman, Asylum Lake Historian and Asylum Lake Preservation Association (ALPA) co-founder

Join us for a presentation on the broad history of the Asylum Lake Preserve, discussing its evolution as an agricultural land holding for early pioneers, its institutional period as a state hospital unit, and its 1975 conveyance as public parkland. With a particular interest in the property’s past, we will focus on the farming activities and residential buildings of the hospital era. Archived photos and maps will give a more complete picture of the Preserve’s early years,
and an overview of the status of the property, including its restrictions, will be summarized. The presentation will finish with a half-hour walking tour of the property.

September 17/Catnip Mice & Perennial Plant Swap

October 15 /Forest Bathing Presentation Mary Beth Thomas, Yoga Instructor & Forest Bathing Facilitator

Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is the practice of mindfully connecting with nature through your senses. This simple practice has become popular around the globe for its calming, healing effects and its ability to reduce stress and support overall well-being. Come learn what forest bathing is, how to practice it, and how it can beautifully enrich your own time in nature.

November 19/Garden Inspired Holiday Décor & Recipes Scott Stokes

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, with holiday décor inspired by worldwide traditions and the treasures of your own garden harvest. Scott will demonstrate how to build winter porch pots, dye hydrangeas a rich burgundy, and gild cones and seed heads in timeless gold. He’ll also share many more unique and whimsical garden-inspired ideas for your home — just in the nick of time for the holidays.

December 17/Club Holiday Luncheon

Celebrate the season with our annual Holiday Luncheon, a relaxed and cheerful time to enjoy good food and warm company during the busy season. It’s a lovely opportunity to pause, connect, and enjoy a delightful afternoon of friendship.

January 21 or February 18/Soup Social & Wool Felting Demo, Beth Foster

Our annual soup social brings us together for warm soup, garden-planning conversation, and a creative demonstration by Club Member Beth Foster. Beth will share a wool-felting technique for making delightful accents to use in our seasonal arrangements and décor.

March 18/Invasive Species Management, Sarah Rahn, Invasive Species Coordinator

Discover which plants are quietly threatening our gardens and natural areas, which newcomers we should be watching for, and what we can realistically do about them. We’ll explore smart, effective ways to manage invasive species, plus clear guidance on when it’s time to call in reinforcements to protect the landscapes we love.

April 15/The Mill at Vicksburg: Regeneration Through Land & Art, John Kern, Director of the Prairie Ronde Artist Residency

Discover how the former Vicksburg paper mill is being brought back to life through creativity and regenerative land use. Artist-in-Residency Director, John Kern, will highlight the transformation of a 25-acre fallow field into a student learning lab supporting sheep, bees, grains, clover, native wildflowers, and heirloom crops. He will also introduce the internationally recognized artist-in-residence program and its growing impact on local arts and culture.

May 20/Celebration of Members & Milestones, and Memory Lane Garden Tour

Our Celebration of Members & Milestones begins with our traditional salad potluck. We’ll take time to recognize the achievements and milestones of our members and to honor those we have lost during the past year. A special presentation will follow, highlighting our club’s history, our role in the Garden Council, and the projects and service efforts that define who we are. We’ll then install new officers and make committee selections for the coming year. The meeting concludes with a guided tour of the Memory Lane Native Garden Bed, including the section our club maintains. It’s a meaningful time to honor our members, reflect on our past, and prepare for the year ahead.

Community Activities

For more than six decades, Grow & Show has expressed its mission through meaningful, hands-on projects that strengthen our community and deepen our connection to the natural world. These ongoing efforts highlight the dedication, creativity, and service that have defined our club since 1962.

Memory Lane Native Plant Garden

Our club helped install and continues to maintain the Memory Lane West bed, a native plant garden located at the Kalamazoo Garden Council House. This long-standing project reflects our commitment to stewardship, education, and the beauty of Michigan’s native plants.

Kalamazoo Garden Council Greens Sale

Each fall, our members create handcrafted items, small holiday arrangements, and assist with preparations for the annual Kalamazoo Garden Council Greens Sale, held the first weekend in December. This event supports Council programs and brings the community together to celebrate the season.

Caring & Sharing

In the summer, members prepare 50-60 small flower arrangements to brighten the day of residents at a local nursing home. This tradition is one of our most cherished acts of service, sharing a bit of garden joy with our neighbors.

Contributions

In addition to hands‑on service, Grow & Show supports organizations whose work aligns with our mission and values. These contributions extend our reach, helping strengthen environmental stewardship, outdoor education, and community well‑being throughout the region.  This year’s contributions support the following organizations:

Pretty Lake Vacation Camp Farm Project

Pretty Lake Camp provides free, week-long summer experiences for children in Kalamazoo County who would otherwise be unable to attend, offering hands-on learning in nature, gardening, and farm life. Our support helps sustain their mission of giving every child a chance to explore the outdoors, build confidence, and discover new skills.

Michigan Garden Clubs – Scholarships

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. awards scholarships to college students pursuing studies in horticulture, environmental science, landscape architecture, and related fields. Our contribution helps nurture the next generation of environmental stewards and supports the preservation of Michigan’s natural resources.

Kalamazoo River Valley Trail

The Kalamazoo River Valley Trail is a regional multi-use trail system that connects communities and encourages outdoor recreation along the river corridor. Our donation supports trail maintenance, environmental stewardship, and the continued expansion of safe, accessible green spaces for all.

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy protects natural areas, preserves wildlife habitat, and safeguards water quality throughout our region. Our support helps maintain public nature preserves, restore fragile ecosystems, and ensure these treasured landscapes remain protected for generations.

Gull Road Community Garden

Located at Sunnyside United Methodist Church, the Gull Road Community Garden brings neighbors together to grow food, share knowledge, and nurture community spirit. Our contribution supports garden maintenance, educational programs, and the donation of fresh produce to local families in need — helping cultivate both nourishment and connection in Kalamazoo.

Committees & Leadership

Club officers, project and committee chairs, support positions, and meeting enrichment roles are the heart of our club. Together, they create friendship, service, beauty, and continuity in the work we share, and they help our club thrive. Each role—whether an elected officer, a committee chair, or a support position—helps sustain our traditions and strengthen our club and Council community.

• Council House Grounds
  • Lindsey Ames
• Small Flower Arrangements
  • Beth Foster
  • Margaret Mc Allister
• Greens Sale Chair & Committee
  • Linda Derfiny
  • Jane Fette
  • Dawn Jones
  • Patti Oakland
  • Martha Schinderle
• Sunshine and Membership
  • Dianne Herpolshimer
• Council Director
  • Katherine Atkinson
• Yearbook
  • Kathy Neal
  • Janey Lutzka
• Parlaimentarian
  • Shirley Mitchell
• Historian
  • Donna Knight
• Environmental Concerns
  • Margaret McAllister
• Horticulture
  • Lisa Chrisman
• Birds
  • Jill Toma
• Wildflowers
  • Christine Simons

Officers

• President: Katherine Atkinson
• Vice-President: Beth Foster
• Secretary: Jane Fette
• Treasurer: Helga Mortensen
• Club Director: Katherine Atkinson

 Fiscal Year:  June 1 – May 31 |  Organized: 1962 | Federated: 1963

Club Highlights

Grow & Show Garden Club was founded in 1962 by a group of enthusiastic gardeners who shared a passion for learning, community beautification, and hands‑on service. From its earliest years, the club became known for its creativity, generosity, and commitment to horticultural education. Members contributed to award‑winning community projects, supported local schools and care centers, and played an active role in the Kalamazoo Garden Council. In 2022, the club proudly celebrated its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of friendship, learning, and service rooted in a shared love of gardening.

Today, our members continue that legacy with monthly programs, garden tours, community projects, and opportunities for members to learn and grow together. We maintain longstanding traditions of supporting local organizations, caring for shared garden spaces, and offering nature‑based activities that brighten the lives of others. Through changing seasons and new generations of gardeners, Grow & Show remains dedicated to cultivating beauty, encouraging learning, and enriching lives through the joy of gardening.

How to Join

If you’re looking for a friendly, active garden club to grow with, we welcome new members and invite you to reach out.