OFFICERS
- Presidents: Donna Thurn
- Vice President: Carole Amick
- Secretary: TBD
- Treasurer: Amy Nelson
- Council Director: Joey Miller
- Committees
Caring Support
KGC House Gardens
Membership
Program Chair
Greens Sale Representative
Historian
Yearbook
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
• Participate in the KGC Greens Sale
• Western Hills Memorial Garden at KGC Council House
Western Hills Memorial Garden at the Kalamazoo Garden Council House
CLUB MEETINGS & PROGRAMS
Third Wednesday of each month at 12:30 P.M. unless noted otherwise. No meetings in January or February.
June 19, 2024, 11:30 AM
Program: Annual Meeting, Election of Officers
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House
October 9, 2024, 12:00 PM
Program: “Growing a Garden For Birds”. Joyce Leppard, Audubon Society
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House
October 16, 2024, 12:30 PM
Program: KGC House Fall Garden Clean-Up
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House
November 20, 2024, 12:30 PM
Program: Greens Sale Projects
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House
December 4, 2024, 12:30 PM (Tentative Date)
Program: Holiday Luncheon Pot Luck
Location: TBD
January 15, 2025, 12:30 PM
Program: Catch up on News
Location: Zoom Meeting
March 19, 2025
Program: Nesting Balls
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House
May 21, 2025, 12:30 PM
Program: KGC House – Spring Garden Clean-Up
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House
June 18, 2025, 12:30 PM
Program: Annual Meeting, Election of Officers:
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House
MISSION STATEMENT
To stimulate interest in horticulture, the environment and the related arts.
Welcome to Western Hills Garden Club
We are a working garden club where each member is expected to donate gardening skills, organizational skills, planning skills, and/or leadership. Gardening skills are displayed working at William Crispe Residential Home in
Plainwell, MI, which was our club’s primary community project, and at the Kalamazoo Garden Council House, 5333 N. Westnedge, in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, MI. All able bodied members are expected to participate.
Being a member allows you to exchange ideas through monthly club meetings, district meetings, conventions, conferences and schools. Correspondence about these events occurs through email. There is no expectation of
pre-existing knowledge. We encourage you to learn from other members by volunteering to assist them. We also learn from each other by demonstration and by attending National Schools, and State and Council programs which
occur throughout the state. Members are also encouraged to participate in flower shows.
The club enjoys membership in National Garden Clubs, Inc., Central Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc., Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc., and Kalamazoo Garden Council, a group of nine clubs in Greater Kalamazoo. The KGC Greens Sale is held the first full weekend of December. This is the highlight of the year where we all get in the mood for the holidays by displaying and selling our winter themed natural designs. It is a great way to meet members of other clubs belonging to the council. All members volunteer at this event.
Our members host monthly meetings. Meetings occur at various gardening themed businesses, members’ homes, or Kalamazoo Garden Council House. Regular attendance at meetings is expected, for isn’t the reason you joined to learn more about gardening? Working together to share knowledge and skills, we share friendship. It is hoped that all members will share their talents in whatever arena they are skillful.
We welcome new members for they instill in us enthusiasm for our passion. Rewards are great while dues are small. Our club has been honored with a Club of Distinction Award at the Platinum level in 2018 and 2019. We strive to keep an active membership of 25-30 members. Our small club achieves a lot but most of all we share friendship.
CLUB HISTORY
Western Hills Garden Club was founded in 1960. The charter members were “buddies” in the Kalamazoo Newcomer Club. Fourteen ladies joined together to stimulate interest in agriculture, horticulture and related arts. The club was federated in 1963 as Club 244. Its flower is The Brown-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.) Meetings are held at 11:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of every month except February. The members are a diversified group living in Kalamazoo, Portage, Plainwell, Battle Creek, Augusta and Gobles and Otsego.
WHGC maintained the garden areas of The William Crispe Residential Home in Plainwell, MI until its closure in June 2019. The members were in the gardens for fall and spring clean-up as well as during the summer months. A cutting garden had been planted to provide fresh flowers for the residents. In 2008 the grounds were recognized by the Plainwell City Council with The Spring Beautification Award.
Western Hills is one of nine clubs in the greater Kalamazoo area belonging to the Kalamazoo Garden Council and actively supports its goals and activities including a two day Greens Sale the first weekend in December. The funds earned are used throughout the year for student scholarships, member enrichment and beautification projects.
MICHIGAN GARDEN CLUB LIFE MEMBERS
- Esther Christensen
- Dee Pederson
- Francis Sage
- Carole Kellogg
- Karen Gentile
- Rosemarie Griffith
- Denise Clegg 2020
- Dee Wentzel 2020
NATIONAL GARDEN CLUB LIFE MEMBERS
- Carole Kellogg 2009
- Karen Gentile 2015
PAST PRESIDENTS
- 1961-Mrs. Rudolph Faller (Cyrena)
- 1962-Mrs. E. John Larson (Ann)
- 1963-Mrs. John McKay (Sue)
1964-Mrs. Karl Erickson (Ann)- 1965-Mrs. Albert Maass (Marilyn)
- 1966-Mrs. Henrich Schreimer (Mary)
- 1967-Mrs. John Hayes (Jan)
- 1968-Mrs. Willard Goodman
- 1969-Mrs. Edwin Rosenbaum (Joan)
- 1971-Mrs. Gordon Duncan (Nancy)
- 1972-Mrs. Ray Pederson (Dee)
- 1970-Mrs. Paul Krim (Elaine)
- 1973-75 Mrs. Esther Christensen
- 1975-Mrs. Frances Sage
- 1976-Marilyn Maass
- 1977-Jan Hayes
- 1978-Esther Christensen
- 1979-Jan Hayes
- 1980-Frances Sage
- 1981-Mardee Mott
- 1982-Marilyn Maass
- 1983-Doraldyne Sachs
- 1984-86 Sue Smith
- 1986-88 Rita Moore
- 1988-Esther Christensen
- 1989-Sylvia Van Poolen
- 1990-Dee Pederson
- 1991-Francis Sage
- 1992-94 Marilyn Maass
- 1994-Sue Smith
- 1995-97 Marian Freeman
- 1997-Francis Sage
- 1998-Dee Pederson
- 1999-Esther Christensen & Dee Pederson
- 2000-Kim de Bois & Marian Freeman
- 2001-Kim de Bois & Marion Freeman
- 2002-Marian Freeman
- 2003-5 Laura Jenkins
- 2005-8 Yvonne Evans Wordell
- 2008-Carole Kellogg
- 2009-2011 Karen Gentile
- 2011-2013 Jane Pennala
- 2013-2015 Dee Wentzel
- 2015-2017 Karen Gentile
- 2017-2020 Denise Clegg
Find out more about becoming a garden club member by completing the form below.