Enhancing Our Environment

OFFICERS

  • President:  M. Denise Clegg
  • Vice-President:  Joey Miller
  • Secretary:  Karen Gentile
  • Treasurer:  Carole Kellogg
  • Council Director:  Phil Rettman
  • Committees 
    • Courtesy Chair:  Rosemarie Griffith and Connie Young
    • Crispe Home:  Phil Rettman, Karen Bibart and Karen Gentile
    • Club Yearbook:  Joey Miller
    • Club Program:  Ann Bray
    • Membership: Dee Wentzel and Jean Sass
    • Greens Sale Club Project:  Nancy Lee and Karen Bibart
    • Greens Sale Council Project: Amy Nelson and Cynthia Hutchinson
    • Historian: Donna Thurn
    • Webmaster:  M. Denise Clegg

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

  • Plant gardens and provide garden maintenance at the William J. Crispe Home, Plainwell, MI.
  • Maintain a pollinator garden at W.J. Crispe Home, Plainwell, MI
  • Participate in the KGC Greens Sale.

CLUB MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

July 17, 2019 10:00 A.M.
Hostesses: Denise Clegg/Amy Nelson
Program: Hidden Lakes Garden

August 14, 2019 10:00 A.M.
Hostesses: Ann Bray/Frances Sage
Program: Blue Horizon Nursery
Lunch after at Blinkers, 54462 M-43, Bangor, MI 49013
Followed by a Meetup at the Sage home, 11504 35th St., Gobles, MI 49055
Carpooling will be at the W. Main St. Meijer @ 9:00 A.M.

September 18, 2019 12:30 P.M.
Hostesses: Annie Bray/Carol Vogeler
Program: Linda Whitlock Dear Resistant Plants and Shade Plants
Location: KGC House, 5333 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49004

October 16, 2019 9:00 A.M.
Hostesses: Cynthia Hutchinson/Rosemarie Griffith
Program: Fall Clean-up @ Crispe Home
Location: 203 W. Bridge St., Plainwell, MI 49080

November 21, 2019 12:30 P.M.
Hostesses: Karen Bibart
Program: Workshop Greens Sale
Location: KGC House, 5333 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49004

December 18, 2019 Noon
Hostesses: Carol Kellogg/Dee Wentzel/Jean Sass
Program: Christmas Party
Location: Carole Kellogg’s Home

No meeting is scheduled in January and February.

March 18, 2020 12:30 P.M.
Hostesses: Donna Thurn/Karen Bibart
Program: Workshop at River Street Flowerland
Location: 1300 River St., Kalamazoo, MI

April 15, 2020 12:30 P.M. Please eat lunch prior to arrival
Hostesses: Jeanette Meyer/Phil Rettman
Program: Bonsai Presentation by John Cerovski

May 20, 2020 9:00 A.M.
Hostesses:
Program: Crispe House- clean-up
Location: 203 W. Bridge St., Plainwell, MI 49080

June 17, 2020 11:30 A.M.
Hostesses:
Program: Annual Meeting
Location: TBD

MISSION STATEMENT

To stimulate interest in horticulture, the environment and the related arts.

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 maintains the garden areas of The William Crispe Residential Home in Plainwell, MI.  The members are in the gardens for a fall and spring clean-up as well as during the summer months.  A cutting garden was recently 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 ten 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.

WmCrispeHome

MICHIGAN GARDEN CLUB LIFE MEMBERS

  • Esther Christensen
  • Dee Pederson
  • Francis Sage
  • Carole Kellogg
  • Karen Gentile
  • Rosemarie Griffith

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)
      • WH-gardening1964-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

Information on club membership is available by using the email form below.