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
Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the Month, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
July 18, 2018
Shades of Lavender Farm Tour
Hostesses: Amy Nelson
August 15, 2018
Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Tour
Hostesses: Frances Sage and Dee Wentzel
September 26, 2018
Slide Tour of Buchart Gardens in Victoria, BC and Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands
Location: Kalamazoo Garden Council House (KGCH)
Hostesses: Denise Clegg and Annie Bray
October 17, 2018
Fall garden cleanup at the Crispe Home in Plainwell
Hostesses: Rosemarie Griffith and Joey Miller
November 21, 2018
Greens Sale Club Project
Location: Nancy Lee’s Home
Hostesses: Joey Miller and Karen Bibart
December 19, 2018
The Annual Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange
Hostesses: Carol Kellogg, Dee Wentzel, and Jean Sass
January 16, 2019
Pollinators-Presented by Dick Northrup
Location: KGCH
Hostesses: Jeanette Myer and Phil Rettman
No Meeting in February or March
April 17, 2019
Program: Garden Jeopardy
Location: KGCH
Hostesses: Cynthia Hutchinson and Donna Thurn
May 15, 2019
Spring Cleanup Flower Planting at the Crispe Home in Plainwell
Hostesses: Nancy Lee and Carol Vogeler
June 19, 2019
Annual Summer Picnic and Installation of Officers
Hostesses: Karen Gentile and Joey Miller
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.
MICHIGAN GARDEN CLUB LIFE MEMBERS
- Esther Christensen
- Dee Pederson
- Francis Sage
- Carole Kellogg
- Karen Gentile
- Rosemarie Griffith
NATIONAL GARDEN CLUB LIFE MEMBERS
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- Carole Kellogg 2009
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- Karen Gentile 2015
PAST PRESIDENTS
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- 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
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Information on club membership is available by using the email form below.
