President Andrus opened the business meeting by leading the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. Andrus reported that she had entered the Duboistown Garden Club Flower Show in Williamsport and that she had won some major Section Awards. This recognition is especially impressive since this is the first flower show she has entered. She is now a student judge and has been asked to help judge the Garden Club of Montrose Standard Flower Show on July 24.
Barb Andrus and Laura Steele will be setting up for the Troy Fair floral exhibits on July 22 and exhibits will be entered on July 25. This is a major undertaking with as many as 500 entries so they are asking for volunteers to help them log them in. Exhibitor’s tickets are available from Laura Steele or can be picked up at the Exhibition Hall Office.
The Heritage Garden Club’s new yearbook was distributed and President Andrus commented that Cathy Close at Bradco Printing had been a great help in printing and compiling the book. For the past two years Heritage Garden Club has received a first place award for its yearbook from the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania in the small club category. The yearbook committee is chaired by Beverly Hunter.
State GCFP President Sharon Brown said the most important thing for us as club members to be aware of are the new child protective services requirements that have come in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Any volunteer coming in contact with a juvenile under the age of 18 years old must have a background check.
On August 19 the club will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary with an afternoon tea which will be held at the Mitchell House in the Heritage Village from 2-4PM. They have invited local garden clubs, GCFP District Clubs as well as their Directors and Assistant Directors to this event. The Mitchell House Museum staff will prepare most of the food and the garden club will provide some cookies. The price for the tea is $10.00 which will include a tour of the gardens. Period attire is optional but to add to the fun wear your best garden party hat.
Barb Andrus reported that the Blue Star Memorial has been mulched and flowers have also been planted. The Pencil Holly has been replaced with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar trees. The gardens at the Heritage Village have also been mulched and flowers planted.
Heritage Garden Club will be one of the host clubs for the GCFP 2016 Convention which will be held at State College. Advertisement forms for the Convention booklet are now available. The District V annual meeting will be held on September 2nd in Lewistown. It will be hosted by the Mifflin County Garden Club and the deadline for reservations is August 15. The Heritage Garden Club will also take part in the Fall Festival at the Heritage Village on September 19-20.
Following the business meeting the club split up into two groups and held a work bee in the Exhibition and Hill gardens in Alparon Park. New Heritage Garden Club signs were placed in both gardens.
New members are always welcome. For more information, call Barb Andrus at 297-3043. The Heritage Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania and National Garden Clubs, Inc.