News Stories from the Kingston Garden Club
October 18, 2007
Kingston Garden Club Encourages Grant Applications
The Kingston Garden Club is now accepting grant applications for the Aloha Wright Grant Program. The program honors one of the most dedicated members of the garden club. Wright, who died in 2005, had a firm commitment to provide opportunities to students and educators and the community.
Educational assistance grants are especially encouraged and are available for textbooks, software, supplies, and tools to facilitate learning experiences for individuals and classrooms. Applications are judged on relevance to the Kingston Garden Club’s objective: To further our knowledge of gardening and artistic use of plant materials, stimulate interest in civic beatification, aid in the conservation of natural resources and the preservation of wildlife.
North Kitsap School District students, as well as anyone who resides, works or operates a business or organization within the North Kitsap School District are eligible. Grant applications will be accepted throughout the year and decisions are made on a reasonable and prudent basis and are at the sole discretion of the grant committee.
Grants are also awarded for special projects such as community beautification and environmental improvements with long-term civic impact. Past grants have been awarded to the Gordon Elementary PTA for their “Safe Walk to School Trail”, Wolfle Elementary for their school garden, as well as Stillwater’s Environmental Center.
Proceeds from the Kingston Garden Club’s May plant sale fund the Aloha Wright Grant Program. More information on the grant program and application forms are available at www.kingstongardenclub.com.
October 18, 2007
Noted Landscape Architect at Kingston Garden Club
Kingston Garden Club members will gain landscaping tips when they meet on Wednesday, November 14. Social time and refreshments begins at 9:00 AM followed by a presentation by noted landscape architect, Patrick Leuner.
Leuner is a native of South Africa, who graduated with a degree in ornamental horticulture and parks administration in 1972. He completed a 5-year horticultural apprenticeship with the Parks Department of Johannesburg. Leuner was then accepted as an international student to study ornamental horticulture at Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania. He was one of five to be selected in the world and graduated in 1974.
Leuner immigrated to the United to further his studies and was accepted by the University of Oregon, Eugene. He graduated in the summer of 1981 with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Patrick moved to Seattle and gained his internship in design construction and maintenance by working with a number of well know landscape design and construction firms in the Seattle area. In 1987 he teamed up with his wife Betsy and started Leuner Landscape Design, Inc. on Bainbridge Island.
Patrick has trained in, studied and practiced horticulture and landscape architecture for nearly 30 years, becoming a favorite in the Pacific Northwest. He currently works out of his studio in Hansville, Washington, focusing on blending new, sustainable landscapes with existing natural habitats.
The Kingston Garden Club meets the third Wednesday of each month at Redeemer United Methodist Church located at the corner of Parcell and Shorty Campbell Roads. New members are always welcome, especially for well-know speakers like Patrick Leuner. Call Nancy M at 297-6640 for more information or check out the web site at Kingstongardenclub.com.
March 11, 2007
Potting Sisters speak at Kingston Garden Club
Sisters Karen Brown, Allied Member, ASID and Janice Adams are award winning container garden designers who specialize in designing unique plantings for pots of all sizes. Adams and Brown are the featured speakers at the April Kingston Garden Club meeting where they will share how to create outstanding containers. Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that can be used. The container gardener is limited only by your imagination.
The Kingston Garden Club meets on Wednesday, April 18 at Redeemer United Methodist Church located on the corner of Parcell and Shorty Campbell Roads. There is a social time at 9 a.m. with the speaker following at 9:30. The business meeting will take place after the speaker and a short break. Novice and experienced gardeners are invited to join us at our meetings. To learn more about the Kingston Garden club, check the website at www.kingstongardenclub.com. New members are always welcome.
March 11, 2007
Kingston Garden Club Springs to Life
Kingston Garden Club members are busily preparing for their Spring Plant Sale to be held on May 5 at the Kingston Community Center. Plant Sale chairman Sandie Peterson promises that the sale will be even bigger and better this year. Members of the club have been dividing and repotting some of their prize plants to share with the gardening public. Everything your heart desires can usually be found at this sale. There will be shrubs, annuals, perennials, ground covers and vegetables. And not to be forgotten are houseplants to extend your garden indoors. The Plant Sale is well known throughout the community for providing a wide variety of plants at reasonable prices.
The Plant Sale is a fun event for Kingston Garden Club members who adopt an “everything must go” attitude. The sale begins at 9 a.m., so arrive early for the best selection of perennials, vines, shrubs or ground covers. Drop by later before the 2 p.m. closing for reduced prices and the drawing of tickets for the raffle baskets.
The raffle baskets have been an important fundraiser for the Kingston Garden Club, thanks to the generosity of local merchants and nurseries who donate gift certificates and items for the baskets.
Proceeds from the plant sale are used to benefit local community projects that help beautify Kingston. Proceeds are also used to fund the Aloha Wright Grant Program, which awards grants in two general categories. The Special Projects grants are awarded to community beautification projects and environmental improvements with long-term civic impact. Educational Assistance grants can be used for text books, supplies, tools, or other items which facilitate learning experiences for individuals and classrooms.
Last year grants were awarded to the Gordon Elementary PTA for construction of their “safe walk to school”, Wolfle Elementary School for the renovation of their nature trail and outdoor education classroom, and Stillwaters Environmental Center to remove non-native invasive plants in the local watershed and for their replacement with appropriate plants.
To learn more about the Aloha Wright Grand Program, contact www.kingstongardenclub.com.
Kingston Garden Club News
Released August 10, 2006
Members of the Kingston Garden club are looking forward to an exciting variety of programs this year under the leadership of President Diann K. The September program, Seven Habits of Happy Gardeners, will be given by popular Seattle Times Garden columnist, Mary Robson. Ms. Robson is also a radio speaker and author who has worked with Washington State University for 18 years teaching garden classes and leading Master Gardeners.
The Kingston Garden Club meets on the third Wednesday of the month at Redeemer United Methodist Church at the corner of Parcell and Shorty Campbell Roads. The September 20 meeting will have a social time at 9 a.m. with the business meeting following at 9:30. The two Blanche Gray Garden shows will also be held in September. The dates are September 14 for Wolfle Elementary and September 21 for Gordon Elementary.
The Kingston Garden Club was founded in 1950 by a small group of women interested in plants and gardening. The first president was Mrs. Dulcie Burger. The club’s objectives are to further the knowledge of gardening and artistic use of plant materials. The club also stimulates interest in civic beautification and aids in the conservation of natural resources and the preservation of wildlife.
Over the years, the club has sponsored many projects including the Blanche Gray Garden shows, an Arbor Day Celebration and the annual community plant sale. Proceeds raised at the sale benefit local community projects and award grants.
The Aloha Wright Grant Program was established in 2006. Grants have been awarded to Gordon Elementary for the purchase of native plants for the “Safe Walk to School Trail,” Sitllwaters Environmental Center to replace non-native invasive plants with native plants as part of the Carpenter Creek restoration, and Wolfle Elementary School for trail renovation.
Officers for 2006-2007 are Diann K, President; Linda M, Vice-President; Alice M, Treasurer; and Ann I, Secretary. Annika M is the immediate Past President under whose leadership Bobbi W established a web site.
New members are welcome at any time. President Diann K says, “We encourage novice and experienced gardeners to drop into our meeting. We are a friendly and fun group of women who are eager to share our talents while enjoying the friendship of others and helping the community of Kingston.” To learn more about the Kingston Garden club, check out our website at www.kingstongardenclub.com. For directions or more information, email Nancy M. at info@Kingstongardenclub.com.
c2007 Kingston Garden Club