Garden Club: October 2017 News

President Gunjan welcomed us back for our first meeting of the season on Monday, September 18, and introduced the newest members: Diane Dale, Dick and Joni Ashworth, Francis Ozimec, and Richard and Yollie Mancino. New members Robert and Deanne Saint-Aubin could not make this meeting but we also welcome them to the best club in Niguel Shores.
Gunjan also thanked the Hospitality Team comprised of Grace, Al, Carmen and Tim for the outstanding refreshments.
Treasurer Karl gave a year-end financial report for 2016-2017 showing our finances are in excellent shape. He informed the members that the club’s Penny Pines fund, which is used to have a tree planted in the Cleveland National Forest in honor of a deceased club member, is now low in funds. In the past, members have voluntarily donated to this fund. Karl asked the assembled members if they would vote to authorize taking money from the club account to fund two trees in memory of Jerry Allen and Marilyn Moon. By a show of hands the members approved this request. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to a fabulous visual treat via a video of the beautiful Keukenhof Gardens in Amsterdam, Holland. President Gunjan had visited there last fall when she joined her husband, who had moved there for a 2 to 3 year work assignment. Not only did the video showcase the colorful array of tulips, hyacinth and crocus in those outstanding flower gardens but it also showed how the various blubs are produced and harvested, as well as how one can plant these bulbs in a variety of garden settings.
The video was a very enjoyable experience, to say the least. A $30 gift certificate donated by Armstrong Nurseries was then raffled for a $1 donation to the Penny Pines fund and won by longtime member Ruth Levitan, who always will remain dear in our memories.
For our next club meeting, Monday October 16, we will carpool to the Tree of Life Nursery on Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano followed by lunch in San Juan. We will meet in the community parking lot at 9 a.m.
Our annual Lobster Fest is scheduled for Thursday, October 26, in the Clubhouse. If you didn’t signup yet for this fun event, contact Francine Stout at franstout@cox.net.
—Karl Kuhn