Inverness Garden Club to hold holiday luncheon Dec. 4

Members of the Garden Club of Inverness are preparing for their annual Holiday Luncheon which raises money for college scholarships and community involvement. As the oldest established club in Inverness, the garden club has a history of community service ranging from providing garden therapy at St. Joseph's Home for the Elderly, working with scouting groups, providing garden maintenance and planting trees for the public gardens in the village of Inverness as well as awarding college scholarships to area students who seek a degree in some area of environmental studies.

The luncheon, which ushers in the holiday season, will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Medinah Country Club and will feature guest speaker John Regan, the owner of Twisted Stem in Crystal Lake. Regan is a former garden club scholarship recipient, has a degree in ornamental horticulture and 35 years of experience in the floral industry. During his career he has twice been voted Designer of the Year by both the Illinois State Florists Association and The Illinois Allied Florists Association.

A Palatine resident since boyhood, Regan began working at Nelson's Bo-Kay, a unique flower shop located for many years in downtown Palatine. After acquiring an MFA, Regan taught design as a visiting professor in the Art Department at Northern University in DeKalb. The Twisted Stem has, for four consecutive years, been voted the best florist in McHenry County.

Winter's Gifts, the theme of this year's luncheon, will focus on the beauty of the Winter Garden through table decorations, themed raffle baskets and silent auction items. Tickets for the event are $55.

For information, visit www.gardenclubofinverness.com.