Glenview Gardeners celebrate 30th anniversary
When the pandemic hit last year, many people turned to gardening to fill their time at home. But for some people, gardening is their passion. They are members of the Glenview Gardeners, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
During Glenview Chamber of Commerce breakfast meetings, a frequent topic of conversation was gardening. Two members, Leo Cronin and Mort Ohren, decided to launch a new club to focus on gardening for the average homeowner. The first meeting was held in January 1991, and the Glenview Gardeners have been going strong ever since.
Originally called the Glenview/Golf Gardeners, the Golf was eventually dropped from its name. Members come from Glenview and a number of surrounding communities.
Glenview Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month, usually at the Glenview Library, with a speaker on a gardening topic. Guests are always welcome.
Other meetings include members-only field trips, discount shopping at a garden center, a plant exchange, and social events. In summer, three members open their gardens to the community for a garden walk, which is free to the public. Glenview Gardeners have also been at the farmers market as well as in the Glenview Fourth of July parade. A monthly newsletter with club news and an assortment of gardening information is sent out to members.
Several years ago, the Glenview Gardeners took over planting and maintenance of the garden behind the Kennicott House at The Grove. Members gather on Saturday mornings to tend the garden, though some drop by at other times to be sure the plot is watered and weeded. Recently a damaged rustic arbor was taken down, but plans are in the works for a new one to be constructed.
A new project this year is planting a butterfly garden along a fence next to the existing Kennicott garden. When the Grove cut down trees and bushes, the gardeners started planning. With the help of donations from several people through NextDoor, as well as a donation from Lurvey Garden Center, good soil was ordered. Then members began digging out roots and spreading the new soil. Plants that attract butterflies will be put in this spring and a grand opening sometime in summer is being planned.
Recently, the Glenview Gardeners worked with the library to put in two potted plants in the library's entrance hall, as well as a decorative planter for the desk there. The club also has worked on joint programs with the library.
Since pandemic limitations started in March 2020, the club has worked to keep members involved with activities including a virtual garden walk among members in spring and again in summer to share photos and information about their gardens online, as well as a plant exchange using an online listing so members could drop off or pick up plants individually. Also, they have continued to have some speakers via Zoom. A socially distanced, masks-required tailgate gathering in a parking lot last August allowed some in-person interaction among members.
Glenview Gardeners continue to work around the limitations of the pandemic so most of this year's programs are tentative. Updated information on programs can be found at glenviewgardeners.org.