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“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind.” Luther Burbank

Message From the President

Welcome back, Rake & Hoe Garden Club members!
I hope you had a relaxing summer filled with blooming gardens and visits with friends and family. As our fall season begins, let's celebrate the beauty of nature and the joy it brings to our lives. Our up-coming monthly
meetings will feature our September Annual Auction, a talk on Raptors by Heather Natalo from the Raptor Trust, our joint meeting with the Westfield Garden Club with a talk by Dave Williams called “The Love of Gardening”, and our Holiday Craft project., This fall promises exciting activities – from a boat trip on the Hackensack River, a tour of Greenwood Gardens, the fall plant exchange, a Horticulture workshop about plant division, and Artistic Crafts and Flower Design workshops to help us prepare for our April Flower Show. Our Community Projects at the Jardine Academy and for Mobile Meals will start again. And we will be working at our Community Gardens at the Miller-Cory House Museum, the Claire Brownell Garden, the Shadowlawn Pocket Park and maintaining the Mindowaskin Urns. Together, we'll make this Garden Club season the most vibrant and enriching one yet!

Sharon Shiraga

The Rake and Hoe Garden Club
of Westfield

Our mission is to educate our members and the public in horticulture, floral design, nature and wildlife. We host workshops, field trips and plant exchanges in addition to presenting informative monthly meetings. Our talented members are more than willing to share their expertise with the group.

Members are dedicated to the community through their work with the Jardine Academy, Mobile Meals, Veterans and by maintaining three public gardens in Westfield. Rake and Hoe is a member of the Central Atlantic Region of the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

If you have an interest in joining the Club or would like additional information, please contact our membership chair, Nina Sylvester.

GENERAL MEETINGS

Held Noon at the

Shady Rest Golf Course
820 Jerusalem Road

Scotch Plains
Second Wednesday

of the month

Officers of the Club

2024-2025

President, Sharon Shiraga

Vice President, Nina Sylvester

Treasurer, Sue Feldman

Asst. Treasurer, Betsy Chance

Recording Secretary, Margot Partridge

Corresp. Secretary, Mary Lou Nolas

Director, Beth Siano

Join Us!

Embrace the beauty of gardening and nature by joining our Garden Club. Connect with fellow enthusiasts who share your passion, making enduring friendships along the way. Engage in fulfilling community service projects in our area and neighboring towns. Plus, with every meeting, expand your knowledge and skills, always learning something new to enrich your gardening journey. Come be a part of our vibrant community, where growth, both in gardens and friendships, is our constant goal.

For more information, please contact

Nina Sylvester

CONGRATULATIONS!

NINA won a Blue Ribbon for this design and Top Designer Award for entire show.

MARGO won a Blue Ribbon for her design picking up 90+ points which mean she tied for the blue ribbon.

Upcoming Meetings

Sept. 11 – Welcome Back Auction!
A chance to showcase your talents.
Bring to auction off your best offerings and services, e.g. handmade items, potted plants, floral arrangements, chits for meals and/or desserts, yard work, etc. Bring cash or checkbook to buy other items offered. Funds raised go to our December project.

Oct. 9 – “Raptor Adaptation”, with Heather Natalo from the Raptor Trust.
The Raptor Trust is a nationally recognized wild bird rehab facility located in the Great Swamp. Today’s program focuses on raptors (birds of prey) found in NJ, and their
unique talon and beak adaptations that make them superior hunters and fishers. We will have the opportunity to meet a live bird ambassador.

Nov. 13 – “The Love of Gardening”. Local nurseryman, Dave Williams will share his love of gardening with us. After the sale of Williams Nursery in 2022, Dave continues to demonstrate and share his extensive knowledge of horticulture and the latest trends in house
plants and landscaping. Garden Club of Westfield is hosting.

Table Top

Sharon 1st Place

Sharon's winner!

Karen T.

Jeanne P.

Donna S.

Barbara S.

Kay Cross celebrating her birthday!

Nate Kalan, speaker
on cell phone editing pictures

Our thanks to Mountainside Public Library
for supporting us.

Frog Workshop

Click here to go to General Archives

Diana during her lecture for flower show in 2025.

Enjoying lunch and company!

SPONSORS for our fabulous house tour are listed with their websites by clicking here. Be sure to visit them!

Photography Awards

Maryfran A, 1st Prize, Karen T., 2nd Prize

Judy Kampe Award 2024 won by Mabel Woloj

On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Rake and Hoe Garden Club of Westfield held a photography competition in which 18 members entered 8 x 10 photographs. The theme was “Winter Trees Through the Lens.” There were three first prizes awarded to Mary Fran Annesse, Cheryl Katz, and Mabel Woloj. Three second prizes were awarded to Karen Troiano, Betty Round, and Barbara Spellmeyer. Three third prizes were awarded to Richard Pelikan, Regina Kelley, and Carolyn Seracka, and three honorable mentions were awarded to Jeannie Pelikan, Beth Siano, and Inge Bossert. The contest was judged by 3 photography judges, spending one and a half hours judging the photos.
The Best in Show and the Judy Kampe Award was earned by Mabel Woloj. Her trophy will be awarded at the Rake and Hoe End of Year Luncheon in June.
Many thanks to Margot Partridge, Photography chair, who organized the competition with the help of Barbara Spellmeyer.