Garden Clubs - Field of Dreams

About six years ago, my mom and I were talking about how her parish had built a million dollar new church with the largest stained glass windows in North America (really) but had put in a few scraggly shrubs in front that promptly wilted from lack of care. I suggested to her to start a gardening club like the one my best friend's mother was part of in New Jersey. "Oh, I couldn't do that", she said but I countered most of her reasons until she put an item in the church bulletin. To date, the club has attracted master gardeners, great plants, wedding photographers and is responsible for at least one hook-up leading to marriage.My best friend, Mariko, died in July 2006 and her family installed her name in their church garden in New Jersey. It seems like a gesture she would have enjoyed. I like to think she was indirectly responsible for the church garden here in Ohio also. Some fall photos we took this week of the efforts of my mom's garden vision are above and below. There is a slideshow of more of St. Andrew Garden Club in the right column. We plan to photograph the garden through the seasons so we'll add these as they come. Enjoy.