From the Director's Desk
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The Detroit Garden Center is at a crossroads in our existence. We have some challenges to overcome and opportunities of which to take advantage. Communication from the City of Detroit who holds The Moross House lease, and the Detroit Historical Museum who maintains the house, may increase the costs we will incur should we choose to remain in this facility. We have meetings scheduled and will keep you updated as best we can. For now, suffice it to say that we need your support. That support can come primarily in the form of donation of dollars or volunteer time-on committees (both short term and ongoing) and in outreach efforts. Please step up to the plate and help us grow into the future.
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May is Membership Renewal Month. Please use the enclosed envelope for your dues payment. It will save us postage dollars not having to send a separate membership mailing.
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An Adhoc Visioning Committee composed of a cross section of members is assessing their ideas for the future of the Center. Trust that these members speak for all the dedicated gardeners who are our members. Your comments will be solicited soon in a new survey.
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On a more positive note, Deborah, Kinzie, Kizzie, Florence, Lisa, MacKenzie,
Theresa, Diamond, Latoya, Tanisha, and Elizabeth, our Young Gardeners from
Alternatives for Girls thanked us with colorfully hand-painted garden aprons and gloves, and a scrapbook filled with reasons they like coming to their meetings at the DGC (Tuesdays, 4:30 to 6:30 pm).
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In March, they discovered how spring brings life to lifeless-looking branches by taking home forsythia and pussy willow to force. Some have planted the sprouted branches in their yards. In April they left with spring baskets of colorful gerbera daisies and Easter eggs. They have transplanted tomato seedlings into
newspaper pots and chosen various plants for their garden in brand new Stanten Park at 18th and Porter. Here a playscape and gazebo are a fence away from raised beds filled with dark rich compost. Seniors from a nearby housing center will join the girls in planting the garden on Saturday, May 17.
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Some of the girls and their mothers will participate in HUG (Help Uncover the Gem) Belle Isle on Saturday, May 3.
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Friday mornings during the summer will be work days in the garden, which will be fun as well. New volunteer and Master Gardener in training Sue DeLage joins Elaine Dold to help the girls with their projects. We will lose Susan Camp, who has donated so much to this group, and will be greatly missed. We wish her well as she and her husband retire to Arizona. Please consider volunteering with this wonderful group of girls. Friday summer work hours are still to be determined.
Barbara Hayes,
Director
