President's Letter Summer 2017
Sarah Dimling
Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe we are mid-way through summer and our Shaker Lakes Garden Club calendar year 2017 – 2018 has begun. We concluded the year with two lovely and well-attended events. Many thanks to Margaret Ransohoff for hosting the Annual Meeting luncheon and Judy Eakin for hosting the Provisional Tea.
As I reflect on the past year I’m reminded of how proud I am of our club and all that we stand for... and how much fun we’ve had along the way. During the SLGC Annual Meeting and the Zone X Meeting in Cincinnati, I spoke of the recurring theme that has surfaced for me during my first year as president; our incredible members. It has truly been a pleasure working with both old and new friends. I am humbled by the vast array and depth of talent, willingness to roll up sleeves and don aprons to pitch in and help at myriad levels. Additionally, I’m delighted that SLGC is so well represented with leadership positions at both the zone and national levels.
A friendly reminder for all 2016 – 2017 club chairs of SLGC and GCA committees, please be sure to submit your year-end report to Dozie Herbruck for inclusion in the “Committee Files” section of our website. Additionally, please pass along your committee notebooks and any “pearls of wisdom” to the incoming chairs to help them hit the ground running in their new positions.
Cypripedium parviflorum
In closing, I wanted to share this photo of a Yellow Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) I discovered in late June at my family’s summer home in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This beauty was happily growing among several patches of Lady’s Slippers along the edge of the woods not far from the shoreline. I have adored these colorful gems since I was a child and they never fail to thrill me on the rare occasion I spot them. This beautiful wild orchid consists of a yellow inflated pouch flanked by two long, narrow twisted petals and takes many years to grow from seed to mature plants. In Michigan these species are not only illegal to pick but also illegal to move and are typically hard to find.
I wish all of you a wonderful summer and many hours of happy digging in your gardens. Please be sure to take photos of your favorite plants and gardens at home or away to share in upcoming newsletters and on the SLGC website.
Sarah