This Week in the Garden – Vol 157
| October 30, 2025 |
Tuesday, November 11th Day Meeting at the Cottage
“Mary Buck, Bird Photographer and Book author “Wings Over Duluth”
How photographing birds led to her book “Wings Over Duluth, From Isolation to Inspiration with the Discovery of My Backyard Birds.” Copies of Mary’s book will be available for sale.
PLEASE RSVP if you are attending this meeting. Be on the lookout for the RSVP instructions in the email from “Norcross Garden Club” to register. It will be emailed next week.
10AM Check-in and refreshments
10:30AM Business Meeting and Program. Program will start promptly at 11AM
What to bring to the meeting?
· Grocery store plastic bags for Neighborhood Cooperative Ministry
· Pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House
· Cash for door prize raffle, which supports our Scholarship Fund
· Payment for Christmas meal. See below for more details.
Garden Therapy Holiday Project
In past years, we have collected gift cards to donate to the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries.
These helped provide food and gifts for families in need during the holiday season. Please consider a $25 gift card for any grocery store, Target or Walmart. Cards can be brought to the November and December meetings.
Monday, November 10th Fulton Federation of Garden Clubs Meeting
Refreshments: 10:15 AM; Meeting: 10:30 AM
Location: Northside Drive Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 3100 Northside Drive, Atlanta 30305
Enter through the handicap door or where the awning is at the office entrance. NEW meeting room. Take elevator to 4th floor. Turn right toward office, take 1st hallway on the right. We will use the first two rooms on the left.
Norcross Garden Club is hosting this meeting, providing light bites and beverages. Contact Jeanette Shewbert (770.329.1411) if you would like to contribute a sweet or savory breakfast item.
Program: Lynn McIntyre, the current Treasurer and past President of the Georgia River Board will talk about “The Wonders of the Okefenokee Swamp.” All Garden Club members are invited to attend. Please wear your Garden Club name badge and bring cash for Plant-a-Tree (formerly Penny Pines), raffle tickets and a tip for the custodians. Contact Kathy Sumner if you would like to carpool (678-357-8684).
Enchanted Forest Event Sunday, November 2nd, 2PM at Johnson Dean Forest in Norcross
Please bring your carved or uncarved pumpkins to the entrance of Johnson Dean Forest by Sunday morning. We also need dried natural materials that can be used to decorate pumpkins and fairy houses. Let us know if you or a friend wants to create a fairy door to be placed in the forest. Contact Leanne Penman (770.715.4901) or Kathy Sumner (678.357.8684)
Volunteers will be gathering at 1pm on Sunday for setup. Please join us if you can.
This family-friendly activity has been a popular event for several years and is enjoyed by kids of all ages. Storytelling will be led by Linda Demaris, a former club member and local Norcross resident. Linda has appeared in several LionHeart Theater productions. She may be bringing some fairy helpers with her! Please spread the word to family and friends. Flyer is attached.
Save the Date!
Tuesday, December 9th Our Christmas Holiday Celebration at the Cottage.
We are changing it up this year! There will be a Christmas Luncheon and a Christmas Dinner. Members will have a choice to attend a Luncheon or a Dinner or both! Final signup will be at the November meeting. Cost is $25. Please bring payment to the meeting (cash, check or credit card). If you are unable to attend the November meeting, please contact Leanne (770.715.4901) to register and Jeanette (770.329.1411) to pay.
We are bringing back the voluntary Ornament Exchange. If you would like to participate, please bring a wrapped ornament valued at $10 to the meal of your choice (Lunch or Dinner)
Please contact Leanne Penman (770.715.4901) if you would like to join the planning committee!
Stripling Elementary School Garden Volunteer Day
Saturday November 8th, 9:00AM-12:00PM 6155 Atlantic Blvd. Norcross 30071
Tasks include cleaning out garden beds and planting seeds for cool weather season. Please bring your garden gloves and favorite garden tools. Contact Kathy Sumner if you can attend. (678.357.8684)
Dogwood District’s Wreath Fundraiser
Three River Wreaths-order deadline is December 1st. Trudy Rudert is a co-chair for this fundraiser. Give her a call if you have any questions. 770.446.1428. Leave a voicemail if she is not available.
Garden Club of Georgia Bulb Fundraiser-Order deadline is December 15th.
Orders placed by December 1st will arrive in time for Christmas. See website for details. https://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/marketplace/seller/profile/shop/gardenclubofgeorgia
Bow Making Workshop November 18 at the Cottage 10:00AM-12:00PM
Volunteers are needed to make Christmas bows to be sold during the Norcross Christmas Village event. Gena Spears will lead the workshop to show us how to make the bows. Please join us!
Let’s Deck the Cottage for the Holidays and Norcross Christmas Village! Decorating Workday is Tuesday, December 2nd, 10AM-2PM
We need fresh greens from your garden, pinecones and other dried materials. We also need 4-6 wreaths for the windows. Let us know if you have any that you won’t be using at home and would like to donate or lend to us for the cottage décor.
· Drop off greens and other decorating materials at the cottage by December 2nd.
· Decorating workday is Tuesday December 2nd 10AM-2PM Let Kathy know if you can help (678.357.8684)
· Christmas Village Prep-Wednesday and Thursday December 3rd and 4th from 10AM-2PM. Tasks include setup of cottage for the event, prep kids craft projects, price and setup items for sale. Please bring any kind of holiday décor, house plants in decorative container, or garden related items to the November meeting or drop off at the cottage by December 3rd. Items must be in good saleable condition. All proceeds will go to the Scholarship Fund.
· Christmas Village Event, Saturday December 6th 10:00AM-5:00PM. Volunteers are needed in 2-hour shifts, beginning at 10AM to help with the crafts for kids and to sell the bows and other merchandise on Saturday, December 6th. Please sign up at the November meeting or contact Jeanette (770.329.1411) to sign up!
Hospitality Committee
Leanne Penman and Cathy Nelmes have stepped up to organize hospitality teams for our monthly meetings. If you have not volunteered yet to assist at a future meeting, please see Leanne at the November meeting or send her a text message (770.715.4901).
Meals on Wheels Flower Arrangements
We are getting closer to our goal of 200 bottles/vases. Please bring bottles or vases to the November meeting. Tentatively planning for a December date to assemble the flower arrangements. Please be on the lookout for empty wine bottle boxes that can be used for transporting the flower arrangements.
Vacant chairperson positions-Please contact Kathy Sumner (678.357.8684) if you have an interest or have questions. Members, please thoughtfully consider how you can participate.
Please consider donating your time and talents to help in one or more of these areas. If two or more volunteer for each of these areas, our club will continue to grow and flourish.
Cottage Committee organizes periodic workdays to clean up the interior of the cottage. Identify any maintenance issues.
Cottage Rental-monitor email box for rental inquiries. Respond to prospective renters. Show the space and give information about the contract and pricing. Meet the client to open the cottage on rental day and also to lock up after the rental is completed. This will be a committee so tasks can be shared.
Garden Therapy-Betsy Hixson has volunteered to help with dropping off bags to the Neighborhood Co-op.
Publicity-write short articles about our activities for the Dogwood District and other garden club-related publications. Help with posting events or general club info on Facebook and other social media.
Ways and Means-brainstorm ideas for fundraising for big projects, like replacing the stairs. Help research grants that might be available for projects.
Norcross Events (See https://www.norcrossga.net/) for details and more info and the event calendar: https://www.norcrossga.net/calendar.aspx?CID=22#changeDateMonthDropDown
LionHeart Theatre: https://lionhearttheatre.org/. See website for upcoming performances, times and ticket information. Performances have been selling out! Reserve early if you see something you like!
The Norcross Gallery and Studios are open Thursday-Saturday 11am-4:00pm to view works and exhibits by local artists. https://norcrossgalleryandstudios.org/
Peachtree Corners Events and Town Center Events Schedule-https://peachtreecornersga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/561/Full-2023-Event-Calendar-PDF?bidId=
The Forum https://theforumpeachtree.com/
