This Week in the Garden – Vol 153
eptember 1, 2025
Welcome back to Garden Club! We hope you had a wonderful summer and that your gardens are thriving.
Tuesday, September 9th Meeting at the Norcross Community Center
6:00 pm Business Meeting and refreshments-We will start promptly at 6 PM so that we have ample time for our speaker’s presentation beginning at 7PM. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. Please respond to this email if you can help with refreshments.
What to bring?
· Grocery store plastic bags for Neighborhood Cooperative Ministry
· Pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House
· Cash for door prize raffle, which supports our Scholarship Fund
PLEASE RSVP if you are attending this exciting and informative presentation. Follow the instructions in the email from “Norcross Garden Club” to register. Or click this link to register: https://mailchi.mp/6b517917b0fd/norcross-garden-club-september9-2025-meeting
This meeting is open to the public. Please spread the word to your neighbors and friends. There is a $10 admission fee for non-members.
Monday, September 8th 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.
Program: Janice Gunnersol will give “Tips and Tricks of Growing Orchids.” She will have orchids available for sale.
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).
2025-2027 Norcross Garden Club Board Members
Please welcome our returning and new board members for the 2025-2027 term. We look forward to exciting programs, community projects, seeing old friends and making new friends. Please feel free to contact us with your ideas or concerns. We need members to seriously consider a commitment to one or more committees. Please see more information below about the committees.
Kathy Sumner-President
Angela Harris-1st VP Membership
Jackie Swann and Laurie Wakefield-Co-2nd VP’s Programs
Kristy Spencer-Recording Secretary
Jeanette Shewbert-Corresponding Secretary
Sue Wyatt-Treasurer
Trudy Rudert-Parliamentarian and Historian
Committee Chairpersons-Please contact these members if you wish to help.
Pam Cammarata-Garden Grounds chair
Trudy Rudert, Leanne Penman, Tixie Fowler- Youth Team leaders
Saundy Kittle, Sunshine chair
Bhargovi Hobbs, Discovery Garden plot-planting lead
Vacant chairperson positions-Please contact Kathy Sumner if you have an interest or have questions.
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 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 needs to be a committee so tasks can be shared.
Garden Therapy-drop off plastic grocery bags to the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, identify a holiday activity such as collecting gift cards for the clients at the Coop.
Hospitality-provide hosts for monthly meetings. 2-3 members needed per meeting. Chairperson will coordinate a hostess calendar.
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 look for grants that might be available.
Summer Activities
Members were busy over the summer months with activities.
Garden Club Week
· We created floral arrangements for Norcross and Peachtree Corners City Halls, which were enjoyed by employees and visitors.
· Nine members made a field trip to the Spectrum Autism Center’s Sensory Harvest and Gardens Tour. We met the director and learned of their programs for Autistic clients and their families. They have beautiful gardens that have been designed, installed, and maintained by Gwinnett Master Gardeners. They welcome community volunteers at any time to help with garden maintenance. You don’t have to commit to a specific date or time. Drop-ins are most welcomed.
· 13 members visited the Vineyards at Adam’s Vineyard in Norcross. One of our members and resident of Adams Vineyard, Lynn Waggoner, hosted the gathering and shared the history of the vineyards. We learned that residents at Adams Vineyard sign up to maintain the vines. They also have some outside resources that provide some help, especially with harvesting.
· Some members reached out to old friends during Garden Club Week with a phone call or a note.
Good Shepherd Day Camp-Fun in Nature-Three members helped with outdoor activities for camp kids on one day during the camp week. The children happily searched for pollinators and other critters in a wooded area. They learned how to notice habitats for pollinators.
2025 Southeast Pollinator Census
At Stripling Elementary on August 22nd, 3 volunteers plus eight members assisted 2nd grade students with the Pollinator Census. Trudy Rudert showed a short PowerPoint about pollinator identification and the importance of counting pollinators for the census. Lots of squeals from kiddos as they followed butterflies, bees, flies and other pollinators from plant to plant. If you ever need a morale boost, volunteer for one of our youth activities. The children are so intrigued and naturally curious. It’s also encouraging to see how well they interact with each other and are genuinely kind to their classmates. You will leave with a smile in your heart!
Four members of the Garden Club and four members of the Discovery Garden were on hand to assist children and adults with the Pollinator Census at Discovery Garden on August 23rd. No guests attended as it was a very overcast day. But no rain fell on the eight volunteers who counted at Discover Garden.
It’s September! Before we know it, we’ll be talking about the Holidays! Here are some upcoming activities to keep in mind.
Heads up for the October meeting. It will be on Tuesday, October 21st, at 7pm, which is the 3rd Tuesday of October. We’re having another exciting speaker. The meeting will be held at the Norcross Community Center. More details will be announced soon.
Meals on Wheels floral arrangements-We don’t have a date yet. We want to continue this tradition. There are now 200 clients in the Norcross area. The clients really enjoy receiving the flower vases. We’re looking for a source for clear or green 12 oz bottles. They must be clean, and all labels must be removed. Let us know if you have any ideas. We’ll keep you posted for a date.
The Enchanted Forest Event will be on Sunday, November 2nd at Johnson Dean Forest in Norcross.
Let us know if you or a friend want to create a door to be placed in the forest. This is a family-friendly activity and many children in the area are excited about this experience every year. More information will be available as we get closer to Halloween.
SAVE THE DATE, Tuesday, December 9th Our Christmas Dinner and Holiday Celebration!
Please let us know if you would like to be on the planning committee!
Dogwood District’s Annual Fundraisers-see the flyer describing the items and other order details at the end of this newsletter. 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.
Amaryllis and Paperwhite Bulbs-Order by September 25th via the link on the flyer.
Flower Power Fall Bulbs-Order by October 15th via the link on the flyer.
Three River Wreaths-order between October 15th and December 1st. An order link will be sent when it’s available.
We have 5 bags of Soil3 Compost available. Cost is $15/bag. Contact Jeanette Shewbert to purchase and to arrange payment. (text or call 770.329.1411).
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 British Car Show, Saturday, September 6th.
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/
