At the ‘Garden Stroll’
Teri Litavsky (right) chats with Garden Club members who came to her yard to enjoy a “Garden Stroll,” since the Garden Walk & Faire, scheduled for the second weekend in July, had to be cancelled. A few members opened their own yards and invited groups of just three or four to visit, while wearing masks and observing social distancing.
By Dee Longfellow
FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
This is usually the weekend when Wilder Park is abuzz with all things “garden.” The second Sunday in July is typically the Elmhurst Garden Club’s annual Garden Walk & Faire – this year would have been the 25th.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event like so many others had to be canceled this year, but there is hope it will be back again in 2021.
In the meantime, Garden Club members held their own little “Garden Strolls.” A few members opened their own yards and invited groups of just three or four to visit their gardens while wearing masks and observing social distancing. Held over a period of three Wednesdays, the event was graced each day with beautiful weather, albeit plenty hot.
Because the Walk & Faire is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year and its main means of raising dollars in order to award scholarships, the club is asking for those who would normally attend the Walk & Faire to consider donating the amount normally spent on your tickets directly to the club.
Garden Walk among many cancelled events
It’s no secret that this coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of numerous community events throughout the city, county, the state and the nation.
Guests typically enjoy a visit to five or six private gardens and often one or two public gardens as well. The Faire in Wilder Park features vendors with unique garden accessories and one-of-a-kind art pieces as well as a large selection of perennials. There are usually experts on hand at the Faire to answer questions and to offer information about things related to gardening, such as butterfly stations, beekeeping, water features or stone walks.
It’s a whirlwind day that usually includes tea service, either under a tent in the fragrant Wilder Arboretum gardens or inside Wilder Mansion. Restaurants in downtown often have specials for “walkers” who want to stop in before or after the walk or for a lunch break during the day.
It’s a lovely event, truly one of the finest in the City, and another grand reason why people adore this community, love to live here, and are the envy of those who don’t.
Walk funds crucial to scholarship program
The Walk & Faire is the main fundraiser for the club’s scholarship program. The club has awarded annual scholarships to Illinois students studying horticulture, landscape architecture, botany and environmental studies. The EAG has also funded scholarships to York High School students for experiential science programs. Additionally, the club has granted scholarships to Elmhurst Park District children’s summer camps.
On Monday, March 2, the Elmhurst Garden Club held its 21st annual “Meet the Scholars” luncheon at Wilder Mansion. This year, EGC awarded $15,000 in scholarships to six Illinois residents. To date, the club has proudly given at total of $165,000 to 90 students.
The club is now concerned it may not have its usual amount available for the program without the revenues from the Walk & Faire. The club is asking the community to consider “buying a ticket” anyway, that is, sending in a contribution in the amount that you might normally spend on tickets.
Concerned residents are invited to support the scholarship program by mailing a check payable to Elmhurst Garden Club for $20, or any amount, to EGC, P.O. Box 383, Elmhurst, IL 60126. (Please do not mail cash.)
Other endeavors of the EGC
The club does much more around the community beyond offering student scholarships. Its many contributions include holiday decorating of the Elmhurst Public Library; maintaining the Herb Garden in Wilder Park; contributing to horticultural development at the Elmhurst College Arboretum; maintaining the landscaping at the Churchville One-Room Schoolhouse; mentoring York High School Garden Club; improving and maintaining the campus appearance at Ray Graham Learning Center; and contributing to the Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition for its public environmental programs.
The EGC is always looking for new members who are also garden enthusiasts. For information about membership, visit elmhurstgardenclub.org, where scholarship applications can also be found.
There are many clubs and organizations that are likely to fall short on their fundraising goals this year because of COVID-19, and many people are financially struggling right now. But if you possibly can, your help would be greatly appreciated by not only the Elmhurst Garden Club, but the next class of scholarship recipients.
