Founded in 2004, The Millis Garden Club strives to enhance the natural beauty of our own surroundings and that of our community, through the horticultural education of members - while cultivating new friendships in the process.

Millis Garden Club
P.O. Box 535
Millis, MA 02054
(508) 376-2676
www.millisgardenclub.org

Millis Garden Club Facts and Information
June 1, 2006 – May 31, 2007

The Millis Garden Club invites Millis residents who share an interest in all things horticultural to join us. Established in September 2004, the Millis Garden Club serves to foster the knowledge and enjoyment of gardening as well as ways to contribute to our community. Members are encouraged to hold Executive Board positions as needed; volunteer on Committees; and work on civic and fundraising projects that benefit the beauty and spirit of our community.

We offer diverse programming opportunities that will inspire and stimulate our members while offering the community ways to grow with us. Our Educational Programs often include lectures and hands-on demonstrations from experts in the field of horticulture. Fundraising events are developed to support our civic beautification projects.

The Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month at the Veterans Memorial Building, unless otherwise noted. Meeting locations and times are announced in advance and will be posted in member’s monthly e-mail updates, as well as in the Country Gazette, Our Town, and on our website www.millisgardenclub.org.

CIVIC PROJECTS 2006-2007

MGC maintains the garden bed at the Vietnam and Korean Memorial at the Millis Public Library and a 3- season container garden at the traffic island at Main Street (Route 109) and Exchange Street. Town officials recently approved three additional sites slated for planting in Summer ’06 and Spring ’07; two beds in the front landscape of VMB and the island at Main Street (Route 109) and Village Street, where the Welcome to Millis sign is placed.

Catch Our Drift is a new civic beautification program which begins in September 2006, and we invite all Millis residents to participate. Starting this fall, MGC will plant hundreds of daffodil bulbs in drifts along the roadsides and in islands. As a result, every Spring, Millis residents – as well as our neighbors visiting or driving through town – will be able to enjoy early splashes of golden splendor. A different site will be selected each year. Bulbs will be purchased with the proceeds from the Annual Bulb and Plant Sale (June – August). Millis residents are encouraged to catch our drift and plant drifts of daffodil bulbs along the roadsides of their own property. MGC will offer large quantities of bulbs at a very reasonable price to encourage the planting of daffodils for this program. Millis residents can also support this civic project by contributing to the Catch Our Drift Program. Donations may be made to Millis Garden Club and sent to MGC, P.O. Box 535, Millis, MA 02054, Attn: Catch Our Drift Program.

The Oak Grove Farm Playground is currently being revitalized by a dedicated team of community members. Major fundraising efforts have taken place and $60,000 must be raised before a newly constructed environment and kid friendly playground can be built. The OGF Playground committee requested that MGC accept a role in the project and we have agreed to re-design, plant and maintain for life the Children’s Garden at the Oak Grove Playground. Our team of industry members has already begun generating ideas for the design. Planting is slated for Spring ‘07. Members are needed to tend the garden through three seasons.

Millis Beautification Day - The 3rd Annual MBD is planned for Saturday, April 14, 2007 from 8am - 12 noon.  Millis Garden Club and Millis Lion's Club will again join forces along with many enthusiastic and committed community members.   This past year we gathered to beautify eight of Millis' landmark sites and two residential properties.  Our enthusiastic Team, raked and bagged leaves, collected brush and debris, and performed light pruning.  The day proved to be an overwhelming success; a true show of community spirit and civic pride.  Plans are all already underway for 2007.  We hope to expand on this past year's efforts, to include additional sponsors and an educational element in the school system, and to rally as many helpful hands as possible.

Bi-Annual Tree Planting Program is slated to begin April 2008. On May 4, 2006, MGC planted its first tree in honor of the Let Freedom Ring Tree Planting Program, a nation-wide program supported by the Principal Financial Group. Additional support for the purchase of this tree came from GCFM, Inc. A native Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) was selected for its 3-season splendor and fragrant spring flowers. The Tree is sited on VMB Grounds, adjacent to the Holbrook Bell. A garden bed to connect the Yellowwood with the Holbrook Bell will be planted Summer ’06, and an adjacent garden bed will be planted along the entranceway to VMB, creating a more inviting landscape for visitors of the Town Hall. Millis residents can also support this civic project by mailing a check to MGC, P.O. Box 535, Millis, MA 02054, Attn: Tree Planting Program..

FUNDRAISING EVENTS 2006-2007

MGC’s Annual Fall Bulb Sale will again offer an exceptional collection of high-quality daylily and daffodil bulbs and a unique selection of plants to the public. The bulbs and plants will be available to order from mid- June through the end of August with hand-delivery in September (within 15-miles radius of Millis). Printable order forms can be found on our web site or please visit the Millis Public Library and Town Hall Clerk’s Office for copies. Proceeds from sales benefit the annual Catch Our Drift Bulb Planting Program.

The Firemen’s Muster is a free, annual community event for the entire family. The event takes place on Saturday, September 9th , 2006 from 10 am – 3 pm on the grounds of Town Hall (in back of VMB).. The Millis Garden Club will offer for sale hand-made products from our gardens. Items such as individual pies and pie slices, herbal soaps, jams, jellies and chutneys, bread and butter pickles; salsa’s, fudge and more. Members are asked to consider contributing to this year’s event by making your favorite family recipe for home made pies, or preserve the fruits and vegetables from your garden. To raise further money, MGC will offer superior quality lily bulbs ready for planting. This is a great way to meet fellow members, while connecting with the community. Proceeds from sales go toward civic beautification projects in our community. .

MGC Annual Holiday Greens Sale will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2006 from 10 am – 2 pm on the grounds of Veterans Memorial Building. Unique handmade centerpieces, holiday decorations, gifts and more will be offered. Annual Special Event: One-of-a-kind Holiday Wreath Raffle. All members are encouraged to contribute and participate.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS

MGC maintains a yearly membership to Tower Hill Botanical Gardens and we encourage our members to visit this slice of heaven out in Boylston, MA. Passes can be reserved and obtained at the Millis Public Library. Please visit www.thbg.org for specific details on events, which are planned throughout the year. We hope to increase our membership contributions to involve additional non-profit horticultural institutions in the near future.

MGC’s Library is maintained at the Millis Public Library. Anyone holding a Millis Public Library card can borrow our collectible and signed gardening books and magazines. Consider donating monies to the MGC library in honor, or in memory of someone. Specific titles and topics can be suggested. MGC Bookplates will acknowledge your generosity when the contribution matches the cost of the purchase. Contributions can be made in any amount by sending a check to MGC, P.O. 535, Millis, MA, 02054, Attn; MGC Library Program. We encourage our members to visit the MGC Library, which can be found adjacent to the Model Ship on the first floor.

MGC’s Annual Scholarship Program will be offered to assist Millis residents wishing to further their education in the horticulture field--including floral design, landscape design, horticulture, landscape architecture, farming, etc. The first scholarship(s) will be awarded Spring ’07. Contributions to this worthy program can be made in any amount by sending a check to MGC, P.O. 535, Millis, MA, 02054, Attn: MGC Scholarship Program. More details to follow.

MGC’s Annual Awards offer recognition to our community and to an active member of our club. The MGC Annual Civic Award is handed out during our September meeting and recognizes a Millis resident(s) who has significantly contributed to the beautification of our town. The MGC membership selects the recipient of the award. The MGC Annual Presidential Award recognizes a Millis Garden Club member who has significantly contributed to the growth and development of our club during the current year. The award is presented during our June meeting. For the later award, the Executive Board selects the recipient.

We thank you for supporting the Millis Garden Club. We look forward to growing with you in the 2006-2007 year.

Jim Stetson, President, president@millisgardenclub.org
Vice President
Heidi Dostoomian, Secretary,
Shefali Desai, Treasurer,
Nancy Sitta and Chris Gavin, Civic Co-Chairs

Updated September 29, 2007