Celebrations In 2002
The celebrations continue. In March, Mayor Dan Pocek presented the Club with an official proclamation by the City Of Bedford recognizing 75 years of service to the Community.
At the Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast/Bedford School District Art Show, the Club awarded cash prizes and/or gift certificates to four students. Senior High art classes submitted entries limited to a flower still life done in a medium of the student’s choice. Additionally, the flower was to be identified by both its Latin and common names, with information about where the flower is grown and why the student selected it to be the subject of his or her work. This project was a first for the Club.
The City, two stone plaques. One plaque commemorates the Club’s 75th Anniversary and the second honors Mike Bucur, arborist and friend of the Bedford Garden Club.
City Service Director Clint Bellar assists Miss Liptak’s first grade class from St. Mary’s School with the Club’s Arbor Day Tree Planting.
On Arbor Day, April 26th, the Club, in cooperation with the City of Bedford, planted two (blooming!) Kwansan cherry trees at the veterans’ section of Bedford Cemetery. The Club provided the trees and President Joyce Daunch starts the first shovel of dirt for the April 2002 Arbor Day Tree Planting in the Veteran’s section pf Bedford Cemetery, while Ethel
Bucur looks on. Garden Club members and city officials observe from the background.
Bringing their own chinaware tea cups, club members attended a catered Victorian Garden Tea, April, 2002, celebrating the Club’s Diamond Jubilee. Greeters, Ruth Falasco, Viola Saunders, Mary Lou Collins, Barbara McDaniel, and Joyce Daunch seated guests in the Orchid Room of Petitti Ruth Falasco and Viola Saunders greet guests at the Victorian Tea.
A menu that delights the eye and palate at the Victorian Tea.
Garden Center in Strongsville. Trays of eight different types of delicately fashioned tea sandwiches delighted all, together with open-faced canapes, pinwheels of smoked turkey wrapped in California cracker bread, kabobs of brie cheese with fresh fruit, sumptuous jewel-like desserts of pecan tarts, chocolate covered strawberries, macaroons, bonbons, fruited cheesecakes and much more.
An antique brooch fastened with ribbons graced each table. The person who sat by the brooch was chosen as the table hostess. Two types of English teas were served from heirloom teapots by hostesses: Paula Slimak, Mary Lou Collins, Theresa Roberts, Deborah Adam-Duff, Sharon Kross, Geneva Sheppard, Linda Holmberg and Marianne Bican.
The Garden & Artist Tour in June, a first of its kind for the Club, invited local restaurants to offer a Bedford Garden Club Special on the day of the tour. A number of proprietors were pleased to participate.
John Romano and his 1929 Ford Truck, bedecked with flowers lead the Club’s entry of six classic vehicles in the 2002 Fourth of July Parade.
In Bedford’s Fourth of July Parade, all Garden Club past presidents were invited to participate. Mary Adam, Mae Dvorak, Linda Holmberg, Betty Hendricks, Viola Saunders, and current president Joyce Danche rode vintage cars. Ruth Falasco observed. A 1929 Ford truck filled with colorful flowers, shrubs, trees and draped with newly purchased banners was driven by John Romano to lead the entourage. On this very hot and sunny day, models from the past to the present: Scot Isquick’s 1919 Rolls Royce touring car, Tom Campbell’s 1930 Model-A Ford, Fred Wolbert’s 1954 Mercury Monterey, Wally Hutson’s 1960 Chrysler Crown Imperial, and Marulyn Nenadal’s 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata made it to the destination in Bedford Heights (albeit an occasional push to some of the vehicles by parade watchers helped.) Mary Lou Collins made sure each car was decorated with azaleamum balloons and every president carried a bouquet of flowers.
Past Presidents, Mae Dvorak and Mary Adams made a “royal” addition to the 4th of July Parade. Scott Isquick looks on.
After a fifteen year hiatus, Kingwood Center, a favorite site to visit for many years, was revisited on a July Bus Tour. The trip began with a stop at Secrest Arboretum to see water lilies, massive hydrangea bushes, bottlebrush buckeye, and clematis growing up various shrubs. A family style lunch at the Amish Door Restaurant preceded arrival at the King-wood Estate. Here, our guide took us on a tour of formal gardens, ending at the spectacular daylily collection. A surprise visit to Grandpa’s Cheese Barn on the way home was enjoyed by all.
The chirping of cicadas announcing the temperature of the day, the screech of a Red-shouldered hawk, a rare chestnut tree, and a hundred year-old maple tree were some of the sights and sounds enjoyed by members in August. The nature walk lead by our favorite naturalist, Wendy Weirich, followed by a breakfast buffet at Look-About-Lodge, offered something for everyone in this year’s celebrations. Not eager to leave the pleasant surroundings, Pete Dickson played his harmonica, while all joined Don Flagg in a sing-along.
The culminating event, a gala dinner held at St. Eugene’s party center, is happening in September 2002. At this writing, the Jubilee Committee is busy making plans for this very special evening. This booklet was prepared especially for the event.
Michael Sawastuk, JoAnna Telzrow, Ardele Smith, Theresa Roberts, Edna Franz, Dan Saunders and Linda Holmberg listens intently to Naturalist Wendy Weirich at the August Nature Walk & Breakfast
The month long display at Bedford Library pictorially telling the Club history, the specially designed tee-shirts with the Azaleamum (Bedford’s town flower) printed on it, and badges created by Tom Ramsay, add to the lasting memories of this festive year. The flower meaning of the chrysanthemum is “light of hope in times of darkness.” It seems appropriate during the current times.
Today the Club remains committed to the goals and ideals established in 1927. The generosity of the many members over the past years is evident throughout Bedford and beyond.
Friendships, sharing of plants and information, and satisfaction of community service are the rewards savored by each and every member of the Bedford Garden Club.