Spring Plants And Fall Herbs
Plant Sale Chairperson, JoAnnam Telzrow readies for the big day!
The Spring Plant Sale evolved from a member plant exchange. It became a means to raise funds for a nearly empty treasury, as well as fulfill a commitment to the by-laws, “offering opportunities to buy flowers, shrubs and trees at reduced prices through club orders.” Plant sales have been held since 1939. The early sales were held on the front lawn of the Bedford City Hall on Broadway. This was the former Garlick house, and today the lawn still exists as the Veterans Memorial Park. In 1973, the sale was held on the grounds of the Historical Museum Through the years this event was held in many places until it found a home at Telzrows’.
Today, the sale is a much anticipated event, and the major fund raiser for the Club. Hundreds of plants are sold, including more than forty-five different varieties of perennials, annuals, herbs, shrubs, and occasionally trees. Jo-Anna Telzrow has coordinated the sale for over fourteen years. Funds from the sale go toward the support of community projects and provide educational programs.
Reprinted courtesy of the Bedford Sun Banner
One of the most generous plant donators to the Spring Sale is Agnes Yorkievitz, who holds the record for longevity of membership. She was nominated for membership in October 1948. Known for her prize-winning iris and daylilies, she has enhanced the gardens of many members with plant sharings. Agnes recalls a flower show where members brought flower entries in pop bottles to swap or sell. She won first prize – a ladies garden shovel (which she still has today) for taking the most specimens to the show.
Another fund raiser, now a tradition, is the Fall Herb & Craft Sale. By the 1980’s, the sale became well established with members meeting to prepare dried herbs from their gardens, nature crafts, and mustard. The mustard recipe had its origins in a Western Reserve Herb Society Cookbook. Forty-five year member, Viola Saunders, tweaked and tested until she created just the right herb combination for the mustard made today. Funds from this famous herb mustard were used to purchase a flowering Bradford pear tree for the Herb Garden, in memory of Ann Albrecht.
Agnes Yorkevitz, Ruth Broght, Mary Adams and Mae Dvorak begin mustard preparations, Fall of 1970