Whether you are new to gardening or have been gardening for years, the Four Seasons Garden Club has a place for you.
The Four Seasons Garden Club, which formed in 1995, has approximately 35 members from the Isanti County area and northern Anoka County. The motto of the garden club is “Club members join together for the love of gardening; to have fun, to deepen our appreciation, to increase our knowledge and to share our skill.”
The garden club, currently looking for new members, will hold an open house beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Minnco Center in Cambridge. The open house is a free event, but nonperishable food items will be collected for the local food shelves.
Two speakers from the Anoka County Master Gardeners will present at the open house event. At 1 p.m., Kathy Johnson will talk about how gardens can help the monarch butterfly survive by planting natural wildflowers.
At 3 p.m., Dave Knapp will present on “Gardens of the Night” and talk about flowers or plants that are white and are open or have blooms that you can see at night.
“We are trying to reinvigorate the garden club and welcome everyone to our April 30 open house,” club member Jonathan Erickson said. “Our garden club exists to educate, share the joy of gardening and to have fun.”
The Four Seasons Garden Club typically meets the second Monday of each month and will begin holding meetings at its new location, Athens Township Hall. Garden club goals include:
• Interesting and informative monthly programs, fun and social events, and tours that broaden appreciation and knowledge.
• Share plants, plant knowledge. An annual plant exchange is held in May.
• Education updates through a quarterly newsletter.
• Promote community enthusiasm and interest for gardening.
• Support the club financially through an annual plant sale fundraiser. This year’s sale will be at 8:30 a.m. May 14 in the parking lot near City Center Market in Cambridge. The sale goes until the plants are sold, typically around noon.
“We welcome anyone who does any type of gardening, whether it’s vegetable gardening or flower gardening,” said garden club president Terri Rajala. “All of our members have a voice in the activities we plan throughout the year. In September, we hold a ‘September Bounty,’ where we have a huge potluck. At this meeting, we collectively as a group come up with ideas and activities for the upcoming year.”
Rajala explained special events are planned for each monthly meeting and include guest speakers, field trips, plant exchange and
other activities. She mentioned garden club members will be going on field trip June 16-18 to Des Moines, Iowa, where they will tour the Better Homes and Garden test garden and other individual private gardens.
Community involvement is also a big part of the garden club. Rajala explained former garden club president, Sandy Hartse, who died March 22, worked to beautify the planters on Cambridge’s Main Street, and the club will continue to do this in her honor.
“No matter how long you have been gardening, you always learn something new,” Erickson said. “We share knowledge; we learn what works and what doesn’t work. The club is made up of a great bunch of people who are the most nicest, kindest, loveliest people you’ve ever met.”
“If you are looking for ways to be more active in the community or are looking for some enjoyment, this club is for you. Gardening is a great way to fill a void or meet new people in the community,” Rajala said.
For more information on the Four Seasons Garden Club, email IsantiFourSeasonsGardenClub@gmail.com or search “Four Seasons Garden Club, Cambridge, MN” on Facebook.
