PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PULASKI GARDEN CLUB … On the left is club member Barb Deetz with her Op Art floral design of the month, which included a psychedelic backdrop, yellow cup plant flowers and palm leaves. On the right is Sandy Gordon, recreation director in Montpelier, who provided information about her job planting and maintaining city flower beds, the Children’s Garden and the Iron Horse River Trail.
President Cam Miller opened the Sept. 1, 2026, meeting of the Pulaski Garden Club with the Garden Prayer.
Members answered roll call with what they are taking to the fair. Many are bringing specimens, and there will be 31 floral arrangements this year. That is probably a record.
The evening’s program was given by Sandy Gordon, recreation director in Montpelier, about her job, in which she plans the downtown planters and the upkeep of the Children’s Garden and the Iron Horse River Trail.
She began in 1995 and started the Children’s Garden in 1997. After using red, white and blue plants this year for the nation’s 250th anniversary, next year she will help celebrate the Montpelier library’s 100th anniversary with peach and purple.
Gordon talked about her favorite gardening books, seed suppliers, websites, TV show, video series, garden supply companies, favorite plants and garden centers.
She starts all her plants from seed and tries to use as many of the ways gardeners did things in the past as she can.
The secretary’s report included a thank-you letter from the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs (OAGC) Foundation for our donation in honor of Marlene Purdy, who was the judge at our library flower show in June. The treasurer’s report was given.
A Moment in History was shared by Barb Deetz, who recounted memories from the last 25 years.
In 2000, there were four garden clubs in Williams County that made floral designs for the fair. Two hostesses from each club were stationed at the Gillette Building during the days of the fair.
The floral arrangement, entitled “Fair Time,” was brought by Deetz. She presented an Op Art design with a psychedelic poster as a backdrop. We were all in a dither looking at it! She used yellow cup plant flowers and palm leaves for the design.
The Unusual Edible, nettles, was given by Michelle O’Dell. When cutting nettles, be sure to wear long sleeves and pants and use sharp scissors.
Eat them when tender in early spring so they are not bitter. Blanch them first to destroy the hairs and bring out a brighter color. Nettles can be used to make pesto or dried to make tea.
Old Business
Thanks were given to Joyce Mocherman for the tour of her gardens, which, as always, were beautiful in design, color and texture.
The fairgrounds cleanup was on Aug. 31, 2026. Work on the sign was set to begin the week of Sept. 20.
The beds at the Humane Society will be done in October. Rozetta Luke, project chair, wrote to the OAGC Foundation, and a $1,000 grant was approved that will be paid at the end of the project.
New Business
The 2026-27 yearbooks were passed out. Committee members were thanked for their efforts to compile and complete the information.
The Region 1 Design Study class will be Oct. 15 at 12:30 p.m. at Cam Miller’s home.
Members were reminded that photo contest entries are due at the October meeting.
The Region 1 fall meeting will be in Bowling Green on Nov. 5, 2026. Native plants and lavender will be the program. Please pay the $25 fee at the October meeting if you plan to attend.
Our October meeting will include the annual plant silent auction. The door prize for the evening was provided by Carol Wheeler and won by Becky Hill.
Hostesses Connie McGrew, Joyce Mocherman and Rozetta Luke were thanked for the evening’s treats. The meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting of the Pulaski Garden Club will be Oct. 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Pulaski United Methodist Church. All are welcome to attend this fun evening.
Story updated September 27, 2026 at 9:50 a.m.