President Cam Miller opened the August 4, 2026, meeting of the Pulaski Garden Club after members enjoyed their annual potluck dinner at the home of Regina Partee.
Members answered roll call with their favorite herb and how they used it. Favorites were garlic, parsley, basil and dill used in cooking and lavender used as a sleep aid.
The secretary’s report and the treasurer’s report were given. A Moment in History was shared by Connie Simmons, who read dates of when those present had become members.
Notable among current members were Joyce Mocherman, who joined in 1985, Connie Simmons in 1987 and JoAnne Beucler in 1997.
The evening’s floral arrangement, entitled “Back to School,” was brought by Judy Shilling.
It included a Fisher-Price school bus that her children had played with. Inside were red geraniums, black-eyed Susans, blue hydrangeas, and a box of crayons, a ruler and a pencil. Members remarked on its cleverness.
The evening’s unusual edible, Creeping Charlie, was presented by Michelle O’Dell. It is considered a survival food with a mint odor. Leaves can be used like spinach, rinsed and patted dry. It is high in protein and potassium. Most consider it a weed, and it is very invasive.
Old Business
A report on fairground sign renewal noted that work on the sign has been postponed until cooler weather allows for planting sometime after the fair.
In October, the club will fill Humane Society flower beds with perennials in two beds 15 feet in diameter.
Seven members toured two gardens near Evansport on July 14, 2026. One garden included a secret garden of natives. The hosts were amenable and knowledgeable, and both gardens followed a theme.
The next garden walk was held at Joyce Mocherman’s on August 18, 2026, at 6 p.m. It was noted that Roberta’s Young Plants display gardens in Litchfield are open to the public during the month of August.
Seven members attended the Region 1 Design study class on July 23, 2026, at the Fulton County Senior Center in Wauseon.
Each constructed a panel design, which was critiqued by attendees. Members brought home valuable suggestions for better use of backgrounds and plant material. The panel design will probably be on the 2027 Williams County Fair schedule.
Flair on the Square floral design demonstrations were given at ElliAnn’s dress shop by Barb Deetz and Cam Miller on July 25, 2026. Other members were present to answer questions about the club. The store was very busy.
The July fairgrounds cleanup was held July 27, 2026. The Bell Tower flower bed will be sprayed and mulched due to a bindweed takeover. The next fairground beds cleanup will be August 31, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Creation Basement was held July 28, 2026, at the home of Cam Miller. Nine members practiced floral designs that will be presented at the Williams County Fair in September. The Op Art, Spatial Thrust and Still Life floral designs were included.
Nominations for officers for next year were closed. A vote was made and passed to accept the slate of officers for the next two years.
New Business
A Region 1 Design study class is being resurrected with a daytime class on October 15 or 29, 2026. The class will be held locally.
Fair entry signups are due at the fair office no later than August 21, 2026. Fair books were available, and signups for floral design were taken. September 9, 2026, at 9 a.m. will be fair setup day for the club.
A program on design mechanics and basics was given by Barb Deetz and Regina Partee.
Regina displayed the many supplies needed to prepare a floral design. These included frogs of many sizes, floral clay, green florist tape, wire, zip ties and permanent glue dots.
Tubes for water can be metal or plastic, clear or painted. Utensils for cutting, such as scissors, clippers and wire cutters, were shown.
Containers can be traditional with one opening, made of ceramic, metal or plastic. Containers with more than one opening are used for creative designs. Backdrops can be colored by paper or cloth and should include an underlayment on the table.
It was noted that students in the welding classes from Four County Career Center will make metal feet to hold backdrops.
Barb constructed a simple creative design using a metal mechanic with a plastic gutter guard. Designs should be one and a half times the height and the width of the container.
Creative designs use only one type of flower and one type of foliage. She commented that flowers should be facing away so as not to have a “bull’s-eye” effect. She showed how iris leaves can be shaped to eliminate brown spots.
During the Care and Share portion of the meeting, Joyce Mocherman commented on a yellow caterpillar she found in her yard.
It would become the Dagger Moth, which is very toxic. Its host plants are trees.
Reblooming iris corms, brought by Barb Deetz, and luminaria (money plant) seed pods, brought by Carol Wheeler, were available for members to take home.
The door prize for the evening was provided by Regina Partee and won by Carol Wheeler. An additional prize was won by Amanda Dalton.
Regina was thanked for providing the venue for the evening’s potluck dinner and meeting.
The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the Pulaski Garden Club will be September 1, 2026, at the Pulaski United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m.
The program will be presented by Sandy Gordon from Main Street and Children’s Garden in Montpelier. All are welcome.
