Garden Club of Inverness 2024-2025 Programs

Susan is a new dahlia hobbyist but has jumped in with both feet!  She will share what she’s learned about growing these beautiful flowers, as well as some surprising facts. She started a year ago with 6 tubers, and now has multiples each of 26 different varieties! With names like Bridezilla, Beets Me and Cafe Au Lait, and sizes from tiny 2” blooms to 10” “dinner plate” varieties, dahlias offer something for everyone.  Whether you put one dahlia tuber in a pot on your patio, or build an entire garden devoted to them like Susan did, everyone can enjoy the magic of these beauties. 

We will learn the inspiring story of Fancy Flower Girls, a small business that specializes in locally grown cut flowers and creates beautiful bouquets and arrangements for various occasions and clients. You will learn how Katherine, a local flower enthusiast, discovered her passion for flowers, developed her skills and knowledge, established her brand and market, overcame challenges, and seized opportunities in the cut flower industry. You will get a glimpse into the daily operations of FFG, from growing and harvesting flowers, to designing and delivering products. Our hope is that this program inspires you to grow cut flowers in your own garden and to be an advocate for local businesses who strive to make our community a more beautiful place. 

Joni’s knowledge and engaging speaking style always keeps our group entertained.  She will design fall outdoor pots that will be raffled off to lucky winners. Joni will showcase the latest fall plants, blending them with classic favorites in an innovative and refreshing way. You will leave inspired to create your own outdoor fall pots.

Club favorite Joyce Grattoni will entertain and educate us as she demonstrates how to make fall and transitional arrangements for your holiday table. Joyce is an accomplished floral designer and presenter who has been actively involved in the floral industry for more than twenty five years. Her genuine passion for flowers and floral design grew out of a desire to find an outlet for her creative energy. She is professionally trained in horticulture and floral design, and is a distinguished, long standing member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).

Imagine … It is 1969 and Lady Bird Johnson has just returned to Texas at the end of her husband’s presidency. As she welcomes visitors to her home, she reminisces about her years in Washington, the life-changing experiences that brought her to the White House, and how she forged her own path as first lady as an advocate for the environment, civil rights and her beloved husband. In this humorous, poignant and insightful historical portrayal, actress and historian Leslie Goddard brings the gracious Lady Bird to life.

Midwest Fruit Explorers is a backyard orchard society that was founded in the late 70's, here in the Chicagoland area.  Members grow almost every variety of fruit that will survive in our growing zone, as well as many varieties that require winter protection.  One of our founding members grew over 175 varieties of apples on dwarf trees in his Skokie backyard and didn't even eat apples!  During this session you will hear about the varieties grown in Deb’s home orchard and have a demonstration of tree grafting as a method of propagation used for most fruit trees.  You can read more about the club and events it sponsors at www.midfex.org.

Discover the fascinating and bizarre lives of these fliers--with plenty of group fun and lively interaction during the presentation. From their unusual life cycle of transformation, mystifying migratory habits, and their struggle for survival, there is plenty to discover and marvel about! Hear their cultural history, including some of the myths and superstitions that surround them. See close-up beautiful photography of some of our dragonflies in Illinois. Then discover how you can garden to attract these remarkable flying creatures.