Garden club's housewalk a perfect cup of tea
Go ahead. Admit that you're curious.
You'd like to walk through big, lovely houses to see how other people live. And it'd be fun to take your tour when the houses are decked out in ribbons and bows, stars and greenery, holiday spirit and seasonal cheer.
Naperville Garden Club's annual housewalk just may be your cup of tea.
The Cup of Cheer Housewalk on Dec. 3 and 4 aims to inspire guests who visit four private houses in Naperville that have been individually decorated for the holidays by club members.
The final stop of the tour is the Mistletoe Market, where visitors can buy seasonal items crafted by club members and where they'll be treated to a cup of tea - served, of course, in the club's signature bone china collectors cup with saucer.
The Cup of Cheer, now in its 48th year, is the club's largest fundraiser. Proceeds support its scholarship program for college students and its garden therapy programs as well as the club's efforts to beautify the city.
Diane Greenawalt, second vice president, tells us more about the Naperville Garden Club.
Q. What is your mission?
A. The purpose is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs, to encourage civic interest, to provide scholarships to students pursuing degrees that reflect the interests of the club and to enhance the environment by donating trees and services to beautify public buildings and other public places
Q. How does the club work toward accomplishing those goals?
A. We give scholarships to local students to help their education in the "green" fields of study - environmental, horticulture, conservation, landscaping, floral design, etc. We've granted more than $180,000 since the beginning of the 1980s.
We manage plantings at the Nicarico Garden at Elmwood Elementary School and the Blue Star Marker in Burlington Park, Naperville. Also, we manage plantings in some downtown Naperville flower beds and also at North Central College.
We provide weekly floral exhibits, live plants, informational conservation/horticultural displays and donate horticulture/flower design books to the Nichols Library, and also give these types of books to the Eola Road branch of the Aurora Public Library.
We arrange garden therapy for senior citizens and physically challenged students at Ecumenical Adult Daycare, Little Friends, We Grow Dreams, Sunrise Assisted Living, Martin Avenue Apartments, Villa St. Benedict and Independence Living.
We stage a biannual flower show for club participation and public viewing in floral design, horticulture exhibits and other educational exhibits.
Our conservation efforts continue in eradicating the weed garlic mustard from our backyards and county parks. We schedule weeding in local parks seasonally.
Q. When and why did the club start? How has it grown?
A. Our club started as a special interest group within the Naperville Woman's Club in July 1927. An independent Naperville Garden Club was formed in 1929 and in 1932 was admitted into the Garden Clubs of Illinois. We are now 135 members.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. Success includes the large number of college students we have helped with our scholarship money. These students have been in community and junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and postgraduate programs such as environmental law, conservation, etc.
Plantings through our city have beautified our area and the smiles, and thanks from our garden therapy program participants have warmed our hearts. The National Garden Clubs as well as the Garden Clubs of Illinois have awarded us many top awards for our programs and participation.
Q. What challenges does the club face?
A. Growing membership is the challenge. With current economic issues and the busyness of our families' lives, it is difficult to get people involved with the club. We are a very active club with many activities on going.
Q. What is the club best known for in the community?
A. We are known for the annual fundraiser, Cup of Cheer. This is our 48th year.
Q. What would surprise most people if they spent time with the club?
A. They would be surprised how much we do and the high activity level of participation for more than 80 years here in Naperville. More than 25 chairmen and chairwomen, along with our executive board of six, manage the club's activities.
Q. Who are your members? What qualities do you look for in new members?
A. Our membership age goes from the 30s to the 80s and all have a love of gardening and a willingness to learn more to improve our home's landscape as well as our community's.
A desire to learn more in floral design, conservation, garden therapy and youth gardening are just a few of the special interests.
Our members live mostly in the Naperville and Aurora area, but members can live anywhere. We have a former Aurora resident who now lives in Florida who maintains membership and also is a committee chairperson.
Q. What do you expect of your members?
A. Membership is open to any person who is interested in the purpose for which the club is formed; is willing to pay annual dues of $35, which includes membership at the state and national level, and monthly meeting fees; supports club projects; assists the hosting committee when asked; and accepts an annual assignment for Cup of Cheer.
Members can attend any number of monthly meetings and no specific number is required.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. Prospective members should come to our general monthly meetings to find out more. Visit our Web site, napervillegardenclub.com, for beginning info on us.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> Cup of Cheer holiday house walk</p> <p class="News"><b>Why:</b> Proceeds fund Naperville Garden Club's scholarships, garden therapy programs and civic gardening projects</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> Preview noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3; tour, holiday market and tea 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Homes are in downtown Naperville and the White Eagle, Stillwater and Pembroke Commons subdivisions; holiday market at North Central College's White Activities Center, 325 E. Benton Ave., Naperville</p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $55 for preview; $35 for tour</p> <p class="News"><b>Details:</b> Holiday market open noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 for preview ticket holders; ticket holders receive a souvenir bone china cup and saucer; holiday market open to those without tour tickets on Dec. 4</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://napervillegardenclub.org" target="new">napervillegardenclub.org</a> or <a href="mailto:napervillegardenclub@hotmail.com">napervillegardenclub@hotmail.com</a></p> <p class="factboxheadblack">Naperville Garden Club</p> <p class="leadin">Meetings</p> <p class="News">Time: 8:45 a.m. to about 11:30 a.m. </p> <p class="News">Date: Fourth Wednesday of the month; no meeting in July or August; the November is on the third Thursday</p> <p class="News">Place: White Eagle Golf Club, 3400 Club Drive, Naperville; January meeting will be at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Naperville </p> <p class="News">Visitors welcome? Yes; RSVP to (630) 357-4022 or (630) 898-9560 </p> <p class="leadin">Membership</p> <p class="News">Members: 135 </p> <p class="News">Fees: Annual dues of $35; meeting fee of $12 for members, $13 for guests</p> <p class="News">Info: (630) 898-9560 or <a href="http://napervillegardenclub.com" target="new">napervillegardenclub.com</a></p>