Members of the Garden Club of Lake Placid pose during a garden tour at the Wigmore in Saranac Lake July 27: Alla Kandic, Roberta Musci, Kathy Lamb, Joan Barton, Cheryl Morris, Mary Morris, Denise Erenstone, Pat Hofbauer, Gwen Williams and Dot Beatty . Also pictured are leaders and friends. (Provided Photo – Joan Barton)
After another gorgeous white winter in our Adirondack paradise—not to mention a pandemic in the back—the Garden Club of Lake Placid rebounded to cultivate a full year of fun and adventure for 2022.
We opened our season on April 4th with a “Afternoon tea” Gathered at the Mirror Lake Inn where we reviewed our work over the past few years while enjoying a talk from our guest speaker. Landscaper and master gardener Bonnie Crevier shared her expertise with a presentation titled “Garden Girl.”
As the growing season progressed, we made our way outside to do the annual cleanup.
On May 14, Garden Club members volunteered for the Lake Placid Village Clean Up Day. We were assigned areas around the village of Lake Placid. (By the way, filter cigarette butts are NOT biodegradable!) The reward? Clean up a neighborhood and get a free drink pass to Lake Placid Pub & Brewery.
On May 14th, we participated in the Adopt-a-Highway program on our section of State Route 86, led by longtime volunteer Denise Erenstone. We were rewarded with a clean neighborhood and a free drink pass. We met again on June 28th and plan another Adopt-a-Highway cleanup at 9am Tuesday October 4th meeting at 2099 Saranac Ave. Bring gloves. Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended.
From April to October we meet on the third Wednesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the Triangle Garden opposite the highway from the North Elba Exhibition Center for regular maintenance and planting work. We lovingly beautify the gardens under the direction of Paula Politi – ours “whipstick”. Even our husbands joined us as we continued to plant, border and weed. We were once again rewarded for our hard work with half price appetizers and drinks from our kind sponsors: The Cottage, Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, Lisa G’s, Dunny’s Tex Mex Kitchen, Players Sports Bar and Big Slide Brewery.
On June 5th, our members met with people who work and live in Lake Placid during the annual Community Day celebrations at the North Elba Show Grounds. Our table was hosted by civic groups around the village of Lake Placid and the town of Nordelba, among many others.
Our June 15 meeting at High Falls Gorge in Wilmington went well. We heard from guest speaker Taylor Merrihew, former gardener at Whiteface Club and Resort and current owner of T. Merrihew Gardens & Designs.
On June 29, members participated in a plant swap at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site.
Members also joined other community groups by participating in the Fourth of July Parade in Lake Placid. Our lovely officers – Co-Presidents Kathy Lamb and Cheryl Morris, Vice President Joan Barton, Treasurer Kathy Hanley and Secretary Barbara Erickson – wore patriotic robes with beautifully arranged flower baskets and delighted the parade-goers. The children especially liked the candy toss.
On July 10th, members spent a day picking lavender in the Adirondack View Vineyard and Lavender in Keeseville. It was an invitation to pick bouquets of fragrant, multicolored flowers.
During our July 20th meeting and lunch at Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake, we listened to a presentation by Jen Denny, communications and education coordinator for the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation at Saranac Lake. She shared information about our native common loons.
Members enjoyed taking part in some private garden tours this summer. On July 27th we drove to the Wigmore in Saranac Lake. It is a stunning blend of colour, beauty and craftsmanship with carefully placed sculptures, trellis and pergola. By the way, did you know that this was originally Camp Rivermouth, believed to have been built by William Coulter in 1906?
On August 10th we enjoyed a boat trip on Lake Placid Lake with stops to see Gardens to Dream. It was exquisite!
During the end of summer celebration at Heaven Hill Farm on August 28th, we shared covered food, drinks and ideas. And yes, it was heavenly.
Upcoming events include a luncheon at Craig Wood Golf Course on Wednesday 28th September; and a midday meeting at the Crowne Plaza on noon, Wednesday, October 12; We will see a demonstration by Antonia Asa-Thomas, Price Chopper’s floral designer, who will guide us in making arrangements in carved pumpkins.
The time, date and location of our annual Christmas party have not yet been set. For calendar updates, visit our website at www.gardencluboflakeplacid.org.
In 2022, we also had an opportunity to help local causes by purchasing AdkAction Pollinator Project plants and End Polio Now bulbs sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lake Placid.
Unfortunately, in February we lost Sallie Joachim, Co-President of the Garden Club 2008/09. We extend our sincere condolences to her family.
Thank you to all officers, members, sponsors, speakers and venues for their generosity, knowledge and kindness throughout all of our events in 2022 – and the many volunteers for their hard work and perseverance. We currently have 76 members and new members are always welcome.
Until next year happy shoveling and enjoy the 2023 FISU games.
(Roberta Musci is a member of Lake Placid’s Garden Club.)
