Now that the memorial is in place, our focus shifts to caring for it and the surrounding garden. The Blue Star Memorial is an NGC project dating back to World War II, and there are thousands of these memorials located along highways and byways across the continental U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico. There are seven new Blue Star Memorial gardens in the Sussex County area of Delaware.​

With this success we moved on to planting a pollinator youth garden outside of one of our community area pools in 2021. It’s located between two wooden benches for sitting and seeing the delights of busy pollinators completing their work. Children are able to witness pollinators moving from plant to plant. The youth garden has been planted with the help of the community children and teens. On occasion it has been used as an educational garden. We maintain the garden through the year by updating the perennial pollinator plants with new varieties.

The goal of this project is to “beautify our community one front door at a time.” We offer a workshop every year to teach members and non-members the meaning of May Day. We demonstrate how to make a May display by using baskets or other containers with cut flowers, potted flowers or any other original idea,

We support this project through donations of spare change at our monthly member meetings. Once enough money has been donated to meet the designated amount to purchase a tree, It can then be sent to NGC.  At this time members can then request a certificate “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone.

Since then, we have also planted bulbs at the community center, built pollinator gardens, had educational programs at some of our meetings with the subject content being about planting small trees, various native plants, landscaping tips and tricks, and house plants. 

PUBLIC EDUCATION (Since 2018) **

PUBLIC EDUCATION (Since 2018) **

In 2023, our public program was “Stop the Invasion” — a presentation by the Delaware Department of Agriculture on the dreaded spotted lanternfly.  

Currently in 2024 we planned two Educational Speaker Series luncheons in the slower winter months. We created flyers to promote and invite members and the public to attend each date. Our first speaker was from Brittingham Farms which educated the attendees about benefits of growing lavender, the soil conditions needed and all about raising a heritage breed of sheep. Our second speaker was from Story Hill Farms, who presented information about meadow gardens and the importance of flowers for pollinators. Each of these speakers presented valuable information concerning our area and planting correctly to sustain the growth of native insects, butterflies, moths, and bees.

Our goal with these yearly educational series is to inform, educate and show the benefits of belonging to a garden club.  Due to the success of these educational events, we will continue to offer the public a variety of speakers each year.

We also provide our members with a monthly PLGC newsletter titled “Growing Together.”   Our newsletter has written tips, updates, ideas and detailed information concerning special events.

The donations from individual clubs for a life membership helps to fund college scholarships for students of horticulture, land planning, conservation, and other majors that are consistent with the DFGC objective. We have also, donated themed raffle baskets to help support the DFGC scholarship fundraising project. To date, honorees have been Mary Williford, Margaret Woda, Sylvia Heidbreder, Debbie Darr, Patricia Minnigh, Patti Kircher and Janet Parham

We use it for educating community residents about what we do, promoting our fundraisers and at specific times accepting payments, and providing a “members only” area for a directory of contact information for members and forms used to conduct garden club business. Information and current updates for the website is provided by PLGC committee chairs.

In 2024 we chose an evening program that began with a team of PLGC members explaining the importance of Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. At the end, each child was asked to create a poster about what they learned. These posters were submitted to DFGC to be judged. The PLGC team makes sure each child who attended receives a small gift item plus a personal certificate (created by National Garden Club).  

It should be noted that children in the community helped the club by coloring pictures of flowers to give patients at Atlantic Shore Rehab & Health Center during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The planning of each of our projects are intended to spark children’s interest in being outside with nature and experience the rewards of gardening.

Footnote ** indicates this program is:  “A Focus on Community” Project