This annual report is intended to inform our members of the various DGC activities carried out over the past year and to engage them in continuing efforts to achieve our mission far into the future.
Dear Friends in Gardening,
2005 was a year of awakening interest in gardening and beautification in Detroit, with a rise in community gardening, continuing construction on the Riverwalk, and commitment to a pedestrian and biking Greenway. In its current location, the Detroit Garden Center finds itself in the midst of this activity.
The year in review
2005’s nine-month bridge rebuilding project of E. Jefferson at St. Aubin is complete and the Detroit Garden Center is again accessible from its original Vigliotti Building entrance. The parking lot for the former Emmanuel Steward Restaurant two doors to the east provides convenient off street parking. The offices are easy to reach: a trip up the elevator and a walk down the hall brings you to the familiar teak bench that once sat in the Moross House backyard, and our door, Suite 227.
In 2005, the Detroit Garden Center networked with a web of gardening organizations to meet its mission of education and beautification. They include The Detroit Agricultural Network (DAN), Michigan State University Extension (MSUE), the Greening of Detroit, Master Gardeners of Greater Detroit, and the Belle Isle Botanical Society.
Outreach programs
Our two Outreach Programs, one at Friends School, a Quaker school at St. Aubin and Lafayette, and another at Alternatives for Girls (AFG) at 903 W. Grand Blvd. support our educational goals by engaging children and young people in the joys of gardening. During the school year, volunteers from the DGC engaged in bimonthly programs with girls in the “Gardening Girls After School Program”. Girls in the “Rise and Shine” summer programs took part in gardening two 4 x 8' raised vegetable beds. A cold weather crop was planted in April, along with another planting in May. We found that by doing succession cropping (growing a cool weather crop followed by warm weather vegetables), the girls were able to grow and learn about sixteen different vegetables in only 64 square feet of growing space. Fifteen varieties of fragrant herbs grew in pots located throughout the property. All groups at AFG, including staff, used the vegetables and herbs for various informative and fun programs.
The DGC partnered with the Master Gardeners of Greater Detroit and Michigan State University Extension volunteers to plan and support a vegetable garden (with sunflowers) for the children at the Friends School. The steering committee met throughout the winter to identify sources of funding, structure a plan, and share gardening techniques. DGC volunteers worked in late spring to prepare the beds for planting. The children planted sunflowers, herbs, and variety of vegetables that greeted them upon their return to school in the fall. Towering sunflowers and crooked carrots were especially delightful. The raised bed vegetable garden was part of a fall harvest festival and produce from the garden was used in soup for the school’s annual Empty Soup Bowl fundraiser.
Plans were begun in the fall of 2005 for a native plant garden to be built in an enclosed area on the grounds known as the corral. A garden plan was drawn up, the soil was tested, and the ground is now covered with a 4” layer of newspapers and woodchips thanks to volunteers from Friends School and DGC members. The workday was led by member Sue Hanson. Native trees and shrubs were planted in April for Phase I of the project. Seeds were started indoors for the 2006 vegetable garden using new ideas gained from our 2005 experience.
Lectures, Tours and Workshops
Winter of 2005 began with enthusiastic response to the three session Macunovich lecture series. Two new offerings were added to the 2005 line up: a spring container gardening class at Telly’s Greenhouse where George Papadelis and his staff demonstrated planting principles and a November hands-on pruning workshop and lecture with Janet Macunovich.
The spring garden tour to San Francisco showed off the beautiful gardens and native plants of this temperate area and much more. Spring flowering trees and sunny weather were the backdrop for the popular Elmwood Cemetery Tree and Historical Tour where our expert guides provided fascinating information. The Ojibway Prairie Provincial Park Tour, in Windsor, again highlighted this unique remnant prairie gem, which at this time is threatened by the City of Windsor’s plan to build an entrance to a new Detroit River bridge through it.
Although historic Moross House was no longer available the Fall Potluck and Flower Pot Raffle was held in August at a new site. Thanks to Sue Hanson this August event was held at the Tompkins Center in Grosse Pointe Park. Hilde Beaty again offered her artistic talents in October as instructor for the Oshibana Workshop, the Japanese art of pressing flowers under rice paper. In November, members were able to put together their own personalized holiday wreaths in a workshop taught by instructor Kathleen Krasity, known for her award winning wreaths at the Festival of Trees.
Construction on E. Jefferson and an overnight snowstorm made entrance to the Christmas Open House challenging but worth the effort. Partygoers at the hors d’oeuvres buffet found the suite imaginatively decorated with fresh greens by members of the Junior League Garden Club.
Many of these events will be repeated in 2006. Please see the calendar accompanying this report for dates.
Reassembling the DGC’s extensive library was another major goal for 2005. Bookshelves have been assembled and librarian, Beverly Donaldson, continues to sort through boxes, locate books and refresh the library by purging duplicate and older, less notable books.
The Bulletin
2005 was a year of continued change for our bulletin which was redesigned in 2004 by graphic designer and volunteer, Terri Light. This brought the 2005 publication up to a level of professionalism not possible without her help. The depth and originality of articles by Cheryl English, one of our volunteer writers, added to the bulletin quality, while Royanne Johnson, our new editor, made sure all of the components meshed together. As in the past, additional flyers may be mailed to announce special programs and events, or if you would like, you may be notified by email if we have your email address. You may respond by emailing the Detroit Garden Center at detroitgarden@sbcglobal.net.We need your continued support
We hope you will find a class or event to attend this year, visit the library, share your ideas, and continue your membership to support the Detroit Garden Center. Unfortunately, the year 2005 ended with the DGC in a financial deficit. As the cost of living increases, our expenses also rise.
Your dollars to nonprofits are precious and the DGC greatly appreciates your past support. We believe our programs have made and are making a difference. By renewing your membership this year, you will help the DGC continue on into Detroit’s future, so we can continue to be a part of the city’s regreening through gardening and horticultural education. Under the leadership of its chairman, Sue Auch, the Board will be analyzing the center’s financial situation and developing strategies to reduce cost and increase public awareness and revenue. As you can see from this report, the DGC is involved in community gardening activities that can only thrive with the volunteer support of people who love to garden — our members. Please consider sharing your time and talents with the various programs sponsored by the DGC.
Changes to come, reasons to be here
As you hear on the news, Detroit’s riverfront is in the process of a metamorphosis with a Riverwalk under construction from the Renaissance Center to Belle Isle. Another linkage, the Greenway, which will be built on the former railroad tracks called the Dequindre Cut, will begin at the river and end at Eastern Market. A portion sits right outside the west windows of the Vigliotti Building between Jefferson and Atwater. In fact the Vigliotti Building was a former railway terminal. If you are familiar with rails to trails projects elsewhere perhaps you can visualize a biking and hiking trail being built on this former railway bed and the possibilities this offers for landscaping. A community leader in Lafayette Park is interested in making portions of the Greenway-to-be pocket gardens and the Detroit Garden Center has been asked for advice. When the Riverwalk and Greenway are completed, the Vigliotti Building may actually be in the midst of Detroit’s urban Renaissance.
Moross House Update:
The Detroit Garden Center’s former home, Historic Moross House, was sold by the city to lawyer Ronald Scott and his wife who are using the building as their home and office. Although memories of this wonderful building as headquarters are still fresh, and a comparable site has not been found, we are grateful for our temporary suite in the safe, secure and well maintained Vigliotti Building.Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Hayes, Director