The Sunnyvale Garden Club is starting a new community project. We will be providing “Welcome to Sunnyvale” baskets to new residents.  It’s our way of letting them know that they have made the right decision in selecting Sunnyvale as their home!

Any item (s) you can donate to fill the baskets will be very much appreciated. We need baskets, tissue paper, products, items, business cards, plants, ANYTHING!  Invite your friends, neighbors, and relatives to donate. Your name and/or company can be indicated upon your request.

You can drop off your items at 225 East Fork Road or arrange to have them picked up at your location.  You can also bring your donations to the next summer symposium on June 10^th.

For questions or to arrange for pickup, please contact:

Jean Holt                      214 577 7438

Madalyn Hernandez   972 226 2467 (leave a message)

Submitted by:  Martha Billman, Communications Committee

Earth Day 2014 is today, Tuesday April 22.  Would you like to do something to celebrate Earth Day, but you are not really sure  what to do?  Here are five easy ways to say “thank you” to our earth!

Submitted by:  Martha Billman – Communications Committee

For our project for June Summer Symposium, (Tuesday, June 10) we will create “Poor Woman’s Chihuly Glass Flowers” for our gardens and flower beds.  We will “repurpose” glass plates, bowls, saucers, candy dishes, ash trays, votives and other candle holders, etc. to make pretty glass flowers.  Be on the lookout for glass or china pieces that you can use to make beautiful glass flowers.  You can find some great pieces at thrift stores and yard sales – or heck, even your own china cabinet!   The photos that are shown here will help you see what kinds of glass and china items will make pretty flowers.  Clear colored glass with “petal-like” edges are perfect to use – but hard to find!  Deviled Egg plates work great!  Clear glass looks great by itself or could be painted with a glass paint (such as Martha Stewart’s Transparent Glass paint you can find at Michael’s).   We can add some color by gluing glass “gems” to the plates.  Even opaque china plates can be used – with clear glass or by itself.  We made a few “flowers” using plastic plates and bowls and cups.  We are “experimenting” to see how well they will hold up to being outdoors, but, so far, they look good.  Look at the photos and get some ideas.  You are limited only by your own imagination.  Your “flower” could use 6 or 7 pieces of glass or china – or it might use just two pieces.

Click on a photo to view a larger image.

Vicki, Patsy and Rachel have shopped thrift stores and have purchased some glass and china items which will be available for the June Symposium.  We cannot guarantee that there will be enough for everyone’s needs or wants.  We hope that all members and guests at the symposium will have enough glass and china for at least one flower.   If you have something specific you want to do, you may need to bring your own glass/china pieces.   If you want to make several flowers, you will need to bring your own dishes for the extra.  Also, the Club will NOT be providing the poles you will use to put the flowers in the ground.  We don’t know what size you want.  You can use poles from electrical conduit, rebar, plumbing pipes or even wooden sticks or dowels [wood not recommended, though] or you may just want to display on an “easel.”  The Garden Club will provide the proper adhesive to put the plates together and will provide a device to attach your flower to a pole.  We will also provide some colored glass “gems.”

Happy shopping for great glass items.  (It is fun to shop in thrift stores!)  We can’t wait to see what beautiful flowers you will create.

p.s.  These flowers sell at  craft shows and the Internet for $30 to $90 !!

Rachel Doyle – Programs

Submitted by:  Martha Billman – Communications Committee

Who: Dallas County Community College District
What: Fourth Annual Sustainability Summit
When: Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: North Lake College,5001 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75038Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At the DCCCD Sustainability Summit, you’ll learn ways to live sustainably that can last beyond seven generations.

This is a free event, which includes lunch, and:

• Hear a keynote by permaculture expert Toby Hemenway
• Enjoy a variety of fun and informative workshops and presentations
• Visit with exhibitors offering green products and services
• See the documentary movie “Arise”

For more information or to register, visit www.dcccd.edu/Sustainability Summit

Location Information:
North Lake College (View Map)
5001 N. MacArthur Blvd.
Irving, TX 75038
United States
Phone: 972-273-3000

Submitted by:  Martha Billman – Communications Committee

This year’s National Garden Club convention is being held in Norman, Oklahoma April 30 – May 3.  The convention includes meetings, seminars, tours and a speaker series.  You can register online with a secure credit card payment, or you can print and mail the registration form with your payment. Registration deadline is March 29, 2014 and  there will be no refunds after this date. Registrations received after March 29, 2014 will incur a $50.00 late fee.

For more information the programs being offered and  registration, please see the NGC Web site:  http://www.gardenclub.org/about-us/2014-annual-convention/register-online.aspx .

Georgeann Moss is planning to attend and would like other club members to consider doing so also.  The SGC will receive credit toward our Gold rating for our attendance.

Submitted by:  Martha Billman – Communications Committee

Each year, the SGC makes goodie baskets and delivers them to community shut-ins on Valentine’s Day. Please start collecting items for the baskets and bring them to the next meeting scheduled on Tuesday,  February 11th, so we can stuff and deliver them.

The following is a list of suggested items: stamps, Post-it-notes, notepads, pens, pencils, crossword puzzles, sugar-free cookies and candy, crackers, lotion, shampoo, soap, anti-bacterial soap, wipes, toothpaste, Kleenex, Chapstick, envelopes, magnifying class, small address book – or – any other item you feel is appropriate.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Merry Ziegenfuss

214-801-9786

Submitted by:  Martha Billman – Communications Committee

Can we feed Texas and the world with local food?  Joel Salatin, alternative farmer, will talk about building a local food system that works.   He will be providing a presentation and workshop to help the homeowner, food gardener, farmer, rancher, land owner and landscape professional get more value from their practice.  See below of the schedule.

Securing Our Local Food Systems
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (free healthy food samples 11:30-noon, talk from noon-2); free
Cedar Valley College, 3030 N. Dallas Ave., Lancaster

Local Food to the Rescue
Workshop, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; $99
Cedar Valley College, 3030 N. Dallas Ave., Lancaster

Register on the Carbon Economy Series website for the workshop

Submitted by:  Martha Billman – Communications Committee

The Sunnyvale Garden Club will participate in JFK Day activities at the Sunnyvale Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.    SGC will be selling 6 ½ in. Poinsettias and baked goods.

Sallyann Nevins, SGC President, needs volunteers to help with the table and to bake homemade  cookies, pies, cakes …anything appropriate for a bake sale.

In the event of inclement weather,  activities will be moved indoors.

If you can provide baked goods or time, please contact Sallyann at 972 226 1315 or gn@txshowcar.com.

Submitted by:  Martha Billman –  Communications Committee