Where has the year gone? In less than a week we will be having our annual recognition banquet, which unfortunately I am unable to attend. Therefore, I would like to make a few recognitions of my own, based on what I have observed this year. Lot of people have worked hard, and these are my personal picks. I hope I am not embarrassing or offending anyone – but the following members I am sure you will agree are particularly deserving of our recognition and thanks for their efforts and valuable contribution to the club.
- Naida Albin – The Work & Learn Crew: Her tireless efforts along with my regulars, the Milan gang and Mark Havekost, are the reason we were able to restore the gardens to what they should be. A consumate gardener and workaholic, she tends at least three other local gardens that I know of in addition to her own, and is very supportive of any MG activity. A very modest person, I do not want to embarrass her further by listing her numerous other achievements.
- Sue Ryan – Blogmeister: The reason that you are able to read this – is because of the efforts of this one person in setting up and maintaining our blog, from conception to where it is now! Sue’s talents as a photographer and an uplifting script writer have given our fledgling venture a polished, professional look – and a much needed voice for the association. Did I mention this is all done after 10 hour work shifts and numerous stints weeding the office garden? She has put in hundreds of hours into making this happen because she is totally committed to making this blog a success, and something we can all be proud of.
- Linda Welch – Most Involved MG: It is no exaggeration to say Linda is everywhere there is activity in the club. From single-handedly renovating our previous projects in the Veterans Park, planting the new sundial beds, weeding the office garden and being a cheerful booster for the club. Most of you know her from her garden design presentations and numerous photographs of her lovely garden and plant choices in the blog – where she is a founding editor and frequent contributor.
- Sharon Diefenthaler – Best Community Outreach: Being a MG is all about community outreach. Sharon is fortunate in that she has been able to incorporate this mission statement into her ISD program at Matthes’ greenhouse. All of her students graduate as Junior MGs and the work ethic and skills they learn as being part of her program, will prepare them for being productive citizens. She is an active participant in the IHM community gardens, Bedford Library gardens and with her students, in Mercy Memorial greenhouse and gardens.
- Carol Koesel – Best Project: Thanks to Carol, we finally were able to have a raised bed veggie garden as a teaching tool in our demo garden. This feature was long overdue! Skillfully using a 3 x 4 seed bag, Carol planted a mini- garden that yielded a surprising array and quantity of vegetables, all of which were grown in our own compost…Mel Bartholomew would definitely approve! I certainly appreciate her garden knowledge and deft touch in maintaining the Memorial Garden, which she helped design and install.
- Lenore Wood – Most Under-appreciated Worker: Lenore is the Rodney Dangerfield of the association. She is the one who toils away maintaining the beds at Fairview Hospital, her church and when time permits, she comes and weeds our garden. Lenore works alone and is publicity shy, so many of you have little idea what this woman accomplishes. Her dedication to community outreach is something the association should acknowledge and embrace.
- Karen Hehl – Best Photography Submission: A lot of you know Karen’s handiwork from past garden tours. Come fall, she is a regular feature around the office garden weeding and clipping. What I didn’t realize was just how accomplished a photographer she really is. Her photos of the pepper arrangement are of professional quality and would not be out of place in the pages of Gourmet magazine. Both Sue and I are unanimous in this choice of her outstanding FotoFriday submission.
- Sandy O’Connell – Most Informative Newsletter Article: Most of you know this garrulous upstate New Yorker as a hardworking, weed-pulling terror with her designer weeding hoe. But she is also an accomplished writer as is shown in her past newsletter article on her visit to the home of pioneering naturalist, Gene Stratton-Porter. Truly an outstanding article with superb photographs that help make our newsletter one of the best in the region.
- Georgeann Brown – Best Food Presenter: This is just another facet of the multi-talented persona of our longest serving MG. In addition to being Jennie’s first graduate, GB has brought a wealth of experience and gardening knowledge to this club over the years, as well as holding every office and one of the originators of the W & L program! Her interest in herbs was recently coupled with her passion for food in a most interesting and lively presentation on Sweet and Savory Herb cooking, that was extremely well received.
- Mary Ellen and Stella – Children’s Garden: One of the true little gems in our exhibition garden, this area is lovingly planted and nurtured each year by Mary Ellen and Stella. I just love the Japanese theme and the choice of plantings that always seem to be doing something different throughout the year. I was lucky enough to snap a few photos of some children enjoying the gardens…which says it all!
- Sharon, Winnie & Karen – Best Team Presentation: The award for the best tag-team presentation has to go to this trio! In spite of an advertising snafu, they managed to draw in 10 members of the public in addition to a full house of MGs for a lively and interesting Herbs, Senses class. The room smelled terrific with all the herbs and freshly baked bread and they managed to compliment each other very well in getting their message out…by working as a team…a novel idea!
- Chris Edolls – Most Informative Presentation: In addition to being our treasurer, Chris is an accomplished apiarist. Anyone who comes to give a class in a white jump suit and bee-keeper’s garb…automatically gets my attention and respect!. Her presentation on bee-keeping was extremely well done and very informative. I think we all went away with a new appreciation of what these interesting little pollinators do in our gardens. Chris is also a regular presenter on garden topics at the Ida Public Library.
- Jeff Nicita – Best Garden Tour: A most accomplished gardener, Jeff was kind enough to offer his gardens this summer for a private tour. Jeff has an eye for garden layout as well as a large repository of plant knowledge. Linda did an excellent article on the tour, and her photos say it all about his talent’s as a landscaper. We are lucky to have Jeff as a member even though he lives in Wayne County and could just as easily belong to their association.
A special recognition should go to Pete Wallace, another out of the area MG who was in my class of 2009…for his hard work and financial contributions to make our latest public project a reality. Next spring, the sundial will be unveiled in the Veterans Park for all to see and enjoy. Jennie Stanger also was a major contributor as well as coordinator for this project, and deserves our thanks.
There are I am sure others I have omitted, but also deserving of your recognition…Gail Keane with her labors at the Conservation District plant sale; Chris Kosal with her involvement at the YMCA, Dorsch Library gardens and website committee; Jessie Green and Debi Beier for their preparing plant labels for the gardens and activities in the Bedford garden tours, and the committee members who produce the newsletter and handle everything from promotions to booking speakers.
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Kudos also to Paul for maintaining the association on an even keel during these troublesome times with MSUE. Keeping a MG association going requires commitment from all – not just a few. Everyone has to reach inside themselves and see how they can contribute more to support the obligation this entails. To do otherwise may well jeopardise the survival of the club as a MG association.
Let’s plan on making next year an even more productive one as we face the challenges of the extension office closing.
Frank.
Monroe County Master Gardener Association 
Well-written credits to worthy volunteers! I’d just like to point out that I can’t take any credit for Georgeann’s expertise or dedication…she is the only currently active member who has been a part of this longer than I have!
What a nice article. I would like to offer a word of caution- As an employee of MSUE I would ask that we please say “the possibility ” of the extension ofice closing. There are no papers signed and nothing is definite. Yes, we need to be aware of the future and have alternate plans and ideas, but it is misleading to make a blanket statement that the office is closing. It is difficult to reign in gossip and rumors but we need to be mindful of our words. I am very proud to be a master gardener and you’re a wonderful group to be a part of . We have alot to be thankful for this season. Best Regards,Winnie
At the top of this list should be Frank for all his hard work in the gardens, directing the Work and Learn, challenging out brains and educating us with his quizzes, plus all his excellant contributions to this blog. Thank you Frank.
Thanks for the kudos. I appreciate the thank you for the small contribution I made and heartily second all of the comments. We do have a wonderful group of hard-working and dedicated gardeners.
Very nice of Frank to give special mention to those who worked so hard in the demo gardens this year. I want to add the names of my good friends and fellow master gardeners Norma, Doris and Barbara from Milan Garden Club. In addition to spending many hours at the extension gardens these gals are the bones and muscle of our club and work tirelessly in Milan on various gardening endeavors. Barbara is president of the Milan Beautification Committee and works very hard to make sure all the city entrances and the many planted barrels located around town look beautiful and healthy through several seasons. In addition Barb has been instrumental in making the Milan community gardens successful by adopting several plots and being on hand to share her knowledge with less skilled gardeners. Doris, in addition to being president of our club, spends many hours in her church gardens which she pretty much created and maintains and are quite extensive and include many roses. But Doris’s greatest accomplishment (in my humble opinion) was “taking the bull by the horns” and tackling the wild growth of trees, brush, wild mustard and grapevines so a new garden area could be developed at Friend-Hack House Museum gardens. Norma, in addition to being VP of our club and in charge of programs, is one of those “get in, get it done and get out” kind of gals. She is getting used to my last minute phone calls for help (and always answers or returns my calls even when she knows what I’m calling about) to take a “quick” trip with me to the museum to repair the jerry-rigged water system or give some extra attention to an area that needs it. Norma puts her own very extensive and beautiful gardens on hold if she is needed elsewhere where she has made a commitment. Working at the extension gardens was a labor of love and we received much more than we gave as we learned from and shared knowledge with our many master gardener friends.
Thanks Frank, but I got help from Naida and Chris at Veteran’s park…weeding it out for the first time was a job for sure. Their help was greatly appreciated. I also appreciate your efforts for all the Work and Leans, and the labor you put in at the Extention office.
I would like to add Frank and place him at the top of the list. His hundreds of hours devoted to the blog and his backbreaking work in the demonstration gardens are very much noticed and appreciated. Frank is number one on my list of “out-of-the-box thinkers” and I thank him for pushing us to improve – in accomplishing our mission as MGs, learning new ways, and being unafraid to break new ground. Bravo.