Garden Club planning for spring

Though it’s still far too early to start turning ground, the New Richland Town and Country Garden Club held its first meeting of 2026 the evening of March 2. It was clear members had been thinking about the coming growing season, as preliminary plans were offered for the design of the group’s largest project, the flower garden located along Highway 30 across from the secondary school parking lot.

 

Club member Barb Finseth suggested that, since 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, the garden could be planted in rows of red and white petunias, and accented at the corner with purple and white salvia, allowing the space to send a “flag-like” impression. Club members expressed enthusiasm for the plan.

 

A schedule distributed during the meeting revealed the club meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month in March, April, May, June, September, October and November. It states anyone who loves flowers and gardening is invited to join; enthusiasts may also attend meetings or work alongside club members in completing gardening tasks when they have an opportunity.

 

Special events scheduled in 2026 include the club’s plant sale on May 16 at the New Richland Community Center; club tours in July and August, and a Christmas party scheduled for Dec. 9.

 

While the garden club has taken on the task of planting and maintaining the flower garden along Highway 13 and the flower beds on the grounds of the community center, it does not take care of the large planters which decorate the sidewalk along Broadway Avenue. During the March 2 meeting, club members expressed gratitude to Eleanor, Loren and Chris Schlaak and Bob Battenfeld for consenting to take on that task in 2026.

 

Beginning in April, the club will be taking “pre-orders” for popular plants offered during the May 16 plant sale.