Westlake Garden Club

Spring is the perfect time to start a Nature Journal.  It is a wonderful time to experience the rebirth of plants, trees and flowers, and to observe the birds who start showing up in great numbers.  You do not need any special skills or materials to keep a nature journal.  You can purchase a fancy "journal" or just use a spiral bound notebook.  While the weather is still cold and snowy, stay indoors and sit by a window to observe what is going on in your yard.  When the weather improves, go outside and sit on a patio, deck or balcony, or go to the park.  You may choose to just write your observances in your journal.  You could also add drawings of what you see, or pick up a leaf, flower or feather to press in your journal. You may even write your observances in poetry form.  Some people take photographs to add.  Just begin writing and write often.  Journaling is an excellent way to archive your thoughts, feelings and inspirations as you watch nature unfolding.  Do not be critical or edit your writing.  We are all a part of nature and should learn to respect and enjoy it to the fullest.  So, grab your  pen and paper, find a comfy seat by a window on on the porch, watch and listen and soon you will be filling the page with your observations.  It is a wonderful way to spend a few minutes, or a few hours.

The Westlake Garden Club met at Mahle's Restaurant on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 to celebrate the holidays and to install new officers for 2014.  The 2014 Board consists of: Regina McCarthy, President; Sally Knurek, 1st V.P.; Jean Smith, 2nd V.P.; Marie McCarthy, Treasurer; Marge Domitz and Brian Thompson, Recording Secretaries; Claire Evangelista, Corresponding Secretary.  After the officers were installed, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch, followed by entertainment provided by the Westlake High School Choir.  Charter member, Lillian Bialosky, was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award for 2013 for her many years of service to the club.  Also, for the first time this year, an award was presented to Cahoon Nursery in recognition of their continued generous support of the garden club.  For over 25 years, Cahoon Nursery has donated the tree that is planted by the garden club on Arbor Day.  Thank you to Lillian and Cahoon Nursery for your many years of  service and support.  The club does not meet in January, but will reconvene on February 19, 2014 at Westlake Porter Library.  A year of interesting and enlightening programs is promised.  We wish you a very Happy New Year.

There is a golden glow in the lobby of the Westlake Porter Library. Members of the Westlake Garden Club met at the library on Monday after Thanksgiving to decorate the Holiday tree. The garden club is winding down a year-long celebration of its 50th Anniversary, its Golden Anniversary. With that in mind, the club chose a "Gold" theme. The tree is covered in white lights, gold bows, gold balls, and gold ornaments with a nature look; apples, pears, pine cones, swans, leaves, and white flowers. This is the second year that the club has decorated a tree at the library and it is to be an annual project. Library Director, Andrew Mangels, stopped by during the decorating the thank the club for their creative efforts. Thisi s a fun project and we love hearing comments from people visiting the library. See Photo Gallery, "Holiday Tree 2013" for more photos.