About Our Club
Fundraisers
Garden Walk
Our annual garden walk is our focus to raise funds to maintain our 2 scholarship awards that benefit our local high school students. The public has an opportunity to purchase tickets for $15 and tour 6 local gardens. It is a very popular event! You begin at the Old School House in Douglas Michigan and have an opportunity to purchase perennial plants or garden treasures.
Membership Perennial Plant and Treasure sale
Members of the SDGC split or dig up their extra perennials, put them in pots and sell them at the Old School House the day of the Garden Walk for only $5 each or 6 for $25! Additionally, we have garden treasures donated by the club to sell. Things like driftwood, trellis’, pots, vases, garden accessories, etc. It’s a fun experience! All proceeds go towards our Scholarship awards.
Awesome Annuals Sale
Members can order annual flowers from Van Til’s (our excellent local greenhouse) during the month of February. Orders are filled and ready for pick up in mid-May. SDGC gets a discounted price on our group order, allowing us to raise on average of over $1,500 per year which goes towards our scholarship awards.
COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION
Saugatuck Community Beautification
Each year Saugatuck 6th graders assist the garden club with their efforts to beautify the city. Planters are placed along the city sidewalks, then the students join our club members to plant them. We plant 42 pots! This project fosters a sense of pride in the community from our young people and teaches them how they can make a difference. Teachers divide the students into groups of 4 or 5 kids. The class joins us in the morning at the SCA, and we give them a demonstration about the types of flowers and how to plant a perfect pot. The mayor often gives an encouraging speech. After all the pots are planted, we finish with cookies and refreshments at Pumpernickel’s.
Douglas Community Beautification (Bump Outs)
The garden club has adopted three bump outs over the last few years. We get flowers from City Hall and our job is to weed, plant the flowers and then weed all season long. A bump out is a corner plot in the city. One is in front of city hall, one directly across the street and the last one is in front of the police station. The city provides a sign with our club’s name and logo.
Saugatuck-Douglas Library Flowers
Beginning in June, every 2 weeks a garden club member drops off a bouquet of flowers or a small potted plant for display at the Library. It could be an orchid, or a Christmas cactus, mums, etc. depending upon the holiday or time of year.
GARDEN AWARDS
Local Garden Awards
Each summer in June July and August, the Garden Club gives their award for “best” garden in three categories: residential, window box and commercial. The Club provides a sign for each winner to post in his/her garden for the month of the award. Each sign is collected at the end of the month and given to the next winner. The signs are stored and reused each year until they are worn out. Each winner is also given a $25.00 gift certificate at Huntree Nursery. We try to give awards to someone who has not previously received the award (or at least for several years). All award gardens must be open to the public to view and enjoy.
Membership Garden Award
Each year our president has the privilege of awarding a member with this award. They receive a sign to post in their lawn showing this achievement.
ANNUAL PROGRAMS
Scholarship Awards
We take our scholarship awards very seriously. It is the main purpose for our fundraising. It supports local high school students (2) to further their higher education. In the past (pre-2022) we donated $2,000 per year per student. Beginning in 2023, the amount went to $3,000 per year per student. We are very proud of that!
Saugatuck 6th Grade Holiday Workshop
We have an annual workshop with the 6th grade classes at Saugatuck Middle School. Each student makes 2 small centerpieces.  They get to take one home and the other goes to one of our 2 local nursing facilities: Grace of Douglas and Golden Orchards in Fennville.
Charitable Contributions
We conduct an annual drive to provide Christmas gifts to the families selected by Christen Neighbors (CN). CN is an Allegan County non-profit and all-inclusive agency who aids the needy with 98% of the funding going back into the local community.  We give with pride. We do the shopping to provide the necessary presents and help during the process when families come to collect gifts.
 New Membership Gathering
Each year we hold a party for the new members. Last year we gathered at All Saints Episcopal Church in Saugatuck. Members bring a dish to pass and we have a nice evening with beer, wine and food to celebrate our new members.
Welcome Back Tea
Each spring we gather and celebrate the start or our Garden Club season. We all have fun at this meeting after a long winter. Lots of tea, food, and opportunities to volunteer for all the activities planned for the year and renew friendships.
Other Monthly Programs or Workshops
Each year we put together monthly programs where we expect club participation. They are very educational and fun. At these programs we will have a short meeting prior to a demonstration or tour depending upon the program (see events). Additionally we have small workshops for Arbor Day and we make SWAGS for the cities.