Over the Garden Fence: Summer sharing with Susan
Even before summer arrived, Susan Clime was busy contacting many generous supporters of our garden club flower shows during the Crawford County Fair. These were individuals and businesses that sponsor and provide recognitions for the exhibitors at the two fair flower shows. These generous thoughts lead to not only lifting spirits but bringing support into the economy.
When you receive a gift card or certificate, you march to the business and have no trouble spending that credit. It is likely you make more purchases to delight both you and the sponsor.
Throughout winter and spring Susan reached out, confirming the support, and then planned for picking up these cards, gifts and certificates. Then she gathered gift bags and tissue and fluffed each one into a beautiful presentation. Then they were delivered to the flower show building so that winners could be given awards at the close of each show.
Here is what she managed for 2022 flower show sponsors and exhibitors:
● Artistic Excellence: Shows 1 and 2, Mary Lee Minor, Norton's Flowers and Katering Kountry Style
● Judge's Choice: Show 1, Sarah Laipply, Laipply Lawns; Show 2, Glenda Leuthold, Flowers & Fancies
● Sweepstakes: Show 1, Julie Reroad, Norton's; Show 2, Mary Lee Minor, PIckwick Place
● Best Annual: Julie Rexroad, TSC
● Best Perennial: Sarah Laipply, Mike Kalb and Susan Monroe
● Harvester for Herb: Mary Lee Minor, Amish Vault; For a Collection: June Gebhardt, Witter Produce
● Flora-Best Daylily: Megan Rowlinson, Lilies of the Field
● Vision-Best Novice: Shows 1 and 2, Glenda Leuthold
● Growing Skills: Show 1, Sarah Laipply, Family Farm and Home; Show 2, Sandra Long,Ohio Flower Girls at Pickwick
● Green Thumb Sweepstakes-Horticulture: Judy Widman, Carmar Gardens; 2nd show, Mary Lee Minor, Oberlanders
Juniors
● Best Design: Show 1, Evan Bessinger, Copper Irons; Show 2, Clareese Prenger; Scapes By Sarah
● Green Thumb, Show 1, Lucy Kocher, Cladys; Show 2, Kyle Smith, Julie Rexroad
People's Awards went to Judy Widman in Show 1 and Clareese Prenger in Show 2.
That is a heap of rounding up sharing and recognition — 24 in all. How generous of Susan to reach out, manage picking up then making each award sparkle for the recipients. Our motto for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs happens to be "knowing, growing showing and sharing." This may be the epitome of sharing from Susan's perspective and from that of each of those sponsors who demonstrated generosity.
The bouquet Susan brought to the Aug. 1 garden club meeting was another gesture of generosity prompted by Cheryl Corney after Susan offered a little hostessing help.
Life is good.
Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: A Crawford County Fair flower show wrap-up