Two Best Dressed Holiday Window Awards

One of the two Best Dressed Window Awards was presented to Rare Rubbish, a new Shabby Chic & Vintage Boutique on Main Street. Pictured in front of the store are employee Carol Baynon and Owner Christine Stukenberg. (Not pictured is Co-owner Lisa Mullennix.)

The other Best Dressed Window Award went to Ethereal Confections, a new chocolate shop also located on Main Street. Pictured inside the store are Owners Mary and Sarah Ervin.

Three Honorable Mention Certificates were presented to the following stores:
Top row left: Read Between the Lynes, pictured are Owner Arlene Lynes with WGC President Anne Miller.
Top row right: Blossom Shop, pictured are Owner Hannah Rinn with WGC member Nancy Stark.
Bottom row: Decorator Nook, pictured is Owner Barbara Potter.

T'Was the Night before Christmas...

This year's theme for the Christmas trees on display at the Woodstock Opera House is "Christmas Stories". Our tree tells the familiar story on green ribbon circling the tree and is illustrated by handmade ornaments. On top of the tree we see Santa and his reindeer flying in front of the moon. There are stockings, the mouse, children snug in their beds, sugarplums and all the reindeer. The color scheme is silver, chartreuse and purple.

Pictured with the fully decorated tree are from top of the ladder down to the floor: Sondra Matterness, Colleen Thornton, Vicky Harrington, Barbara Donnelly, Mary Ellen Streit, Becky Monroe and Lydia Donohue.

Girlfriends and Good Tidings Brunch

The WGC presented a "Girlfriends and Good Tidings Brunch" at the Woodstock Opera House. Featured speaker was Jennifer Hunt from Countryside Flower shop. Pictured from left to right:
Marita Session, Colleen Thornton, Jennifer Hunt, Linda O'Donnell, Michelle Mueckenhoff, Sondra Matterness and Mary Fran Madjak.


Attendees purchased raffle tickets for their favorite themed giftbaskets or a pair of Blackhawks tickets. Proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund for a graduating Woodstock high school senior and community gardening projects. After lunch Jennifer Hunt showed how to make various floral arrangements that were also raffled off and taken home by their lucky winners.

Floral arrangements for Opera House

Several members created two fresh flower arrangements for "A Night at the Opera House", an annual special event that benefits the Woodstock Opera House. Pictured from left to right are:
Colleen Thornton , Mary Fran Madjak, Lydia Donohue, Elaine Showers and Sondra Matterrness and Anne Miller.

October Garden of the Month

The Woodstock Garden Club selected the garden of Bruce and Jodi Farris on South Street as the October Garden of the Month. Joining the couple is their dog Sophie. Jodi started the garden 14 years ago and lovingly tended it to what it is today . Bruce added 150 mums last fall and is planning to plant 1,000 spring bulbs.

November 2011 - Holiday Baskets at the Train Depot

Members adorned the Woodstock Train Depot with hanging holiday baskets. The festive baskets were designed and assembled by club members. Much of the greenery and plant material came from members' yards. The seasonal baskets are part of the club's efforts to beautify the train depot area. Pictured left to right are Barbara Oughton, project chair, Brenda Dahlfors, Colleen Thornton, and Vicky Harrington.

October 2011 Meeting

Guest speaker Barbara Pinzoli of Barrington shared some unique fall planting ideas in an inspiring presentation titled "More then Mums." The meeting was held at the Woodstock Public Library. Pictured left to right are co-hostesses Marita Sension, Mary Ellen Streit, Pinzoli, and Barbara Donnelly.

September 2011 Meeting

The Woodstock Garden Club held their September meeting at the home of Barbara Schelhammer. Lenore Beyer-Clow and Ed Collins of "Friends of Hackmatack" presented information on the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge would preserve land and natural habitats in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin that are home to threatened and endangered species of plants and wildlife. Pictured left to right, Beyer-Clow, Collins, meeting co-hostesses Barbara Oughton and Judy Haimbaugh, and Barbara Schelhammer.

September 2011 Garden of the Month

The Woodstock Garden Club selected the garden of Tom and Cindy Shulfer on Forrest Avenue as the September Garden of the Month. Tom fenced in the front yard and Cindy created a charming, cottage style garden which is enjoyed and often complimented by people passing by.

August 11 Annual Couples Dinner

The Annual Couples Dinner was held at the lovely home of Judy Haimbaugh. Members' "significant others" were invited and a raffle raised funds for the Woodstock Food Pantry and other community projects.


Pictured front row left to right:
Judy Haimbaugh, Nancy Sterk, Betty Aavang, Mary Ellen Streit
Back row left to right:
Lydia Donohue, Mary Fran Madjak, Becky Monroe, Faith Bennett, Barbara Donnelly, Brenda Dahlfors, Colleen Thornton, Sondra Matterness, Anne Miller, Fran Islin, Elaine Showers, Michelle Meuckenhoff.

August Garden of the Month

The Woodstock Garden Club chose the garden of Blake and Candy Mueller on S. Tryon Street as the August Garden of the Month.

Winding paths lead through the shaded cottage style gardens in the back of the house. Over the years the Muellers collected antique bells and hitching posts, an old canoe and even 2 antique carriages. The sunny area around the pool is filled with colorful plantings and unusual garden ornaments.

July Garden of the Month

The Woodstock Garden Club selected the garden of Leslie and Larry Schubert on Laurel as the July Garden of the Month. The curving borders of the front garden complement their Prairie Style home for a picture perfect look. A flagstone path alongside the house leads to the beautifully landscaped and secluded backyard which borders Ryders Park.

A Frank Lloyd Wright urn (a replica from the Robie House) sits next to the patio. Little "surprises" are tucked away throughout the garden. Their home is only five blocks from the Square, but the Schuberts say it feels like they live "in the woods".

June meeting at Countryside Flower and Garden Shop - Crystal Lake

Countryside staff presented unique container gardening ideas. Members created their own containers to take home. The monthly meeting followed.

June Garden of the Month

The garden of Jim and Mary Andreas on Fremont
Street was selected by the club as the June Garden of the Month. Over 27 years, the couple transformed the backyard of their turn of the 19th century home into a lovely terraced garden with water falls and ponds.

2011 Officers

Corresponding Secretary - Kristin Kleinschmidt
Recording Secretary - Brenda Dahlfors
President - Anne Miller
1st Vice President - Becky Monroe

Not Present:
Treasurer - Linda O'Donnell
2nd Vice President - Sondra Matterness

Elaine, Barbara, Bob, Sondra, Mary Ellen, Jean, Kristin, Colleen, Anne and Mary Fran met at Koltz's Nursery to arrange flower baskets to hang at the Woodstock Train Station in May.