Ann Arbor Garden Walk

Welcome, Autumn!

An Open Letter from the President

AAF&G 2020-2021 Schedule

For more than 70 years, September has marked the start of a new Farm & Garden season. Members eagerly look forward to reconnecting with friends after the summer hiatus, and a full schedule of meetings, committee work, and social activities is laid out in a new Yearbook. The energy is high, smiles are everywhere, and we begin again the work of fulfilling our philanthropic mission while enjoying some of the things we love best: friends, flowers, food, gardens, and giving.

This September, things are sadly much different. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we are following CDC and State of Michigan guidelines, as well as member preferences, and will not be holding in-person meetings this fall. All meetings this fall will be conducted via Zoom, and are open only to members.

If conditions allow, we will resume in-person meetings in January 2021, as noted in the schedule posted below. If not, we will remain in online mode, with some meetings open to guests and the public.

With optimism tempered by realism, we’re moving forward with planning the 2021 Garden Walk, and a smaller garden walk event in late summer. Many, many thanks to our wonderful supporters, sponsors, and vendors who donated to “The Garden Walk That Wasn’t” this year. Without Garden Walk proceeds, our ability to fund grants and scholarships this year will be significantly diminished, but we will do as much as we can! Applications will be posted this week and are due by November 16.

As the days grow cooler and the first hints of color touch the trees, I hope you make time to enjoy the autumn landscape. Our gardens and parks and greenspaces have been especially precious this year, haven’t they? I’m proud to be part of the organization that has funded and supported so many of these places in our community.

While my term as president isn’t starting out the way I expected, I am committed to keeping us connected and moving forward until we can gather together again safely. Your understanding and patience as we all learn these ‘new ropes’ is much appreciated. Our first virtual meeting is Thursday, September 24, and I hope to ‘see’ many of you then. Be well, everyone.

Carrie Riedeman

All meetings this fall are via Zoom.

Thurs Sept 24, 12:45 pm        Membership Meeting
                              Speaker: C.L. Fornari, the Garden Lady

Thurs Oct 1, 10:30 am             Board Meeting

Thurs Oct 8, 12:45 pm             Membership Meeting
                                Program: Oudolf Garden Detroit

Thurs Nov 3, 10:30 am             Board Meeting

Thurs Nov 12, 12:45 pm          Membership Meeting
                                 Program: Huron River Watershed Council

Meetings in January and beyond are currently planned to be in-person. This decision will be revisited in December, based on the pandemic situation and CDC/State of Michigan guidance in effect at that time.

Thurs Jan 14, TBD                Membership Meeting @ City Club
            Program: Founder’s Day – A Celebration of our History

Thurs Feb 11, 11:30 am      Public Meeting @ Polo Fields Zeeb
                                                                Speaker: Janet Macunovich

Thurs March 11, TBD         Membership Meeting @ City Club

Thurs April 8, TBD                Membership Meeting @ City Club

Thurs May 13, TBD               Annual Meeting @ City Club

Sat June 12, 10 am          Annual Ann Arbor Garden Walk(tm)

August/September, TBD         Fall Mini Garden Walk

Season Opener!

The Cocktail Hour Garden, presented by
C.L. Fornari, the Garden Lady

Thursday, September 24 via Zoom
Meeting starts 12:45 pm; presentation at 1 pm.
Members, check your email for registration details.

Join us for an entertaining presentation full of garden eye candy and inspiration! Whether it’s coffee in the morning, iced tea in the afternoon, or cocktails in the evening, every garden should have a spot suitable for contemplation and conversation.

C.L. Fornari is an award-winning writer, speaker, radio host, and garden consultant. She is the author of eight books, including Coffee for Roses and The Cocktail Hour Garden. The host of Garden Line on radio, C.L. also cohosts Plantrama, an award-winning podcast. In 2015, she launched the first annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, a 10-day open gardens celebration that raised $43,000 for local nonprofits.

C.L. gardens at Poison Ivy Acres on Cape Cod, loves children, cooking and dogs, and her initials may or may
not stand for “Compost Lover.” Her not-so-secret mission is to put horticulture back into popular culture.
Visit her at The Garden Lady.

The mission of Ann Arbor Farm & Garden is to promote and support local gardens, the benefits of horticulture, and community beautification through grant and scholarship awards, related educational programs, and service opportunities.

Host of annual Ann Arbor Garden Walk, second Saturday every June

"Flower Ladies" Horticultural therapy volunteers at Mott

More than $600,000 awarded in grants and scholarships in our community since 1946

Thank you for supporting our mission!!

2020-2021 Officers

President                                   Carrie Riedeman
Vice President                    OPEN
Parliamentarian                Judy Parsons
Recording Secretary        Ann Ringia
Corresponding Sec'y       Ann Meredith
Foundation Treasurer    Susan Van Wagenen
Operations Treasurer    Pat Garrett
Membership    Gretchen Zale, Kathie Mahn

2020-2021 Standing Committee Chairs

Foundation Ann Ringia
Fundraising                    Irene Ball
    Garden Walk                 Pat Jackson & the GW4 (Cindy Fink, Judy High, Wanda Olsen, Lucy Richert)
     Silent Auction              Annie Gladwin
Historian                            Karen Jania
Horticultural Therapy      Karen Mikus, Nancy Asin
Member Services
    Communications            Audrey DeMarois
    Hospitality                           Sharon Darga
    Programs                               Carol Polverini, Anne Rogers
    Social Events                      OPEN
   Nametags    Mickey Barley
Promotion/Publications Carrie Riedeman
   Yearbook                              Carrie Riedeman
    Website                               Carrie Riedeman

Past Presidents    Judy Parsons, Audrey DeMarois, Sandy Heng, Dianna Samuelson

Ann Arbor Farm & Garden
P.O. Box 354
Dexter, MI 48130