“My passion for gardening doesn't end with winter,” said Renee Mealy, founder of the Roscoe Gardening Club, “and I wondered if there were other gardeners in Northern Illinois who shared that passion.”
So in January 2024, Mealy said, “we thought creating a space where members of the community could connect with one another and share their love of gardening would be a valuable contribution to the area.”
The venture has been successful and continues to have a strong presence in the community by raising awareness, sowing enjoyment and highlighting the wonders of nature.
The free monthly meetings are open to the public. Monthly meetings are typically held from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Roscoe Township Community Center, 4562 Hononegah Rd.
The meetups offer the opportunity for seed swaps, magazine swaps, plant swaps, or to select produce from an “abundant” table.
Mealy added, “We are fortunate that with the construction of the Roscoe Township Community Center and the support of Roscoe Township Trustee Elizabeth Lindquist and Supervisor Bob Nowicki, the Roscoe Gardening Club now has a beautiful venue in which to hold our monthly meetings. The Roscoe Gardening Club is an inclusive and welcoming group that is free to all who wish to join.”
Mealy said he's built a nonprofit that relies solely on donations and sponsorships, not membership dues, “because we believe this allows the whole community to get involved.”
Local speakers will speak on a variety of topics that reflect the club's mission to promote a love of gardening, wildlife, and urban beautification and development while understanding that it is our duty to protect and improve the environment.
In addition to Mealy, the board of directors includes vice president Sheri Henson, treasurer Rachel Rutledge and marketing coordinator Lisa Brown.
For more information about the Roscoe Gardening Club visit gardening. or Facebook/groups/roscoegardeningclub
The club's first annual Garden Walk will be held June 15, 2024 from 9am-1pm. The Garden Walk is a free, self-guided event. Maps are available online or at local nurseries. All five locations are in Roscoe except for the last one.
The club's next in-person meeting will be held on August 17th at 10am when a representative from Nicholas Conservatory will speak on “The Art of Butterfly Gardening” and all interested parties are welcome to attend.
The club has a very active Facebook page where members exchange gardening ideas and inspiration: “We currently have 1,145 members, which is great.”
“Last week, some of our club members began organizing a community building project for Rocky, the Rock Snake, by getting local residents to attach painted rocks to a snake and see how long it grows. This is designed to be a fun and entertaining project that will get local residents working together with a common purpose and hopefully foster camaraderie on a local level,” Mealy said. The project was completed on June 11.
The June 15th Garden Walk is aimed at anyone looking for inspiration for their next garden bed or wondering where best to plant something. Participants will have the opportunity to get answers to these questions and find inner peace as they stroll through beautiful gardens.
The five locations are Stacey Salcido's home at 6580 Arena Dr., Rachel Rutledge's garden at 3996 Valerie Rd., Pat Graves' garden at 11781 Bowen Parkway, Sheri Henson's garden at 9758 Smoke Tree Lane and Phillip Timm's garden at 4708 Orchard Ln. in Rockford.
Salcido Garden is affectionately known as Club Las Vegas North. The hand-dug koi pond is an oasis filled with mature koi and lucky catfish. A variety of perennials can be found from the front to the backyard. Hanging baskets filled with gorgeous annuals are sure to draw attention. Sit in the shady garden on the patio and watch the birds while listening to the tranquil sound of the waterfall.
Highlights of Rutledge Gardens include the allure of new gardens showcasing beautiful flowers and dedicated sections with a variety of flowerbeds for perennial and annual fruits and vegetables.
The beautiful gardens on the Pat Graves estate are surrounded by a variety of trees and landscaping, creating a completely different atmosphere than other gardens.
Wander through Hensen Gardens' beautiful flowers and bushes, an area full of whimsical delights and hidden surprises, where visitors will be surprised and delighted by the many everyday objects transformed into colorful planters and garden décor.
Tim Garden has been 35 years in the making, and the grounds contain many special areas where garden walkers can see hundreds of varieties of hostas, a stamperley garden, a dragon garden, a sasquatch garden, a venus plant garden, and a vast selection of blooming annuals and perennials.
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