The Roscoe Gardening Club is spreading joy to residents at North Point Terrace Assisted Living in Roscoe by creating and delivering “gorgeous bouquets” of flowers they've grown themselves, and the club plans to continue this fun activity throughout the month of July.
Bodacious Bouquets is the club's new community outreach initiative. Each week, six club members have the opportunity to showcase and donate a beautiful, thriving plant from their own garden.
The first dose of colorful happiness arrived at North Point on the morning of Monday 8th July 2024, with the second delivery coming the following week on Monday 15th July.
Volunteers presented residents with “gorgeous bouquets” made from flowers grown in their personal gardens.
Sheri Henson, a member of the Roscoe Gardening Club, helped with the deliveries. “Everyone who received the bouquets was so happy and so amazed to receive them. Everyone was just in awe!”
Henson said she looks forward to going back again for those who weren't able to receive bouquets on the first day. “The men who received the patriotic-themed bouquets were eager to show off photos from their time in the military.”
Lisa Brown, marketing director for Roscoe Gardening Club, reflected on the reaction to these surprise deliveries.
“It was so gratifying to see the residents' faces light up when we delivered the bouquets and when they received them. Flowers are synonymous with joy,” adds Brown. “Our club is committed to spreading the love of gardening to others.”
Member Renee Klinefelter said, “It was such a fun opportunity and the residents loved it. Their reactions were priceless and it was really great to have the chance to speak to them. I really hope it brightened their day, just as it brightened mine.”
Roscoe Gardening Club member Rebecca Beneditz and her daughters Audrey, six, and Lucy, four, brought joy to residents of North Point Terrace by delivering “beautiful bouquets”.
Member Rebecca Beneditz brought her children and said her 6-year-old daughter Audrey loved making people happy and was looking forward to doing it again next week.
Beneditz says: “On the way home from her first delivery, Audrey was in the back seat of the car discussing with her four-year-old sister, Lucy, whether they would rather share flowers or receive chocolates. Lucy chose the chocolates, but Audrey preferred the flowers.”
Megan Schuller, a caregiver at North Pointe, said, “Everyone was delighted and so happy to receive them. Everyone who lives there loves things like that to liven up their place and we were so grateful. The residents were talking about it afterwards and the kids who came to help out on both visits were so happy too.”
Volunteers from the Roscoe Gardening Club made deliveries over two days, brightening the day of North Point Terrace residents.
“July is such a beautiful time of year, when all the flowers are in full bloom and the gardens are at their most beautiful,” said Renee Mealy, president of the Roscoe Horticultural Club. “By collecting and delivering bouquets, we are giving our members an opportunity to share their passion for gardening with those who can no longer do so.”
“Part of the Roscoe Gardening Club's mission is to provide engaging programming for club members, so the board is always looking for ways to connect with the local community,” Mealy said.
“Delivering 'luxurious bouquets' to the residents of North Point Terrace was a special opportunity to honor our seniors with a joyful and beautiful gift. Not only did this event benefit every resident of North Point Terrace, it also brought joy among the club members.”
“Community outreach is an important part of our mission and we are always looking to involve as many members as possible,” Mealy added.
On July 23, local veterans from the Roscoe Veterans Association chapter were also saluted with “lavish bouquets.”
Launched in January 2024, the Roscoe Gardening Club is free to anyone who wants to join.
Thanks to sponsorship and donations, the group is able to meet monthly and host speakers on a variety of gardening topics, including wildlife, urban beautification and development, and environmental improvement. Each meeting includes a seed swap, magazine swap, and plant swap, and there is usually a “bread and butter” table where you can choose free items such as vegetables and flowers.
The group meets monthly at the Roscoe Township Community Center, located at 4562 Hononegah Rd, Roscoe, IL.
On Aug. 17, starting at 10 a.m., you can learn about “The Art of Butterfly Gardening,” a presentation by Lyndi Toohill, the Nicholas Conservatory's “Butterfly Lady.”
An events calendar is posted on the group's Facebook page, and friends are encouraged to sign up and get involved.
In addition to this special presentation, the club will be hosting a bake sale during its August meeting.
In June, the club hosted a garden walk through five of the gardens, and in July members were invited to take a private guided tour of the Anderson Japanese Gardens.
“Rocky the Rock Snake” (Talcott Free Library, Rockton) is having a friendly competition with “Roscoe the Rock Snake” (Roscoe Township Center). Local residents attach painted rocks to their favorite snakes to see which one can grow the longest. This fun and entertaining project has quickly become a big hit, and we hope it brings community members together with a common purpose and creates a sense of camaraderie on a local level. (Just don't take the rocks away from the snakes!)
The Roscoe Gardening Club continues its wonderful work spreading joy and beauty through sharing information and giving thoughtful “beautiful bouquets.”
Bodacious Bouquets is the new community outreach of the Roscoe Gardening Club. More news from Roscoe
