Lake Odessa Area Garden Club

09/01/2026

Due to the holiday weekend, the September Garden Club meeting will be a week later than normal, on Monday, Sept. 14th. Just for this meeting, we will start at 4:00 p.m. and in a different location as well. If you are not a member and wish to join us, please contact Sandra Rayner at 231-883-3267 for details!

08/17/2026

More window boxes from the area

08/17/2026

Is there anything more inviting than a window box?

Window boxes have been ‘a thing’ since the 1st century B.C. in ancient Rome. Families with limited ground space grew food and medicinal herbs in window boxes. Since the 1800s window boxes have enhanced curb appeal for residences in Europe and eventually here in America. As we are currently celebrating 250 years of independence, you may have noticed several area window boxes proudly displaying our flag and colors as well.

"Flowers in a window box are like smiles on a face." (Author unknown)

The Lake Odessa area is blessed with many of these ‘window box smiles,’ particularly in the downtown area and, a little exploring beyond main street rewards the flower-lover with a plethora of window box inspiration. Following is the collection of what we have found. If you own one we missed, please comment with a picture!

08/12/2026

MSU Horticulture Gardens, 1066 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI 48824

Bee Palooza 2026 is a free, all-ages event everyone will be buzzing about!

Attendees will be invited to enjoy learning about the vital role of pollinators in nature, in our gardens, and in agriculture. We aim to raise awareness about the challenges faced by bees and to inspire attendees to take action. Start at the Welcome Center and then visit each station described below to learn more.

Stations at Bee Palooza
Welcome Center
Grab a brochure to explore the event. Join us at 3:30 pm for BEENGO with tons of prizes!
What’s the Buzz?
Learn about the biology of bees and get a closer look inside the hive! You can also pet fuzzy bees without fear of being stung - because male bees don't have stingers.
Plants for Pollinators
Learn how best to help pollinators by providing them with blooming plants in the garden all season long and make your own native Michigan seed balls!
Flora Friends
Discover different pollinators like wasps, butterflies, and more!
Science of Pollination
Learn how plants and pollinators depend on one another and how fruits, nuts, and seeds are made; this is also where you can get a free scoop of ice cream!
Larvae Lounge
Beecome a pollinator or plant with face-painting and other activities designed especially for the young at heart.

08/12/2026

08/05/2026

What a treat it was for our garden club to relax in the serene lakeside gardens of Sharon and Bill Lehman last evening. While wandering through several areas of both sunny and shady flower beds, we appreciated her wonderfully colorful variety of perennials and shrubs while discussing which are deadheaded and which are given a ‘hair cut’ to extend bloom time. To top it off Sharon then provided home-baked cookies as we relaxed on her deck, soaking in the creative beauty, discussing the progress of our current projects, and making plans for the winter months.
As always, pictures hardly do it justice, but we try! Did you notice one pic that doesn’t really fit? As part of our sharing of ‘tidbits’of knowledge and experience, Sharon told about her favorite tool - a type of retracting hose. She owns a couple brands of them, and pointed out that some are easier to take in for the winter than others.
Do you have a favorite gardening tool you can’t do without? Please share your thoughts!
Due to the Labor Day holiday, our next Garden Club meeting will be Monday, September 14, 2026. We are always happy to welcome newcomers!

NOTE: The pic showing just one tree has a very interesting trunk - take a close look at this Ironwood Tree!

We also especially appreciated the sign on her deck stating "It takes a long time to grow old friends." : )

08/03/2026

Lake Odessa Area Garden Club will meet Monday, August 3rd at 6:00 at the Depot on Emerson Street. We will immediately carpool to member Sharon's garden.

These pictures are from the very lovely garden on 4th Avenue we visited last month.

Any area plant lovers are encouraged to join us! We even have new club T-shirts from Seam Outfitters that we had fun modeling.

07/17/2026

The Lake Odessa Community Library has gardening books on their shelves and many gardening ebooks through their Libby and Hoopla apps. The garden club donated The Garden Gate Magazine subscription to the library. Head to the magazine area in the back of the library to find them. When you don't want to be outside, reading about plants and looking at beautiful pictures is a great alternative.

07/14/2026

Watering Wisdom from Greater Lansing Food Bank - Garden Project
Garden Project Newsletter, 7/13/2026

Wise Watering Tips

These hot summer days make many of us think we need to water more often, but that’s not always the case. Plants suffer when we water either too little OR too much. Here are some smart watering tips:

• Rather than watering on a set schedule, test your soil to see if it needs moisture. If it is dry two inches below the surface (below the mulch), it’s time to water.
• It’s best to water early in the day, but if your plants are wilting, don’t wait. Plants get their nutrients through water, so if there is a lack of water, there is also a lack of nutrients. Even a few days of drought can harm plants.
• Water the roots, not the leaves. Wet leaves can lead to disease.
• Water “low and slow” at the base of the plant, allowing the water to soak into the soil and pe*****te down to the roots. Dumping a lot of water quickly on the plant often washes the soil away from the roots or it runs off the top of the soil without sinking into the roots.
• Avoid the temptation to water too much, since overwatering decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrients available for roots to absorb. This leads to shallow, weak roots, decreased plant growth and yields, and eventually root rot. Signs of overwatering include yellowing, drooping leaves and stunted plant growth. Overwatering also wastes water and this affects either your water bill if you are a home gardener, or the amount of water available to your fellow community gardeners.
• Mulching your plants will help the soil retain moisture, conserving water and keeping your plants happy.

Water wisely and help your plants thrive!

07/13/2026

Garden Club meeting tonight! Meet at the Depot Museum at 6:00 and we will head out for a garden tour shortly thereafter. It promises to be a garden-lover's delight!