Camaraderie In Full Bloom During Garden Club Celebration

A garden party, of course, is the most appropriate way to celebrate 10 years for the Darien Park District Garden Club, whose motto is “A great place to grow."

The DPDGC ladies (and gentlemen) gathered at member Pat Jurinek’s home Tuesday evening for fellowship and food among striking floral arrangements designed by club members.Members meet monthly at the Darien Sportsplex, and the skill levels vary from beginner to experienced enthusiast.

Newer gardener Stacie Madsen fondly said, “They take you in, they give you plants.”

Founding members, including Sue Schneider, Eileen Kostock, Fu Sing Temple and Dotty Noerenberg, reminisced about the first year’s activities, crediting the Darien Park Districtand employee Chris Katsougris with providing support.

As with any group’s beginning, they strived for cohesion, regularity and increased membership above the original seven members.

Schneider recalled the club’s first fundraiser—a few plants sold during the park district’s yard sale that netted $75—and the resulting first project, which provided greenery for the VFW Memorial in Darien Community Park.

“We were so excited to have made that amount,” said Schneider, laughing, referring to the club’s current fundraising efforts that raised more than $5,000.Temple piped in, joking that her position as the first treasurer was “an easy job because there wasn’t a budget.”

Some of the women are no longer members due to time constraints but they still enjoyed the evening’s opportunity to socialize with what Kostock described as “a fantastic group.”

Jurinek remarked about the ease of hosting a party for more than 60 guests.

“A committee helped with planning, shopping, set up and decorations,” Jurinek said. “I’m not doing this by myself.”

Jurinek’s last statement seems an appropriate assessment that can be applied to the garden club’s larger mission to share knowledge, friendship and philanthropy.

Membership coordinator Laurie Leussow, referring to the 60 current members as “an incredible caliber of people,” stresses the group’s commitment to giving back to the community by beautifying local churches, park district and library grounds, and providing an annual scholarship for the past three years.

The amount awarded varies each year, explained scholarship committee members Ingrid Gross and Yvonne Mynarczyk. This year University of Illinois horticulture student Sean Mullahy received a $1,000 award.

It’s important to present the award to a member of the Darien community, Mynarczyk said.

“We could turn the scholarship money over to the Illinois Garden Club to distribute but we want to keep the funds local.” Mynarczyk said.

Gross described next year’s award as unique.

“Next year we will be awarding the Eugenia S. Gazarek Scholarship Award,” said Gross, referring to a beloved 87-year-old member who passed away this year.

Gazarek donated her collection of 200 day-lily varieties to the garden club. Her family also made a donation to the scholarship fund in her name.DPDGC President Liza Branham described Gazarek, who served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during WWII, as having a “true grit quality about her—she was full of gut and gumption.”

Gazarek began gardening in her later years, delegating labor to garden club friends and community service groups as her health declined.

Club members will receive as many of the lilies to plant in their own gardens as space will allow. The rest will be planted at St. John Lutheran Church.

Member Judi Doychak has assumed the responsibility of identifying each of the lilies by matching them with Gazarek’s handwritten list detailing the 200 varieties.

“When the plants have grown enough to be divided, they will be donated to the garden club’s annual June plant sale, which funds the scholarship,” said Doychak, who doesn’t mind the painstaking process.

Supporting each other through gardening has inevitably evolved into friendships. As members shared stories of gardening aid, the conversations often highlighted the emotional support offered during times of illness or hardship.

“We pull together wherever there’s a need,” Luessow said.