Rosalia Garden Club receives $500

ROSALIA - The Rosalia Garden Club received awards to improve the community and receive new tools at its monthly meeting.

The club met on Wednesday, April 3, with Rosalia Garden Club President Carley Dube presenting a $500 check to Rosalia Garden Club Treasurer Penni Barringer, from the Washington State Federation of Garden Club's Endowment Fund Project Grants Committee.

Funds from the committee were awarded after the club had applied for a grant based on ways to enhance the Rosalia community through club projects including the mini-park., located next to the library, 402 South Whitman Avenue.

Publicity Chairman MarvaLee Peterschick said club members have worked since 1998 to make the Mini-Park an inviting area for the public and add beauty to the appearance of the town.

The club plans to use the funds to replace plants and bulbs, and purchase supplies to make members' jobs easier.

In addition to the grant, Dube also announced that the club was selected by Ames Tools, of Spokane, to receive tools needed in a public garden. Ames Tools selected the club through National Garden Clubs, Inc.

"Members were delighted to hear this news as each member had been bringing their own tools each week when they came to the mini-park to do their weekly volunteer work of pruning, weeding and replacing plants," Petershick said.

Petershick said that although the club had tools from past donations, there were some that needed replaced due to age and not being the correct tools for the job.

After a request form Dube, Ames Tools saw what tools were needed. "Rosalia Garden Club Members are thrilled at being selected to receive the monetary grant and new tools," Petershick said, adding that the Rosalia community will be the real winner.

The meeting also had guest speaker Jeanne Kjack who gave a presentation titled "Raised Bed Gardening." Petershick said that Kjack talked about her experience of going through the Malden Fire, and the task of rebuilding after losing everything.

Peterschick said Kjack used the old foundation blocks to make the raised beds, which worked out to her advantage for future gardening efforts so she could plant earlier.

The Garden club has several upcoming activities for spring, including an Arbor Day Planting at 1 p.m. on Earth Day April 22 in the mini-park, which the public is invited to attend.

Peterschick said that members are also potting plants for their annual plant sale held June 1 in conjunction with the town's Battle Days Celebration.