September is just around the corner, and so are ripe tomatoes (so they tell me), and so is the annual Gathering of the Gardeners held at our local Village Green Resort. The Gathering of Gardeners will be held on Sept 18-19 at the Village Greens' amazing grounds!! The Cottage Grove Garden Club had an informational booth there last year and we hope to have another one this year as well (calling all volunteers!!). So, gardeners, dust off your boots, grab your most ripe tomatoes for the Territorial Seed tomato taste-off, and join us for a weekend of art, demonstrations, plants and everything garden-related.

Dahlia Festival

We're excited! On Monday, August 30 we are debarking on our first official "road trip" to the Swan Island Dahlia Festival.

The Swan Island Dahlia Festival is a "must see" for anyone interested in dahlias or great flowers in general. We'll see over 400 floral arrangements of dahlias, have the chance to view demonstrations and talks on dahlia culture and tuber dividing, and stroll through over 40 acres of dahlias in full bloom.

Join us! If you are a member, call or email Andrea for more information. If you are not a member, become one so you can join us.

For more information about dahlias, Swan Island Dahlias, and the dahlia festival check out the video below.

Garden Tour!!!

The Garden Club is delighted to be part of this year's Town and Country Garden Tour on July 24. Please join us at the All America City Square (aka Opal Whitely Park) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. We would love to show off the park, and talk plants and gardening with you.

The Town and Country Garden Tour is a benefit for South Lane Mental Health, plus a great way to sneak a peak at some awesome gardens in the Cottage Grove area including the gardens of two of our Garden Club members.

Cost is $10 in advance (pick up your tickets at The Bookmine or Territorial Seed), or $15 the day of the event.

See you there!

2010 Summer Garden Tours

Garden tours give us the chance to peak into other people’s gardens and support a local cause at the same time. They are one of the joys of summer.

Below is a listing of local garden tours, with links to the sponsoring organization for more information. If we’ve missed one, please leave a comment below.

Eugene Symphony Guild’s “Music in the Garden”
Sunday, June 13, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

A self-guided tour of six private gardens in Eugene. The Guild promises beautiful gardens, music, food, plant sales, art, and bird houses.


BRING Recycling’s “The Art of Sustainable Living”
Sunday, June 20, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

New to the garden tour scene, this is the second annual garden tour sponsored by Bring Recycling. It includes 20 homes in Eugene, Springfield, and Cottage Grove.


KLCC’s “Art of the Garden”
Sunday, June 27, 9:00am to 5:00 pm

In its 16th year, KLCC’s garden tour includes seven homes in the Eugene area.


South Lane Mental Health’s “Town and Country Garden Tour: Beauty, Blooms & Bounty in Cottage Grove”
Saturday, July 24, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

In its second year, this annual garden tour benefits South Lane Mental Health. All 14 private gardens on this tour are in the Cottage Grove area. The Garden Club is involved with this tour, watch this space for more information as the date approaches.

Talkin’ Dirt

Don’t miss our upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 1. The presentation this month will be on “Dirt!” Please bring to the meeting a quart-sized jar filled one-third full of your native soil, preferably not from an amended part of the garden.

Also, you are encouraged to bring to the meeting any extra seedlings you have to share with your fellow garden club members.

Meeting starts at 6pm, Tuesday June 1, Room 130 of LCC-Cottage Grove Campus.