Du Quoin Garden Club meets at historic Rose House

The historic Rose House located on Line Street in Du Quoin hosted the July meeting for the Du Quoin Garden Club. Owner Kelly Toler Rose provided a personal guided tour of the historic 1908 building, sharing photos, memorabilia, history and stories with 18 members present. In turn, members who grew up in Du Quoin shared memories and stories of the different eras of the building.

In other business, Du Quoin Garden Club received a very generous donation of mulch and additional items from the Du Quoin Walmart Supercenter to benefit the community gardens. The community gardens are at peak bloom and full of color for the hot summer months.

Plans for a luncheon date to My Honey & Me, All-Natural Pure Honey Picnic Lunches & Tea is being planned as well as members are looking to update the Garden Club T-shirts.

Mary Jo Novak reminded the club of the Blue Star Challenge. As members travel during the summer and fall months, they are challenged to find Blue Star Memorial Markers during their travels and photograph themselves with the marker. The member who travels the furthest distance will be awarded a prize for their endeavors.

In keeping with the theme of early history of the Rose House, the Horticulture Minute shared time-tested "old fashioned annual" plant varieties that are still planted today in modern-day gardens.

Peg Pursell, Bonnie Wilson and Laura Kaesberg provided refreshments for all to enjoy. Linda Searby won the door prize of a variegated coleus plant.

The August meeting will be a members-only Floral & Foliage Show at the home of Jean Bullock. Members are asked to bring flowering and/or foliage specimens from their gardens for display.