We opened our season on April 4 with a “High Tea” meeting at the Mirror Lake Inn, where we assessed our work from previous years while we enjoyed a talk from our guest speaker. Landscape and master gardener Bonnie Crevier shared her expertise with a presentation titled “Garden Girls.”

As the growing season progressed, we headed outdoors for annual clean-up duties.

On May 14, Garden Club members volunteered for the Lake Placid Village Clean Up Day. We were assigned to areas around the village of Lake Placid. (By the way, filtered cigarette butts are NOT biodegradable!) The reward? Clean a neighborhood and get a free drink pass to Lake Placid Pub & Brewery.

On May 14, we took part in the Adopt-a-Highway program on our section of state Route 86, led by longtime volunteer Denise Erenstone. We were rewarded by a clean neighborhood and a free drink pass. We met again on June 28 and plan another Adopt-a-Highway clean-up session at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, meeting at 2099 Saranac Ave. Bring gloves. Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended.

From April to October, we gather at 4 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Triangle Garden across the highway from the North Elba Show Grounds for regular maintenance and planting duties. We lovingly spruce up the gardens, directed by Paula Politi — our “whipcracker.” Even our husbands joined us as planting, edging and weeding continued. We were again rewarded for our hard work by appetizers and half-priced drinks from our gracious sponsors: The Cottage, Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, Lisa G’s, Dunnys Tex Mex Kitchen, Players Sports Bar and Big Slide Brewery.

On June 5, our members met with people who work and live in Lake Placid during the annual Community Day festivities at the North Elba Show Grounds. Our table was among many others hosted by civic groups around the village of Lake Placid and town of North Elba.

Our meeting on June 15 at High Falls Gorge in Wilmington went well. We heard from guest speaker Taylor Merrihew, former gardener at Whiteface Club and Resort and current owner of T. Merrihew Gardens & Designs.

On June 29, members took part in a plant swap at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site.

Members also joined other community groups by participating in Lake Placid’s Fourth of July parade. Our lovely officers — co-presidents Kathy Lamb and Cheryl Morris, Vice President Joan Barton, Treasurer Kathy Hanley and Secretary Barbara Erickson — donned patriotic garb carrying beautifully arranged flower baskets, delighting parade goers. Kids especially enjoyed the candy toss.

On July 10, members spent a day picking lavender at Adirondack View Vineyard and Lavender in Keeseville. It was an invitation to pick aromatic, multi-colored bouquets.

During our meeting and lunch on July 20 at the Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake, we listened to a presentation from Jen Denny, communications and education coordinator of the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation in Saranac Lake. She shared information about our indigenous common loons.

Members enjoyed taking some private garden tours this summer. On July 27, we headed to the Wigmore in Saranac Lake. It s a jaw-dropping mix of color, beauty and artistry, with thoughtfully placed sculptures, trellises and pergola. By the way did you know this was originally Camp Rivermouth, presumed to be built by William Coulter in 1906?

On Aug. 10, we enjoyed taking a boat cruise on Lake Placid lake, with stops touring gardens to dream about. It was exquisite!

During the end-of-summer celebration at Heaven Hill Farm on Aug. 28, we shared covered dish, drinks and ideas. And yes, it was heavenly.

Upcoming events include a lunch at the Craig Wood Golf Course at noon Wednesday, Sept. 28; and a lunch meeting at the Crowne Plaza at noon Wednesday, Oct. 12; we’ll see a demonstration from Antonia Asa-Thomas, the floral designer at Price Chopper who will guide us in making arrangements in carved pumpkins.

The time, date and place for our annual Christmas party has not yet been determined. For updates to the calendar, check out our website at www.gardencluboflakeplacid.org.

In 2022, we also had opportunities to help worthy local causes, purchasing plants from the AdkAction Pollinator Project and bulbs from End Polio Now, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lake Placid.

Sadly, in February, we lost Sallie Joachim, the Garden Club co-president in 2008-09. We send our sincerest condolences to her family.

We thank all officers, members, sponsors, speakers and venues for their generosity, knowledge and kindnesses during all of our 2022 events — and the many volunteers for their hard work and perseverance. We currently have 76 members, and new members are always welcome.

Until next year, happy shoveling and enjoy the 2023 FISU Games.

(Roberta Musci is a member of the Garden Club of Lake Placid.)