Partners 4 Plants ~ Virtual Celebration

submitted by Jane Wiser

​Familiar faces and new ones took part in a virtual P4P (Partners for Plants) event on November 10 to learn about GCA’s P4P program and to see all that Piedmont Garden Club and Orinda Garden Club have accomplished these past 6 years. Bonus: no one had to get their feet wet or nails dirty!

The purpose of the Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of educational meetings, and to restore, improve and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement. The joint P4P program between OGC and PGC checks all those boxes.

Julia Burke of Piedmont kicked off the event with a comprehensive slide show documenting the project’s progress from its inception in 2014, to its current status. Selected members offered testimonials during the show including Janet Riley who was President and Judy Shallat who was Conservation Chair when the joint project began, and Linda Thompson who cited her “loves” of P4P including bringing a return of local birds to the Bay. All mentioned that they appreciate the chance to beautify an area needing some TLC, some like to garden, some like learning about the native plants and the roles they play in restoring and protecting the Bay. Universally, everyone appreciates the chance to make new friends with members of another garden club, and everyone enjoys feeling like they have made a difference in at least a small part of the world.
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Our charming Save the Bay Restoration Ecologist, Kenneth, also gave an informative presentation on the restoration efforts being made around the Bay to combat sea level rising and provide important habitat. Kirsten Whitsett joined Julia to wrap up the event with slides detailing the specific native plants being used.

Check out the event recording here:
https://vimeo.com/piedmontgardenclub/download/477844820/c5f5f13d1d

All who attended the meeting were treated to Laurie Smith’s famous P4P cookies, baked, packaged and hand delivered by Laurie herself. How can you resist getting involved when participation involves perks like that?! Mark your calendars to join the P4P crowd on January 19 for your own taste of civic improvement – and of the P4P cookies!