2026 Meeting & Events
The Portage Lake Garden Club meets every three weeks from May to September,
plus a few additional activities throughout the year.
The full schedule of meetings and events will be posted in early May 2026.
At a Glance
May 8: ONE Onekama Comm. Service Day
May 14: Meeting at Farr Center
May 30: Onekama Area Community Activities
June 4: Meeting at Farr Center
June 25: Meeting at Farr Center
July 16: Meeting at Crystal Mountain
August 6: Meeting at Farr Center
August 8: Trinkets and Treasures
August 8: Onekama Days Car Show
August 27: Meeting at Farr Center
Sept 19: Beach Cleanup
Sept 24: Meeting at Little Eden
Nov 21: Christmas in Onekama Gift Wrapping
May 14 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Kick Off Meeting and Glass Garden Art
Special Guest: Dan Mesyar, OCS Superintendent
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
If you have not paid annual dues yet, please bring cash or check made out to PLGC ($50). Yearbooks will be distributed to paid members.
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The 2026 season will kick off with a potluck; please bring a dish to pass. We will take time to get re-acquainted with friends and meet new members.
11:30 AM Sign in, name tags, potluck and social time
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12 PM Business Meeting
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Consent Agenda
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Approval of 2026/27 Budget -- vote
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
Glass Garden Art
After the business meeting will make glass garden art. The project will take less than 30 minutes. PLGC will supply the special adhesive, attachment for a stake, and plenty of dishes to make the “flowers.” You are welcome to bring your own china / ceramic /glass plates / bowls. The only thing that you NEED to bring is a box to carry your art in as the glue takes 24 hours to cure.
​​​Hospitality Committee: Chair Mary Jo Rumler; committee members Bee Capper, Mary Manning, Patrice Beauvais
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Publicity Article and Photos: Elaine Maylen and Pam Tompke​​​
May 30 from 2:30 PM to 4 PM
Onekama Area Community Activities Open House
Onekama School Cafeteria
5016 Main Street, Onekama, Michigan 49675
Portage Lake Garden Club will have a table to share our activities and events. Please visit our booth or join us as a volunteer!
June 4 from 12:30 PM to 3 PM
Bio-Char - Putting Carbon in Its Place & Plant Swap
Speaker: Paul May
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
12:30 PM:
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Sign in, name tags, social time
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Drop off plants at the library for plant swap
Flower Cart: Bring your garden’s extra produce for Gardening with Purpose
1 PM Program Begins:
Paul grew up in Northern Wisconsin (Door County) and Northern Michigan (Benzie County) with a stint doing dog-racing in Alaska. He became interested in ways to rebuild, rather than deplete soil, building from his start in management-intensive grazing to understanding, teaching, and selling biochar soil amendment.
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Paul will share how the process of “burning” in an oxygen-starved environment creates char that retains carbon instead of sending it into the atmosphere. When placed back into the soil in the right way, this char becomes the backbone of healthy soil. For more information: http://www.nwmibiochar.com/ or email biocharpaul@icloud.com
Business Meeting Immediately Following Program :
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Consent Agenda
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
Hospitality: Chair Lynn Janns; committee members LaVonne Beebe, Lisa Sattler, Margaret Cloutier
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Publicity Article and Photos: Elaine Maylen and Tracy Cefaratti
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​2 PM Plant Swap at the Library: Please drop off plants (garden transplants, potted plants, bulbs, cuttings, etc.) to swap between 12:30 and 1 PM. The plant swap will start in the library at 2 PM. Pick up any plants you have an eye on after our meeting.
June 25 from 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Lawn Replacement and Lawn Reduction: Practical Next Steps
Speaker: Matt LeMore, Black Cap Farm - Native Plant Nursery
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
6 PM: Sign in, name tags, social time, and club mixer
Flower Cart: Bring your garden’s extra produce for Gardening with Purpose
6:30 PM Program Begins:
Matt LeMore is an unparalleled resource in creating and restoring native habitat. Black Cap is a great partner for our community gardens and for many of our home gardens.
Last year, we watched Doug Tallamy explain the critical importance of native habitat and how the typical lawn hurts native species. (homegrownnationalpark.org) Doug has shown that converting even a small part of a lawn to native plants benefits local species. This year, we will briefly review Doug's work for the "why", then hear from Matt about the “How.” We hope we can create momentum for ten new small lawn replacement gardens this summer and fall! (https://homegrownnationalpark.org/shrink-your-lawn/)
Business Meeting Immediately Following Program :
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Consent Agenda
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
Hospitality: Chair Marti Zemer; committee members Bonnie Garbrecht, Martha Capper, Shirley Brooks
Publicity Article and Photos: Elaine Maylen and Mary Jane Rumler
July 16 from 9:45 AM to 1:30 PM
Tour of Crystal Mountain Landscaping
Speakers: Stephanie Groves, Tyler Kerner, Jen Roberts
Crystal Mountain, 12500 Crystal Mountain Drive, Thompsonville, MI, 49683

$10 per person. Pay in advance or on-site
9:00 AM Meet at Farr Center for Ride Sharing
9:45 AM Meet at Water's Edge at Crystal Mountain (outdoor pool area)
10:00 AM Tour begins
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The Crystal Mountain Gardeners will teach us about the bold and romantic gardens designed by award-winning architects James Van Sweden, Mark Johnson, and Sandy Clinton. The gardeners will lead us through water gardens, babbling brooks, winding through the Cottages at Water’s Edge to the ever-changing beauty of hundreds of perennials, thousands of annuals, and shrub varieties in the resort village. Golf cart available for members with need.
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Picnic: Bring your own lunch. Hospitality will provide drinks and desserts. Lunch at picnic tables or inside, depending on weather.
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Business Meeting:
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Consent Agenda
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
Hospitality: Chair, Susan Halloran; committee members Chris Gravlin, Pam Koskinen, Terri Klifman
Publicity Article and Photos: Elaine Maylen and Pam Koskinen
August 6 from 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Local Medicinal Wild & Cultivated Herbs
Speaker: Sierra LaRose
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
6 PM: Sign in, name tags, social time, and club mixer
Flower Cart: Bring your garden’s extra produce for Gardening with Purpose
6:30 PM Program Begins:
Sierra is a Northern Michigan herbalist and owner of Bear Earth Herbals, an herbal tea and salve company and farm out of Kingsley. She has studied herbalism for over two decades with a passion for local wild plants and home herbalism using herbs easily available in the backyard or kitchen. Sierra teaches herbalism locally and offers private wellness consults as well as land consults to help people connect with the plants where they live.
We will learn about local plants you can easily use to make teas, tinctures and more. Explore the medicinal and edible values of plants many of us already have growing in our herb gardens or in our yards as trees and weeds!
NOTE: Herbal products will be available for sale before and after the program and the public is invited. For more information: https://www.bearearthherbals.com/
Business Meeting Immediately Following Program :
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Consent Agenda
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
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Nomination of Officers for 2027
Hospitality: Chair Liz Nolan-Greven; committee members Becky Scott, Deborah Storms, Mary Nolan
Publicity Article and Photos: Elaine Maylen and Becky Scott
August 8
Onekama Days
Car Show - Onekama Village Park
Trinkets and Treasures - Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
August 27 from 12:30 PM to 3 PM
Owls in Our Neighborhood
Speaker: Brian Allen
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
12:30 PM: Sign in, name tags, social time
Flower Cart: Bring your garden’s extra produce for Gardening with Purpose
1 PM Program Begins:
Brian is a retired optometrist and well-known on the Michigan birding scene. A Manistee country resident for nearly 40 years, his passion for birds began in junior high. He has served on several conservation boards, been a member of Michigan bird records, participated in publishing the ABA guide to finding birds in Michigan and published several articles on bird research. Brian conducts several area guided bird walks. Brian is an intrepid world birder, having visited 19 countries. His life list surpassed 2,000 with the addition of Spotted Redshank on a recent trip to Italy.
Owls are all around us and they are easier to spot and learn about than you might think. Brian will teach us about these magnificent creatures.
Business Meeting Immediately Following Program :
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Consent Agenda
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
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Election of Officers for 2027
Hospitality: Chair Mary Manning; committee members Jean Capper, Nancy Behring, Frieda Wilson
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Publicity Article and Photos: Elaine Maylen and Lillian Whitney​​​
September 19 from 10 AM to Noon
Beach Sweep
Captain John Langland Park (Onekama Public Beach)
This is a great service opportunity for the entire family!
Each September, the Alliance for the Great Lakes coordinates cleanup efforts in the eight Great Lake states. On that day, our club removes trash from Onekama's Public Beach and documents what we pick-up. Scientists use this data to study the sources of plastic pollution, and this information helps decision makers make the case for policies that protect the lakes.Volunteers have collected over 20 years of cleanup data.​​
September 24 from 6 PM to 8 PM
Stepping Up for 2027
Installation of Officers
Little Eden Camp, 3721 Portage Point Drive, Onekama, MI 49675
Club members are invited to bring a guest as we mark the closure of Portage Lake Garden Club’s 91st year. We will enjoy a potluck dinner and a tour of the camp.
[Note: Little Eden is a faith-based camp and has a no alcohol policy. We decided this was a small price to pay for touring this historic camp and celebrating the season at such a beautiful local site.]
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Flower Cart: Bring your garden’s extra produce for Gardening with Purpose
6 PM: Arrival - Park in Designated Areas
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6:15 PM: Tour of camp for those interested
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Potluck Upon Completion of Tour:
Members with last name starting with A through J to bring sweet finger food / dessert. Members with last name starting with K through Z to bring savory hors d’oeuvre to share. Hostesses will provide non-alcoholic beverages, paper products, cutlery, centerpieces, set up, and clean up.
Business Meeting Immediately Following Potluck:
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Consent Agenda
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
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Installation of Officers for 2027
Hospitality: Chair Gail Edgren; committee members Jalyn Morgan, Lynise Hensel, Pat Pomaranski
Publicity Article and Photos: Elaine Maylen and Mary Jane Rumler
November 21 from 10 AM to 3 PM
Christmas in Onekama - Artisan Market
Onekama Consolidated Schools
5016 Main Street, Onekama, Michigan 49675
As a service to our community and to spread goodwill, we host a free gift wrapping booth during the Artisan Market. We sometimes offer the service at other dates in December.
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It's a lot of fun for all who volunteer to wrap gifts or interact with shoppers!