The Portage Lake Garden Club meets bi-weekly from June to August,
plus a few additional activities throughout the year.
2025 Meetings & Events
July 10, 2025
12:30p - 3p
The Lifecycle of the Monarch Butterfly
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
Sign in, name tags, social time, and club mixer from 12:30 to 1 PM, followed by program and business meeting
Program -
Guest Speaker: Charles St. Charles, Naturalist and renowned northern Michigan filmmaker
Using PowerPoint and film footage, Charles will share his observations and experience with Monarch butterflies. Charles is a very engaging and interactive speaker, and we know you will enjoy his talk.
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
July 24, 2025
12:30p - 3p
Pocket Produce -- Small Space Gardening
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
Sign in, name tags, social time, and club mixer from 12:30 to 1 PM, followed by program and business meeting
Program -
Speakers: Mary Talbott, Bee Capper and Mary Manning
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Bee and Mary have a lot of experience in raised bed gardening. Mary is new to produce gardening. Her parents had a huge garden, but she has focused on flowers instead of vegetables.
As a new produce gardener, Mary will share her journey to growing produce in small spaces. She is partnering with Bee and Mary to find easy ways to grow produce for ourselves and for the “Gardening with Purpose” initiative to deliver free produce to food banks in our area.
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Flower Cart: Gardening with Purpose
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​​​
August 7, 2025
12:30p - 3p
Homegrown National Park®
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
Sign in, name tags, social time, and club mixer from 12:30 to 1 PM, followed by program and business meeting
Program -
Guest Speaker: Doug Tallamy is an American entomologist, ecologist, and conservationist
Homegrown National Park® raises awareness and urgently inspires everyone to address the biodiversity crisis by adding native plants and removing invasive ones where we live, work, learn, pray, and play. In Doug’s words, “Join us and plant native to rebuild the ecosystems that support all life and restore the vital connections between plants and animals for a healthier, thriving planet.” We will “see” and “hear” Doug via streaming video. Come join us to learn about how we can support this important initiative.
Flower Cart: Gardening with Purpose; materials from the Homegrown National Park® website and a map of nearby “Homegrown National Parks®" registered sites
​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
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Nomination of Officers for 2026
August 21, 2025
12:30p - 3p
Dahlia Divas
Emerald Angel Dahlias
7952 Coates Hwy,
Manistee, Michigan 49660
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Anyone desiring to car pool should meet at the Farr Center at 12:00p.
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Please bring your own bagged lunch and something to drink. Jaye will provide dessert.
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Seating is at picnic tables, so bring your own chair if that would be more comfortable.
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After the business meeting, Jaye will give us a tour of the farm.
Sign-in, name tags, social time, and club mixer from 12:30 to 1 PM, followed by program and business meeting
Program -
Speaker: Jaye Barends, Owner of Emerald Angel Dahlias flower farm
Jaye Barends, a member of Portage Lake Garden Club, will share the story of Emerald Angel Dahlias. She will emphasize her commitment to building her own soil, explain how to grow and breed dahlias, and then she will take us on a tour of both Emerald Angel Dahlias and the cut garden.
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
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Election of Officers for 2025
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Tour of Emerald Angel Dahlias flower farm
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September 4, 2025
6p - 8:30p
Done Sowing and Growing, Next is Showing!
The Home of Sandi and Jim Daniels
9714 Erdman Road
Onekama, MI 49675​
This evening marks the closure of Portage Lake Garden Club’s 90th year. The celebration is at the home of member Sandi Daniels. Officers will be installed during a short business meeting.​
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Members may bring one guest.
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Members with last name starting with A through J to bring a savory hors d’oeuvre to share.
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Members with last name starting with K through Z to bring sweet finger food.
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Hostesses will provide paper products, cutlery, centerpieces, set up, and clean up.
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Business Meeting:​
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Install Officers for 2026
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September 12 & 13, 2025
District 5 Meeting and Flower Show
Wagoner Community Center / Manistee Senior Center
260 St. Marys Parkway
Manistee, Michigan 49660
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc., District 5 represents 22 clubs with more than 1000 members in Northern Michigan. We share a love of gardening, landscape design, floral arranging and respect for the environment. The Portage Lake Garden Club is co-hosting the District 5 yearly meeting and a district-wide National Garden Club Standard Flower Show. Click on the Mi Flora and Fauna tab for detailed information.
June 12, 2025
11:30a to 2:30p
Welcome to 2025! Celebrating Our 90th Year
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
If you have not already paid, please bring $36 cash or check made out to PLGC for annual dues. Yearbooks will be distributed to paid members.
Arrival, name tags, social time, and yearbooks are from 11:30 to 12 noon, followed by a potluck lunch, additional social time and the business meeting. Please bring a dish to pass.
There will be no speaker. We will be getting to know each other (again!) and celebrating the last 90 years as well as the year ahead. Our theme for the coming year is “Sow, Grow, and Show,” focusing on everything we plant, from the seeds of friendship to those of service and beauty.
Flower Cart: historical documents
Business Meeting:
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Consent Agenda
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Approval of 2025/26 Budget -- vote
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New Projects
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Continuing Projects
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Ways & Means Projects
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June 26, 2025
12:30p - 3p
Composting at Home: A Simple Gift for Mother Nature
Farr Center, 5283 Main Street, Onekama, MI 49675
Download the presentation and handouts here:
Presentation
Glossary of Terms
Sign in, name tags, social time, and club mixer from 12:30 to 1 PM, followed by program and business meeting
Program -
Guest speaker: Jo Jaczkowski, SEEDS Composting Manager, SEEDS Ecology & Education Center, Traverse City
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Composting is one of the most powerful actions we can take to reduce our trash, address climate change, and build healthy soil.” Hear Jo lecture about various approaches to home composting (there is something for every home) and how to use composted material for the greatest impact.
Plant Swap at the Library: Please drop off any plants to swap between 12:30 and 1 PM. The plant swap will start in the library at 2 PM, with activities for the kids. Be sure to pick up any plants you have your eye on after our meeting.
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
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​REMINDER: Members are asked to bring any type of donated plant to share with the public. Examples are garden transplants, potted plants, bulbs, cuttings, etc. Please take donations to the library between 12:30 and 1 PM.