07/25/2025
🌸Oh Sew Beautiful: Osceola’s 2nd Annual Garden Tour Blooms with Community Spirit
The Osceola Community Action Group once again brought beauty and joy to our town with its 2nd Annual Garden Tour, held as a fundraiser to support ongoing community improvement projects. With 120 tickets sold (a 43% increase from last year) this event continues to grow thanks to the generosity and participation of garden hosts, volunteers, sponsors, and guests.
The Osceola Community Action Group is responsible for the beautiful flower pots that line our streets, the customer banners that brighten up our light poles, and many cherished local events including Christmas Downtown, Dawg Daze, and Spooktacular. Proceeds from the Garden Tour directly support these initiatives and more.
Guests began their day by checking in at Gathering Grounds Coffee Shop, where they received a goodie bag filled with items from local sponsors, were entered into a door prize raffle, and picked up their Garden Tour Passport. Each garden on the tour offered a unique stamp for the passport, and those who collected all stamps were entered into an exclusive prize drawing at the luncheon.
This year’s gracious garden hosts included: Brea and Josh Goodenkauf, Jason and Laura Lavaley, John and Debbie Girard, The Polk County Courthouse grounds, and a charming "Pop-Up Garden" along the east wall of Gathering Ground Coffee Shop. Attendees strolled through vibrant flower beds, shaded walkways, and cozy corners perfect for photos and inspiration. If you missed the event and want a peek at one of the gardens, the Lavaley's made their garden tour available online at this link: https://sites.google.com/view/lavaley-garden-tour/home
The tour culminated in a luncheon hosted at John and Debbie Girard’s barn, beautifully decorated to reflect this year’s theme: “Oh Sew Beautiful.” Quilts from generations past adorned the space, including an 1889 Methodist women’s quilt brought by Tasha Weller from the City Office. Debbie Girard also shared the story of a Civil War-era quilt discovered by her and her sister, Vicki Jones, at a local sale. Carmen Johnson displayed her collection of miniature sewing machines and offered remarks on how her hobby began. Adding to the atmosphere, Balloon Bliss created a detailed balloon backdrop perfect for photos.
Guests dined on a delicious meal catered by Just Like Grandma's, featuring turkey pesto sandwiches, a lettuce salad with homemade dressing, and pasta salad that was all served on elegant glass tea sets. Starters of sourdough and focaccia with herbed butter were prepared by Lexi Reimers, while Teresa Reese crafted an assortment of mini desserts from carrot cake to mint brownies. A final sweet treat included a shortbread cookie with raspberry chocolate ganache prepared by Lexi. It was meant to be a take-home dessert, though many couldn’t resist enjoying it on the spot!
The Osceola Community Action Group extends its heartfelt thanks to our incredible sponsors, volunteers, garden hosts, and attendees. Events like this are not possible without your time, support, and dedication. To those who generously gave of your time, talent, or treasure behind the scenes or throughout the year at other Osceola Community Action Group events, we thank you too. What a beautiful way to continue to GROW Osceola together.
Sponsors:
AKRS - Osceola • Annie Jeffrey Memorial Hospital • Boruch Masonry • Chelsey Tonniges • Edgewater Insurance - Osceola • Elaine Jones • Debbie & John Girard • Gary’s Plumbing & Hardware • Good Samaritan Society - Osceola • Harmony Nursery • Heads or Nails Salon • Pinnacle Bank • Johansen Repair • Vicki Jones • M.L. Smith Law Office, LLC • Musselman’s Popcorn Stand • Osceola Senior Center • RedStar - Ryan & Nataly Sanley • Teresa Reese • Lexi Reimers • Ryan Hill Country Club • St. Paul Lutheran Church • Tasha Weller
Volunteers:
Melissa Carey • Chris & Pat Gabel • Chelsey Girard • Debbie & John Girard • Riley Girard & Paige Hansen • Becky Kumpf • Brea & Josh Goodenkauf • Elaine Jones • Vicki Jones • Laura & Jason Lavaley • Karen & Jerry Miller • Penny Rathjen • Lexi Reimers • Teresa Reese • Emily Triplett • Susan Walford • Tasha Weller
