Trenton Tumbleweeds Garden Club

05/26/2026

Two new members, Barb Ray and Lynn Huelsmann, joined the Tumbleweeds roll call answering the question: What is a new flower or plant that you would like to try this year? President Darla Duggins lead the group through a review of the recent plant sale and the member decided on five groups that will benefit from the generosity of the patrons of the plant sale. Those five groups will be announced in a week or so.
The Tumbleweeds did announce the winners of the two scholarships offered to graduating seniors at Wesclin Those students are Rebecca Albers and Addison Brown. Both girls will attend Kaskaskia College in the fall and pursue a degree in the field of horticulture or agriculture.
Rosemary Rosenkranz gave the Garden Calendar suggesting the use of egg shells which have been microwaved and crushed. Courser pieces will keep slugs out of plants and finer crushed egg shells can be used to boost calcium levels in your plants. She also displayed a small vase made out of a cork and an air plant attached to a magnet that can bring a bit of joy to your kitchen. Rosie wrapped up her suggestions with a recipe for a natural insecticide and a reminder to look for aphids and bagworms before you purchase a plant.
The ladies reviewed an invitation to attend a program on native plants hosted by the Extension Service on June 6 and an invitation to a District V workshop on June 16.
Darla proudly displayed the FFA Honorary Chapter Degree the club received at the FFA banquet the week before. The scholarships and community donations are made possible because of the collaboration between the FFA and the garden club.
Finally, the garden club wishes to thank Brad Burcham and his woodworking students at Wesclin for repairing the door from the Little Library at the park. It was severely damaged a few weeks ago. Brad and the students stepped in to repair it before school ended for the year. Mytchel Kuhl generously reinstalled the door two days later and the library was restocked within an hour. Please visit the library: Take a Book, Leave a Book ; what ever works for you.

Ronda Prince led a class on Fairy Gardens and all the members enjoyed putting to together their own Mini Fairy Garden to take home

05/10/2026

05/04/2026

The Trenton Tumbleweeds Garden Club had a successful plant sale on May 2.
They would like to thank everyone who donated plants and pots. The group had
over 1100 plants for sale. Special thanks to the City of Trenton for their help with
the pavilion and tables. A BIG thank you to Mike Arentsen, Jim Kalemr, Civ
Orschell, Turbo Toennies, and John Zeller for hauling all the plants to trucks and a
trailer, transporting them to the park, and then hauling them under the pavilion.
Thank you to Ms. Hemker and the horticulture classes at Wesclin who help with
the propagation of our plants and tend them over the winter. The Tumbleweeds
are indebted to the family of Paul Meyer who gives the garden club a place to pot
plants each spring in readiness for the sale.
Winners of the raffle items were: Tony Kleiboeker, the garden flags; Jean Barry,
potting soil; Bonnie Toennies, potting soil; Jean Barry, cups; Carolyn Franey, a
spilling tea pot; Twyla Robben, a gardening tool set; Mary Hulesmann, a trivet;
Lynn Hulesmann, two handmade pouches; Bonnie Toennies, a garden planner;
Tom Altgilbers, a design book for porches; Mary Huelsmann, the hanging basket ;
Lonna Patton, the red wreath; and Deb Arentsen, the star wreath.
Part of the proceeds from the sale will be shared with in the community in the
weeks to come. The first of the proceeds is used for two scholarships at Wesclin
and will be awarded on May 14.

05/03/2026

Did you know that today is National Start Seeing Monarchs Day? It is observed annually on the first Saturday in May to promote the conservation of monarch butterflies. It marks the peak spring migration, encouraging the public to spot, report, and protect these pollinators by planting milkweed and reducing pesticide use to support their declining populations. Are you seeing monarchs?

05/03/2026

A big Thank you to everyone that donated plants and attended the Plant Sale yesterday. Another successful year!!!

05/02/2026

We still have lots of plants available. Come on by the pavilions at the Trenton park.

05/01/2026

The iris in the garden are putting on quite a show. We will have several varities and colors available at the plant sale tomorrow morning.

04/28/2026

Notes from our April Monthly meeting

The Trenton Tumbleweeds managed to make final plans for the Plant Sale on May 2nd and have a lesson on creating dried blossoms that can be enjoyed all year.

The speaker for the evening was Chris Lueking, a naturalist from the Extension Office of the University of Illinois. She explained that drying flowers is an inexpensive and family friendly activity, arrangements made from dried materials are long lasting, ad dried plant materials can produce unique and fun indoor decorations. It is also a way to preserve flowers and foliage from wedding bouquets and other special decorations.

The club’s objectives for the evening were to be inspired to add a few everlasting flowers to their flower bed and to learn techniques for harvesting, drying, or pressing flowers for lasting enjoyment.

Chris went over a list of plants to consider including sunflowers, globe amaranth, larkspur, zinnias, and cockscomb. Lavender, globe thistle, delphiniums, love-in-a-mist, and money plant are also good choices. In addition, bells of Ireland, bunny tails, sun bells, northern sea oats, strawflowers, eucalyptus, Annabelle hydrangea, and pampas grass dry or press well.

Simple drying techniques and pressing procedures were demonstrated. One lucky member went home with a pressing kit in order to try her luck at flower pressing.

The remainder of the evening was spent finalizing plans for the club’s plant sale on Saturday, May 2nd, at the pavilions in the park. The club has over a thousand plants ready to go to a new garden and enhance someone else’s flower beds.

04/17/2026

Sadly, last night our Little Library in the park was vandalized between the hours of 7pm and 10pm. This has been reported to the Trenton Police and they are investing. Very disappointing that this had to happen in our community park.