The Chantilly Highland’s Garden Club invites you to join our lively group as we kick off our 2000 program. Unlike many Garden clubs, our club meets in the evenings – the last Tuesday of every month. This is to welcome members of all ages and interests. Our members are office professionals, people who work at home, men and women, single, married, people with small children, people with grown children, people without children, many gardening novices, a few experts (who are most gracious in sharing their secrets!), vegetable gardeners, compost makers, flower arrangers and those who simply want to add a personal touch to their yard.

   In existence for just three years, the club has dedicated itself to civic service and environmental conservation. We help to maintain the gardens at Kidwell Farm at Frying Pan Park, a wonderful opportunity for children to take part in the working farm they so love to visit. In addition, the Chantilly Highlands Garden Club sponsors a quarterly Adopt-a-Spot clean-up program along Stone Heather Drive whereby debris is collected along the street to benefit both Chantilly Highlands and Franklin Farms’. The Garden Club has created the holiday decorations for the Chantilly Highlands entrances the past two years and takes pride in maintaining many of the Chantilly Highlands community gardens.

   If you are intrigued by the idea of meeting your neighbors in ways other than frequenting the pool or transporting children to school, please join us at one of our upcoming meetings. We gather and greet at the Chantilly Highlands Community Center from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. and then enjoy a lively exchange of ideas through our brief business meeting and guest speaker program, which runs until 9:00 p.m. We have a door prize at each meeting, along with refreshments. Our membership has expanded to Franklin Farm, and we warmly welcome participants from any of the surrounding neighborhoods. We are sure you will enjoy the diverse group of gardeners you’ll meet. If you decide to join the Club, annual dues are just $20. All monies collected are used to cover speakers and beautify our neighborhood.

   Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 29th at 7:00 p.m. at the Chantilly Highlands Community Center. We would be delighted to have you join us.

Cathe Hargenrader
President, Chantilly Highlands Garden Club
787-5745

   The following is a tentative schedule for this year’s programs:

• January 25th – Rye Grass Craft for Spring
• February 25th– Speaker on Winter Interest Plants
• March 28th – Speaker from the Dahlia Society
• April 26th – Speaker on Bonsai gardening
• May (date TBD) – Fruit we can grow in our yards and Espalier

   Additional programs will include flower arranging, a garden travel log, our holiday social and elections in November, and neighborhood decorating in December. We do not meet in July or August.