Garden Club Gals Pack Power Tools Instead of Pruners

The women of the Lemont Garden Club traded in their rakes for power tools this week as they drilled, fitted and sanded birdhouses for the group’s annual plant sale in May.

The club uses proceeds from the sale for such community projects as seasonal decorating of the mosaic planters in downtown Lemont and planters at the post office and park district. Evergreens, red twigs and ornaments will be replaced by pussy willow arrangements for spring as soon as the planter dirt thaws, said Kathy Eterno.

Other ongoing projects include a garden therapy and craft program at Holy Family Villa and collection of food for the Lemont Food Pantry.

The plant sale, "Perennials on Parade," is always held the Saturday before Mother's Day, this year on May 7. Members dig and divide their own garden plants and sell them to the community. 

Another public program will be a speaker on growing flowers and vegetables in containers June 14 at the , 50 E. Wend St.

A Lemont High School graduating senior will receive a $500 scholarship from the club and $500 again will be donated for plants at Camp Sagawau in Lemont.

Mary Ann Kwiatkowski prepped for the birdhouse project by finding patterns, buying lumber and cutting the wood into the pieces needed for three kinds of birdhouses. The different styles of houses are suitable for woodpeckers, wrens and chickadees,  and bluebirds.

Equipped with drills, drill bits, power sanders, screwdrivers and wrenches, the women bundled up and headed for Kwiatkowski’s garage, where instructions and piles of wood awaited.

Three hours later, an array of sturdy birdhouses were finished.

"That was a lot of fun," said Barb Daiker, a member of the Garden Club. "Makes me feel I could do things like this if I wanted to."

Editor's Note: Theresa Kwiatkowski is a member of the Lemont Garden Club.