Various work projects are done, and donations are made by the McHenry Garden Club to the city of McHenry to beautify and benefit our community.

December 2025

The McHenry Garden Club again decorated a tree at the City of McHenry annual Festival of Trees at the McHenry Parks and Recreation Department location during the holiday, where local organizations decorate their trees.  The McHenry Garden Club again decorated their tree with all ornaments hand made from members own gardens.

Nonperishable item donations are brought by visitors and are put under each tree.  This year the items will be donated to Veterans Path of Hope.  The McHenry Garden Club is pleased by the large amount of donations under our tree.

Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication

On June 14th, 2025, a Blue Star Memorial Marker was unveiled and dedicated at Veteran’s Park in McHenry.  The marker was purchased and donated by the McHenry Garden Club from our Flower Shows and other fundraising activities.  This had long been something that the McHenry Garden Club wanted to do to honor our veterans while beautifying a city park.

The dedication was attended by McHenry Garden Club members and special guests from the American Legion, Polish Legion of American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars.  The Presentation of Colors was done by the McHenry Veteran’s Color Guard.  Also, a representative of the Garden Clubs of Illinois came to see the dedication.

Red, white and blue flowers were planted around the Marker by garden club members.

Easter Decorations April 2025

The McHenry Garden Club added Easter decorations to some locations in McHenry.  They were put at the Clock Shop, BuddyZ Restaurant and the Record Shop, with McHenry Garden Club signs added to each of them.

2025 Arbor Day

The 2025 Arbor Day Program was at McHenry City Hall on April 25th, 2025.  It was attended by some of the McHenry Garden Club Members.  The program was conducted by Mark Harper, Arborist for the City of McHenry.

At the program our Club was again recognized as a donor of a tree to the city of McHenry. This year a Crab Apple tree was donated and was planted at Whispering Oaks Park, near Front Royal Drive in McHenry.  There will be a brick along with the tree noting McHenry Garden Club’s donation.

December 2024

The city of McHenry has an annual Festival of Trees at McHenry City Hall and the McHenry Parks and Recreation Department location during the holiday, where local organizations decorate their trees.  The McHenry Garden Club decorated a tree this year, with all ornaments hand made from members own gardens.

Nonperishable item donations are brought by visitors and are put under each tree.  This year the items will be donated to Veterans Path of Hope.  The McHenry Garden Club is pleased by the large amount of donations under our tree.

When the voting was complete, we are proud to announce that our McHenry Garden Club tree was the winning tree at the McHenry City Hall location, having the most items donated under out tree.  About $6,5000 worth of items for Veterans Path to Hope was donated.

May 6th, 2024

City of McHenry Proclamation Ceremony-In Celebration of the McHenry Garden Club 20 Year Anniversary

Mayer Wayne Jett giving proclamation to Mchenry Garden Club members

Club President Wanda Comein with Proclamation from Mayor Wayne Jett

The proclamation was presented to club members by McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett.  Club President Wanda Comein spoke about the club’s history and contributions.

2024 Arbor Day

The 2024 Arbor Day Program was at McHenry City Hall on April 26th, 2024.  It was attended by some of the McHenry Garden Club Members.  The program was conducted by Mark Harper, Arborist for the City of McHenry.

At the program our Club was again recognized as a donor of a tree to the city of McHenry. This year a Linden tree was donated and was planted at Galway Park, Legend Lakes.  There will be a brick along with the tree noting McHenry Garden Club’s donation

September 2023

A beautification project was done by The McHenry Garden Club at the Riverwalk at Miller Point in McHenry.  New shops had been built and opened there.  With flowers and supplies from the City of McHenry, club members planted pots to beautify the area in front of the shops.

May through July 2023

A beautification project was done by The McHenry Garden Club at the McHenry Post Office.  A landscaped area in front of the main entrance had been neglected for some time and required a major makeover.

The work was done on multiple “workdays” by various club members as follows.  First the area was cleaned out-weeds and old evergreens removed.  Cardboard was put down to prevent weeds.  Some bushes that would remain were trimmed/shaped.  A load of new dirt was added.  New landscape planting was done, including groundcovers-sedum and lamium, hydrangeas, Bluestem grasses, daises, coralbells, and daylilies.  Lastly mulch was put down.  A small area in the parking lot was also improved.

The Club received a lot of help from Susan, the Post Office custodian.  Also 3 landscape businesses in McHenry donated supplies (dirt and plants) to us for this project.

2023 Arbor Day

From left: Traudl Koeberlein, Marge Richardson, Carol Haske, Marita Sension, Mike Harper, Jean Schiller, Diane Boedecker, Diane Stilling, Lorraine Medford

The 2023 Arbor Day Program was at McHenry City Hall on April 28th, 2023.  It was attended by some of the McHenry Garden Club Members.  The program was conducted by Mark Harper, Arborist for the City of McHenry.

At the program our Club was again recognized as a donor of a tree to the city of McHenry. This year a White Oak was donated and was planted at Peterson Farm. This tree is to honor Marita Sension, the founder of our club back in 2004.  There will be a brick along with the tree noting her name.

June 2022

An outdoor garden has been created at the Northwestern Hospital Cancer Center in McHenry.  This outdoor garden is there for use by patients and their loved ones.   Some of the plants included in the garden were donated to the hospital by McHenry Garden Club members, from their own gardens.

2022 Arbor Day

From Left: Diane Cook, Carol Haske, Wanda Comein, Judy Walter, Arborist Mike Harper, Marita Sension, Jean Schiller, Traudl Koeberlein, Diane Boedecker

McHenry Garden Club members attended the 2022 Arbor Day Program at McHenry City Hall on April 29th, 2022.  It was great to celebrate Arbor Day again, since the City Hall celebration did not happen for the past 2 years due to COVID-19.

The program was conducted by Mark Harper, Arborist for the City of McHenry.  The McHenry Garden Club donated a sugar maple tree which will be planted at Peterson Farm, along with a brick noting our donation.

May 2020

To honor and recognize essential workers during the COVID-19 virus, McHenry Garden Club members made heart decorations and put them at two Fire Stations in McHenry.

Peterson Farm

McHenry Garden Club Co-Presidents Jean Schiller and Judy Walter at Peterson Farm

Historic Peterson Farm in McCullom Lake is a project the McHenry Garden Club took on several years ago. The house and barn purchased in 1998 by the City of McHenry was surrounded with weeds and a few wildflowers. The club hired a landscaper to dig around the house and barn as it hadn’t been touched for many years. Members proceeded to plant flowers donated from their gardens and additional purchases were made to fill in.  Two Gardens on the property have been established.  The Landmark Commission started “Peterson Farm City Day” for the public.  It is on the last Sunday in June every year.  Each June in the weeks before Farm Day, Garden Club members weed and plant new flowers around the Peterson house.

Peterson Farm Day – June 2019

Children making a Cow Mask at the McHenry Garden Club tent

The June 2019 Farm Day celebrated Dairy Month and children visiting our tent were able to sit at a table and make a cow mask.  There was also a “Cow Chair photo spot” for children to sit on with the masks they had made.  There was a table displaying the steps in the process to make compost, the farmer’s best friend.

The Cow Chair was a big hit to take photos

McHenry Garden Club members at Farm Day

2019 Arbor Day

From left: Jane Thomas, Diane Boedecker Jean Schiller, Arborist Mark Harper, Marita Sension, Holly Bauernsmith, Traudl Koeberlein, Jackie Homa