Shelby Township, MI
Home MenuShelby Gardeners Club
About the organization
The Shelby Gardeners Club is made up of passionate members of the community that came together to promote interest and knowledge in gardening, flower arrangement and ecology. Not only are they a working club, but also a community service organization, founded in 1971. They aim to help aid the protection of native plants, trees and wildlife, as well as encourage civic planting and urban beautification in our community. Their example brings about brighter gardens and friendships. They vow to support recycling projects and give recognition to businesses and local residents who share these goals.
The Shelby Gardeners Club has been involved with Heritage Garden on the township grounds since the vista’s inception in 1971. The brick walkways, planted beds, gazebo, statuary and the fairy garden are supported by the club fundraisers. These range from craft and plant sales to impressive bi-annual garden walks.
The most recent member of the Shelby Gardeners is Charlene Kochenderfer who is originally from West Newton, PA. She came to Michigan in 1964, raised two sons, and now has two granddaughters. Charlene is an accomplished traveler having traveled to many countries. She plans on trips to Slovenia and Croatia in the fall. Charlene is looking forward to fun adventures with her soil sisters. Charlene is welcomed to the Shelby Gardeners by June Allen, Membership Chair (right).
Shelby Gardeners Board
From left to right:
- Patti Marchetti, Treasurer
- Heather Dzurko, 2nd Vice-President - Newsletter
- Linda Pelloni, 1st Vice-President
- Cheryl Sypniewski, President
- Debbie Black, Secretary (not pictured)
For general questions about the organization or for questions regarding membership, please contact Cheryl Sypniewski at 586-823-8555.
Pollinators in Heritage Garden
The Shelby Gardeners have included a variety of plants that attract pollinators in Heritage Garden as they continue to plant annuals each spring and maintain the perennials throughout the year.
Plants include Cone Flowers in the Friendship Garden by the statue. Bees and butterflies are the primary pollinators for the purple coneflower. There are Anemones along the walkway across from the sign, which attract bees. Shasta Daisies are planted in the garden providing nectar and pollen to insects including beneficial predatory insects like ladybug and lacewing larvae. Tall Verbena are located by the fountain at the entrance to the garden. These flowers stick around until the frost, offering both beauty and food for bees and butterflies in the late summer through fall. Wild Geranium is a terrific plant for drawing pollinators, including native bees, syrphid flies, bumblebees and honeybees.
Daylilies, found throughout the garden, are attractive to many pollinators, including butterflies, bees, flies and even hummingbirds. These pollinators are attracted to the cup-like shape of the daylily making it easy for these tiny creatures to gather up the nectar they need to thrive.
Joe-Pye Weed, a tall perennial found in the Heritage Garden, is known for its ability to attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.
Begonia, one of the annuals regularly planted in the spring blooming from May to October, is a butterfly and hummingbird magnet.
Sweet Alyssum is an annual regularly found along the walkway into the garden attracting all sorts of beneficial insects with dense clusters of tiny flowers ranging in color from white, pink, lavender and purple.
Other annuals that attract pollinators and are regularly included in the spring planting include Zinnia, Lantana and Dianthus. These may be found throughout the beautiful gardens that are planted in the spring and maintained by the Shelby Gardeners throughout the summer into the fall.