Du Quoin Garden Club is Illinois Club of the Year
The Du Quoin Garden Club has been named the Illinois Garden Club of the Year for 2019, a testament to the members' hard work and drive, according to the Garden Clubs of Illinois awards chairman.
"The Du Quoin club, though small, does a lot of work," said David Robson, the state awards chairman.
Du Quoin won 10 awards altogether, including the top award. The other nine awards come with points toward the Garden Club of the Year award.
When the points were tallied, Du Quoin was the clear winner.
"They were so far ahead of anybody else in that division," there wasn't any need for discussion, Robson said.
Garden clubs are sorted by size for competition, and clubs compete against others in their same group. Du Quoin, with fewer than 30 members, is in the smallest GCI group, which means they have a lot of competition from other small clubs around the state, he added.
Jean Bullock, president of the Du Quoin Garden Club, said she and the other members are thrilled by the recognition.
"I feel pretty honored to be part of this little group," Bullock said. "Our ladies work so hard ... they are out there all the time."
Bullock said each member should count the awards as personal successes, as well as a group success. The members, she said, come up with goals each year and are proud to accomplish as much as they do.
Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi said the garden club deserves the recognition.
"They are always active, trying to beautify Du Quoin," he said Thursday. "They do so much, and I've called them out several times for recognition."
Robson said the Du Quoin club is proactive and they have the right focus - more on projects than on meetings.
He added that Du Quoin is one of a number of garden clubs in southern Illinois that puts other areas of the state to shame.
"A lot of clubs around Chicago don't do as much," he said. "The southern clubs - Anna-Jonesboro, Du Quoin, Marion, Carbondale, Benton, Metropolis - they are known for doing tons of stuff, it just amazes me. They are so proactive they go and go and go."
The club's 10 awards are:
GCI Garden Club of the Year Award.
Blue Star Memorial Landscaping Marker Project, 1st place
Civic Concern, 1st place
Historic Preservation - the Holiday Decorations Award, 2nd place
Planting for Pollinators - the Butterfly Garden, 3rd place
Club Achievement, Purple Seal
Club Horticulture, Silver Seal
Publicity Press Book, 1st place
Publicity Press Book, Overall Winner
Garden Therapy, 2nd place (tie).
GCI also submitted five Du Quoin projects to the National Garden Clubs for consideration for national awards. Du Quoin came up empty there - the only Illinois garden club to win a national award was the Darien club, near Chicago.
"Just having five submitted from our little group was astounding," Bullock said.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the garden club are faithfully outdoors all the time taking care of their plantings in Keyes Park, at the Welcome to Du Quoin sign on Route 51, the mini park and more. The club's butterfly garden in Keyes Park is one of the latest additions.
The club raises funds for their projects - the biggest fundraiser is the annual spring plant sale, which was canceled this year. But they are watching their pennies, Bullock said. The city of Du Quoin contributes manpower, in terms of mulching, watering and more.