Submitted by Elizabeth Round
As part of its commitment to community service, the Rake and Hoe Garden Club of Westfield visited Jardine Academy, Cranford, New Jersey, in March 2018 and worked with students, teachers’ aides, and club members to plant a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers in seed trays. The plants were placed under grow lights and will be tended to by staff members. When the plants are well established, they will be planted in the gardens at Jardine Academy.
Later that month, club members returned to Jardine Academy to decorate the Spring Tree with the 100 kite ornaments designed by club member Mary Lou Nolas and made by fellow club members. The ornaments were inspired by the book Kite Day, by Will Hillenbrand. A copy of the book was donated to the school’s library. The Spring Tree stands in the lobby of the school and is enjoyed by all who pass by.
The Jardine Academy, operated by the Cerebral Palsy League and approved by the New Jersey Department of Education, provides a comprehensive educational program designed to meet the cognitive and physical needs of children and young adults, 3 to 21 with multiple disabilities.
The Rake and Hoe Garden Club is affiliated with the Garden Club of New Jersey and the National Garden Club, Inc. The club meets on the second Wednesday of the month at noon at the Scotch Hills Country Club, Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Membership is open to residents of Westfield and surrounding towns. For more information, call Jeanne Marie Ryan (908) 654-0271 or visit the club’s website, (rakeandhoe.org) or Facebook page.
(above, l-r) Club members: Betty Gulino, Mary Lou Nolas, Cathy Becker, Joyce Mullen, Jane Christiani, Adah Levin; a Jardine staff member; and Irene Greenstein (club member).
