It was a bountiful year for the Coeur d'Alene Garden Club's Garden Tour.
The sold-out event raised more than $20,000, making 2023 one of the most profitable in the event's 25 years.
"It's made it possible for the Coeur d'Alene Garden Club to really be a major part in Coeur d'Alene life, and improving the life, living here in Coeur d'Alene," Garden Club President Marge Hoyt said Tuesday afternoon during a club meeting at the Coeur d'Alene Library.
As is the case with many gardeners, Coeur d'Alene Garden Club members don't keep all the good stuff to themselves. They distributed the funds to local causes that align with the club's mission, including schools with gardening programs and nonprofits that help feed those in need in the community.
"It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I stand before you as the chairman of this year's Garden Tour, to not only celebrate the success of our tour, but also embark on the noble mission of giving back to our community through the power of gardening," Garden Tour Chair Jill Marfice said. "The funds we raised this year will be distributed to many local organizations that align with our mission, and in doing so, we will touch the lives of many in remarkable ways."
Recipients include:
• Hayden Meadows Elementary — Greenhouse project
• New Vision High School — Seeds of Change Greenhouse
• Lutheran Church of the Master — Community garden
• Safety Net Inland Northwest
• Turkeys and More
• North Idaho College Foundation
The Garden Club has set aside funds to directly work with the Coeur d'Alene School District to find ways to incorporate gardening into more schools. The club also wishes to help local senior living centers integrate gardening into their programs to provide local seniors the therapeutic benefits of gardening.
Another big goal is on the horizon for the club: Establishing a public botanical garden.
"Let us not be content with the impact we hav already made. We shouldn't be afraid to dream on a larger scale," Marfice said. "As a garden club, we hold within us the potential to create something truly remarkable — an enduring legacy that will enrich our community for generations to come."
She said dreams of this magnitude require resources, financial and otherwise. As the club contributes to immediate needs in the community, it should also remember the significance of nurturing a long-term vision.
"The journey towards a botanical garden is a journey of shared commitment and faith in what we can achieve when we come together," Marfice said.
Some of the proceeds from this year's Garden Tour will establish an endowment fund as a seed toward the botanical garden, she said.
"This first step will highlight our commitment to the club's mission and to making our community an even greater place to live," she said. "Together, we can transform the mere idea of a public botanical garden into a living reality — one that will stand as a testament to our shared values and the enduring legacy of the Garden Club."