What do you do when you are president of a club with a large membership and your guest speaker cancels at the last minute? This was the dilemma faced by Patti Ryan, president of the Winfield Area Gardeners, at the Oct. 7 meeting. Ryan met the challenge head on. It was a dark and rainy night, with all the members settled in, as she announced the planned guest speaker on ornamental grasses had canceled. “Instead, we will have a round-table discussion,” said Ryan, who had quickly improvised.

From the several large clumps of ornamental grasses in her yard, she had pulled out a few varieties and labeled them to pass around to members and guests for discussion. Two club members were of great help: Maureen Kiely, a Planter’s Palette employee, and Karen Skillman, who has a lot of experience in growing ornamental grasses.

Blue Dallas Panicum and another Panicum species were shown.

“I have placed them around a post in my front yard instead of using corn husks and they are quite attractive,” she said of the plants, which can grow quite tall.

In business news, Ryan announced that the annual Good Old Days Plant and Bake sales added $3,100 to the treasury. She said the monthly WAG four-page newsletter is quite costly at 70 cents for each one mailed, including postage. Ryan suggested e-mailing the newsletter as an alternative, and also suggested the group consider buying a projector.

The club welcomed new member Deborah Birutis and returning member Judy Hall. Ryan passed an invitation to WAG members to attend a meeting of the Purple Violet Garden Club of Glen Ellyn for a program on flower arrangements.

“Pruning Tips and Favorite Gardening Tools” will be the subject of the WAG meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Winfield Community Bank, 27W111 Geneva Road, presented by John Sosnowski of the Morton Arboretum.

Floral arrangements

WAG members will have a chance to display their green thumbs at the Tuesday, Dec. 9, meeting. Past WAG member Rita Harris will help participants create a holiday door swag that also can be used on a fireplace mantel or as a table centerpiece. The gathering will be in the Winfield Community Bank’s large meeting room. Cost is $15, which includes pine cones, greens and a choice of red velvet or berry ribbon. For higher quality ribbon, members will have to pay an additional $4. Members who want to take part have to sign up and pay at the November meeting. No refunds will be given after Sunday, Nov. 30.

Ryan reminds members the current board is in the process of forming a nominating committee, which is accepting open nominations for the 2009 board. Anyone interested should call Ryan at (630) 653-1710 or e-mail nanryan@hotmail.com.

WU celebrates

Winfield United volunteers enter their fifth year as an organization that has proven tremendously rewarding. They work hard to have a positive influence and to improve the community. Volunteers gladly donate thousands of hours because they love the village. Three teams are at work all year: community projects, civic involvement and communications.

The community projects team coordinated several village beautification projects and supplied activities for children at the Criterium bicycle races and Good Old Days. Funds raised by WU’s ever-popular minnow races and Good Old Days games were donated to the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton. WU’s new feature, a petting zoo, was a huge hit this year. The major team project, the Outdoor Community Classroom at the Winfield School, continues to grow both in size and beauty. Phoebe Smith and her dedicated volunteers from throughout the area have received grants to support the project and have done an amazing job that words cannot describe. Residents should stop by and view the work in progress and the mural on the school’s front wall to see what can be done when people work together to benefit the community.

The civic involvement team will be busy interviewing and selecting interested and qualified candidates to endorse for the election. It promises to be an exciting year. There are four trustee positions up for election, as well as the post of village president. Team members will work diligently to qualify the best possible candidates who request the team’s support and the opportunity to interview with team members. The grueling interview allows candidates to state their positions on issues and gives team members a sense of their overall character. The team’s goals are to promote open, honest and ethical government. Fundraising by the civic involvement team started this summer with the first Sculpture Garden Party and Ice Cream Social at Debbie and Steve Mueller’s residence. It was an enjoyable Sunday afternoon thanks to the outdoor sculptures, music by Nils’ Band, the women’s colorful hats and the ice cream social. WU volunteers appreciated Eleanor Himmelfarb’s efforts in organizing the event.

Communications team members also had a successful year. Team members worked diligently to update the organization’s Web site. With new information added on a regular basis, including posting notes of Village Board meetings taken by WU’s volunteers, its Winfield Journal editions are chock full of interesting stories and pertinent information. The team will coordinate with the civic involvement group on providing information on endorsed candidates for all the community.

Trick or treat

Village officials announce that official trick or treat hours for Winfield youngsters is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Children are cautioned to walk safely.

Holiday scrapbooking

Winfield Park District will show anyone age 18 and older how to showcase their holiday memories like a professional. Participants will receive a paper album, holiday stickers, gift wrap and expert advice on how to put an album together. Organizers said all who attend the workshop will leave with a great start on a holiday scrapbook that will make a perfect gift for a loved one.