The weather cooperated for the April 8 opening day for 58 Winfield Golf League golfers. As in past years, league play is at St. Andrews Golf and Country Club, 3N441 Route 59, West Chicago.

This year, golfers paid $21 for greens fees, $2 for pull carts, $22 for riding carts for two, and $11 for one. Golfers older than 70 had the option of playing the gold tees, and if their name did not have a ‘Y’ on the roster, they also had to notify League Secretary John Otto before play started. Golfers opting to use the gold tees the first year were Don Lief, Lew Morgan, Andrew Nielo, Michael McGrath and Dennis Moffat.

The annual pizza night will be July 16, and the season will close with a banquet Sept. 16 at St. Andrews. Trophies and prizes will be awarded that evening.

Get growing

Winfield Area Gardeners (WAG) learned all about crops, soil composition, composting and benefits of eating organic foods during a slide presentation by guest speaker Steve Tiwald, manager of Green Earth Institute. Green Earth is a 60-acre farm in Naperville, managed by Tiwald for six years.

Several new members were welcomed by other members; Joan Haas, Marian Robbins, Jane Hibbits, Dawn Harrington, Lois St. Denis, Jeanne Matuula and Jan Zubrod all joined WAG.

Last month, WAG members introduced a new monthly feature — a gardening magazine exchange. It was quite a success. Members bring magazines in good condition, and will have to take them home after each meeting until a member volunteers to keep them.

New Vice President Donna Vade Bon Coer was introduced. Treasurer Eddie Wollenberg collected annual $20 dues at the March meeting. Members not paid up by the April meeting have to pay a $5 late fee.

Collected dues are used to pay for the monthly newsletter, speakers and club expenses. And $5 goes to the Garden Club of Illinois. WAG members will meet at 7 p.m. May 6 at the Winfield Fire Station, High Lake and Winfield roads.
Members were reminded to start potting plants as soon as the weather warms up.

Plants need plenty of time to get strong and healthy before the 7 p.m. June 3 Plant Exchange. Meeting location will be announced later.

A big thank you was extended by WAG President Patti Ryan to Darlene Dazwell for her work as hospitality chairman for the past five years. Diane Lanbert  and Maureen Kiely brought treats to the March meeting. Patti Ryan and Diana Bannoish provided treats at the April meeting.

Earth Day clean up

Winfield United (WU) volunteers will participate in the Earth Day cleanup April 22. The event now is sponsored by the village of Winfield and the Illinois Prairie Path. Volunteers will clean up village parks and other areas of interest. Volunteers can expect to wrap up the project by noon.