• Although not advertised, as in the past, the Outdoor House Holiday Decorating Contest did happen. The sponsor and judge of the contest and the BGC (the two are separate) will do a better job this year of announcing this contest. You don’t need to register as in the past but a little forewarning and thoughts of a prize might motivate some to go the extra mile with holiday decorating.
The 2018 1st prize winner–$200 cash—was: Ann and Jeff Abraham on Country Club Drive; and the 2nd prize winner—floral holiday decorations—was Donna McCarthy on Orlando Drive.
• As we have since 1945, Blackridge Garden Club volunteers beautify our signature Blackridge entrance corners and the grounds surrounding the Blackridge Civic Association clubhouse. To fund this key mission, for many years the BGC has held the Bloomin’ Corners benefit, a themed cocktail party, dinner, and auction at Longue Vue Club in March. Like in 2018, this year we are unable to host the Bloomin’ Corners event, but we don’t want to disappoint our community, so we are sending out our popular raffle tickets, which are always included in every Bloomin’ Corners invitation. Your patronage of the Bloomin’ Corners fundraiser entirely finances our corners maintenance, which has seen increasing use of non-volunteer (aka paid) labor due to our aging membership. Accidents at these corners—Old Gate and the BCA this year—continue to be a financial drain on our maintenance budget. These incidents are 90% “hit and run,” or have no available insurance reimbursement to the BGC. Consequently, we are more dependent on the support of our long-time benefactors and new neighbors to make our Bloomin’ Corners Raffle a success, and to keep our corners beautiful. When your Bloomin’ Corners raffle tickets arrive, please purchase them and select from prizes valued at $500!!!!! We hope to have the event return in 2020.
• We are also gearing up for our very popular and enjoyable Midsummer’s Tour on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. We are looking for garden suggestions. If you would like to showcase your garden, or if you have a recommendation for a featured garden, please let us know by returning the interest card included in your invite!
• Penn Hills Lawn & Garden is once again sponsoring an easy-for-you fundraiser that benefits our Blackridge Garden Club. Shop at Penn Hills Lawn & Garden, located at 200 Jefferson Ave, Penn Hills (across the street from the PNC bank on Rodi Rd). It is a large nursery that has more than plants and shrubs. If you don’t plant outside or fiddle around with your lawn anymore, there is plenty of other shopping areas you can focus on: feeding birds and butterflies, indoor plants and potting, garden hardscape and art.
PLEASE mention the Blackridge Garden Club when you checkout at Penn Hills Lawn & Garden and we will receive 5% of total yearly purchases for our Garden Club. It is that easy!!!! This is a big opportunity for us to help fund our yearly programs and outreach. It is easy to do.
