Our Projects
This program year Sussex Gardeners will focus on serving our community while honoring the traditions of our 87 year-old heritage through our Standing and Special Committees and Club projects.
​
Civic Beautification
Our committee will work with the Staff at the Historic Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, DE, to provide décor at the museum for the holiday season and during the Lewes Tulip Festival in the spring. We always include an educational component related to our chosen theme and embracing the town’s Dutch and maritime heritage. In addition, this committee hopes to design, install and maintain a ‘Native Plant Garden’ in existing beds surrounding the Rehoboth Public Library. We will continue to pursue opportunities to broaden our community involvement through civic beautification.
Fundraising
Our Ways & Means committee will consider and make recommenda- tions to the Club regarding fundraising events that would be of interest, manageable for our members, and meet our fundraising goals. As we have done in past years, we will coordinate with the Lewes Historical Society and participate in the fall and spring craft shows and festivals at the Historic Campus. We will look for other fundraising opportunities in Rehoboth and Lewes throughout the year. Once a "fundraising opportunity" is approved by the Board, the Committee will enlist help and support from each club member to ensure its success.
Holiday Projects
Continuing with our holiday traditions, the Sussex Gardeners’ members will meet in early December to assemble and decorate nosegays that are used to adorn the trays of our local ‘Meals on Wheels’ recipients. In conjunction with this project, we will also create and decorate the wreaths made with member donated greens. The completed wreaths are donated to Brandywine Assisted Living Seaside Pointe, the Rehoboth Beach Public Library, and The Moorings in Lewes. These holiday projects are a cherished club tradition and an opportunity for members to work together in creating beautiful designs to be shared with our community.
Garden Therapy
Sussex Gardeners continues its longstanding partnerships with Brandywine Senior Living Facility in Rehoboth Beach and The Moorings Lewes facility. Our Club members provide all the materials needed for residents at each facility to create their own seasonal floral arrangement. Garden Therapy will be offered monthly at Brandywine and quarterly at The Moorings from September through June.
​
For the past 2 years, Sussex Gardeners have created Mother’s Day bouquets for children in residence at The Lighthouse for Broken Wings to give to their mothers on Mother’s Day. We plan to make this Mother’s Day project an annual event. The Lighthouse for Broken Wings is a community homeless shelter located at Red Mill Inn.
Scholarship
Sussex Gardeners designates a portion of the proceeds from fundraising events for scholarships on the local and state level. We provide Camp Scholarships to qualified Sussex County youth, enabling them to participate in the Environmental 4-H Camp. The Academic scholarships are awarded to students pursuing college degrees in environmental science, horticulture and related subjects. In the past, we have contributed generously to the 20 Sussex County 4-H to send youth to environmental camp and the DFGC’s President’s project. Last year we were able to donate $1000 to the Sussex County 4-H.
Environmental
This past spring, we donated potted evergreens to The Brandywine Senior Living Facility in Rehoboth. The potted trees are displayed at the main entrance to the facility. Environmental projects at the Rehoboth Public Library include the creation of an “Heirloom Seed Lending Library.” Card members may select seeds from the library collection to plant in their own gardens. We also assisted in planting the library’s first ‘vertical’ garden of herbs and vegetables.
Facebook Page
As our 88-year-old club continues to grow, we have become more active on social media with the development of our Facebook page. Our goal is to share photos, current activities and projects with our members and the public on Facebook.
Access at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.sussexgardeners.org.
​
Awards
Presented by the DFGC June 2025
​
13 Yearbook HM
10b Special Achievement, 1st
10a Special Achievement, 2nd
5b Decoration of a Historic Building, 2nd
4a Horticulture/Garden Therapy, 1st
2 Civic Achievement, 2nd
​
Pesident's Award of Excellence 2nd
