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If you have been thinking that you might like to join a Garden Club we would welcome you. Our members range from people who like to buy flowers at the grocery store and stick them into a vase, to master gardeners and include everything in between. We’re just friendly people who like plants, flowers, and butterflies and enjoy getting together to talk and learn more about them and have fun doing it.
You’re welcome to visit us anytime. Our regular meetings will be the first Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at Plants for All Seasons on 249. If you have questions please call or text me, Jennifer Francois at 281-798-4830.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Garden Club was founded initially to beautify Norchester. Most of the trees on our esplanades were planted as living memorials to deceased members or their spouses. When Harris County acquired the land from Cy-Fair ISD, and when the Association for Better Community Schools raised funds for amenities to the land, Norchester Garden Club raised funds to build the butterfly garden. Norchester Garden Club now has a yearly garage sale which helps fund upkeep of the butterfly garden which is owned by Harris County,but the Norchester Garden Club is committed to keeping it well maintained (weeding, dead heading, mulching).
NEVER FORGET GARDEN
The Norchester Garden Club dedicated to our area Veterans the Never Forget Garden in the Butterfly Garden at Matzke Park. It was a moving tribute to the men and women who have given a part of their lives in service to our country. We remembered three Veterans who have died since our last Veterans Day program in the park and honored the Veterans in attendance on Saturday. Each had an opportunity to speak about their time in service. Plants were chosen specifically for the Never Forget Garden. A magnolia tree for nobility, and white roses for purity and innocence, blue salvia for thinking of you, and pansies for remembrance. Our dedication ceremony concluded with a moving rendition of taps performed by two members of the Cy-Fair High School band. (Photos by Deb Evans.)
Help Support the Matzke Park Butterfly Garden
Although we currently have less then 20 folks supporting the Matzke Park Butterfly Garden by having their Kroger cards linked to Association for Better Community Schools (ABCS), it is important that you know that if you sign up with the Kroger Community Rewards program, every Kroger purchase will provide an additional amount that Kroger gives ABCS, who then gives it all to the Norchester Garden Club for the Butterfly Garden Support.
This does not impact a person's fuel points or cost them anything.
We have been informed of the following. If you are willing to sign up, be advised our new Community Rewards number is now WT732.
If you are already signed up, you don’t need to make any changes.
Our quarterly report for May through August of this year shows that 16 households provided $41.72 to the Butterfly Garden in Matzke Park through their Kroger Community Rewards membership.
If you’ve not yet signed up, please consider doing so. It only takes a few minutes and it’s a painless way to make a positive difference in our part of the world.
Thank you for your support!
Click on image below to see full size pictures.
Below are a group of remarkable pictures of butterflies taken by Jennifer Francois' brother-in-law, John Yen. Enjoy!
(View as slideshow or click >> or << to change pictures.)
Yard of the Month
Part of our goal of the Norchester Garden Club is to promote civic beautification in the neighborhood so we started Yard of the Month years ago. At the beginning of each month, one or two members have traveled the subdivision to pick out what they deem the nicest yard and display our Yard of the Month sign there for all to see. Due to the colder weather - January, February, and March, we are generally unable to find much color, so start judging again in April. Around the middle of December we judge the wonderful Holiday decorations for one door and two front yards, where we leave our sign for the winners. Although there are many yards that could be winners, there is a two year waiting period before winning again so that everyone has a chance. We are so fortunate to be able to show you the winners with their names and colored pictures here. Please enjoy our efforts to make our subdivision so special.
2023 Holiday Decorations Contest Winners
As in past years, members of the Norchester Garden Club enjoyed seeing all the beautiful decorations while driving around Norchester. Making final selections was difficult. After much discussion, these were the winners:
10818 Laneview Best Door
10510 Fawnview Best Traditional
10903 Fawnview Best Contemporary
August 2023 - 10927 Brentway - Bob Tesoro
July 2023 - 10902 Brentway - Carol and Don Miller
June 2023 - 10907 Dunbrook Dr - The Kruse Family
May 2023 - 10803 Brentway Dr - Tena and Jeremy White
April 2023 - 10706 Crestfield Ct - Marilyn & Vince Foligno
2022 Holiday Decorations Contest Winners
Members of the Norchester Garden Club enjoyed seeing all the beautiful decorations while driving around Norchester. And once again it was difficult to choose the best of the best, but they persevered and we have our three winners for this year:
10746 Norchester Village Dr Best Door
10827 Archmont Dr Best Traditional
10819 Dunbrook Dr Best Contemporary
November 2022 - 10818 Fawnview Dr - The Hiller Residence
October 2022 - 10603 Fairview Dr - Debra & Heinz Schaffner
September 2022 - 10538 Normont Dr - Iris and Jett Mendenhall
August 2022 - 10618 Dunbrook Dr - Deborah and Ole Jensen
July 2022 - Rob & Isabella Kleb - 10711 Archmont Dr
June 2022 - Peggy & Bob Ullom - 10610 Jaycreek Dr
May 2022 - Catherine Rawson - 10718 Jaycreek Dr
April 2022 - William & Miriam Ackley - 13506 Balcrest Dr
Holiday Lighting Contest Winners
Members of the Norchester Garden Club enjoyed seeing all the beautiful decorations while driving around Norchester. And once again it was difficult to choose the best of the best, but they persevered and we have our three winners for this year:
10818 Laneview Best Door
10710 Laneview Best Contemporary
10510 Normont Best Traditional
Thank you to everyone in the neighborhood who is helping to make our season bright and a wonderful place to live. If you’ve not driven around to see the lights at night, give yourself a treat and do that. You’ll be glad you did.
(Pictures posted below.)
Separately from the Garden Club winners, Laneview has been selected as the Best Street!
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November 2021 - The Welch Family - 13422 Balcrest Dr
October 2021 - Maria & Mario Rivera - 10746 Norchester Village Dr
August 2021 - Jim and LaDonna Deakins - 10618 Duke of York Ct
July 2021 - Jennifer and Bill Francois - 10706 Creektree Dr
June 2021 - Jason & Ayannah Shillingford - 10814 Creektree Dr
May 2021 - Jim & Delores Yochim - 10718 Creektree Dr
December 2020 Awards are related to Holiday Decorations in four categories. The winners are:
- Traditional - Monica & Bernardo Pohl - 10827 Archmont Dr
- Contemporary - Sabrina & Kyle Odom - 10818 Creektree Dr
- Door - Joyce Beraducci - 10611 Moorcreek Dr
- Best Street - Norchester Village Dr
There were many beautiful decorations throughout Norchester, making it difficult to pick just a few "best". Thanks to all of you for making Norchester a lovely Holiday extravaganza.
The pictures below show the first three category winners.
November 2020 - Mike and Kitty Sandel - 10823 Dunbrook Dr
October 2020 - Shelby & Justin Guerra - 10515 Brentway Dr
September 2020 - Brandon & Nicole Barber - 13435 Exton Ln
August 2020 - Darrell & Linda Brewer - 10507 Elmdale Dr
