Red Carpet Dinner in Honor of the 2018 Euclid Pond & Garden Tour Host Gardeners

Shade Tree Commissioners Cheryl Brickman & Robert Evans with guests Dannie Brickman & Holly Witherite 

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The annual Host Garden Reception sponsored by the Euclid Shade Tree/Municipal Beautification Commission was held Thursday August 9, 2018 at Euclid City Hall to show the commission’s gratitude to all who participated in this year’s successful event. The tour, held July 21-22, 2018, featured 19 distinctly beautiful outdoor settings and once again demonstrated Euclid homeowners’ passion and talent for creating their private garden retreats, each sure to inspire one’s imagination. A Japanese maple garden and a four season dream where the focus is on form, color, and texture were just two of the gardens offering visitors an exciting blend of architectural history.

The commission rolled out the red carpet for each host gardener as they were greeted with a smile from youth volunteers Carlos & Charles Hall with assistance from Tyler Wilson. Members of the eleven member commission transformed City Hall’s skylight rotunda into a beautiful and inviting reception space with refreshments, appetizers and buffet dinner. Guests enjoyed plates of chicken marsala, steamship round beef, sauteed green beans, crispy salted red skin potatoes, rice pilaf followed up with carrot cake for dessert courtesy of CJ’s Catering. Local musicians Ilya and David Shteyndler played smooth jazz hits to the delight of attendees. Each table was dressed in black linen cloth and fan-shaped white linen napkins topped with a personalized floral centerpiece, all donated by 2018 Host Gardeners as a way to further bring their talents to the public eye. Taneika Hill, Shade Tree Commissioner, Ward 3 City Councilwoman and the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies, and Commissioner Andrea Peters chaired this year’s event and welcomed special guests Euclid Public Library Director Kacie Armstrong and Andre Dominick of the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, also a previous Shade Tree commissioner. Dominick has shown his beautiful home overlooking Lake Erie in the past and we were honored to have him give the evening’s welcome address. 2018 Host Gardeners Ed Oshaben and Deanna McGhee also presented heartfelt remarks about what it is like to be on the tour, their histories, hopes for the future of our city and offered kind advice for anyone interested in gardening or participating in future Pond & Garden Tours. During her speech McGhee stated, “I wanted to share encouraging words with people like me so many years ago, who felt eager to get started, yet overwhelmed by where to begin. I wanted to share my tricks of the trade, and lessons learned. I wanted to share my passion and love for plants and flowers and people. Each year, the community of participants in the tour get stronger and stronger and I’m so grateful to have joined that community as an admirer and a contributor.” To conclude the reception, Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer-Gail presented each Gardener with a Certification of Appreciation for sharing their pride and dedication for gardening within the city, bringing people together to see the assets Euclid has to offer. All guests were given gift bags of seeds to plant for a more beautiful tomorrow.

On behalf of the Euclid Shade Tree/Municipal Beautification Commission, we thank and appreciate all of our host gardeners, corporate sponsors, and city officials for their participation and support of the annual Euclid Pond & Garden Tour, as well as the Arbor Day Celebration & Tree Plantings held each year. Events like these showcase the hidden gems within our city and draw over 300 visitors annually from all over Northeast Ohio to our city.

2018 Host Gardeners:

Robert Evans, Diane Frances, Charles & Brenda Hall, Steve & Daisy Harper, Greg Jerkich, Deborah Kramarz, Mary Mavec Opportunity School, Deanna & Larry McGhee, Elaine Murphy, Ed & Helen Oshaben, Virginia Kima Petrie, Vivian E. Ridley, Larry & Jeannie Rowe, Wallace & Kathy Tanner, John & Maryann Thesing, Wendy & George Thirion, Constance & Larry Welch, Ed Wielgus, and Holly Witherite

2018 Corporate Sponsors:  

Northeast Factory Direct, Daugherty Construction Inc., and Cropel Group/Dovetail Solar

2018 Supporters:
Mayor Holzeimer Gail & Staff, Briardale Golf Course, Euclid Recreation Department, Great Scott Tavern, Lakeshore Coffee House, Maria’s Family Restaurant, CJ’s Catering, Rhonda Mitchell, and Matt Mizak

Euclid Shade Tree/Municipal Beautification Commission serves to protect and manage our community forest by inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. To plant a garden and watch it grow is truly one of life’s richest blessings. If you would like to learn more about or donate to the Euclid Shade Tree/Municipal Beautification Commission, please contact 289-2700 Ext 3905 or shadetreecommission@cityofeuclid.com.