Beth Kerr, left, with granddaughters Whitney and Hannah, Diane Putvin, and Dana Campbell

A collaborative, cooperative, community project was unveiled last week when Clarkston Farm and Garden Club members decorated the downtown Clarkston planters with a seasonal touch.
It started in May when the club donated funds to the Clarkston Family Farm to buy plants and plugs for student use. Second graders from Independence Elementary, as part of a school project, planted gourds and pumpkins at the farm. Over the summer, Market Manager Dana Campbell supervised the plants’ progress and weeding with help from visiting students. Raccoons and groundhogs also stopped in regularly.
This month, the crop was harvested and Beth Kerr and Diane Putvin, co-chairs of the Garden Club’s planter committee, supervised the sorting.
Finally, on Thursday, club members used the gourds, squash and pumpkins to dress the grasses already in the planters.
The Garden Club, celebrating more than 60 years of service in Clarkston, continues to cooperate with local gardening efforts. This time, along with flora and fauna, it’s helping grow civic pride and participation.
– Susan Sajdak, Clarkston Garden Club