The annual greens market of the Rochester Garden Club, a member of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association, is a Rochester tradition that dates back all the way to 1935.
The 65th annual market will be held this year at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on Friday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission is $2.
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- Marilee Shortreed (left) of Oakland Township and Carole DeLater of Shelby Township.
Club members spend months preparing for the market, which includes fresh greens, permanent arrangements, dried herbs, gourmet food and other gift-worthy items. Inside a storage unit in Rochester Hills, shelves are lined with brightly colored baubles, rolls of ribbon and other adornments gathered from various sources throughout the year. As the market approaches, members crowd into one storage unit to build arrangements; completed pieces are moved to a second unit.
Fresh arrangements are put together with greens from members’ yards cut just days before the sale to assure freshness. Herbs are grown and dried; other gifts are made by members who specialize in basketry, jewelry making, sewing, knitting and weaving.
All proceeds stay in the community. The club supports many local institutions, including the children’s garden at the Rochester Hills Museum, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve, and yearly plantings at the library, parks, schools and other institutions. The club also offers college scholarships and provides conservation support to the Clinton River Watershed Council, Oakland Land Conservancy and Seven Ponds Nature Center.
The Rochester Garden Club promotes an interest in horticulture, agriculture and conservation through education and action. For more information visit rochesterwnfga.org.
St. Philip’s is located at the corner of Main and Romeo, across from the Dairy Queen.
