Local Garden Clubs Deliver Petals for Patriots
Six North County garden clubs take turns delivering 15 floral arrangements once a month to Camp Pendleton’s Wounded Warriors. They are: Carlsbad, Fallbrook, Ramona, San Dieguito and Dos Valles Garden Clubs, and the Mira Costa Horticulture Club. This effort began in spring 2008 and is an extension of a project begun by David Root, floral designer and lecturer. In a routine floral delivery to Balboa Naval Hospital he saw the young men recovering there and wanted to give them a symbol of appreciation for their service and sacrifice. The Mission Hills Garden Club volunteered to deliver the monthly bouquets to the hospital and they, joined recently by Del Mar Garden Club, have since added deliveries to Fisher House for the Wounded Warriors’ families. Dos Gringos, a wholesale florist in Vista, donates the flowers for all of these deliveries.
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| January 28th, 2009
The sun, the flowers and the volunteers were shining brightly for this delivery of floral bouquets to the Wounded Warrior Battalion West at Camp Pendleton. Barbara Diamond hosted the project in her garage. Ellen McGrath-Thorpe and Rita Koczela picked up the flowers from Dos Gringos. Our club members (pictured here) prepared the vases and ribbon and we all created these beautiful sunflower and eucalyptus arrangements. Ellen and Gretchen Ashton delivered the arrangements. Once again, we received a warm reception. Watch for the upcoming nationwide sale of Petals for Patriots bouquets in July, and our next delivery in the Fall.
Gretchen M. Ashton, Chairperson
CGC Petals for Patriots
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| Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, CGC President and District Chair P4P and David Root, Floral Designer and Founder of Petals for Patriots |
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| December 15th, 2008
Our volunteers braved inclement weather, and arrived equipped with umbrellas, gloves and clippers to create flower arrangements for Wounded Warriors at Camp Pendleton. Barbara Diamond provided a spacious and perfectly designed garage/workshop complete with coffee, tables and chairs, and other comforts like a sink to wash vases. Representatives from other clubs who have decided to participate met Ellen McGrath-Thorpe and David Root at Dos Gringos and arrived soon after with beautiful Poinsettias and a splendid variety of greenery along with gold accent material. The mix looked beautiful in the blue vases.
Ellen, David and Gretchen Ashton delivered the arrangements to the Wounded Warrior Battalion - West facility on Camp Pendleton. The visit presented an opportunity to meet Cheryl, (the liaison for our project), to have conversations with a few of the marines currently living at the facility, and to pet a gentle black Labrador service dog - Jonah.
It was a successful and rewarding first delivery.
Gretchen M. Ashton, Chairperson
CGC Petals for Patriots
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| Marguee at Wounded Warrior Battalion - West Camp Pendleton |
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Petals for Patriots
Petals for Patriots is a gesture of appreciation to our United States Military Wounded Warriors. Started by David Root, and with the assistance of the Mission Hills Garden Club, fresh floral arrangements (samples pictured below) are delivered to Balboa Naval Hospital Wounded Warriors once each month.
Under the Leadership of Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, who adopted the idea for the Palomar District, the Carlsbad Garden Club along with other district clubs begin delivery of fresh floral arrangements to the Camp Pendleton Wounded Warrior Battion - West on December 15th, 2008. Deliveries will continue on or around the 15th of each month on a rotating schedule with participation at least once, and perhaps twice a year, by each of the North County Garden Clubs who have volunteered to participate in the project.
Many thanks to David Root, The Mission Hills Garden Club, Brian Perry at Dos Gringos and the volunteers who consistently brighten the rooms of our Wounded Warriors in the San Diego area.
Ellen McGrath-Thorpe, President
Carlsbad Garden Club
P4P Palomar District Chairperson
Gretchen M. Ashton, P4P Chairperson
Carlsbad Garden Club
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| Arrangements by Mission Hills Club - November 2008. Ellen and Gretchen visited to learn the process. |
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