ENJOY THE GARDENS OF CENTRAL MONTANA 

Hello, there!  My name is Marie Hoyer and I would like to welcome you to our gardening community. Although we live in a USDA zone 3/4, with pockets of a zone 5, we have many beautiful yards and gardens in Lewistown. There are several greenhouses/nurserys in Lewistown and surrounding areas also for you to explore.
   My gardening background includes being a certified Master Gardener, a member of the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, (MFGC), and also the National Garden Club. I am also an accredited flower show judge, editor of the MFGCC state publication, “Montana Gardens.” Member of “Gardeners Gathering,”  a group of people who just meet to talk and study gardeneing. As a gardening and cooking columnist for two newspapers, I am able to share my love of both with others.
   If you have just moved to this area or are visiting, telephone (406-538-8191) me and we can chat about our mutual interests and perhaps tour a garden or two. Also feel free to e-mail me at: marlee@wb.midrivers.com

Something to think about: “Out of gardens grow fleeting flowers but lasting friendships. ” Beverly Rose Hopper
    HAPPY EXPLORING!
     Marie

GARDENING GROUPS IN LEWISTOWN: 

Lewistown Garden Club
Member of the National Garden Cubs, Inc.
State President, 2005-2007: Ruth Layton, 235 Brown Street, Toston, MT 59643-9700
T: 406-266-5376. Email: rujolay@aol.com.

The Lewistown Garden Club is a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. It is dedicated to educating members in all aspects of horticulture. We meet the first Tuesday of the month from October to May at 12:00 noon. Summer meetings are held in member’s homes. Telephone Marie Hoyer, 538-9181 or email: marlee@wb.midrivers.com for additional information. Some club projects are: contribute funds to community causes, plant trees in public areas, plant sales, contribute a decorated tree to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club Festival of Trees, was instrumental in providing grant funds for the Labyrinth Garden at the City Park, has an annual flower show, have hosted state MFGC meetings. The Lewistown Garden Club has two MFGC accredited flower show judges, Marie Jones and Marie Hoyer.

Gardeners Gathering

Meets the third Tuesday of the month at the Lewistown Public Library at 7:00 pm. There are no officers or dues. It is a discussion/study group for anyone interested in gardening. Any person interested  in gardening is invited to attend. Contact person: Marie Hoyer, Telephone: 538-9181.

Central Montana Master Gardeners
The Master Gardener Program’s purpose is to train interested individuals to help the Cooperative Extension Service in the area of horticulture.  Montana State University Extension Agent of Fergus County, Darren Crawford, heads the Central Montana Master Gardeners. This organization is comprised of individuals who have taken the Master Gardener’s course and passed the test. Meetings are held every third Wednesday. Contact the MSU/Fergus County Extension, 712 West Main, Lewistown, MT 59457. Telephone (406) 538-3919 for further information or Marie Hoyer, 538-9181. The second annual garden tour, sponsored by the CMMG, will be held Saturday, June 24.

Labyrinth Garden
The Lewistown Community Labyrinth Garden, located at the east side of Frank Day Park, was created in 1996. It is maintained by volunteers who each commit to taking care of a section of the garden. These “Friends of the Garden” have continually strived to keep the dream of having the Labyrinth garden alive and to make it an enjoyable experience. Besides the beautiful flowers blooming in a seven circuit labyrinth pattern, a concrete bench was donated by the Lewistown Garden Club in honor of the late Janie Krings. Mosaics were added to the bench by Nikki Edwards to honor her parents for you to rest on. A peace pole was placed to honor a long time gardener and supporter, Janie Krings.  “Celebration stones” are engraved with names and supporters as well as loved ones. The most recent addition to the garden is a life size bronze sculpture called “Keeper of Dreams” created by a local artist Steve Lillegard. Please come and walk in our living maze to enter into a pleasurable state of timelessness (The Sand Labyrinth:  Meditation at your Fingertips.(c)2001 by Lauren Artess). For further information, contact Nadine Robertson through the Lewistown Art Center, 535-8278.