Five gardens featured in Crete Woman’s Club’s ‘A Day in the Country’

Acres of flowers, farm elements, fruit-bearing trees, a pond, raised vegetable beds, shade-loving plants, a small creek and a waterfall are among the sights on display during “A Day in the Country.”

The 29th annual Crete Woman’s Club garden walk and artisan garden faire departs from Lincolnshire Country Club in Crete on June 26 and 27 and features five Crete-area gardens. The faire stays open for an hour after the private gardens close for viewing.

“It is a beautiful day in the country,” said Karen Hysell, chair of the Crete Woman’s Club garden walk.

Attendees can chat with other gardeners and leave with new ideas for their own backyard masterpieces, she said.

Sandy Klausman, a Will County master gardener and member of the Crete Woman’s Club, will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to answer questions.

Hysell, of Crete, said approximately 20 vendors have committed for the artisan garden faire.

“We have a couple of beekeepers. We have jewelry. We have the Southwestern Michigan Buttery, which has fruit butter and other things which are fabulous. We have quite a few people including potters who are returning,” she said.

The faire features a variety of things, she said. The Crete library sells used garden books to raise money for the library.

“A Day in the Country” proceeds go toward annual college, technical/trade and high school and middle school summer camp scholarships that Crete Woman’s Club awards to Crete-Monee high school and middle school students and Crete Township residents attending private schools.

“We’ve always wanted to give back to the community from the very beginning,” said Hysell, about the club, which was established in 1912.

“The fundraisers and the volunteering we do is all to enhance the village of Crete and that’s what it’s been for years. One of our projects is a butterfly garden at the library so everyone can learn about butterflies,” she said.

“Many of our women are involved in Crete Creative, which is an art gallery and school. We just try to support whatever the community wants. Whether it’s a parade, the park district, the schools, Angels on Assignment, etc., we do what we can to help.”

Crete Woman’s Club’s more than 100 members include residents of Chicago Heights, Monee, Orland Park, Steger, Tinley Park, Indiana and other states.

As club members look forward to “A Day in the Country,” which includes a limited lunch menu from Tavern on the Green at Lincolnshire Country Club for an additional cost, Hysell noted that the event is open to both women and men.

“A lot of women use it as a day out. They can do shopping and have a nice little lunch and see some beautiful gardens,” said Hysell, a 10-year Crete Woman’s Club member who added that she enjoys the peace of “pulling up weeds and putting in things that are much prettier.”

“Our committee that chooses the gardens is very picky. They work with the gardens and they take recommendations,” she said. “In fact, when the garden walk is over at the end of this month, they’ll take a short break before touring Crete and looking for gardens for next year.”

‘A Day in the Country’

When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 26 and 27

Where: departs from Lincolnshire Country Club, 390 E. Richton Road, Crete

Tickets: $15 in advance; $17 on event days

Information: 708-672-9438; www.cretewomansclub.net