Youth Committee Chair 2025-2026: Jeannette Michelson
The Youth Committee of the Garden Club of LBI meets several times a year from October through May with children from the community at the Ocean County Library in Surf City. Children in grades three to six are welcome to attend. Garden Club members instruct the children in gardening techniques, flower arranging and environmental topics that are especially relevant to coastal areas. The activities vary by season and holidays but fun is always included!
Youth Committee Celebrates Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day, in the US, was started by Anna Jarvis who wished to honor
her mother’s legacy of working to improve health conditions during the
Civil War. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second
Monday in May as “Mother’s Day.†People were encouraged to send cards
of appreciation and flowers to their mothers on this day.
The Youth Committee of the Garden Club of LBI, comprised of local
children grades 3-6, met on Wednesday May 6, 2026 at the LBI branch of
the Ocean County Library to keep this tradition alive. The group, lead by
co-chairs Ginny Scarlatelli and Jeannette Michelson, along with Garden
Club members Lori DiGiacomo and Suzan Priola, created a lovely floral
arrangement of carnations, the flower that has come to represent Mother’s
Day. Pink carnations, the color flower most associated with this holiday,
formed the focal point of the design. Mini green and white carnations,
along with baby’s breath and local greens, filled out the arrangement. An
added branch of springtime pussy willow, and a personalized ribboned
Mothers Day note, completed the design. When you enlarge the photos,
you can read some of the charming and heartfelt messages the children
wrote to their mothers.
Everyone went home with “Bee Kind†wildflower seeds to attract
pollinators and a beautiful floral arrangement to give their moms on
Mother’s Day. Photos by Jeannette Michelson
Youth Committee Celebrates International Colour Day
Graphic Design by Tracey Cameron. Photos by Jeannette Michelson
The Youth Committee met with local 3-6 graders on Friday March 27, 2026 at the Surf City library to create a floral design to celebrate “International Colour Day.†In 2009 the International Colour Association, consisting of 30 countries including the United States, established March 21st as “International Colour Day†to recognize the importance of color in our daily lives. March 21st was chosen because the vernal and autumnal equinox represents a time of equal day and night around the world.
The group, lead by co-chairs Ginny Scarlatelli and Jeannette Michelson, along with members Pauline Gertzen and Janet Nelson, were greeted with colorful scarves and blank wooden containers which they proceeded to decorate with multi-colored foam shapes.
Brightly colored daisies and mums formed the basis of the arrangement. Some mini carnations and baby’s breath added a little white into the design. A pick with the International Colour Association logo was the final touch.
When the children were asked what their favorite color was,†blue †was the overwhelming response!
February 2026 – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Graphic Design by Tracey Cameron. Photos by Jeannette Michelson (click on images to enlarge)
The carnations were red.
The rose was white.
The young floral designers creations
Were a Valentine’s Day delight!
While the actual origin of Valentine’s Day may be clouded in history, today the holiday that honors “love†is celebrated with cards (numbers second to only Christmas), candy, chocolates, and FLOWERS! The Garden Club of LBI’s Flower Power/Youth Committee convened at the LBI BranchOcean County Library on Wednesday February 4, 2026, with community 3-6 graders, to create a floral arrangement to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
The group, lead by co-chairs Ginny Scarlatelli and Jeannette Michelson along with members Joyce Hillyer and Lori DiGiacomo, filled heart decorated galvanized containers with flowers that have particular significance for Valentine’s Day. The star of the design was a “white rose,†a symbol of love and innocence. Multiple pink and red carnations, which in the language of flowers signify remembrance and admiration, surrounded the rose. Delicate branches of white sea lavender (surprisingly not related to lavender) and greens filled out the arrangement.
The children were then given a pink cut-out heart-shaped card on which they could write a Valentine’s greeting. Amongst all the sentiments written on the cards, “Be Kind†stood out. The young designers went home with a box of conversation hearts and a lovely floral arrangement certain to please the Valentine of their choice.
Welcome Winter! – December 2025
Photos by Jeannette Michelson
“Welcome Winter” from the Youth Commitee!
The Youth Committee of the Garden Club of LBI met with local 3-6 graders on Wednesday December 17, 2025 at the LBI Branch of the Ocean County Library to create a floral arrangement to welcome the winter season.
The reindeer- decorated containers were first filled with a bed of local evergreens including juniper, white pine and princess pine. This set the stage for the the “star†flower, a beautiful white spider mum. Rose and red-and-white variegated carnations were nestled among the greens . Hypericum berries and frosted pine cones along with “reindeer antlers†added further interest to the arrangement. The children made a small drawing of their favorite winter activity that added a personal artistic touch to their arrangement.
The group, led by co-chairs Ginny Scarlatelli and Jeannette Michelson along with members Paula Cofone and Suzan Priolo, asked the children to write their answers to “The Best Part of Winter is……..†The overwhelming response was “Snow!†Arielle, age 7 said “building a snowman,†while James, age 8 replied “making a snowman then knocking it down!†Christmas and presents were a favorite, and Lilith, age 9, said, “What I love is everything!!â€
The next meeting of the Youth Committee is on February 4, 2026 3:30pm at the LBI Branch of the Ocean County Library – Surf City and will feature a Valentine’s Day theme.
Submitted by Jeannette Michelson
