Sheyenne Valley Garden Club members, Darlene Mueller, back, and Carol Knutson, right, congratulate Coni Horsager, left, for taking the Sweepstakes (most blue ribbons) in Horticulture and Design at the club's annual flower show on Monday. Mueller shows her favorite delphinium (Award of Merit for Perennials), and Knutson won with this “Autumn Treasure” (Award of Distinction/All Dried). Knutson also won in other categories. A full report of all the winners will be printed in the Times-Record when the list is received. (Jean Schlegel/VCTR) 

By Jean Schlegel
Valley City Times-Record

Coni Horsager, a 10-year-member of the Sheyenne Valley Garden Club and also president for four years, says she was exposed to gardening early in life, much like Carol Knutson, another member and former president of the club. Both had grandmothers who left them with a wealth of gardening knowledge.
Both women won many blue ribbons in Monday's SVGC's annual flower show in Valley City. Horsager won the sweepstakes (most blue ribbons) in Horticulture and Design. Knutson won in different categories as well. Darlene Mueller, a member for two years, won the Award of Merit for Perennials. She entered her favorite flower, the delphinium.
Mueller has also gotten her granddaughters interested in gardening. Her oldest granddaughter, Grace Mueller, 5, won the Junior Sweepstakes in Design this year.
Horsager says, “Having two grandmothers who loved flowers and gardening became my inspiration and my start in horticulture. From my earliest recollections, I have collected plants of all types.
“Currently our garden consists of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and water plants with emphasis on anything blooming. Our backyard is landscaped with concrete pavers and planting levels created with concrete retaining blocks. In between the raised bed areas are ground level planting beds, which are mulched with wood chips and river stone.
A list of all the winners will be published in the T-R when the complete information has been received.

Ina Sabby stands by the flowers she received awards in at the SVGC flower show held at the Valley City Eagles on Monday. She won the Award of Merit in Potted Plants. Her potted flowering cyclamen took first place, peace lily, second place, and the orchard, first place. (Jean Schlegel/VCTR)

For full story, see Wednesday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.