LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In a recent potluck picnic at Dan DiRicco Benjamin's Upper Lake farm, the Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club celebrated another successful year of gardening and supporting civic and student activities in Lake County. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In a recent potluck picnic at Dan DiRicco Benjamin's Upper Lake farm, the Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club celebrated another successful year of gardening and supporting civic and student activities in Lake County.

The officers for 2017-18 term were initiated. Dana DiRicco Benjamin, president; Debra Watson O'Dell, co-vice president; Maureen Brasier, co-vice president; Nora Gerrard, treasurer; Sue Stiles, co-treasurer; Kathleen Steinberg, secretary; and Nancy Benkelman, parliamentarian.

Benjamin said she is very enthusiastic about her term and will be having a planning meeting at the Umpqua Bank at 10 a.m. Tuesday July 18.

Her theme is "Bounty of the County," where we will focus on produce and crops each month that is grown in Lake County.

Joyce Porterfield presented Benjamin with a Penny Pines Certificate for her dedication and work for the club.

Also present was Megan Franco, the recipient of the garden club's scholarship that is awarded to a high school senior with noted accomplishments.

Franco thanked the members for the scholarship and told of her future plans of attending UC Davis and majoring in agriculture. Her goal is to return to Lake County as a teacher in the agriculture field.

During the social period, members toured Benjamin’s garden that had been on the "Hidden Gardens of Lake County" tour 2015. This included seeing the lemurs and the zebra.

They also celebrated June Dye's birthday and Evy and Jose's wedding anniversary.

The Trowel and Trellis is a member of the Mendo-Lake District of the California Garden Club Inc.-Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

The club meets the third Tuesday of the month from September to June.

If you are interested in joining call Dana DiRicco Benjamin at 707-275-3500.