Community Celebration honoring Loretta Wilken

Lakesiders are invited to a Community Celebration honoring Loretta Wilken on Saturday, Sept. 2 from 6-6:45 p.m. on the west lawn of Hoover Auditorium.

Since starting in 2016 as Lakeside’s first Master Gardener, Wilken has helped turn the Chautauqua community into a garden destination. Around every corner there is inspiration and delight in the flowers that bloom, the natives that thrive and the plants that beautify.

Every spring, Lakeside bursts with vibrant colors when thousands of flowers and plants start to bloom across the grounds. The mastermind behind this stunning display is Wilken and her dedicated Grounds Crew.

Her passion, love and care for gardening and our community are felt and she inspires and brings joy to all she meets. Over the years, she has consulted with homeowners and community members to raise awareness about stewarding and caring for their outdoor spaces.

Planning for Lakeside’s many landscapes are a long and thoughtful process of color coding, pattern detailing and planting. And getting to the end result of enjoying Lakeside in its peak season requires lots of hours and dirty hands, watering, mulching and weeding. This year, Lakeside entered the America in Bloom program in honor of Wilken’s work.

In addition to her work in the gardens, Wilken has planned Lakeside’s Get Growing! gardening programs. She also answers horticultural questions at the Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays during the season and writes seasonal blogs for Lakesiders to enjoy.

Her love and passion for Lakeside and its grounds are deeply appreciated and we’re pleased to honor her work and dedication with a special reception ahead of her retirement in January.