2024 Daffodil Day Luncheon
Update on Daffodils4 Detroit 2024
The April 17, 2024, Daffodil Luncheon brought together over 400 people who support the beautification project to the Ballroom at the Detroit Yacht Club. Whether it was because of or in spite of interesting spring weather, we all enjoyed a lush display of hundreds of thousands of daffodil blooms in Detroit and on Belle Isle.
Guests enjoyed a keynote presentation from Dr. Meagan Elliott of the City of Detroit titled “From Blight to Beauty” showcasing the Detroit public park improvements over the past decade. In addition, Amanda Treadwell of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources updated us on the latest projects on Belle Isle.
Our retail this year truly highlighted our project. Rebel Nell handcrafted jewelry using some picked blooms (with permission) allowing some to enjoy them all year long! Judy Duffy, Megan Swoyer, and Laurie Tennent each refreshed their offerings. Once again, the Peacock Room featured a tempting array of botanically themed wares.
Happily, we announced that we raised enough funds to purchase 100,000 daffodil bulbs once again for planting this spring. Along with bulbs from the City of Detroit, this will bring us closer to our next goal of 10 million bulbs planted. We are grateful to those who attended and to those who helped with special sponsor donations. It takes all of us to make this a successful project. The 2025 luncheon will be the third Wednesday in April– April 16, 2025. Mark your calendars now!
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Heller
Chair Daffodils4Detroit
Donations to Daffodils4Detroit
Donations go directly to buying & planting daffodil bulbs. By making a donation of
$100 you will plant 400 bulbs, without even putting on your gardening gloves.
Making a donation with PayPal is easy, just push the "Donate" button below.
You do NOT need to have a PayPal account. Any major debit or credit card may be used.
Donations go to "Michigan Farm & Garden Foundation 501(c)3" and are tax deductible.
A receipt will be emailed to you.
$100 you will plant 400 bulbs, without even putting on your gardening gloves.
Making a donation with PayPal is easy, just push the "Donate" button below.
You do NOT need to have a PayPal account. Any major debit or credit card may be used.
Donations go to "Michigan Farm & Garden Foundation 501(c)3" and are tax deductible.
A receipt will be emailed to you.
Would you rather write a CHECK for your donation?
Make it payable to: Michigan Division WNFGA
Mail to: Pat Brown, 31616 Lexington St., Warren, MI 48092.
To assure you receive full recognition, mail checks by March 24.
Please be sure to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL and phone number.
2024 Daffodil Day Luncheon
Wednesday, April 17 at the Detroit Yacht Club
Program
Meagan Elliott PhD: The Woman Behind Detroit's Parks
Meagan is Deputy Chief Financial Officer for City of Detroit
When serving as Detroit's Chief Parks Planner, Meagan has responsibility for the first post-bankruptcy
Parks & Recreation Improvement Plan, Strategic Neighborhood Fund, Joe Louis Greenway, and more.
.
11:00am
Luncheon Registration
Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle
1 Riverbank Dr, Detroit, MI 48207
Daffodil Delight, our signature non-alcoholic beverage, is provided for guests during registration,
A cash bar is also available. Vender Shops will be open. Pre-paid merchandise may be picked up.
11:00am
Featured Artist & Retail Adventures
, Featured Artist Amy Peterson founded Rebel Nell to help support women in Detroit.
Amy, and her team, create beautiful and distinctive jewelry from found objects, most often graffiti paint chips.
Rebel Nell is partnering with us to debut new botanically inspired pieces, especially made for Daffodil Day.
All of our favorite retailers will be back with new selections of their wonderful wares.
They include: The Peacock Room, Little Cottage Designs,
Laurie Tennent Botanicals, and Megan Swoyer.
10:00 to 5:00pm
Featured Belle Isle Attraction: The Belle Isle Nature Center
The Belle Isle Nature Center is run by the Detroit Zoological Society. The Nature Center has just had a $2 million renovation and has new exhibits & programs. Open 10:00am to 5:00pm, you may visit before or after the luncheon.
12:00pm
Luncheon Is Served.
Menu
Classic Greek Salad with Chicken
Rolls & Butter
Coffee & Tea
Lemony Spring Dessert
(Vegetarian option is available. Diet restrictions can be accommodated.)
Program
The program will begin after luncheon starts.
Keynote speaker:
Meagan Elliott PhD
Woman Behind Detroit's Parks
Judy Duffy
Little Cottage Design
Judy enjoyed a career in the business of high end cosmetics and fragrances, working for Fabergé, Caron Perfumes, Nina Ricci, and Channel. Job perks included frequent trips to Paris and a memorable lunch with Cary Grant.
After deciding to start her own business, Judy opened a shop called Little Cottage Design in Harbor Springs, Michigan. She provided designer home goods and gifts to the summer community. Family matters called her back to the Detroit area.
Now, she does Little Cottage Design as a “pop up” boutique in speciality shows such as the Junior League Designer Show House and the St. Paul Holiday Boutique in Grosse Pointe. She will be bringing a wide array of merchandise including a specially curated daffodil collection.
Special Note from Robin Heller: You can make a Daffodil Difference!
Please consider one of these levels for yourself, your branch, or as a shared gift from your family or friends.
Double Golden - $5,000 or more
Acknowledgement on the website, social media, on site signage, from the lectern, and a commemorative framed Daffodil Day Tile.
Golden Long - $1,000-4,999
Acknowledgement on the website, social media, on site signage, and a Daffodil Day Tile.
Trumpeter - $500-$999
Acknowledgement on the website, social media, and on site signage
Donors, to assure you receive full recognition for your donation,
Please make your on-line donation by March 31, 2023. c
2024 Daffodils4Detroit Committee
Claudia Scioly
Founder
Member-at-Large
Cecily O’Connor
Visionary
Bloomfield Hills Branch
Robin Heller
Committee Chair
Grosse Pointe Farm & Garden Branch
Sue Malone
President of Michigan Division
Woman's National Farm & Garden Association
Waterford Branch
Barry Burton
Horticulture & Beautification for City of Detroit,
Janice Ellison
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle
Patrica Brown
Warren & Troy Branches
Suemarie Klimek
Northville Branch
Sheila Kneeshaw
Member-at-Large
Kathleen Krasity
Indian Village Branch
Cheryl Malin
Waterford & Pontiac Branches
Aislinn Scofield
Indian Village Branch
Lenore Treba
Troy Branch
Condensed History & Chronology of Daffodils4Detroit Project
By Robin Heller
October 13, 2009 — Lyndon Miller speaks at a luncheon at the Detroit Yacht Club about the Daffodil Project in Manhattan. The luncheon was organized by Cecily O’Connor, Bloomfield Hills Branch (tickets $85 & $125 for daffodil patrons)
April 27, 2010 — First Daffodil Luncheon organized at the DYC by Claudia Scioly, Ann Arbor branch (tickets $25 WNFGA members, $35 guests)
2012 Luncheon Notables — (a) Aislinn Scofield creates the signature image/notecard using the Lady Bird Johnson quote, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” The notecard was distributed as a luncheon favor. (b) Daffodil Project announces the vision of celebrating each life in the Detroit region by planting 4,000,000 bulbs.
2012 — Michigan Division Council Meeting — Michigan Division approves Daffodil Project as a Division project beginning in 2013.
2017 Luncheon Notables — (a) Introduction of Daffodils4Detroit name and planting expansion from Belle Isle into Detroit (b) City of Detroit proclamation —envisioned and shepherded through the process by Michigan Division member and former president Sheila Kneeshaw— that the third Wednesday in April would Daffodils4Detroit Day (c) D4D receives Spirit of Detroit award from the City of Detroit.
September 2017 — D4D receives the President’s Award, Keep Michigan Beautiful’s hightest award.
April 25, 2018 — City of Detroit announces goal to plant 1,000,0000 daffodils in the city by 2020.
Fall 2018 — D4D reaches goal of 650,000 bulbs planted on Belle Isle, representing one bulbs for each City of Detroit resident. A new goal is set of 4 million daffodils, one for every resident of metropolitan Detroit.
2019 — 10th annual Daffodil Day Luncheon
2020 — In-person luncheon cancelled due to the pandemic; donations were accepted.
2021 — Committee holds VIRTUAL Daffodil Day due to pandemic, donations were accepted.
2022 — Daffodil Day Luncheon returns Tickets SELL OUT!
2023 --- A goal of 4 million daffodil bulbs planted in metro Detroit was met. A new goal of 10 million daffodil bulbs, one for every resident of Michigan, was set.
By Robin Heller
October 13, 2009 — Lyndon Miller speaks at a luncheon at the Detroit Yacht Club about the Daffodil Project in Manhattan. The luncheon was organized by Cecily O’Connor, Bloomfield Hills Branch (tickets $85 & $125 for daffodil patrons)
April 27, 2010 — First Daffodil Luncheon organized at the DYC by Claudia Scioly, Ann Arbor branch (tickets $25 WNFGA members, $35 guests)
2012 Luncheon Notables — (a) Aislinn Scofield creates the signature image/notecard using the Lady Bird Johnson quote, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” The notecard was distributed as a luncheon favor. (b) Daffodil Project announces the vision of celebrating each life in the Detroit region by planting 4,000,000 bulbs.
2012 — Michigan Division Council Meeting — Michigan Division approves Daffodil Project as a Division project beginning in 2013.
2017 Luncheon Notables — (a) Introduction of Daffodils4Detroit name and planting expansion from Belle Isle into Detroit (b) City of Detroit proclamation —envisioned and shepherded through the process by Michigan Division member and former president Sheila Kneeshaw— that the third Wednesday in April would Daffodils4Detroit Day (c) D4D receives Spirit of Detroit award from the City of Detroit.
September 2017 — D4D receives the President’s Award, Keep Michigan Beautiful’s hightest award.
April 25, 2018 — City of Detroit announces goal to plant 1,000,0000 daffodils in the city by 2020.
Fall 2018 — D4D reaches goal of 650,000 bulbs planted on Belle Isle, representing one bulbs for each City of Detroit resident. A new goal is set of 4 million daffodils, one for every resident of metropolitan Detroit.
2019 — 10th annual Daffodil Day Luncheon
2020 — In-person luncheon cancelled due to the pandemic; donations were accepted.
2021 — Committee holds VIRTUAL Daffodil Day due to pandemic, donations were accepted.
2022 — Daffodil Day Luncheon returns Tickets SELL OUT!
2023 --- A goal of 4 million daffodil bulbs planted in metro Detroit was met. A new goal of 10 million daffodil bulbs, one for every resident of Michigan, was set.
