MEET THE 2009-2011 OFFICERS

President Yvonne Nilles
As the ISU Extension Horticulturist for Region 7 (Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster and Wright counties), Yvonne enjoys working with 4-Her’s, Master Gardeners and other adults who are interested in horticulture. She is an active member of the Town & Country Garden Club of Webster City, the Fort Dodge Federated Garden Club, is a NGC Master Flower Show Judge and is a Master Gardener.

With an interest in plants of all types, her main emphasis is on educating the public in growing and showing horticulture, as well as promoting the use of exhibitor-grown garden flowers in design. Living on her farm near Webster City, Yvonne has one of the two Earth Kind Rose trial sites in Iowa, containing over 80 test roses. Her current garden contains well over 350 other roses and assorted weeds. She also enjoys her ever increasing collection of miniature plants, such as hosta, sedum and daylilies, for participation in her joint garden club’s annual miniature flower show.

Help in the garden consists of compost received from Bud, her horse; vermin
control by Poppy, her rat terrier; and help with organization and deadheading through the efforts of her 3-year-old grandson, William Max.

President Elect Darla Kickbush
Darla is a member of the Indianola Garden Club and the Ackworth Garden Club.  She is an obsessive gardener with 20 different flower beds including a water garden and strives to have different plants in each flower bed. She enjoys reading, studying and attending garden seminars, researching information on the internet etc. and sharing this knowledge with others. She served two term as District 4 & 5 Director.

Darla keeps busy with many community and gardening projects. She is working closely with the Indianola City the perennial plant sale, planting annuals in the greenhouse for the city parks and is an active member of the Indianola Community Tree Committee.

Darla is also a member of the Indianola Chamber of Commerce, 1st United
Methodist Church of Indianola, Warren Co. Master Gardeners, Central Iowa Water Garden Club, Des Moines Botanical Center, Reiman Gardens and The  owa Arboretum.

1st Vice President and Awards Chairman Sandra Wales
Sandra is a member or the Muscatine Garden Club. She is a flower show judge, served as the Local Chair for the Flower Show Schools held in Muscatine, served as FGCI secretary in 2005-2007 and is taking the Landscape Design and Gardening Study courses. She is of course an avid gardener.

When she’s not busy with Garden Club, Sandra also is active in Muscatine County Master Gardeners, the Muscatine Arboretum Association, and Toastmasters. An avid reader, she also enjoys crocheting and baking. Sandra and her husband Craig enjoy traveling and visiting her two children and  Grandchild top the list of favorite things to do.

2nd Vice President Loretta Daisy
Loretta is a member of the Ft. Dodge Federated Garden Club. She is an accredited flower show judge, served as District 6 Director and served as FGCI secretary in 2007-2009.

Husband Bryce, is a retired electrician and refrigeration repairman owning his own business. Loretta spent 33 years in the education field as a classroom instructor, a special education instructor, a special education consultant, and a Drake University Instructor. She has work with Girls Scouts and is very active in her Church. She has one daughter who is also an educator.

Loretta keeps busy with garden club activities, church activities, gardening, going to garage sales, antique hunting, reading and helping her mother and sister-in-law.