Who We Are
The Grand Valley Daylily Society is a 501(c)7 non-profit organization which was founded in January of 1985 by several local daylily enthusiasts. Approximately 40 people joined the club that first year, and many of them are still actively participating in the club today.
Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Grand Valley Daylily Society was created to promote and encourage the development and improvement of the daylily and to increase interest in its use as a means of home and civic beautification.
What We Do
The purpose of the Society is to promote and encourage the development and improvement of the daylily and to increase interest in the species, as a means of home and civic beautification. We are accomplishing these goals in a variety of ways.
Daylily Cultivation
The Club has a plant acquisition program designed to introduce newer daylily
hybrids to our community. Our Club purchases a variety of plants from
hybridizers and plant growers suitable for our growing conditions. These
plants are then distributed to volunteer growers to plant, and nurture for two
years before bringing the increase of these hybrids to our annual spring
auctions. Some of these purchased plants are designated as door prize plants
that are won at monthly club meetings. In this way, members and public
guests are able to acquire newer hybrids at affordable prices.
Auctions
The Grand Valley Daylily Society hosts both Spring and Fall plant auctions. Our Spring auction is held on the second or third Thursday of May and primarily features club purchased plants grown by qualified member volunteers over the previous two to three years. Our Fall auction is held on the first Thursday of September and features member-donated plants. These auctions are a means of gaining new plants, sharing the abundance of one’s own plants, and raising funds for the benefit of the club. A silent auction is held with each live auction, and allows members to donate other perennials, garden art, and other garden related items. The proceeds from the auctions are used to subsidize our plant acquisition program, the printing of our three annually written newsletters, our summer garden picnic, our annual Holiday Season dinner, and other activities and projects as approved by Society membership vote.
Community Engagement
The Grand Valley Daylily Society used funds to become a charter member of
the West Michigan Horticultural Society which is now housed at the Frederick
Meijer Gardens. Many of the daylilies seen at the Gardens were donated by
the Grand Valley Daylily Society.
We have provided plants for Habitat for Humanity homes and other projects to showcase the daylily in our community. In the past, we also hosted or served at Regional Daylily Meetings. We host an annual July Daylily Show, open to the public, at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, displaying a variety of daylily blooms to encourage use of the daylily in local gardens and
landscaping.
Meetings and Events
The Grand Valley Daylily Society meets the first Thursday in the months of
March, April, October at 7:00 p.m. indoors at Frederik Meijer Gardens. In May
and September our Daylily Auctions are held at Cascade Church. Admission
to Frederik Meijer Gardens is free while attending club programs and
meetings. We often hold Zoom virtual meetings with guest speakers during
January and February. In November we meet at Cascade Church for our
annual Holiday Season Dinner.
During the summer months of June, July, and August, Grand Valley Daylily
Society members graciously open their gardens for summer garden tours so
we can see a wide variety of our favorite flowers in bloom. The August
meeting also includes our Summer Picnic.
The public is always invited to join us at our monthly meetings and other club
activities.
Club Officers
President – Peggy Pike
Vice President – Claire Sheridan
Treasurer – Bruce Wickmann
Secretary – Sharon VanderWilp
Member at Large – Jerri Schultz
Newsletter Editor – Connie Hall
Webmaster – Ian Lappenga
Grand Valley Daylily Society 