DAVENPORT, IOWA (February 19, 2020) —
Gardens of Europe, Sunday, February 23 @ 2PM, General Admission
Join us on Sunday, February 23, for "Gardens of Europe," a series presented by Linnea Koch.
The first part of the program is on the small island (or insel, in German) of Mainau, a botanic garden in Lake Constance surrounded by Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, which is owned by Swedish nobility. Linnea briefly presents the 5000 year history before touring three seasons of island plant life. She takes you to the Arboretum with its towering Sequoia, the formal rose garden, the seasonal gardens and topiaries, as well as a peek into the largest butterfly house in Germany and the "barococo" chapel. The island's gardens encompass much of the 110 acres; the rest is in use by the 80+ gardeners that keep the gardens beautiful. Enjoy the tour of this "Blooming Island."
The second part of the program takes you outside of Amsterdam. Keukenhof translates as kitchen garden. Linnea gives a short history of the property and just who owned this keukenhof and adjoining land. The bulb growers' display gardens and their sales huts are open only for the duration of the bulb blooming season in spring, approximately 6-8 weeks. She has visited the gardens on Opening Day, during the middle of the display and on Closing Day. These visits give a good representation of the early, middle, and late blooming species of the spring bulbs. She takes you through the gardens filled not only with plants, but a variety of sculptures which vary from year to year. The indoor displays feature the latest cultivars available from the growers as well as unusual flower arrangements. The outdoor beds are a riot of color and redesigned with new plants each year. The gardens are surrounded by the acres of commercial tulip fields. Come, welcome spring on this tour of Keukenhof.
Linnea Koch, the daughter of an artist, has worked in different media, from painting and sculpture to etching and weaving. While she had fun with a simple camera during childhood, photography really became interesting when she received her first SLR camera in high school, a used early Exa (Exakta). That camera kept her looking for unusual subject matter, creating a new way of seeing common place subjects. From the beaches on Lake Michigan to travels around the country, as well as explorations in Europe, she has searched for intriguing subjects to photograph. Her photos have been published in corporate publications, calendars, books, including covers of nautical chart books, and have been exhibited and won awards throughout the region. She has owned and operated a graphic design studio for over three decades, is an Illinois Master Gardener with a special interest in native shade plants, and has given many talks on local landmarks, shade gardening, and some of the wonderful gardens here and in Europe.
This program is included with general admission:
Adult: $5 | Senior: $4 | Child: $3 | Member: Free
Exhibit Closing! Sunday, February 23
Our traveling exhibit "Witness to the Revolution: Accounts from Americans Who Were There" closes on Sunday, February 23. Our next exhibit "The History We Hold: Highlights from the GAHC Collection" will open Sunday, March 8.
Opening Reception for Power Frauen Exhibit, Saturday, February 29, 5:30-7PM, Free Admission
Join us on Saturday, February 29, 5:30-7PM, for an opening reception for our new exhibit "Power Frauen: German Women Who Dared to Dream." There will be live music by Liv Carrow, appetizers provided by Crane and Pelican, and wine provided by The Grape Life.
In the year 2020, we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment — that which guaranteed women the right to vote.
In celebration of this anniversary, this exhibit features German and German-American women who left their mark on the world. Paired with original artwork created by local women artists, this exhibit tells the stories of these amazing "Power Frauen."
Admission to the opening reception is free.
Painting for a Purpose, Sunday, March 8 @ 12PM
Join instructor Beth Peters on Sunday, March 8, 12PM, for this painting workshop. Create a beautiful 11x14 painting designed to be easy and fun. No artistic experience is needed.
Beth Peters is a Quad City artist who has worked for area nonprofits for 25 years. She has a BFA in Studio Art and has taught adult art classes for many years.
Tickets are $20 for members, $25 for non-members.
Call 563-322-8844 to register or purchase tickets online on Facebook or Eventbrite.com.
Kaffeeklatsch, Sunday, March 8 @ 3PM
Join us for our monthly Kaffeeklatsch on Sunday, March 8th at 3pm following the Fascinating Fasching presentation!
Enjoy good company, conversation, and Apfelkuchen made by Suzanne's Swiss Bakery at this informal gathering!
Volunteer with Us!
We are looking for volunteers in 4 different areas: Front Desk Volunteers, Special Events Volunteers, Docents, and Building and Grounds Committee!
Front Desk Volunteers: Help greet visitors to the GAHC! Training provided. Work as little or as much as you like — scheduled days available. Shifts are from Tuesday- Saturday, 10AM-1PM or 1-4PM, and Sundays, 12-4PM. Want to help only on Special Event days — let us know! Give the gift of time this year at the GAHC! If you’d like to volunteer at the front desk, contact Sami at samantha@gahc.org.
Special Events: The GAHC holds special events throughout the year which require a larger number of volunteers to be on hand. Examples of these events are: The Best of the Wurst Sausage Competition, Annual Bier Tasting, Weihnachtsmarkt Holiday Craft Fair, etc. We may need assistance with ticket sales/check in, directing the increased number of visitors, etc. These are often fun but busy events and are not possible without the help of volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering for special events, contact Sami at samantha@gahc.org.
Docents: The GAHC offers guided tours of our exhibits led by volunteer docents. Docent volunteers must have an interest in history and be comfortable with public speaking. Tours are scheduled only when one has been requested. There is no experience or specialized knowledge required — new docents will be trained by museum staff. This is a good position for anyone interested in history and museum education. If you’re interested in becoming a docent, contact Sami at samantha@gahc.org.
Building and Grounds Committee: Do you have knowledge of building issues, historic structures, or are just plain handy? The B&G committee is seeking new members to attend 6 meetings per year and help deal with the many issues that arise with a structure like ours! Meetings are on the first Wednesday of every other month at 10am and typically last one hour. Contact Kelly at kelly.lao@gahc.org.
Are You a Member Yet?
There are many benefits to membership with the GAHC. Members receive:
- Quarterly issues of the Infoblatt newsletter
- Free Admission to exhibits
- Free Admission to many programs and events
- Access to special members-only events
- Discounts on classes, events, and trips
- Discounts on facility rental
Want to be sure you never forget to renew? Sign up for automatic renewals online by clicking on the button below!
Would you like to save paper and receive your quarterly Infoblatt newsletter digitally? Give us a call at (563) 322-8844 or email Sami at samantha@gahc.org and let us know!
Looking for a Venue for your Special Event?
Have your next gathering here at the GAHC and save big! Your rental dollars help us fund our educational programming. In addition, more people will see our beautiful event space and learn about our facility! We can help save you from the cleaning and hassle of having guests at your home. An event at GAHC allows your guest ample parking, we set up the room for you, and you can bring your own food and beverage!
We have many openings — even at the holidays! Hold your class reunion, baby shower, wedding gift-opening day, potluck, anniversary party, club or organizational meeting, family board-game night, graduation, or anything you can think of in our gorgeous space that looks out onto the Mississippi River and Centennial Bridge! We seat up to 100 comfortably, or 150 cocktail style, and can add on Museum Tours!
Call today to speak with Sami and let us do the work for your next event! Call 563-322-8844 or email info@gahc.org.
