The Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club is requesting that a 7" x 6" plaque honoring Shirley Meneice be embedded partially into the stone featured below near the benches (Attachment 1) where they often enjoy snacks after their work in the Harrison Memorial Garden is complete.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club member since 1986, Shirley Meneice was highly active at the local and national levels throughout her career, which included time as club President (1998-2000). She was forever eager to support flower shows that raised money for the City and provided a framework to educate the public on horticulture, floral design and conservation. With her extraordinary knowledge of horticulture and ability to organize others in the pursuit of horticulture, she rose to become national Horticulture Chairman for all The Garden Club of America (GCA) clubs (1995-1997). She was adviser to the Horticulture Committee and Horticulture Chairman for the GCA Board of Associates for many years. In recognition of Shirley’s commitment to expanding horticulture knowledge, a national GCA Conference was begun in 2002 and called the Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference. It has been held annually at different botanical gardens across the country since then.
Shirley Meneice was an extraordinary individual, with great knowledge of horticulture and ability to share that knowledge with others. She not only mentored people but encouraged and inspired them. On a practical level, this was evident in her years of overseeing work by members at the City’s gardens at Harrison Memorial Library or Piccadilly Park. She is fondly remembered for her skill and understanding in accomplishing great results. She had continuing input in plant choices and needed improvements for the civic gardens. She had strong conservation interests and was the first GCA Horticulture Vice Chairman of Partners for Plants, a joint horticulture-conservation initiative to restore native habitat on public lands through the United States. Shirley was on the original Centennial Tree Project Committee that began the long-term collaboration with the City in restoring the North Dunes, now a GCA Partners for Plants project. Up until recently, she appeared at events at the North Dunes.
Shirley was the recipient of many awards: the national GCA Medal of Achievement Award (2013), Zone Horticulture Award, and numerous club awards. She was a grower and hybridizer of Camellias, a judge and life-time member of the American Camellia Society. On her 80th birthday the ACS registered the ‘Shirley Meneice’ Camellia in her honor. Shirley had a selfless earnest desire to help others and benefit the non-profits in which she believed. She left a legacy to the City in her joyful commitment to its civic gardens, dune restoration and education through flower shows.
Per Council policy 2017-04 “Recognition of Individuals, Organizations, and/or Events” (Attachment 2): Requests for the placement of recognition plaques on public property will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the City Council for extraordinary, lasting, and significant contribution to the City and community. The City Council has the final authority on all plaques or permanent recognition placed on public property.