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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



How Does Your Garden Club Grow? 



OLIVE HYDE FOSTER 



THAT neighborhood you live in and know so well, 

 did you ever stroll through it with your eyes really 

 open, looking around you critically as though you 

 had never seen the place before? That was what Mrs. 

 John W. Paris, of Flushing, Long Island, found herself 

 "doing one Spring day six years ago. What was her 

 dismay to discover that the only sign that her neighbors 

 were making any effort to beautify their door-yards was 

 an occasional round flower-bed filled with red geraniums. 

 Then and there the idea of the Park Garden Club was 

 born, and it was not long before it had an interested mem- 

 bership of thirty. 



The lirst meetings of the club (held twice a month) 

 were on Monday mornings, in the different gardens, to 

 study the various problems, compare notes and discuss 

 methods of growing better flowers. By Autumn women 

 in other sections were begging to be admitted, and the 

 original number decided to keep up the good work 

 throughout the year and move indoors. The membership 

 limit was raised and the meetings changed to the after- 

 noons, to be followed by a cup of tea for sociability. But 

 even that first Summer there was a small flower show 

 held in the public library building. 



Soon the war came on. The club raised special funds 

 through its entertainments, for the Red Cross, the Y. M. 

 C. A. and undertook the support (which it still main- 

 tains) of two French orphans. It bought, as well as sold, 

 thousands of dollars worth of Liberty Bonds, started the 

 movement that led in that community to the establishment 

 •of thousands of war gardens, arranged, through the State 

 College of Agriculture, for a free course in vegetable 

 growing, and then opened for the Summer a public 

 canning-kitchen. The women taking the course subse- 

 quently acted as instructors throughout the season, al- 

 though many of them previously had not done even their 

 own housework ! 



The club also bought fruit-trees for devastated France, 

 kits of tools for the French peasants, and instituted a 

 three-day community fair (Thursday a flower show, Fri- 

 day a vegetable show and Saturday a baby — or human 

 flower — show ! ) which netted approximately $5,000 for 

 the town hospital. It planted what is said to be the first 

 live Christmas tree, it established a bird sanctuary and 

 feeding-station, and maintained public interest in food 

 production and food conservation by several seasons of 

 war-garden exhibits, with stimulating prizes. And up to 

 last Midsummer (in six seasons), it had given no less 

 than thirteen flower shows and .special exhibitions. 



With the close of the war the club succeeded in getting, 

 through the park department, enough memorial trees for 

 each of the public school grounds in the town, and also 

 co-operation in the planting in the park of a memorial 

 knoll for the local heroes. To this latter it contributed 

 (from club funds) two white oaks, chosen for strength 

 and longe^^ty, to be dedicated in commemoration of Theo- 

 dore Roosevelt and his gallant son, Quentin. Also in this 

 park it has planned, with the aid of the officials, to estab- 

 lish for both beauty and study, a bit of wild garden along 

 a little stream, with the plants native to Long Island. 

 And it has carried on a vigorous campaign to protect the 

 native plants and wild flowers, especially those most in- 

 jured by motorists — tlie laurel and dogwood, now threat- 

 ened with extinction. But its main object at the present 

 time, aside from stimulating interest in more general tree- 

 planting, is the arousing of interest in gardens and co- 

 operation in the organization of other garden clubs. 



And this brings up the subject of the club's manage- 

 ment and methods. Its simple constitution and by-laws, 

 as set forth in less than three hundred words, remained 

 practically unchanged until this Spring when it was found 

 advisable to raise the dues — active from $2 per year to $4 

 and associate from $3 per year to $6. And whereas for- 

 merly both business matters and a program usually occu- 

 pied each meeting, the first meeting of each month is now 

 devoted almost entirely to business. 



With these twelve business meetings so arranged, the 

 second meetings are left for the special programs. In- 

 fluential people prominent in music, art and literary circles 

 have given talks which have contributed to the brilliancy 

 of the club's success. 



Authorities have responded eagerly to invitations for 

 addresses on their particular subjects, the culture of such 

 special flowers as the iris, the peony, the rose, and the 

 preparation of the soil. Landscape gardeners, writers, 

 editors, artists, have talked to the club. Even within the 

 club are certain women who have been so very successful 

 that they are regularly called upon to report on their ex- 

 periences and accomplishments. 



In the beginning, the programs together with the con- 

 stitution and by-laws were published in an attractive little 

 year book. But during the strenuous days of the war 

 people could not make plans so far ahead, and so finally 

 the idea was developed of a quarterly magazine. The Gar- 

 den Bulletin, which carries current club news, gossip of 

 other garden clubs, and full reports of the addresses. 



The club has also a tree committee, to look after local 

 tree interests, and a motor committee to arrange for field 

 day and flower show transportation. It also decided last 

 Spring to start special flower committees and announced 

 roses, peony, iris, dahlia and perennial departments, one 

 of which each member was asked to join for special study. 

 This has proved surprisingly successful, and at the height 

 of its season, the rose, the peony and the iris branch has 

 each given a fine special e.xhibition, with a tulip show of 

 wonderful beauty for good measure. The club exhibited 

 at the Dahlia Society's show^ in New York, and held a 

 chrysanthemum exhibit in November. 



Moreover, the cultivation of the humble vegetable still 

 goes on ; and at the previous annual Spring and Autumn 

 exhibitions, there has always been a fruit and vegetable 

 section, with special prizes for the children. 



The field days of the club have proved a source of in- 

 spiration as well as pleasure. Once a year at least it 

 plans a trip to some point of interest to garden enthusiasts. 

 All these club activities, however, mean something more 

 than social intercourse, than bigger beets and finer dahlias. 

 The first material consideration that they bring is health. 

 But most important of all, the garden counts for saner. 

 more beautiful living. 



Sensing this, the club printed in one of its earliest year 

 books, the lines of Thomas Edward Brown : 



"A garden is a lovesome filing, God zmt ! 



Rose plot, 



Fringed pool, 



Fern'd grot — 



The veriest school 



Of peace ; and yet the fool 



Contends that God is not — ■ 



Not God! In gardens! IVIien the ei-c is cool? 



Nay, but I liave a sign; 



'Tis very sure God zvalks in mine." 



— McCall's Magazine. 



