Central District May 2008
by Marie Pasley, CD Director
Central District continues to fulfill the National Garden Clubs mission by a majority of clubs doing community service, civic projects, and donating to state projects. Clubs provide community garden centers, write garden articles and maintain web sites. Club members maintain butterfly gardens, sponsor Jr. Garden Clubs, and give to local & state scholarships. Members are participating in FGCM schools.
A few Central District highlights are: After several decades absence, Arrowhead Garden Club held a Standard Flower Show this past year. They also hosted a wonderful Central District Fall meeting.
Ashland Garden Club celebrated their 50th Anniversary in ‘07. They plant and maintain an entry garden to Ashland, the city hall, city park, and local high school. Some gardens contain memorial trees in honor of deceased club and community members.
Bittersweet Garden Club donated $1000 to the “Adopt a Hero” program that sends packages to our troops serving in Iraq. As a fund raiser they hold an annual community garden tour.
Centralia Flower & Garden Club hosted the Central District Spring meeting and District Standard Flower Show. All but one club participated in the flower show, it was wonderful. They have a very active membership, 20 of the 25 club members worked on hosting the district meeting.
Columbia Garden Club members designed and with Master Gardeners planted a 300 foot entry landscape for a Habitat subdivision. They cleaned a Columbia park on Clean-Up Columbia Day.
Eldon Garden Club has been planning a Blue Star Memorial in their community. They collected funds over Memorial Day Weekend at the Eldon Cemetery. They used the funds for upkeep of cemetery trees, shrubs and annual beds.
Fulton Garden Club held a flower show design class for two local nursing homes with residents judging the events, afterwards residents all received a begonia to take to their room.
Grow and Glow Garden Club of Tipton participates heavily in the State Fair Flower Show, winning the Sweepstakes award for the most entries the past 2 years.
Lake Bloomers Garden Club maintains 2 blue bird trails, producing 54 fledglings. They sponsor a Jr. Garden Club by supplying project materials and presenters.
Mexico Garden Club maintains a wildflower butterfly and bird garden at the Mexico Historical Society. Their newest project is a Healing Garden at the Audrain Hospital Cancer Center.
Twin City Garden Club in California celebrated their 50th Anniversary in “07. The rest of their year was spent making their community “Green”, they advocated for and obtained a permanent community recycling service. At an Earth Day booth they handed out energy efficient light bulbs and tree seedlings.
Vine Clad Garden Club in Boonville planted a dogwood tree at the National Guard Armory as part of the NGC initiative for planting a patriotic tree.
Central District while doing many similar garden projects, also display a great deal of diversity working “Beyond the Garden Gate”.
