Garden Clubs a source of ‘Village Values’
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Garden clubs grow more than flowers and shrubs in Hot Springs Village.
These groups offer dynamic social and volunteer opportunities, so that members may “grow” their own skills and enjoyment of gardening while also “growing” the beauty of the community. At a Village Values presentation on Aug.
10, representatives of three Village garden clubs shared the interesting histories and current activities of each club.
Diane Hardin, master gardener, discussed the Arkansas Master Gardener Program, which began in 1988 with only
40 members in four counties (Garland, Jefferson, Pulaski, and Saline.) The program now boasts 3,400 master gardeners in 67 counties in Arkansas. Garland County, which has only 10 individuals when the program began, now has over
200 master gardeners.
The program has a number of projects in Hot Springs Village, including an “Ask a Master Gardener” booth at the Green Market, a Yard of the Month recognition program, and a xeriscape (landscaping that requires little to no supplemental watering) at Cortez Pavilion.
Linda Nagy, a member of the Village Pines Garden Club, spoke about this ladies-only group of avid gardeners. (In addition to gardening, the ladies enjoy an annual tea party each April, open to any ladies of the Village.) The group contributes to many landscaping areas that add beauty to the Village, including gardens near places such as the Cortez grave site, the Coronado Center fountain, the Coronado Tennis Center, Balboa Pavilion, the East Gate entrance, and the Coronado Fitness Center.
The group has also created a beautiful butterfly garden at the Ponce de Leon Center that has won awards and top recognition presented by many groups, such as the Southwest National Garden Club.
Jim Mahan shared a humorous, lighthearted take on the humble beginnings of the Men’s Village Garden Club. It seems the guys just weren’t welcome at the ladies’ garden club activities because they’d break all their teacups. They took it in stride and formed their own club, which was established and federated in 1992 as a nonprofit, educational society.
Its projects have included the creation and maintenance of gardens beautifying the Balboa Gate, the Property Owners’ Association entrance, the DeSoto Club, the East and West Gates, a Veterans’ Memorial, a Gardeners’ Memorial, and the entrance to Woodlands Auditorium.
All members of Hot Springs Village are welcome to participate in garden club activities and may contact these organizations directly for more information.