Following is a brief history of our club. It will appear in the GCA Annual Meeting Handbook for the 2009 meeting in Providence. Many thanks to Barclay Smith, Nancy Duble, Louise Carter, Ruth Martin and Jeanie Kashgarian for their contributions and edits.
The Garden Club of New Haven
Established: 1924
Location: New Haven, CT
GCA Membership: 1952
106 Members
Profile compiled by Debbie Edwards
Beginning in 1924 with a meeting of 50 women, our club has grown to include 106 members. Early members defined the club’s purpose “to create interest in and promote knowledge of gardening, preservation of natural resources, and civic horticultural work in the Greater New Haven area.” Today, we continue many of the rich traditions established by a long line of dedicated and talented members, and we are especially proud of the work that we carry out in “Celebrating the Urban Landscape” in New Haven.
Our club has made a significant contribution to creating and conserving green space in our community, including the design, installation and maintenance of Phelps Triangle Park. The city turned over care of this small, neglected public space to us in 1951, when club members approached the mayor with a plan for its design and landscaping. Members have maintained the park ever since, and this year the club will undertake a renovation of the design and plantings.
Another special project for our club since the early 1980’s has been our contribution to the planting and caring for trees on the New Haven Green. Since New Haven is known as “The Elm City,” this is an important and highly visible project. Over the years, we have raised funds for replacing elm and other specimen trees and providing for their ongoing care.
In 1991, the Garden Club of New Haven advocated with the City of New Haven, the owner, for a property between Long Island Sound and Route 95 – the Connecticut Turnpike – to be transferred to the New Haven Land Trust. This area has become the Long Wharf Nature Preserve and has been transformed into a five-acre refuge. Regular educational tours are conducted along well-marked trails to educate citizens about the flora and fauna indigenous to the area.
Recently, our club joined twenty-four other organizations to form The Face of Connecticut Campaign, which is a legislative lobbying group advocating for a greener Connecticut.
As a club, we meet monthly, following the nine-month school calendar year. Our meetings are well known for having outstanding educational programs on a wide range of topics relevant to our varying interests. Members are actively involved in flower design classes and shows, in horticultural programs, and in other civic outreach projects. We even specialize in having fun!Welcome to our beautiful region, the place we happily call home.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment