One of three garden clubs in Naperville, the Naperville Community Gardeners, was formed in 1980 as the Naperville Men’s Garden Club. Its name was changed to the Naperville Gardeners Club in 1995 and finally to the Naperville Community Gardeners in 2003.
The current name truly reflects the contributions – gardening programs open to the public, labor, materials and financial – that this club gives to Naperville.
Look for two plaques along the Riverwalk – one names the Naperville Men’s Garden Club and the other the Naperville Community Gardeners – recognizing their work maintaining the landscape around the natural treasure. If you see trees being mulched or the annual clean-up in progress, it’s likely that these members are participating.
Except for July, October, November and December, the club welcomes interested gardeners to join them at their meetings which feature educational programs about gardening. August’s program is about how to plan a garden flower bed that looks wonderful throughout the year. Meeting details are on their website, napervillecommunitygardeners.club. If you’re looking for a club that meets in the evening, this is the one for you!
On August 20, the club will host their 40th Annual Juried Flower and Garden Show that encourages the public to enter and attend. Details are on their website, as well as photos of previous shows. If you’re interested in gardening, want to improve your home landscape and want to meet garden club members, please plan on attending. If this is your first time, chances are that next year you will enter the show and members will teach you how to prepare a winning entry.
Naperville Community Gardeners are generous as they financially support The Idea Garden at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots on West Street, near Aurora Avenue. They also contribute to horticulture programs, including scholarships.
Some members are Master Gardeners and with a group of local Master Gardeners, they plan and plant four garden plots at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, donating the produce to our local community pantry, Loaves and Fishes. These gardens are open to the public.
I personally like to drop by and check the progress throughout the summer. Parking is usually available right next to the gardens on West Street.
July is “Thank a Gardener Month.” Ok, I made that up, but thank the gardeners in our community who reach out beyond their own gardens to make our community beautiful and to help our neighbors who are food-insecure.
