As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, let’s take a minute to reflect on how our forefathers were gardeners, environmentalists and conservationists.
George Washington hired his first gardener in 1762 to achieve, in his own words, “a good kitchen garden.” His wife, Martha, often said that vegetables “were the best part of living in the country.” Their gardens soon expanded to include a “pleasure garden” full of ornamental plants with no practical purpose and a greenhouse for rare plants.
While traveling to Philadelphia to preside over the Constitutional Convention, Washington visited John Bartram’s garden. John was considered to be the greatest natural botanist in the world at that time. Once back home in Mount Vernon, George ordered a long list that included a wide variety of plants for their gardens. Like our first President, wherever we roam, we often look for gardens to visit, too.
Theodore Roosevelt laid the foundation for modern conservation practices in our nation. His achievements include the establishment of the U.S. Forest Service (the Smoky Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contest is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and National Garden Clubs), 150 national forests, 15 federal bird reserves, five national parks and 18 national monuments.
And now let’s consider the goals and achievements of garden clubs in Illinois.
There are about 130 clubs with a total of approximately 6,600 members that belong to The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. They work together to promote the love of gardening, floral design, civic beautification and development as well as environmental responsibility.
There are two garden clubs in Naperville—Cress Creek Garden Club and Naperville Garden Club. Both clubs work to have successful fundraisers to support projects around town and to provide scholarships to students pursuing degrees that reflect the interests of the clubs—Biology, Earth and Climate Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Engineering, Landscape Architecture, etc.
Clubs encourage fellow gardeners to protect and conserve the natural resources of our planet earth and invite the public to attend educational programs that teach us how to become caretakers of our air, water, land and wildlife. Clubs reach out to our communities, teaching our fellow citizens how to choose plants that are native, waterwise and attractive to pollinators. Club members plant and maintain public gardens that provide beauty and rest. Some of the gardens provide food for food pantries. Educational events include workshops, field trips and flower shows that teach floral design.
Garden Clubs honor our military with our Blue and Gold Star Memorial markers, often providing the gardens surrounding them.
We plant trees. We donate books about gardening and related topics to our local libraries. We work with local youth.
At our homes and in our communities, gardeners (whether or not you belong to a club) make America the wonderful place we call home.
