The Talbot County Garden Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Through its civic initiatives and thousands of volunteer hours, the Club has remained an integral part of the community and of Talbot County’s history. The Club’s accomplishments are wide ranging and have continued to enhance the beauty of the community around us.
In 1917, 10 men and women established the Talbot County Garden Club with the initial focus on developing new gardens in the community, restoring old ones and protecting the beauty of the Eastern Shore. Over the years, the mission has been broadened to incorporate the changing needs of the community and the conservation of natural resources but the original themes are still present in the heart and soul of each member.
In celebration, The Talbot County Garden Club will be displaying Centennial banners on Washington, Harrison, Goldsborough and Dover Streets in Easton. The banners will include photos of two of the Club’s various civic projects. The Club will also hold a member luncheon with various state and local leaders invited.
To capture the history of the Club and its accomplishments, The Talbot County Garden Club is publishing a book on their hundred years in Talbot County. The process of planning and writing the book provided us the opportunity to capture our history, especially the lesser known details. It is a vehicle by which we can share our history and accomplishments with our members and the community,” states Missy Warfield, Book Committee Chair and Editorial Director.
A little known fact was that one of the first major projects for the Talbot County Garden Club was the elimination of billboards along RT 50. The effort spanned fourteen years but ultimately resulted in the elimination of 21,000 signs and the unobstructed views while driving through our County. Beautification projects continue today. Most recently, the Club planted 13,000 daffodil bulbs in front of Moton Park along the RT 322 by-pass to commemorate its hundred-year history.
The Talbot County Garden Club has been attributed as the impetus for the Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage. Over the last seventy-plus years, the Pilgrimage has grown to a nearly statewide event, with the gardens in Talbot County being among the most popular. Proceeds from the Pilgrimage have been used for projects throughout Talbot County including the design and building of the Talbot Historical Society Garden.
In addition to the Historical Society Garden, Talbot County Garden Club has also contributed to many other projects around the County over the years. Created by the Club, the Fountain Garden at Five Corners and the Frances Plate Memorial Children’s Garden at Idlewild Park continue to be maintained by members of the Club. Through all the efforts, The Talbot County Garden Club has been recognized by several national organizations for its work in beautifying Talbot County.
The Talbot County Garden Club’s mission today is to enrich the natural beauty of the environment by sharing knowledge of gardening, fostering the art of flower arranging, maintaining civic projects, supporting projects that benefit the community and encouraging the conservation of natural resources. With over one hundred active and associate members, the Club is well posed to continue its tradition of partnering with the community to enhance the beauty of the landscape around Talbot County for years to come.
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