A century of gardening, friendship and community involvement has given the Garden Club of Morgan Park Beverly Hills plenty to celebrate.
The club, which has about 110 members, is marking its 100th anniversary while continuing its mission to promote the advancement of gardening and horticulture through group study, practical gardening and other related activities.
Gael Mennecke, the club’s president, said the centennial has been an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s beginnings and the role it played in the community throughout the decades.
Mennecke has been a member since 2016, but researching the club’s history has given her a new appreciation for its long-standing tradition.
“I was so pleased that we put together a group to work on a full year of going back in time to what it was like in the 1920s,” Mennecke said.
The yearlong look at the club’s history included programs such as “The Last Farm in Beverly” and “Gardening in the 1920s.” Members also took a field trip to the Morton Arboretum, which was founded in 1922.
Member PJ Pistek researched the club’s history and discovered that its involvement in the community stretches back to its earliest decades.
“When PJ did her presentation, I learned that our club was amazing in the ’20s, ’30s and into the ’40s,” Mennecke said.
The club participated in activities at Navy Pier and won multiple awards during those years.
Today, members continue to gather regularly to learn about gardening and share their experiences. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month, except January, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 9401 S. Oakley Ave. A typical meeting begins with a business meeting at 9:30 a.m., followed by a program at 10 a.m.
Some activities take place off-site or are limited to members, including a field trip and member garden walk.
Mennecke said the club’s appeal goes well beyond gardening.
“The camaraderie, knowledge, the ability to share with one another, there are so many reasons to want to be a part of this group,” she said. “I often say that I have never been in an organization as friendly and as welcoming as this club is.”
Molly Sullivan, a club member who joined three years ago, said she experienced that welcoming spirit almost immediately.
“I echo Gael’s sentiments about the welcoming spirit of the club and members’ willingness to share information and knowledge but also to support one another when needed,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said she may be a relatively new member, but the kindness of the club’s members has made her feel like she has been part of the group much longer.
“I am a very new member, three years, but feel as if I’ve been there for much longer due to the kindness of everyone,” she said.
That willingness to help also extends into the community. Club members volunteer at the Roy Diblik garden at the Beverly Arts Center, helping weed and maintain the garden.
Sullivan said members are willing to pitch in when others need help, whether that means supporting fellow members or taking part in community projects.
The club remains accessible to those interested in learning more about gardening and meeting others who share the same interest. Annual dues are $25 for the September-to-August year. Events are free to members, and refreshments are provided at meetings. Nonmembers can attend meetings for a $10 guest fee.
The Garden Club of Morgan Park Beverly Hills has also received attention from local media during its centennial year, with coverage in the Beverly Review, Block Club Chicago and The Villager.
A century after its founding, the club continues to bring people together through gardening, education and service. Its history is part of the story, but its members are helping write the next chapter.
thank you for the article highlighting our Garden Club.