By Nicole Heubusch
This November, the Valrico Garden Club celebrated its 65th Anniversary of improving lawns, furnishing the local food supply, and making the community beautiful. The club first began on November 15, 1949 and was formed by 13 women in the Valrico area. It is a member of the Florida Federation of Gardens Clubs, Inc.; National Council of State Garden Clubs and Deep South Region, Florida District VIII.
The club educates on horticulture, does flower arranging, and all phases of gardening in homes and the community. It meets once a month, every third Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Apostles Lutheran Church located at 200 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon. Each meeting consists of old business and new business, and concludes with a guest speaker. The Club’s Anniversary meeting’s guest speaker was Liz Enginton, who gave a presentation on Foundation Planting.
The members of the Valrico Garden Club are very knowledgeable with different plants and how to treat them, and frequently give each other tips and advice. Member Ramona Pettigrew brought in plants from her garden at home for others to take and replant at the last meeting.
The Valrico Garden Club currently has 21 members, and it keeps growing. Dues are $20 for the whole year, and it goes toward the clubs funds and different fundraising projects. The club is very active in the community; they do tree plantings at schools for Arbor Day, and every fall and spring the Club plants flowers around the sign at the Brandon Community Center. It will be holding a garage sale in March to raise money for its projects.
“I joined the Valrico Garden Club in 2008 after my neighbor Mary Kay invited me to attend a meeting. As a result, our friendship bloomed and the club has been an outlet for me and keeps me out of trouble at age 63,” said Club Treasurer Gwen Graverson.
For more information, contact Mary Kay McMahan at 684-6323 or danmcma han@aol.com or visit the Garden Club’s Facebook page.
