Garden Club History
Past & Present
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On June 10, 1969, the East Longmeadow Garden Club was formed and the founder, Esther Rosati*, was elected its first president. The Club has been an active organization since 1969 with numerous challenging projects, educational opportunities and informative programs. Members have been eager, intent and their enthusiasm has inspired others.
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The Beautification Program & Center Planting Project
Had its start in 1973 and is in full swing today. Our Garden Club is responsible for planting all the lovely flowers and greens around the rotary, Town Center as well as the Memorial Gardens throughout all the seasons of the year. In December, with the help of the East Longmeadow Department of Public Works, the Garden Club decorates the center with Christmas greens in the tubs and evergreen sprays on the lampposts.
Arbor Day Program
In 1969, the Garden Club initiated the Arbor Day Program in the East Longmeadow Elementary Schools and has celebrated ARBOR DAY annually with 5th grade students since 1969. The Garden Club coordinates their efforts with the Conservation Commission to make this a very memorable day. The Garden Club presents each 5th grade student with a tree or shrub seedling to take home and plant. The Conservation Commission presents to each elementary school a tree to be planted on school grounds. The students and teachers work enthusiastically to present an enjoyable, environmental awareness program for the students.
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East Longmeadow Library Project
For many years, the Garden Club has been providing the East Longmeadow Library with flower and plant arrangements for their circulation desk on a weekly and bi-weekly basis. And starting in 2018, the Garden Club maintains the tubs in front of the library, too.
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Annual Plant and Bake Sale
The Garden Club holds an Annual Plant and Bake Sale in May at Heritage Park, North Main Street, East Longmeadow. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Garden Club’s Scholarship Fund. This annual, spring tradition features delicious baked goods and perennial plants dug locally from members' gardens.
Annual Project
Each December, the Garden Club is invited to decorate a room in one of the historic buildings surrounding the Storrowton Village Common during “Yuletide at Storrowton".
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Scholarships
An Annual Scholarship is offered to the following: an East Longmeadow High School student (senior/junior); a recent East Longmeadow High School graduate presently attending a college/university; a student who is a resident of East Longmeadow. All recipients must be planning to pursue a degree in a Major relevant to the following: Horticulture, Agriculture, Ecology, Environmental & Natural Sciences, Forestry, Plant Systems & Plant Biotechnology, Conservation, Perma-culture/Agro-ecology, Landscape Architecture, Botany or any related field.
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Garden Tours
Every other year, the Garden Club sponsors a garden tour of local gardens. Proceeds from the tours assist the Garden Club with their ongoing Beautification Project at the Town Center as well as local Memorial Gardens. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Club’s Scholarship Fund and enables the Club to keep offering interesting and inspiring monthly programs including the annual celebration of Arbor Day with 5th grade students in the East Longmeadow Public Schools.
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Pollinator Garden
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In 2013, the Friends of Brown Farm and the Board of Selectmen came to an agreement that a "community garden" would be created at 64 Hampden Road. The land was divided into 26 plots and individuals and organizations could "claim" a plot and determine its purpose: flowers, vegetables, fruits or other plants. The Garden Club has one such plot, our Pollinator Garden, which is filled with perennial plants and maintained by our volunteers. It's purpose is to attract bees, birds, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles, and wasps. Some people may think of them as "pests, but these small creatures help the plants reproduce by moving pollen between the male (anther) and female (stigma) parts of a flower. The act of pollination is the first step in generating seeds which create new plants.
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Monthly Meetings
Seven (7) monthly meetings are held with presentations on various topics. Educational field trips are
planned and potluck luncheons are held several times during the year.