I recently read a definition of a garden club I’d like to share: 

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"A Garden Club is a network for education and friendship among people who enjoy gardening and nature" 

Simple but impactful purpose

That’s us, Stockton Garden Club, Inc.

 

This year we are honoring both new and old members of the Stockton Garden Club from our beginnings in 1926 through today. Women, and sometimes men, whose legacy we carry forward every time we educate or extend our friendship.

 

We’ve been handed the baton, so to speak, and we are honored to carry forward this network of education and friendship throughout our community!  

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In the 1920s, American garden clubs served as hubs for women's civic engagement, focusing on horticultural education, historic preservation (restoring landmark gardens like Monticello), beautifying public spaces (highways, parks), and promoting conservation, especially advocating against billboards to protect natural beauty, offering women a way to express their patriotism and new civic roles after gaining the vote. 

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Key Purposes & Activities:

• Civic Beautification: Members planted trees and flowers in public areas, cleaned up cities, and campaigned against unsightly billboards, viewing the city as an extension of the home.

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• Historic Preservation: They spearheaded efforts to restore gardens at historic sites, linking gardening to national heritage and patriotism

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• Horticultural Education: Clubs provided learning opportunities through workshops, lectures, and sharing knowledge on new techniques.

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• Conservation & Nature Protection: A core focus was protecting native plants and birds, with early efforts leading to broader conservation movements.

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• Women's Activism: After women gained the right to vote in 1920, garden clubs offered a socially acceptable and impactful platform for women to assert their civic presence and improve their communities.

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• Social & Artistic Expression: Meetings also involved judging floral arrangements, promoting artistic endeavors, and fostering social connections among women with shared interests. 

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