DARLINGTON — The Darlington Garden Club has kept the downtown area of Darlington looking bright and in full bloom over the past several decades. The members of the club keep up with the flower median plots on Main Street, the Pecatonica River Parks trail gardens, monthly meetings, field trips, and the naming of the Garden of the Month.
Keeping everything looking fresh and in bloom takes some time to perfect. The Darlington Garden Club looks forward to the challenge year after year.
When the Garden Club began in 1941, there were six members who organized the club: Naomi DeMuth, Agnes Gossner, Addie Knellwolf, Mary Knight, Nina Lane, and Irene Ruf. The group met on the second Friday of each month at one another’s homes. All members were also part of the “Wisconsin State Horticultural Society Federation of State Garden Clubs.”
Interest grew in the organization, and after only a year, in 1942, the Darlington Garden Club had grown to 14 members. They were: Ethel Barnes, Mina Bell, Melissa Barlow, Naomi DeMuth, Agness Gossner, Addie Knellwolf, Mary Knight, Nina Lane, Isabelle McIIain, Florence Micka, Louise Nelson, Irene Ruf, Mildred Teasdale, and Beth Walker. Since they were still meeting at one another’s residences, they limited their membership number to 20 individuals.
A few years later, in 1948 they reached the limit of individuals they allowed themselves to have in their club. Each member was asked to maintain their attendance, and was not allowed to miss more than four meetings each year. The objective of the club “shall be to stimulate an interest in gardening as well as for the discussion of natural problems and interchange of valuable experience.”
In 1946, the club selected the Petunia as the city flower. In 1997, the Petunia was replaced by the Marigold. The club has recently considered the possibility of a different flower once again.
Originally, the May breakfast was the official planning meeting to discuss the upcoming warm weather and planting season. The residence of Beth Walker was said to be the official meeting place in May of each year. Members enjoyed their breakfasts and snacks while sitting outdoors on old tree stumps, as all the ladies enjoyed being outside in nature. Earlier documents speak highly of the spring breakfasts because it was a time when all members looked forward to dressing up just for the occasion to get together.
To this day, the Darlington Garden Club continues to enjoy getting together as they share tips and tricks of gardening. Other discussions include plant separation, fertilization of indoor and outdoor plants, as they continue to engage in conversations about native and invasive species of plant life. Gardening and caring for gardens takes time, effort, and a lot of ambition. To anyone interested in learning more about gardening, floral care, becoming a member, or ways to volunteer; there are several opportunities to work with the hard-working group.
The Darlington Garden Club has several enthusiastic members within its organization. Kristine Haas serves as President, Marilyn Hill as Vice President, Ginny Burbach is the Secretary, and Connie Ubersox is Treasurer. There are a few committees, which help to organize and delegate the work and responsibilities of the organization. The Sunshine Committee, Garden of the Month Committee, the Historian, the River Walk Committee, and the Garden Club Plot Committee are all worthy attributes of the organization.
Field trips remain to be a learning experience for club members. Originally, in the beginning, a botanist by the name of Peter Nelson would guide members on field trips each year, while educating them with new plant species, and ways they could display or use the plant in their homes, and/or for health benefits of the specific plant. Today, field trips remain to be part of the learning experience as club members continue to plan their upcoming field trip in June.
Several fundraisers had taken place over the years, as the annual plant sale was said to be a big deal at the beginning of the club. Because of its popularity, funds were raised relatively quickly. A flower show was on display each year during the Lafayette County Fair; and the Antique Flower Show was a crafted display of flowers and antiques. Fundraising efforts continue with the selling of donated note cards featuring heritage florals and plantlife in nature, as located in Lafayette County, as shared by a local photographer.
Anyone wanting to learn more about plants, flowers and gardening are welcome to attend the next upcoming meeting of the Darlington Garden Club on May 21, at the Johnson Public Library, 131 E. Catherine St., Darlington, in the Heritage Meeting Room, at 6 p.m.