In its centennial year, the Garden Club of Henderson is showing no sign of straying away from what it’s done best for decades—pursuing community beautification.
For decades, the organization has focused on that with summer garden tours and homeowner recognition programs, plant sales and exchanges, improving public spaces and educational programs.
In the early years, members took on some tough issues such as cleaning up the riverfront and preventing a National Guard Armory from being built there, landscaping highways and eliminating camping in Audubon Mill Park.
They pushed city government to reserve the city-owned land along Water Street for public parks and sought female membership on the Board of Parks Commissioners. They monitored the construction of Audubon State Park by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
And, on the “softer” side, they’ve commissioned sculptures, placed floral plantings, erected flagpoles, decorated community Christmas trees and helped fund many civic programs.
For its 75th anniversary, the club planted 75 burning bushes in a delta shape to mimic its logo at the U.S. 60-U.S. 41 cloverleaf.
In a more recent community project, they “adopted” 50 corner flowerpots in downtown Henderson, coordinating with lamppost hanging baskets to add color and pizzazz to the streetscape. At the holidays, they receive a seasonal makeover.
And, there’s been much more through the years.
On the first meeting on May 1, 1925, 22 members joined a “meeting of lovers of flowers and gardens for the purpose of organizing a Garden Club of Henderson.”
Officers were elected, a constitution accepted and they were off.
“Henceforth this chapter of her history will be written in flowers, recorded in beautiful gardens and long vistas of attractive streets,” reported the Gleaner-Journal on May 3, 1925. “The object of the club will be the fulfillment of these plans, and the bonding together of congenial spirits who will take a genuine and practical interest in them.”
It would 31 more years before the State Garden Club of Kentucky would form, according to a history written for the local organization’s 75th anniversary.
Two upcoming events will help celebrate the 100th year.
In May, the content for a “Gardens of Henderson” art exhibit will be created with artist plein air painting in six local gardens.
The public is invited to take self-guided garden tours while observing the artists at work.
On May 10 from 9 a.m.-noon, artists will be working at 626 N. Main (home of Jeanne Marie and Tom Gadient) and 220 Seventh St. (Gadient guest house.)
On May 17 from 9 a.m.-noon, artists will be working at 1305 Judson Place (home of Carolyn Dorsey) and 401 S. Main St. (home of Monica and Mark Hargis).
On May 24 from 9 a.m.-noon, artists will be working at 800 S. Main (home of Annette and John Hudgions) and 816 S. Elm (home of Laura and Charles Johnson).
The art exhibit will be shown at Gallery 101, 101 N. Water, from June 30-Sept. 26. An opening reception will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. on July 10.
On Sunday, June 1, the Garden Club is teaming up with the Women’s Honor Court for a dedication ceremony of the second granite wall at the park located at 16 S. Water. The event will also honor the Garden Club’s centennial anniversary.
The park honoring women is the only one of its kind in Kentucky. The dedication is set for 3:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at Gallery 101. The rain site is Henderson County Public Library.
Keynote speaker is Ane Crabtree, a Henderson native and 1982 graduate of Henderson County High School who has been a designer in Hollywood for 35 years for such shows as “The Sopranos,” “Westworld,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Changeling.”