As one of the nation's longest-standing gardening organizations, it was befitting that the 81-year-old Clayton Garden Club recently received a $1,000 Plant America Community Project Grant awarded by National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Diane Denney Rogers, vice president of the local garden club and Clayton resident, says they were one of only three grants awarded to Missouri garden clubs, out of 56 awarded throughout the United States.
"The club's original purpose was to study and promote the love of gardening, landscape design, floral design, horticulture and bird life while aiding in the protection and conservation of natural resources and to promote civic improvement," Diane says. "As our world changes, so does the enactment of our club's goals, with them now taking many forms to meet the current needs and environment challenges of our morphing world and community."
Regarding the new grant, she says the club's members decided to partner with the team at the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis's Head Start Mt. Zion location, 1440 S. Compton Ave., to use the funds to create raised garden beds and to buy soil and child-sized garden tools. Club members are donating necessary seeds.
"This project's goal is to enable children and teachers to develop a love of gardening and to introduce plant science to young children, helping to prepare them for future STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Music) learning," explains Diane.
Funds for this project will provide materials for two raised beds for each classroom, with children using all five senses while learning, exploring and growing vegetables and herbs. Diane says the project is slated to be completed by this June, culminating in an “Eat What You Grow” celebration.
The Mt. Zion Head Start staff indicates their plan is to continue using the raised beds in future years.
Constitutionally limited to 30 members since its beginning, the current Clayton Garden Club has 28 members dedicated to improving the environment and associated communities. Members consistently provide skills and services that benefit the local area. Patti Reineke, the club's yearbook chair, spotlights those examples in club results such as:
- Creating a garden center for the St. Louis County Library–Mid-County Branch in Clayton, plus annually donating a book on gardening to the library.
- Holding flower shows since 1979 at The Hanley House, Clayton's historic landmark, as well as decorating the house for Christmas tours and planting bulbs and herbs on the grounds.
- Planting a living legacy garden at Meramec Towers Building in Clayton, working with county parks department staffers.
- Assisting with maintaining the sensory garden in Shaw Park and planting the Missouri state tree, the Hawthorne, there.
- Dedicating a Blue Star Memorial Marker to honor veterans at the Center of the Clayton Recreation Complex.
- Presenting citation awards for outstanding gardens to two Clayton businesses: Barry-Wehmiller on Forsyth Boulevard and Enterprise Headquarters on Brentwood Boulevard.
This beloved garden club was created in 1939 by Mae Shaw, wife of Charles Shaw who served as Clayton's mayor from 1933 to 1940 and was credited with leading Clayton out of the Great Depression.
As a club member of 41 years, Suzanne DeCosted Breckenridge is acknowledged as the group's matriarch.
"The Clayton Garden Club remains as vital today as it was in the late 1930s when it was founded by embodying the club's original goals in our study, personal actions and community service," says Diane.