History and Overview

On August 13th, 1915 a group of 18 Dearborn area women gathered together at the home of Mrs. Ives of Military Avenue to listen to a presentation about a newly-established “garden club” in the Port Huron community. Inspired by the Port Huron group’s success, the women decided to form their own “Garden Club of Dearborn” and elected officers that same day.

Clara Bryant (Mrs. Henry) Ford served as the Club’s first President (from 1915-1920). An avid gardener and civic activist, Mrs. Ford encouraged members to expand their knowledge of the environment, floral artistry, horticulture, and home gardening, and she inspired members with her leadership during the Club’s earliest years.

Meeting topics focused on such themes as bulbs, protecting perennials, ridding lawns of dandelions, care of Phlox, and the need to keep weeds cut on vacant lots. Annual dues amounted to $1.00. Flower shows were established during this era, and prizes were given to the best judged entries in several categories. Club members embraced the environmental philosophy of Henry Ford, composting yard waste to enrich the soil.

The first 30 years were exciting ones, as members of the Club enjoyed social outings, studied horticulture and gardening and took up many civic causes. Members included many prominent Dearborn area residents who shared concerns about gardening, horticulture, and conservation. The Club gained recognition as the largest and most active group in Dearborn.

Civic activism provided the opportunity to influence society in positive ways, and to engage in important matters of the day. Civic projects of the Garden Club of Dearborn included the establishment of the city’s first library, today known as the Bryant Branch Library.

During the early 40’s, as resources of all kinds were being diverted to support national war efforts, Garden Club members played an important role in establishing “victory gardens” in Dearborn, and supported the Blue Star Highway Program through its affiliation with National Garden Clubs (then the National Council of State Garden Clubs). This program honored America’s veterans with highway landscaping and signs that dotted Highway 31 from North to South.

In the late 50’s and early 60’s, the Club thrived and meetings moved from the private residences of members to public meeting places. Average attendance at general meetings approaching 140 members. Membership grew to over 200 Dearborn residents.

Notable projects included Restoration of the Blue Garden at Fair Lane Estate (1963); Horticultural Education programs at Salina School (1963) and the Clara Snow Library, and, a U.S. Hwy 24 (Telegraph Road) tree planting program (in collaboration with Dearborn Kiwanis Club) that added 66 trees along a one-mile stretch of the heavily traveled highway.

With as many as eight Study Groups, members actively supported the Club’s projects, which included: flower shows, civic landscape, horticulture therapy at community hospitals, and outreach at local area schools. In addition, members enjoyed many interesting social and educational gatherings.

Associate memberships began during the 60’s, as bylaws were re-written to reflect changing needs of the organization and duties and responsibilities of members were carefully outlined. Membership growth and attendance at meetings began to slow during the late 70’s and early 80’s as club life in general began to decline. Nevertheless, the Garden Club’s accomplishments from 1975 through the 1990’s were numerous.

During the early 80’s, Club funds were raised in support of the National Council’s Grass Bay, Michigan (land conservation) Project. Landscape design and installations at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, and contributions of plant materials for the Edsel Ford High School nature center gave Club members a sense of purpose in contributing to civic beauty and nurturing the love of gardening and horticultural knowledge.

A program on “Ikebana” at the McFadden Ross home, presented by Mary Takihashi was a highlight of the period. Flower shows at Ford World Headquarters and the Fair Lane Estate celebrated the best efforts in floral arranging and horticulture.

In 1981, the Club marked its 50th Year as a member of the Federated Garden Clubs. Also, during this era, the Club hosted a “Butterfly Tea” at Fair Lane to underwrite the cost of re-establishing Mrs. Ford’s Peony Garden -- one of many contributions to the restoration of this important cultural resource in Dearborn.

The introduction of a major fundraiser -- the Holly Berry Brunch-- in 1996, ushered in a new era as Garden Club members gave full support to endow scholarships and to fund its long list of projects, programs and services.

Using the proceeds from the Holly Berry Brunch, the Garden Club of Dearborn has contributed scholarship funds to Environmental Science and Landscape Design students at The University of Michigan and Henry Ford Community College, and made possible the installation of the irrigation system at the McFadden-Ross Museum. As in the past, the Club has continued to support environmental and conservation initiatives, while also contributing to Roadside Beautification and World Gardening programs of the Michigan Garden Clubs.

Club sponsored garden walks have been successful in raising awareness of horticulture and landscape design and have generally elevated awareness of our community as a pleasant place to live.

The “Smokey-Bear/Woodsy Owl” Environmental Poster Contest, introduced by the National Garden Clubs, continues to increase environmental awareness among elementary school-age children in Dearborn, while landscape development projects at area middle schools and libraries continue to beautify important cultural assets in our community.

Our Horticulture Therapy project at Oakwood Commons Skilled Nursing Center is a much anticipated activity for residents, providing activities that inspire a sense of well-being and friendship. In the summer of 2009, the Enabling Garden was established in the Community Organic Garden U of M Dearborn. Garden Club members are growing flowers and herbs in the Enabling Garden for use in the Horticulture Therapy projects at the Oakwood Commons Skilled Nursing Center.

The evolutionary changes that define Garden Club’s legacy reflect many significant contributions to the quality of life in our community. Today, a new generation of Garden Club leaders are renewing their commitment to nurture knowledge and love of gardening, to contribute to civic beauty, and to protect our natural environment, while defining new ways to assure its legacy will be sustained.