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The Garden Club is simply an organized group of Garden Oaks neighbors who share an enthusiasm for gardening, and who meet at least monthly to socialize, share gardening-related experience, provide for and enjoy presentations, and, last but not least, help take care of one of Garden Oaks’ many open spaces, Friendship Park.

Meeting Times and Agenda

Monthly meetings are typically held 7 – 9 PM on the 2nd Thursday of each month. There are occasions, however, when a work day or field trip might take the place of a regular meeting. Light refreshments are typically served, which are provided by member volunteers. Our typical monthly meeting agenda is generally as follows:

7:00 – 7:15 p.m. - Welcome/Social/Refreshments

7:15 – 8:00 p.m. - Activity: Program or Speaker

8:15 – 9:00 p.m. - Business Meeting

Activities

Activities may include: knowledgeable speakers addressing various gardening-related topics; neighborhood plant swap; fun floral/craft projects; field trips; “How Does Your Garden Grow” member discussions; or whatever else creative minds can come up with!

Topics of Interest

We seek to arrange presentations by local experts on various topics, such as: invasive plants, cultivated ornamentals, native species, garden wildlife, vegetable gardening, landscape design, borders, organic pest control, nature photography, patio potting, composting, irrigation options, earth worm castings, zeriscape, lawn maintenance, amaryllis, roses, bromeliads, orchids, cactii – as you can imagine, the list goes on and on!

Work Days

All members are expected to participate in two workdays (9:00 am – 12:00 pm) per year for Friendship Garden maintenance, a minimum of one hour per workday. If a member cannot attend the scheduled workday, s/he may choose an alternate date or simply request to be excused.

Members and Non-Members

We strive to be an inclusive organization. All are welcome to share in our fellowship, learning, knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening – whether it’s every month, or just every once and a while. Members are encouraged to invite guests to all meetings, activities and/or work days. Non-members are also always welcome to attend, but cannot vote on business meeting issues. To join the Garden Club or attend a meeting as a non-member, please call the current president or vice president, per below, for information.

Considering the demands that kids, jobs, homes etc. make on our time, we understand that not all members can be expected to attend regularly, volunteer their home, provide for refreshments and/or dedicate time as officers or committee members. On the other hand, active involvement may be enjoyed by those that do have some leisure time they’d like to devote to the relatively minor needs of our club, and such is always welcome. Either way, the Garden Oaks Garden Club is a great way to contribute to your community and expand your local social network while learning and sharing knowledge about plants and gardening!

Dues

Annual Membership dues are $25 per person. Dues are used to purchase plants and other materials needed for Friendship Garden and to pay for miscellaneous expenses as voted upon by the members (e.g. auction item donations, Holiday Party ham, etc.) Our club accounts are typically provided for review at each meeting.

To join the Garden Club, download this form.

Next Meeting/Activity/Location

To check next meeting date and location, please see preliminary planning schedule, below. (If this web page data appears to be out-of-date, feel free to call or email one of the officers listed further below.) We also sometimes provide information in the Garden Oaks Gazette.

(1/12/12) Program: Planning session for 2012 and election of officers; 7 – 9 PM @ 43rd Street Kroger*

(2/9/12) Speaker: “How Does Your Garden Grow?” 7 – to 9 PM @ a member’s home (call for information)

(3/11/12) Work Day: Special Work Day in anticipation of Home & Garden Tour; 9 AM – noon @ the park

(4/14/12) Work Day: Optional additional work day prior to tour; 9 – noon @ the park

(4/22/12) Program: Home & Garden Tour volunteer effort

(May/12) Field Trip: Peckerwood Garden (date/time to be determined)

(6/14/12) Program: Neighborhood Plant Swap; 7 – 9 PM @ a member’s home

(7/12/12) Speaker: Presentation addressing drought & flood considerations; 7 – 9 PM @ a member’s home

(8/9/12) Speaker: Using native species and simple techniques in urban settings; 7 – 9 PM @ the park

(9/13/12) Program: Workshop to develop 3-year plan for “naturalizing” Friendship Park

(10/13/12) Work Day: Routine upkeep and additional planting, as needed, per 3-year plan

*Kroger generously allows the Club to use an upstairs meeting room, as needed. The room is accessed by stairs located on either side of the check-out lanes - go straight on up and look for a big open space with tables and chairs.

2012 Officers

President: Cathy Wahren; tel. 713-686-8686; email catalinaw2@yahoo.com

Vice President: Chris Lindsay; tel. 713-819-8412

Secretary: Mary Lynn Porter

Treasurer & Communications: Tina Nieto

2012 Standing Committees

Yard of the Month: Janet Cones

Past Presidents

Francis Dee Smith 1974

Ian Dellar 1975

Dorothy Neumann 1976

Gladys Meyer 1978

Randy Longino 1979

Kay Paul 1980

Diane Mangold 1981

Lucan Nietmann 1982

Lucan Nietmann 1983

Rose Fitch 1984

Rose Fitch 1985

B. B. Martinez 1986

Katherine Hardin 1987

Candy Foster 1990

Candy Foster 1991

Marian Mabry 1992

Julie Engleman and

Peggy Ingels 1993

Nan Kittell 1994

Nan Kittell 1995

Janice Walden 1996

Janice Walden 1997

Janice Walden 1998

Janice Walden 1999

Brenda de Alba 2000

Brenda de Alba 2001

Janet Cones 2002

Ed de Alba 2003

Ed de Alba 2004

Ed de Alba 2005

Christina (Chris) Lindsay 2006

Chris Lindsay 2007

Chris Lindsay 2008

Chris Lindsay 2009

Janet Cones 2010

Cathy Wahren 2011

Cathy Wahren 2012

THEME: To Create and Conserve Beauty

MOTTO: “Grow and Share”

FLOWER: Violet

COLORS: White and Purple

PURPOSE: To Encourage Closer Fellowship; To Beautify Our Area; To Stimulate Knowledge of Flowers & Trees

PROJECTS: To Maintain Friendship Park at 30th & Lawrence