Community Garden Club: Education, Commitment, and Simply Fun

The Community Garden Club of Marlin held its social and fundraising event called “The Garden Party” at the historic Allen House on May 17, 2025.

This festivity is for sharing the appreciation of that beautiful and peaceful part of a home, the garden.

A garden is a plot of land cultivated for growing plants, typically flowers, vegetables, fruits, or herbs. It can be a dedicated area within a yard, a smaller container garden, or even a rooftop garden. The key is that it involves the planned cultivation and display of plants for either consumption, ornamentation, or both!

A garden is something different to each individual. To some, a garden is carefully planned and maintained. To another, it is a place of growth and abundance. Gardens are often associated with the flourishing of plants, symbolizing new beginnings and the potential for life. A garden can be a sanctuary of calm with its quiet sounds of nature, like birdsongs and the rustling of leaves. The artist in each individual sees a canvas of color and texture, from the soft petals of flowers to the rough bark of trees. Gardens can provide a connection to the natural world, allowing one to experience the beauty and wonder of plants and animals. The garden encourages one to spend more time outdoors.

Why have a garden?

Countless studies show the numerous benefits of spending more time outdoors on both our mental and physical wellbeing. Time in nature reduces our cortisol levels and even leads to lower rates of heart disease. But, ask gardeners why have a garden, and here are what gardeners explain, “In the gardens, we grow various flowers, fruits, and vegetables. We tender and care for the life of these beautiful crops, thus we grow them with utmost love and care.” And, “These plants in our garden purify the air around us, thus making the air which we breathe healthy.” Also, “Watching greenery is good for my eyesight.”

Gardeners, spouses of gardeners, want-to-be gardeners, baby gardeners at The Garden Party can exercise their curiosity. To the Community Garden Club, The Garden Party is an important event because it fosters sharing gardening knowledge, and engaging in community beautification and environmental stewardship, and social connections. It also serves as a platform for education, providing an opportunity for learning and collaboration.

This year’s guest speaker was Margaret Ferguson, Rotary District 5760 Assistant Governor-elect 2024-2025. Her program was The Monarch Butterfly. She shared information about the Monarch Butterfly’s life cycle, migration patterns, and the threats it faces. The Monard Butterfly faces several major threats, primarily habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use, which are interconnected and contribute to their declining populations. These issues impact their breeding grounds, overwinter habitats, and migration patterns. Ms. Ferguson’s discourse on planting milkweed and other nectar plants in various locations, including parks, gardens, and school campuses was clear and grandly accepted, resulting in many attendees committing to dedicating special spots for growing milkweed.

The Garden Club members planned, baked, and gathered to present a variety of dainty foods: filled croissants, chocolate truffles, a charcuterie board with fancy crackers, and so much more. They worked to sew, create, and donate items for the fundraising operation. There were plants, handbags, jewelry, ceramics, jumper cables, leather work gloves, sewn items, and more. There were even two sets of books written and donated by the author, Margaret Ferguson (our guest speaker).

Ladies that baked, set up, served, washed, cleaned, and made donations of goods at the Community Garden Club’s Garden Party and Fundraiser on Saturday, May 17, 2025, were Beth Mullins, Nelda Brown, Ramona Watson, President Susan Byrd, Bettye Tarver, Vice President/ Treasurer Letitia Estep, Derinda Austin, Samenthia Milnes, and Mildred Wilson. Additional contributions were made by Community Garden Club members Sheila Lawson, Terri Glover, Irv Hardin, and Jan Smith, plus Marlin City businessmen Jimi Lynn of State Farm Insurance, Roger Nutt of Williams Feed Store Ltd., Ray Bridges of Ace Hardware, and Andy Jeske of Gafford Auto Parts, Inc.

After the excitement to assemble and present the Garden Party, the synergism of its participants disintegrated into a mutual admiration for all who baked, setup, served, washed, cleaned, and donated to the Community Garden Club Party and Fundraiser on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Thank you, all.

The Garden Party was a success. Personal connections were made.

Afterwards, a new member, Judy Morrow, was welcomed!

The Community Garden Club of Marlin is the oldest established and continuously operating Garden Club in the State of Texas and, year after year for over 102 years, continues its commitment to beautifying the City of Marlin.