The fact that Buckhead boasts some of the most amazing manicured landscapes in the country is no accident. Garden clubs in Buckhead have flourished since the early 1920s. The garden clubs of Buckhead, which fall within the boundaries of the Dogwood District, vary in size and philanthropic mission. The Dogwood District comprises 49 clubs and 2,300 members, a quarter of which are located in Buckhead, according to Rosie Davidson, Dogwood District director. Here, we highlight some of our community’s most loved garden clubs.
See the Story of Buckhead’s Original Garden Clubs
Peachtree Garden Club
Establishd in 1923, Peachtree Garden Club is the oldest garden club in Atlanta and a member of the Garden Club of America. From 1949 through the 1960s, members held a tour of homes each December as the garden club’s sole fundraiser. Revived in 2008, the tour of homes has awarded more than $350,000 in grants through the Peachtree Garden Club Community Fund, with proceeds benefitting Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta History Center/Swan Woods Trails, Cherokee Garden Library, Friends of English Avenue and Historic Oakland Cemetery.
Garden Hills Garden Club
Founded in 1927 as Garden Hills Women’s Club, the social and service organization focused its attentions on beautifying the Garden Hills neighborhood. After incorporating in 1971, the name was officially changed to Garden Hills Garden Club and now encompasses more than 120 members. As well as maintaining several green spaces in Garden Hills, the garden club hosts two fundraising events each year, an ice cream social and holiday mailbox decorating. Upcoming events include a new member party Aug. 27 and the 43rd annual ice cream social Sept. 27.
Cherokee Garden Club
Formed Mar. 10, 1928, Cherokee Garden Club was among the 11 founding clubs of The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. as well as the Atlanta Garden Center and the Atlanta Flower Show Association. Under the leadership of former president Anne Coppedge Carr, Cherokee Garden Club established the Cherokee Garden Library, which features 30,000 books, photographs, manuscripts, seed catalogues and landscape drawings on the history and science of gardening, at the Kenan Research Center ofAtlanta History Museum in 1975. The garden club hosts many lectures at Cherokee Garden Library throughout the year.
Brookwood Hills Garden Club
Founded by C.A. Rhodes in 1938, Brookwood Hills Garden Club strives to improve the Brookwood Hills neighborhood and charming parks. Major accolades include restoring Brookwood Hills park, forging nature trails, building a bird sanctuary, and landscaping the Brighton and Palisades roads neighborhood entrances.
Chastain Park Garden Club
Currently comprising nearly 20 active members, Chastain Park Garden Club was established May 10, 1954. The club sponsors several beautification projects in and around Chastain Park, including flower boxes at the red lot weather shelter as well as maintaining perennial pollinators in the planting strip bordering Powers Ferry Road near the Chastain horse barn. Visitors are welcome at garden club meetings, which are held October through May each year. Deborah Hill or Stephanie Pohl.
North Buckhead Garden Club
North Buckhead Garden Club has operated under the premise of educating members on home and garden topics since its inception in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Unlike other Buckhead garden clubs, North Buckhead Garden Club is open to everyone, whether or not you live in North Buckhead; focuses on home and garden topics through featured speakers, rather than just gardening; and meetings are held in the evenings. The club holds two annual parties, the holiday party and the spring party, and occasional fundraisers, which raise money for organizations like the Blue Heron Nature Preserve. Potential new members are welcome to visit the garden club meetings. Contact Gaylen Kemp Baxter if you’re interested!
Other Buckhead garden clubs include Boxwood Garden Club, Greystone Garden Club, Habersham Garden Club, Iris Garden Club, Rose Garden Club, Piedmont Garden Club and Pinetree Garden Club. While many new members are recruited to garden clubs by current members, potential members can also contact the Garden Club of Georgia membership development chairman, Diane Harbin, who will provide information on the garden clubs in your area and put you in contact with the appropriate district director. Buckhead’s Dogwood District director is Rosie Davidson. She will then recommend a garden club extend you an invitation.
And let us know in the comments… If you’re involved in a Buckhead garden club – what’s your favorite aspect of being involved in this community?
By Elizabeth Harper for Buckhead.com
