Garden Club celebrates 50th

In 1956, the Hamblen Park Garden Club planted its roots on the South Hill.

Fifty years later, it’s still flourishing.

“For a small group of women, the garden club is just as vital as it was when we started,” club secretary Marie Mann said.

Mann, Edna Smith and Virginia Leland are three of 10 charter members in the club that was started by young housewives in their 20s who all had an interest in gardening. Its original goal was to beautify Hamblen Park.

The civic-minded group has become a champion in raising money, generating more than $40,000 at holiday bazaars. The bazaar, which serves as the only fundraiser, is called The Basket Bash – Bake it! Make it! Sew it! Grow it!

There have been dozens of recipients throughout the years as the group has given money for tree projects, the Japanese Gardens, benches in the conservatory, the Andrew Rypien Field project, the Spokane Lilac Festival, the Southside Senior Activity Center and for playground equipment at Hamblen Park.

The club also gave $2,000 for the South Side soccer field.

“Our original goal of beautifying Hamblen Park has been expanded to include all areas in Spokane that are open to the public,” Mann said. “The original members are now collecting Social Security, but our club has been enriched by the addition of a new, younger group of gardeners who will carry our torch into the future.”

The club, a member of the Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane, meets from September through May. It is one of six in the Spokane area that are 50 or more years old.