The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-12-07
"Southern Little Gardens

In the mass OF correspondence IidI
has come to me, three questions are
asked over and over: Tell me more
about Little Gardens: How shall
we form a Little Gardens Club tor
our town or neighborhood?" and
what shall we do with our school
grounds?' Then there are a num-
Der of brides-but | am going to give
them letter all to themselves next
month, for there is nothing sWeeter
than a new home just starting to take
it's place in the world and want to
be there in it.
How Little Gardens" Started.
To begin first about Little Gar
dens." 1t started in Philadelphia a
couple of years ago as a group OF
friends interested in growing flowers
in tiny city yards, their only object
their own pleasure in blooming
things. From that small seed has
grown this splendid society of peo-
pie working to make cities and towns
and countryside beautiful; to turn
waste places into flower gardens; to
plant trees along city streets and
country roads; to have plant ex-
changes so that people who have
more than they want will give to
those who have less; to have travel
ing illustrated lectures on gardening;
to hold meetings for members at
which ideas and helpful hints may
be exchanged.
In short, it is an association of
people who are trying in every way
they can to make America the most
beautiful country in the world.
Our So Ithern branch differs from
the others in that We have a working
membership fee instead OF a money
fee, each branch association being al
lowed to form it's own regulations.
We could do that, because our bulle-
tins are published in the Progressive
Farmer, which costs us nothing, so
we save the expense of printing and
mailing bulletins to our members.
Then, too, we need different advice
because our climate is so different
that we can use many trees and
plants that the more northern States
cannot, and we can go to our woods
and. get trees and shrubs and flowers
that Northern people have to buy
from the nurseryman, so we should
be able to do a lot more work than
they.
How to Organize Club.
Now for the local Little Gardens
clubs. Of course conditions differ,
and each one wishing to start club
must be governed by local conditions.
Generally, however, it is best to
make a social affair of the first meet
ing, and I've never seen any gather
ing that wasn't helped by a cup of
coffee and bit of cake! Then be-
fore the meetings starts, explain the
aims of the society to two or three
good (but not lengthy speakers and
ask them to say few words when
called upon, along some special line.
Open the meeting yourself by sim
pie talk, telling about the society and
what forming the club could do to-
wards beautifying your town or
neighborhood by encouraging more
trees, shrubs and flowers, or prevent
ing overly-vigorous aldermen from
cutting down trees that are already
there; improving school grounds;
caring for the cemetery; making out
lists of people who will give plants
and shrubs to others and what kind D.;
another list of those wanting them
holding meetings for discussions OF
garden problems and forming school
children into subcommittee, so they
will have flowers of their own and
so learn to care for them.
Then too the members can club TO-
gether and subscribe for couple OF
good gardening magazines and get
ideas from them for beautiful yards
and gardens. They can club together
for seeds and bulbs and plants. And
they can't possibly do better than
read aloud at their meeting, Profes-
sor Massey's articles on gardens and
flowers in the Progressive Farmer;
want to thank him right now for all
he has taught me, and it may com
fort him to know that my life also
has been blighted by kudzu vine
which l consider the gift of Satan
and the original sin of the vegetable
world. And keep calling for sugges
tions from your members and en-
courage the timid ones to speak Out
loud instead of whispering perfectly