Evening star., 1951-03-18
The Garden Club Leouue-
An1oIgon1otion of Area Organizations FuIfHIs
Long-FeIt Need for Both Voice and Action
By W. II Younamon

The notice of the organization
meeting of the National Capital
Garden Club League, which ap-
pears elsewhere on this page,
brings to mind some of the dis
cusSionS which have taken place
in the past of the need for an
overall organization of garden
clubs in this area. Many at
tempts have been made to effec-
tuate such an organization. Lack
of a common and appealing in
tereSt has prevented success. To-
day, with a growing and wide
spread interest in every phase of
gardening, and with the expert
enceS gained in last years show,
we now have an effective and
strong organization in the making
The league is undoubtedly an
Ioutgrowth of the 1850 National
Flower Show. At the time of the
flower show there was no one
who could speak with authority
for the clubs of the area, or even
knew what and where most of
them were. The lack of an effec-
tive channel to reach the clubs
handicapped sponsors of the show
because they wished to have the
garden clubs take a large part in
the planning and staging. The
league is designed to further OBJ
jectives and coordinate interests
of garden clubs in the Washing
ton area.
With the prospect of another
show, 1t is fortunate that the
league is taking form. especially
so because many of the stronger
and more progressive clubs are
among the charter members.
Some have looked on the sug-
gestions for federation or league
as just another club. However,
there are many important func-
tions to be performed besides Civ
ing the clubs an organized voice
in the next big show, which is, of
course, very timely and impor-
tant.
Voice for All Gardeners.
For instance, there are scores
of organizations which voice their
interests in matters pertaining to
horticulture, but nothing larger
than garden club to speak for
the tens of thousands of garden
ers. In other areas there are
federations of garden clubs, in
cluding State and national, but
WaShington's clubs have not been
eligible. Even those clubs that
were outside the District felt that
most of their interests were in
Washington and not in Virginia
or Maryland. Perhaps some pro-
vision will be made whereby such
clubs may become eligible to be-
long to a national organization
and thus have a voice in national
horticultural matters.
In the meantime there are
many activities in which the
league may engage to benefit both
the community and the local
clubs. One such activity was dis
cussed last Tuesday by Arnold
Davis. director of the Garden
Center OF Greater Cleveland. Mr..
Davis outlined the many func-
tionS Of the garden center and
how the clubs of that area used it.
A large library or horticultural
and conservation subjects is avail
ablet here for the member clubs.
1t sponsored Center School gar
den project in which 81 schools
participated. 1t had a voice in
the Cuyahoga River Basin i'm
proVement plan. Members are
helping collect plants for the
Cleveland Zoo. It held $50 meet
lngS with garden club groups last
year and provides continuous in
formation service on gardening
matters. A garden club center
might be one of the major prof.
ects toward which the league
could work.
May Provide Speakers.
Many Of the garden clubs in
the Metropolitan Area are too
small to receive the benefits which.
a large organization obtains for
its members. Through the league
these benefits might we'll become
available to the neighborhood
groups. Lecturers from distant
points cost money, and few clubs
are in a position to pay the bill.
The league might well consider
the scheduling Of outstanding
speakers whom the member clubs
might wish to hear.
There has been some interest
in enlarging club flower shows
and during the past year several
clubs co-operated in staging sue
cessful exhibitions. Through the
league this movement could yerv