Madison Garden Club celebrates 50th anniversary with reception
Madison Garden Club is celebrating its 50 anniversary, marking one of Madison’s oldest — if not the oldest — civic club.
- Madison Garden Club members working at the library are, from left, Melissa Kirkindall, Gail Futoran, Brenda Willis, Suzanne Kirkhuff, Ann Battcher and Norma Perry.
The club will host a reception on Aug. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Madison Public Library. Former members, friends, city officials and gardening enthusiasts are invited. Guests will enjoy cake, punch, homemade cupcakes and nuts. Club press books, scrapbooks, newsletters and gardening materials will be displayed.
Established in 1962, Madison Garden Club promotes civic beautification, pride in Madison and horticulture education.
Members attribute club longevity to a shared love of gardening, interesting presentations and camaraderie at their family picnic, auction and Christmas party.
A charter member, the late Marion Anderson, was active for 49 years until her passing in 2011. “Marion is very much missed,” first vice president Suzanne Kirkhuff said.
The club has numerous ongoing and specific short-term projects. In April, their annual plant sale raises funds to pay for landscape activities. They honor Arbor Day with a tree planting, plant and care for pots on Main Street and maintain the library’s entry flowerbed.
In that flowerbed, the club and Friends of the Madison Library placed a bronze statue of a girl and boy reading on a bench in 2010.
Recently, the club has planted a Bible and antique rose garden at Shiloh Cemetery. At Madison Senior Center, they offer “garden therapy” with crafts and planted a garden this spring. The seniors are now harvesting tomatoes.
In December, the club decorates Christmas trees at City Hall and gazebo, arranges live sprays for Front Street lamp posts and prepares goodie bags for performers at “Every Light a Prayer for Peace,” originated in 1951 by Garden Clubs of Alabama.
Along with Kirkhuff, officers are president Brenda Willis, second vice president Ann Battcher, secretary Melissa Kirkindall and treasurer Carrie Tremko. More than 75 percent of members are Master Gardeners and volunteer at Huntsville Botanical Garden.
In 2013, the club hopes to add evergreens in the library garden.
The club meets monthly on the second Monday at 347 Hughes Road. This month, Cory Brown, owner of Catbird Seat Garden Center, will speak on “Garden Faux Pas.”
The club welcomes new members. For more information, call 256-721-4044 or visit madisongardenclub.uuuq.com.
