Seven-and-a-half decades and counting, and the 91原创 Garden Club (LGC) remains in full bloom.
Established in 1941, the club celebrates its 75th anniversary this Saturday during its annual Spring Show and Sale.
The April 30 event runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the United Churches of 91原创 location in Murrayville (formerly Sharon United), 216th Street and 48th Avenue.
Boasting 120 members, the LGC is as popular as ever, and meets on the second Monday of the month, from February to December.
It also hosts a summer picnic in August at a local farm and a Christmas event in December.
The LGC鈥檚 monthly meetings consists of planning for a judged flower show and its aforementioned Spring Show, as well as a show-and-tell for what is new in the garden and a featured speaker.
Club co-president Pam Erikson joined the LGC once she heard about its existence 20-plus years ago.
鈥淚 was vice president a few years ago, then took more of a backseat due to being busy at my own place, but then decided to do a co-presidency with Randy Jalbert a few years ago to share the work,鈥� Erikson shared. 鈥淲e have now been presidents for four years and enjoy it immensely 鈥� it鈥檚 a great group of people.鈥�
Erikson said the club includes both avid gardeners and newbies eager to learn.
鈥淲e welcome 鈥榙rop-ins鈥� as well, so when we have a higher profile speaker we tend to get a lot of guests who in turn become members, sometimes,鈥� Erikson added.
Erikson believes the key to the club鈥檚 longevity is two fold: the LGC is constantly active, and 91原创 is a gardening community.
鈥淥ur meetings are interesting and fun, not stuffy or boring, so that keeps the membership continuous,鈥� Erikson said.
She added, 鈥淲e continue to encourage new gardeners and even have a children鈥檚 class for exhibits in our Spring Show."
Erikson said 鈥渘urturing an interest in gardening鈥� is ongoing for all LGC members: 鈥淲e constantly strive to get younger members to carry on the traditions set out before us as we are one of the oldest garden clubs in the province.鈥�
The LGC鈥檚 original meeting place was the old St Andrews Church on Fraser Highway, but after a fire, all of the club鈥檚 records that were stored there were lost.
The club subsequently relocated to the Sharon United Church for many years, before moving to the Murrayville Hall for a number of years while the church was undergoing renovations.
Now the former Sharon United is the United Churches of 91原创 and, Erikson noted, 鈥渨e are happily back there.鈥�
The club recently donated a trophy to the Fort 91原创 Museum.
This trophy was the original from 1941, contains the names of some of the charter members, and was provided by the T. Eaton Company 鈥� the first winner back in 鈥�41 was a Mrs. W. L. Dence.
The club is keeping up with the digital age. It has a very active Facebook presence and, Erikson noted, 鈥渁 fabulous 鈥�, designed, created and maintained by club treasurer Anne Salomon.
Click to visit the club's website.
鈥淪he has done a great job with the site and it has tons of information on it,鈥� Erikson said.
Show time
For the LGC鈥檚 annual Spring Show, the church basement will feature a full juried flower show, as well as the VanDusen Master Gardeners to help with gardening advice, refreshments, door prize draw, and the always-popular bake sale.
Outside the church will be the club鈥檚 plant sale tent, and in the parking lot will be numerous gardening vendors with many plants and garden items for visitors to see.
Come for cake 鈥� 91原创 Township Mayor Jack Froese is scheduled to cut the 75th anniversary cake at 11:15 a.m.
For more information about the club, contact Erikson at pamerikson@uniserve.com.
