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Garden Club Roots Are Deep

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2008

BAYSHORE GARDENS - For eight decades, Tampa Garden Club members have taught horticulture to children, meticulously judged plants, hosted flower shows, delivered potted plants to veterans and swapped the best secrets for growing roses.

Since the late 1960s, the club's headquarters at 2629 Bayshore Blvd. has been host to countless soirees, birthday parties, anniversaries and weddings.

"I just had my 50th anniversary here in May," 20-year member Esther Moreno said during a recent floral-arranging seminar at the club.

Organized in 1928, the club - officially known as the Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles - had close to 4,000 members in its heyday in the 1950s. Today, it has 470 members from 14 garden circles countywide.

Their work can be seen in the memorial garden at St. Paul's Catholic Church, started by the Village Garden Circle 20 years ago. Virginia Green, a Town 'N Country Garden Circle member since 1973, said the group was the first to push developers for landscaping. The circle is working on the Town 'N Country Community Plan, raising $100,000 to augment the county's landscaping budget.

In the early decades, landscaping projects on thoroughfares citywide had club members planting oleander, azaleas and trees. Meeting minutes from the 1930s show the group's concern with protecting green space on Bayshore Boulevard; its preservation is still a guiding force.

"Educating, beautification and community involvement has remained the same all these years," Green said.

The club has had children's gardening groups in schools since the 1950s. It sponsors college scholarships for graduating seniors and helps send children to the summer youth camp run by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.

"The kids always loved when the garden club came to talk," said Ruth Ann Reynolds, retired principal of Seminole Heights Elementary School.

Since 2000, the club has spent more than $200,000 renovating its Bayshore headquarters, built in 1969. Last year, it unveiled a plan to landscape the grounds, including a teaching garden, gated entrance, large wedding and event area, and small wedding garden. The Soiree À la Monet on Feb. 14 will raise money for the project.

"As a gardener, you know that by the time you finish, it's time to start over," said a pastpresident, Kathy Echevarria of Oakford Park. "It's been a huge amount of work, but I'm thrilled."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Soiree À la Monet, a fundraiser for the Tampa Garden Club

WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 14

WHERE: 2629 Bayshore Blvd.

COST: $50, includes hors d'oeuvres, drinks and music

CALL: (813) 251-5059

THRIVING HISTORY

1928 The Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles, better known as the Tampa Garden Club, is organized.

1930 The club buys Little House, 115 W. Platt St., for its headquarters.

1956 Dedication of Tony Jannus Park near Bayshore Boulevard and the Platt Street Bridge, created by the federation and now maintained by the city

1960 Club participates in its first Gasparilla parade with a float called "Be a Beauty Bug, Not a Litterbug."

1968 Groundbreaking for the club's headquarters at 2629 Bayshore Blvd.; dedicated a year later

1992 Hosts state symposium on organizing flower shows

2000 Renovations to Bayshore building begin

2007 Club unveils landscape design for Bayshore property, including a teaching garden.

2008 Celebrates 80th anniversary

Source: Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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