NB Garden Club celebrates 90 years

NORTH BALTIMORE — The North Baltimore Garden Club turns 90 this year and members are throwing a party to celebrate. The club will mark the occasion on Aug. 11 with food trucks, free plants, guest speakers and a car cruise-in. The 200 block of North Main Street - in front of the North Baltimore Public Library and North Baltimore Ohio Area Historical Society - will be closed during the event which runs from noon to 3 p.m. "This is the longest running community group in North Baltimore," said Tracy Cotterman, who has been a member for a decade or so. "A lot of the other ones have disbanded for lots of reasons and we are doing a lot better." The garden club was organized in the summer of 1934 with Mae Fleckner as president. The first flower show was held the following year. Cotterman said dresses, hats and gloves were required at meetings in the 1950s and '60s, and a perspective member had to be approved by the membership. "And even in the '70s in the programs, you would be listed by your husband's name," said Caprice "Cappy" Cheney. A 13-year member, Cheney is the outgoing president, a position that Cotterman will fill. Cotterman's daughter, Lindsay Ziegler, has been active in the club for two years. "I use the plant and pray method," laughed Ziegler. "I'm not as good as everybody else, yet." Cheney said the mother-daughter team is the driving force behind this celebration. "The deserve all the credit for its success," she said. Over the years, the organization has been very active in North Baltimore, where they hold monthly meetings, garden tours and flower shows. For many years, the club participated in the Wood County Fair and entered floats in the North Baltimore Halloween Parade. Times have changed, they said. But members still use their knowledge to maintain gardens for the village and select gardeners of the month, an honor that helps keep the village looking nice. The club maintains colorful gardens near the railroad tracks downtown, at both cemeteries, by the welcome sign at the edge of town and in front of the North Baltimore Water Pollution Control Center. Like many clubs, the garden club almost folded about six years ago, but there has been resurgence in members and events in the last few years. There were only six members for a long time, they said. But now there are 22 people involved from North Baltimore, Bloomdale, Hoytville and Ottawa Hills in Swanton. "Since COVID, we have gone way up in membership and we cross every socio-economic level, age level, ability level," said Cotterman. "It's just wonderful." Sally Halstead, 93, the club's oldest active member, they said. "I think a lot of people didn't know we existed. But we're getting out into the community more and doing a lot more in the community which I think is helping," Cotterman said. Cheney believes the club annual plant swap has increased the public's interest. The event is held on the first Saturday of May at the village park. "We've had three now. And the first one, there was maybe 10 people there, plus us. The second one was maybe 20-25 people. This year I think we hit 60 people bringing plants in and trading," she said. Cotterman said the plants that people brought were "phenomenal." "House plants are the big ones right now. And there were some house plants this year, had you bought them at a store at retail, there were a couple that were $50 plants," she said. The club also added memorial planters at the historical museum to honor former member Bonnie Knaggs, who died in February. It was Knaggs, according to Cotterman, who reminded her that the club's anniversary was coming up this year. "Our town is missing its Good Ole Summertime Days which are no longer for numerous reasons," said Cotterman. "And I think the town and its community members and the businesses were looking for something to do, and so I think they are kind of jumping on this bandwagon a little bit with us." Activities will begin when the food trucks begin serving at 11 a.m. The garden club will give away plants to the first 100 adults who attend. There will also be plants available to purchase. Vendors at a farmers market will sell items associated with gardening like eggs, pottery and macramé. Speakers on different aspects of gardening will be at the library and there will be musical entertainment. For children, face painting is available for a nominal fee along with two free crafts. There is no cost to participate in the cruise in. However, pre-registration is requested to gauge the number of cars and the space needed. Ziegler said the show is also open to motorcycles, tractors and "anything with wheels." The museum will also be open for tours and there will be a special display of the garden club through the years. Information about becoming a club member will be available. The cost is $10 a year. "We're very welcoming of anybody of any abilities," said Cotterman. The club's annual guest night will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at the library. In addition to recruiting new members, the event will provide educational information and gardening ideas. Any proceeds the club makes from the party will be used to help with two gardens in town. The Giving Garden, located at Powell Elementary School, is in memory of former teacher Kim Conkle, who died in 2014. The library is also putting in a sensory garden, they said. For more information about the celebration such as becoming a vendor or registering for the car show, visit the club's Facebook page or email nbohiogardenclub@gmail.com