Broad Ripple Garden Club is proud to be celebrating its 70th Anniversary on June 3, 2020. Our Garden Club was founded and organized by two women, Mrs. John Donagh (Melba) and Mrs. Everett Baum on June 3, 1949 and was Federated on February 3, 1950. Our year long celebration will be formally celebrated on June 5, 2020 with an Anniversary Luncheon at Crooked Stick Golf Club. (Date subject to change as we await Social Distancing instructions).

Over the last seventy years, our club has evolved and grown. Earlier meetings consisted of a Luncheon in a member's home, followed by a tour of their gardens. Old photos show our members wearing dresses, hats and gloves to their meetings. Over the years, Broad Ripple Garden Club participated in Flower Shows, and we also helped to maintain gardens at Holliday Park and Hooverwood. We are proud to have Dedicated a Blue Star Memorial in front of the John W. Hensel Government Center. Our members maintain a flower planter in front of Nora Library as our Plant America project, and we are going to plant a tree to commemorate our 70th Anniversary, site to be determined.

Our membership of thirty ladies consist of nine Master Gardeners, a Master Judge of Flower Shows, a Master Naturalist, Floral Designers, and members who have done extensive courses in Landscape Design and Environmental Studies. Also, we are very proud to have Betty Leverett, State President TGCI, as a member of our club, and a few members also hold Committee Chairman positions in the Central District.

As we continue to strive to be an enjoyable and interesting group, we also know the importance of bringing new members to our Garden Club; last year we welcomed four new members. I feel confident that Broad Ripple Garden Club will be celebrating many more milestone anniversaries in the future and I am proud to be the President of Broad Ripple Garden Club as they celebrate 70 years together.

Phyllis Grzeskowiak, President
Broad Ripple Garden Club

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