Celebrating our
100th Anniversary
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the Elmhurst Garden Club and we’re excited to share some history with you! Enjoy the walk through what we’ve been up to for the last 100 years.
How we started
1926
A group of women from the Elmhurst Women’s Civic Department organized a garden group. In 1929 it was established as The Garden Club of Elmhurst. In 1932 it became the Elmhurst Garden Club.
1927
On March 7-12, Garden Club of Illinois held a flower show at the Sherman Hotel in Chicago. Thirty garden clubs from the state participated. A luncheon was then held at the hotel on April 17. At this meeting some members proposed that a permanent federated club be formed. This was approved and the club was named The Garden Clubs of Illinois.
The first Elmhurst Garden Club flower show was held in September in the Community House.
1928
Mrs John A. Golden was elected president in November and served 2 terms. There was a rapid increase in membership. The club wanted to become part of the new Garden Club of Illinois. Members felt it was time for the garden club to become an independent organization.
1929
The members voted to create The Garden Club of Elmhurst. There were 81 members. To foster an intelligent interest in gardening, The Garden Club of Elmhurst held flower shows, garden contests, and tree and plant sales.
The club became affiliated with The Garden Clubs of Illinois
The 1930s
1930 - 1932
Mrs. E.E. Williams was president. The Club engaged in many activities of value to the community. The grounds adjacent to the Northwestern Station were beautified and the club sold elm trees to residents of the city.
The club was growing, so they began to limit membership to 100. An auxiliary was formed, called the Rose Chapter, which had it’s own officers, dues, and programs.
1938
Committees that we no longer have: Garden Poems, Sunshine, Advisory, Civics
Took a tour to Northbrook peony farm
Had an amateur photography Contest
Garden poetry was in every yearbook
The 1940s
1941 - 1942
Meetings were held in Wilder Park Field House. There were 128 members. A committee for victory gardens was formed. A program in January was entitled “Our Roses & Martinique.”
1944 - 1945
Meetings were held in the American Legion Home, which was located where the Methodist Church parking lot is today. A War Service committee was established in 1944. In 1945 the War Service Committee was changed to Veteran Hospital Service. Membership was 155. In June there was a garden walk for members through 9 gardens. Club dues were raised to $4.00.
1949
Club participated in a Spring Flower Show at the Wilder Park Field House on May 21-22 Some of the classes were: branches, in a natural container, on a coffee table, novice, color magic.
1949 - 1951
The club held a member garden walk in the summer, a flower show in autumn, and a Christmas Show in December. The club participated in the Silver Anniversary Flower Show at the Congress Hotel in Chicago.
Travelogues were presented at least one a year as the program at meeting.
The 1950s
1950
President: Ruth Cougar Williams, Met at American Legion Home at 224 S. York Road.
October: The Plant Guild met to dress dolls for Christmas presents for children at Chicago settlement house and Cook County Hospital. They also sent flowers and valentines to both these places. Flowers were put on the train regularly to be delivered.
November: The club entered the State Yule Flower Show held at the Palmer House in Chicago, presented by Garden Clubs of Illinois.
The club started furnishing a scholarship every year to an eligible high school student for a class or program.
1951
May: The club took a field trip of North Shore Gardens hosted by GCI
July: Annual picnic at Wilder Park
Autumn: Annual Flower Show
1952
President: Ruth Williams
EGC began decorating the Elmhurst Public Library for the holidays.
The club’s Flower Guild gave carnations for a memorial service at Hines Hospital in honor of Mother’s Day . An unusual program presented was entitled “Do Brown Cows give Chocolate Milk?” Dues were raised to $5.00.
Held the annual Christmas Flower Show at the Legion Home.
1953
The club was a member of the Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation.
Some meeting topics were: Wildflowers in the Garden, Begonias, Fundamentals of Flower arranging.
1956
EGC won a National Award for 100% participation in local and state garden club activities.
A list of some of the classes under Horticulture at the Flower Show: Conifer cones, broadleaf evergreens, fruiting branches, ground covers, succulents, African violets. Flowering houseplants, foliage house plants, dried material, bonsai, artistic collection.
1957- 1958
President: Mrs William R. Jack
The Parish Hall of St. Peters Church became the new meeting place. In July and combined picnic and member garden walk was held on July 8. 5 gardens were on the walk.
The club participated in the Garden Clubs of Illinois Flower Show at Navy Pier, entitled “The World’s at Spring.” They entered in 4 exhibits: Beaty in Balance, Dior Dictates, Supper Takes a festive Air.
In 1957 there was also a Timber Trails Garden Club.
There were 200+ members. The annual meeting was held at the River Forest Country Club.
1958
Supported the movement to rid Elmhurst of “unsuitable” literature
Supported the movement to preserve the Indiana Dunes.
The 1960s
1960 - 1962
A noted photographer gave a presentation on time lapse photography of flowers. The club took a field trip to Morton Arboretum. The member garden walk had 7 gardens.
1962 - 1964
The Yearbook was awarded the best yearbook in District 2 of Garden Clubs of Illinois. In March a table setting program was held. Dues were raised to $10.
1963
Still doing Christmas Flower Shows, but at St Peter’s Church.
Gave $200 gift certificate to Lincoln Memorial Garden
Gave $20 to Blue Star Highway, $100 for a tree in Butterfield Park,
Gave a park bench to Bensenville Home
Gave $100 toward a new wall at train station
Gave $200 to ‘Beautify Elmhurst’ commission for Pin Oaks at train station
Gave park bench to Glos Memorial Park
1964 - 1966
The club celebrated its 40th anniversary. The flower show entitled “Ruby Reflections” was a house show in the homes of five different members.
1967 - 1968
Photo of ladies in traditional outfits to match their flower arrangements.
The junior club members presented a program at the club’s picnic in Wilder Park.
1968 - 1970
Violet Dawson was president. A tea was held along with the summer garden walk for members. In June members took a tour of Haeger pottery in Dundee. The flower show won a National Council Award for Excellence.
Road in a flower decorate car in the July 4th Elmhurst parade. I have a photo. Had a plant sale
The 1970s
1971
Had a Standard Flower Show, “Holiday House Walk” at 5 different homes - November 15. They had 450 guests!
1970 - 72
Participation in the Chicago World Flower and Garden Show exhibits sponsored by GCI brought many awards.
Elmhurst Garden Club became a charter member of the Elmhurst Historical Society, which was established on Dec. 6, 1972.
1973
The club won an arboreal award at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show at McCormick Place. On 3/24/73 The Elmhurst Junior Garden Club planted a tree at Eldridge Park for Arbor Say, on 4/27/73.
Elmhurst Park District and Elmhurst Garden club sponsored a Flower and Garden Show at Wilder Park. 8/24/73 On Club members helped to clean up the prairie path. 10/15/73
A change in the club’s by-laws changed the club’s start of year from May to April to coincide with GCI.
1974
Barbara Mueller, a junior club member from York High School won first prize in a Garden Clubs of Illinois essay contest. Her title was ‘Trees, Today and Life Tomorrow.’
Loralyn Davies of the Junior club won 2nd prize for showing the largest sunflower in Lincoln Memorial Garden’s Grow and Show contest.
1975
Club member Vi Dawson became president of Garden Clubs of Illinois 4/75. Elmhurst Garden Club sponsored a house and garden walk. Member decorated the interiors of four homes.
1976
Marked the 50th anniversary of the club.
More than 200 horticultural and arrangements were on display at the 7th annual Flower and Garden Show at Wilder Park, sponsored by the EPD and EGC. Some community gardeners return yearly with samples from the vegetable gardens. 8/14
EGC was a sponsor for an exhibit at the Elmhurst Historical Museum on the Illinois Prairie. 3/29.
1977
The club took several prizes at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show at McCormick Place.
EGC sponsored a Standard Flower Show “Winging the World” 5/6.
EGC received an award from The Nature Conservancy for their conservation efforts.
1979
Presented a Standard Flower Show “Herald Our Heritage” at the Elmhurst Historical Museum.
News Article: For the past 20 years, members of the Plant and Service Guild, a committee of EGC, have been providing 30 arrangements every month to the DuPage Convalescent Center.
Members held their meeting in August at the summer convention of Garden Clubs of Illinois, at the Round Barn Convention Center in Champaign, IL.
The club is still helping each year to clean up the prairie.
The club planted a tree on the Arboreal trail at the trace.
The club held their 9th annual Flower and Garden Show at The Abbey.
The EGC Junior Club participated in the Flower and Garden Show at McCormick Place.
The 1980s
1980
The club continued to sponsor a junior garden club throughout the 80’s.
For 14 days members volunteered to go to the EPD greenhouse to transplant 9000 seedlings into peat pots. These were later planted throughout Elmhurst. 4/80.
Club participated in “Round Up in the Valley” the first Ill State Flower Show in Aurora. 10/80.
EGC had a Prairie Path Committee through the 1970s and 80s.
Garden Therapy began at Elmhurst Extended Care Center.
1981
Members worked for the first time in the newly created herb garden.
1983
Mary Kies was chairman of the Flower Show, Bit O Country, 6/24/83.
The club held a member’s garden walk 4/83.
1986
EGC met in the Calvin Hall of the Presbyterian Church.
Club members put monthly arrangements in the library
Pedal Pushers group designed arrangements to represent a nursery rhyme.
April 7th the club celebrated its 60th anniversary. Roses were given to any club member with 30 years or more membership. 19 members qualified.
EGC was helping to landscape a lot on the corner of York and Palmer Drive. The garden was dedicated in November of 1986.
The Illinois State Flower Show was held at Field Museum of Natural History. The theme was “Daffodils and Dinosaurs.” 3/13-14.
In June the club met at Chicago Botanic Garden and in September they met at Cantigny.
The Civic Committee planted 3020 seedlings, 510 cannas, 300 geraniums. (4 people)
Participated with the city for their annual clean-up week by distributing posters to schools.
1987
ECG members transplanted 15,000 seedlings in the E Park District greenhouse.
The spring annual meeting and luncheon was held at Drake Oak Brook on April 6th. The cost of the lunch was $12.00.
1988
Each month club members designed and installed horticultural displays at the EPL. February’s theme was “How Plants Make Us Healthy.”
Both Horticulture and Conservation Chair, spoke to the members each month on some topic.
Club members planted 6200 seedlings.
In September, members participated in a State Flower Show at the Field Museum.
Lincoln School had 100 students signed up for a Junior Garden Club called the Green Thumbs, that met with EGC members at lunch.
In October, 1988, the club stopped putting monthly arrangements in the library. Christmas decorations and the monthly exhibits in display cases continued.
On November 7, 1988, 87 people attended the garden club meeting.
Morning workshops were frequently held on EGC meeting days. In December, there was a workshop to make a colonial stocking and a pinecone reindeer.
The club made $608 at the Christmas Boutique.
EGC spearheaded a five year citywide plan to make Elmhurst Greener. This was part of “Plant a Living Legacy/Trees Across America
Henry Hyde, IL House of Rep., congratulated EGC members who inaugurated a 5 year planting projects in honor of the bicentennial of the Constitution. Plan was to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers in 8 Elmhurst sites. Cost estimate: $25,000.
Several members received awards at the “Beauty and the Beast’ flower and garden show at the Museum of natural History in Chicago.
Participated in the International Festival of Flowers and Gardens at Navy Pier.
1989
The theme for the year was “The Shakespearean Year.” In May the group went by bus to Evanston to visit a Shakespearean Garden.
Refreshments in the 1980’s: Coffee, tea, and dessert. Left over desserts were sold at the end of the meeting for 25 cents.
There was a committee much like our Club Relations Committee called Sunshine.
In spring club members delivered 3000 seedling trees to 12 Elmhurst schools.
Virginia Knuepher received an award for “Outstanding Women Leaders in DuPageCounty.”
A memorial tree and plaque was planted at York and Palmer Drive in honor of Robert T. Palmer. City Manager of Elmhurst 1953-1983.
Put on a display of flowers at the Elmhurst City May Day Celebration. 5/6.
The 1990s
1990
Club took a trip to Pak Park Conservatory, Peterson’s for lunch, followed by a tour of the FLW House.
Club had something called life members.
Yearbooks were handed out in April.
Dinny Kneupher was honored at the Elmhurst AM Legion.
The June meeting was at Cantigny.
Program in Sept., was a wreath and topiary workshop.
Club planted 424 seedlings at site 20 on Lake Street.
Oct: “ Regina Sulinski urged members to serve on committees and spoke of the difficulty of finding helpers.”
Almost every month there are 5 or more guests and one new member.
The club used dried materials to decorate the library.
Ways and Means sold items throughout the year.
1991
Vi Dawson was installed as 32nd President of the National Council of State Gardens.
The May meeting was a trip to Milwaukee to the Convention of the National Council of Garden Clubs, to attend the Banquet for the installation of Vi Dawson as president.
Vi Dawson had a peony named after her sold at Klehm Nursery.
On June 26 the club held a standard flower show and luncheon in honor of Vi Dawson. The Club made $1000 on their flower show.
Hort discussed a plant of the month. Every month.
Mildred Hartney was installed as the garden studies chairman.
Participated in Earth Day and Beyond with a seedling planting project.
1992
The club celebrated its 65th Anniversary.
There were workshops every month before the regular meeting.
Club sold a cookbook.
The April luncheon theme was “The Magic Years of Beatrice Potter.”
The design and host committee met every month at someone’s home.
The club took part in planting the prairie.
The Sept. meeting was at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Folks went on a bus.
Vi Dawson was still national president.
April luncheon was in Willowbrook and cost $16.
The club planted and maintained the Glos Memorial Garden.
The club contributed to The Nature Conservancy.
In March, different levels of membership was discussed.
Conservation and Education handled a scholarship.
In May there was a plant sale. It was held in Wilder park.
The club installed a plaque in Wilder Park as part of “Plant a Living Legacy.” And planted two trees, a Kentucky coffee tree and a Swamp White Oak.
On June 30 people took a bus trip.
In the 90’s membership and yearbook were separate committees.
1993
Active members: Elaine, Nan, Ruth, Helen T, Mary Aldridge played Gardener’s Trivial Pursuit.
1994
They had a flower Show in March. The theme was “Circus Circus.”
Members were given corsages for special help or occasions.
Members of the Conservation, and Hort committees planted gardens at People’s Resource Center in Wheaton.
In August, Betty Buergner made a motion to explore the possibility of sponsoring a garden walk.
Club had a bus tour to Thyme for Rosemary Farm in Lake Geneva.
*Betty B. gave a history of the Elmhurst herb garden. It began in 1980. She was looking for ideas to rejuvenate it.
Youth activities involved monthly meetings of the Green Thumbs Juniors of Lincoln School. Carol Poltrock ,a teacher, and member, was their advisor.
Club was still just serving dessert at meetings. New members still had to be sponsored, and approved by the Board for membership.
*The club decorated a Christmas Tree at Wilder park.
**There was a Garden Club History Book that was available for borrowing.
A scholarship in the amount of $500 was given to a student at Southern University.
The first issue of the Garden Club Newsletter came out in December 1993.
1995
Host Committee volunteered at the Oak Park Conservatory. The committee also propagated plants for the May sale.
Elmhurst Garden Club voted to sponsor a garden walk in August 1995, to benefit the building fund of the new Art Museum. Karen Exiner and Rosemary Richards volunteered to be co-chairs.
What was PLL-TAA that club joined as part of city council??
The Herb garden was moved to Wilder Park.
The 2000s
2002
To celebrate 50 years of holiday decorations, the theme was “books and Blossoms.” It was NGC year of the rose, so decorations of golden roses and books were highlighted. These were last decorations in the old building. Members who worked on these decorations: Nan Olson, Mary Aldridge, Bev Schripsema. Nan was president.
2005
EGC won a GCI award for a civic project. It was a wreath decorating demonstration at EPL, at the library’s request. Members: Pauline Widener, Marilyn Arado, Georgia Dolan, Betsy Grimm.
EGC also won an award from GCI for EPL decorations.
2014
EGC donated $1000 to GCI for a fund established by GCI to assist in replanting trees in the Washington, IL area damaged by tornadoes.
2015
EGC sponsored a public program with EPL, by inviting Ball Horticultural Co. to present a program on new plants developments.
2020
Coronavirus Pandemic. Shelter in place
Cancelled: April Luncheon, meetings, garden walk in July.