Celebrating 100 Years

In the spring of 1926, a group of women from the Elmhurst Women’s Club had a vision: to enrich their community by establishing a new garden group. By 1930 these enthusiastic gardeners had joined the Garden Clubs of Illinois. Throughout the 1930’s, the club held flower shows, garden contests, and tree and plant sales.

Garden club members shared a love of gardening, but they were equally involved in social  welfare programs. Beginning in the 1920’s and continuing for almost forty years, the club participated in The Chicago Plant, Flower, and Fruit Guild. Weekly, during the summer months, ladies would pack up flowers and vegetables from their own gardens and send them by train to hospitals and settlement houses throughout Chicago.

In addition, the club began to engage in activities of value to the local  community. One of their earliest projects was to beautify the grounds around the Northwestern Station. In 1952 members began a 72 year tradition of decorating the Elmhurst Library for Christmas. Over the years, community beautification expanded,  as the club planted garden plots and trees throughout  the city. They contributed to cleaning the prairie path and establishing butterfly gardens.  In cooperation with the park district, in 1981, club members installed and began to maintain an herb garden, which still welcomes visitors in Wilder Park each summer. 

1995 was a milestone year, as Elmhurst Garden Club initiated “An Afternoon in the Garden,” a community garden walk. This beloved annual event raises funds for college students majoring in horticulture or environmental studies. Since its inception, the club has awarded over $283,000 in scholarships. 

Elmhurst Garden Club is proud to help maintain gardens for students to enjoy  at York High School and a garden area for clients to enjoy at The Ray Graham Center. Garden therapy continues at a senior day care center, and a new Nature Therapy class has begun at Ray Graham.

Today, we are 150 members strong. As Elmhurst Garden Club celebrates its 100th anniversary, we look to the future with excitement as we continue to promote home gardening, community beautification, and environmental stewardship.