Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Stepping out on a frigid February morning, when our chapped hands feel like frostbite is beginning to set in, it’s hard to imagine that spring is just around the corner. Fortunately, gardeners are a hopeful bunch. They know that visions of fresh pea pods and unfurled flower petals will turn into reality before you can say, “perlite vs. vermiculite”. During this period of anticipation, there is no time for idleness, so they must plan. For there are summer bulb catalogs waiting to be perused, seed packets needing to be ordered, and perfect color combinations that must be converted from dreams to graph paper. In South Jersey, like-minded members of garden clubs have already begun to meet together to brainstorm, plan, and inspire each other. Check out some of the local clubs in our area to find others with a passion for gardening.
The Offshore Garden Club meets from January to April on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Linwood Public Library. Then they reconvene from September to November. Throughout the year, they have various programs and workshops, including a bus trip in May. For the Feb. 28 meeting, they will be making botanical soaps with the Perch Cove Soap Company. Looking ahead to March 27, the group plans to make moss terrariums with Joe Alvarez. If you would like more information about meetings or workshops, contact Janet Toland at: golfer_nurse@hotmail.com.
Green Thumb Garden Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Somers Point Senior Center. New members are welcome from all across our region. The group celebrates gardening with community beautification projects and educational programs to protect our natural resources. For the February meeting, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) presented a program on building rain barrels. For more information about the garden club, contact Pam at (609) 519-3517.
The Little Gardens Club of Atlantic City began in 1922 and has grown to encompass members from all around the South Jersey area. They meet in central locations such as the Mays Landing Library meeting room or the Belcoville Firehouse. The group meets monthly year-round, hosting speakers on a variety of interesting topics, such as Pinelands preservation and growing plants hydroponically. They also have several trips during the year. This spring, they plan to visit the Sunset Flower Farm in Woodbine as well as the Pennsbury Manor in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. The club hosts an annual garden tour which will be July 14, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information about this garden club, visit their Facebook page: The Little Gardens Club.
The Sweet Scents Garden Club holds monthly workshops and hosts speakers throughout the gardening season at the Bayview Garden Nursery in Northfield. Volunteers from the group maintain the Memory Garden at Birch Grove Park and help keep up the grounds around the Historical Casto House. They are always looking for new members to join their group. For more information about membership or upcoming events, email: colleen@bayviewnurseries.com or joni@bayviewnurseries.com or call Bayview Nursery at (609) 641-0648 ext. 10.
The Inlet Hydrangea Trail Volunteers (IHTV) formed in May of 2022. This group envisioned Hydrangea Trail 2.0, which originated with the goal of reestablishing the Hydrangea Trail that began in the 1940s. The volunteer group has been hard at work beautifying neighborhoods and revitalizing Atlantic City with community involvement that began in Gardner’s Basin. The group also offers garden education opportunities through a program with Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Contact: GardensofAC@gmail.com for more information about this Hydrangea Trail volunteer group.
Joining a garden club is a great way for novice and experienced gardeners to come together and exchange ideas and inspiration. If you would like more information or would like to have your garden group featured, please send your inquiry to: shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
