Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Perhaps you (or your grandparents) have lived in our Shore Local area long enough to remember with nostalgia the famed Hydrangea Trail and Hydrangea Festival. Originating in the 1940s, this weeklong celebration of the hydrangea culminated with the Hydrangea Ball and the crowning of a Hydrangea Queen. By the 1960s, gardeners in 20 communities from Brigantine to Cape May competed for awards during the festival along the Hydrangea Trail. Young women represented local garden clubs from Atlantic and Cape May counties to compete for the coveted title of Hydrangea Queen. These annual festivities lasted until the 1970s.
If you missed the original celebration of the hydrangea, you are in luck because now you can participate in the re-establishment of the trail named “Hydrangea Trail 2.0”. A volunteer group named the Inlet Hydrangea Trail Volunteers (IHTV) has begun to restore the spirit of the Hydrangea Trail. Originating in the Historic Gardner’s Basin, the group established a three-year plan that began in 2022. According to the group’s mission statement, “promoting the Hydrangea Trail 2.0 encourages knowledge of history and horticulture, conservation of native and introduced plants, and appreciation of the way flowers reduce stress, create beauty, fuel community pride, and attract visitors as well as residents.”
2023 was a busy year for this Hydrangea Trail volunteer group. The IHTV focused on adding hydrangea installations across Atlantic City and promoting the project to the community. This included establishing a relationship with Leaders in Training (LIT). The LIT Workforce Development Program empowers at-risk youth through career and social skills development. The IHTV worked with these high school students by engaging them in the design and appreciation of the process of neighborhood beautification. The IHTV also held its first annual fundraiser in January of 2023 and the first annual Mother’s Day plant sale at the Absecon Lighthouse. Throughout 2023, the group participated in various events including an Earth Day celebration, farmers markets, and a holiday event at Reed’s Farm in Egg Harbor Township. They also joined the Green Coalition to share horticultural ideas and increase food security for Atlantic City residents.
Now in phase three, for 2024 the group is developing a Hydrangea Trail virtual map that will continue to grow as new installations are added. This map will be included in the CRDA package for visitors to Atlantic City. The IHTV is also working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to improve the overall appearance of Fisherman’s Park in Atlantic City by planting hydrangeas and increasing native plant species. They are also working with the Community Development Corporations of the Inlet, Midtown, and Ducktown areas and the Economic Development Corporation of Chelsea to install hydrangeas in their community.
Currently, the group is focused on its second annual fundraiser which will be held April 16 at the Cardinal Restaurant in Atlantic City from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to food and drink, attendees will be able to participate in a silent auction and pre-order hydrangeas for the Mother’s Day plant sale. Tickets for this exciting evening can be purchased at the door or by email. If you would like more information about Hydrangea Trail 2.0 or would like to purchase tickets for this upcoming event, please send your email to: gardensofac@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
