About Us
A Garden Club taking an active part in both horticultural and conservation projects along the Main Line, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, and in the City of Philadelphia.
CLUB HISTORY
The Garden Workers was founded in May 1930 with eight charter members and Mrs. DeLa Rombach as founder and first president. In the nearly one hundred years since those humble beginnings, The Garden Workers (TGW) now have a membership of close to 80 members and are active in flower design, garden photography, horticultural and conservation projects along the Main Line and within the city limits of Philadelphia. Along with multiple community service projects, these support The Garden Workers’ mission to further “educate its members in all facets of gardening, with emphasis on increasing knowledge of horticulture, conservation and flower design, while working to promote beautification and concern for the environment”.
While initially a social group, by the late 1940’s The Garden Workers transformed into a focused group with meetings and workshops tying in to the community.
TGW was the first garden club to work in local public schools, received the ‘Junior Activities Award’ in the 1950s and more recently developed and taught a seed germination lesson in an elementary school. The Garden Workers were awarded a $1000 grant from the state of Pennsylvania for ‘The Model Mile’ roadside project on Route 202 in Paoli and additionally planted dogwood trees in Valley Forge Park and holly trees in public areas of Bryn Mawr.
For the better part of its history, The Garden Workers have maintained a strong presence within the city limits of Philadelphia. As early as 1948, TGW have been closely aligned with the Historic Fairmount Park Houses. The Garden Workers replanted and maintained the gardens at Sweetbriar for many years and currently maintain a long tradition of decorating Woodford Mansion for the annual holiday house tours. Other projects in Philadelphia have included planning and planting gardens at what is now Ralston House and the Cloisters at The Philadelphia Museum of Art as well as opening their homes for Pennsylvania House and Garden Tours and participating in Philadelphia’s Neighborhood Gardens Project. For nearly 50 years, the Garden Workers maintained a booth at The Rittenhouse Flower Market, making horticulture accessible to city dwellers.
The Garden Workers have exhibited in The Philadelphia Flower Show since 1942 both as a club and individually, winning numerous awards and ribbons. Additionally, the Garden Workers hosts two interclub horticulture and floral design shows and one photography show annually. Typically these shows are held in retirement homes where residents and members can mutually benefit from the interaction, discussion and education.
In addition to the monthly business meeting and program, the club has offered a wide range of member driven workshops and field trips to further member education in such topics as trough building, plant propagation, native species, holiday tablescapes, photography and more.
Since 1974, the primary community service project for the club has been the continued design, planting, and maintenance of Sharpe Park, the 2-acre local greenspace and bird sanctuary that is adjacent to the Haverford train station.
Also, The Garden Workers have dedicated the December meeting each year to The Christmas Workshop where members create large double-sided wreaths and nearly 50 holiday table centerpieces that are delivered to Ronald McDonald House, Rosemont Presbyterian Village and Saunders House.
In 1969 The Garden Workers became a member of The Garden Club of America (GCA)www.gcamerica.org. In addition, the Garden Workers are one of ten area garden clubs that comprise the Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America (PCGCA). This division within GCA was formed to fund and support larger horticultural projects in the immediate Philadelphia area such as the Physic Garden, the Magnolia Garden and the Zone V 2013 Centennial Concourse Lake Project. Many of our club members have been active in the local and national leadership of these GCA levels.
TGW sponsors members to attend local and national conferences every year including:
The GCA Annual Meeting
The Shirley Meneice Horticultural Conference
The GCA Floral Design Seminar
The GCA National Affairs and Legislation Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The GCA Zone V Meeting