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The
Activities of the Club include: |
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Scholarship
Fund
A scholarship
is awarded each year to the most deserving student at the Foothill
Community College for study in the field of horticulture. Current scholar |
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Sempervirens
Club members donate
to the Sempervirens Fund which supports reforestation of the Redwood Forests
in California. |
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History
House Volunteers
Club members work
as volunteers in the Los Altos History House garden as needed.
Los Altos History
Museum |
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Plant
Sale
Held each Spring
and Fall, open to the public. The plants are grown by the members |
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Bake
Sale
Held each Spring
and Fall. The baked goods are made by the members |
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Plant
Exchange
Held twice a year
in the Spring and the Fall in co-operation with the Town of Los
Altos |
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Garden Club Bulletin Board
Talk to your fellow members on this internet website.Get you Yahoo ID and passport before you access this site. For help talk to Nancy Brubecker.
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In 1929 Los Altos held a garden
show under the oaks on the former Costello property, located
on University Avenue, adjacent to what is now Milverton Road.
The event was organized by the Rev. Thomas E. Landels and the
Los Altos Men's Club, together with a small group of local women.
Ribbons and silver cups were awarded to participants. The Rev.
T.D. Landels presided over the first meeting in 1929 and Mrs.
Paul Shoup was first vice-president.
The group reorganized in 1930,
as The Los Altos Garden Club, in order to give the show
more substantial backing and guidance in the growing community.
The minutes stated, "One of our activities will be informing
newcomers on plants that will thrive in Los Altos, since many
people from other California cities and the East are beginning
to move into our community." At this time membership was
limited to 50 people. |
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Among
the members were Josephine and Frank Duveneck and Frank Marini
and guests included Senator Phelan, Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Mrs.
Fremont Older and Princess Ghika of Romania. |
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By 1934,
meetings had turned into round-table plant discussions led by
Albert
Wilson, newspaper columnist, author and a well-known
Peninsula radio commentator. His radio show, "Dig it with
Albert" ran for 40 years. Wilson became the first life member
because of his unfailing enthusiasm for the club. He died in
1996 at the age of 93. |
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The
1935 Garden show was opened by Mrs. Herbert Hoover who cut a
broad pink ribbon across the entrance to Shoup Park. |
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Garden
Club members designed and landscaped gardens around the Los Altos
Southern Pacific train station, the public library (then housed
in an old power station on First Street), and helped create a
Japanese tea garden in Shoup Park with assistance from the Furuichi
family of Los Altos Nursery. |
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The Depression and
the War years ended Garden Club meetings for a time. |
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The
20th Anniversary celebration in 1949 was a noncompetitive show
for local gardeners and included non-members. The Club was again
reorganized, and the name was changed to The Garden Club of
Los Altos. Open membership was adopted, and monthly meetings
were held in the homes or gardens of the 125 members. |
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By 1951, the club's
annual Flower Show reached an attendance record of 10,000 visitors
over a three day period. The show was held at the Pink Horse
Ranch in Los Altos Hills, then a huge resort with swimming pools
and public picnic areas. |
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In 1999 the club
held its 70 year anniversary. As a salute to the Los Altans of
the 1920s and '30s members dressed up in hats, gloves and high
heels and celebrated by serving tea in a grand manner. |
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In 2004
the club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a tea which honored
all former presidents. In addition the club contributed to an
arbor at the Los Altos History House. |
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The oldest club in Los Altos, the Garden Club continues
to thrive and to be involved in the community. |
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Meetings are now held at The Los Altos Lutheran Church • 460 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022
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Membership continues to grow and all who love plants
and gardens are welcome.
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