The Bourbon County Garden Club started in 2003 and gives time and talent to the community through public garden care.
The Bourbon County Garden Club will open its season on Thursday, March 21, with a meeting at 6 p.m. at the Lowell Milken Center in downtown Fort Scott, at Wall and Main Street. The club meets once a month from March until October.
“New members bring new energy and new ideas,” said Martha Jane Gentry, co-president of the club in a press release. “Learn how you can contribute to Bourbon County Garden Club activities for the coming season by attending the March 21 meeting.”
“Garden experience is not necessary for participation,” said Gentry, “The club offers opportunities for learning and for community service.”
“The Garden Club started in 2003 and has grown in membership since then,” she said. “There are now about thirty members representing different ages, interests, and areas of the county.”
Membership is free, with the club’s activities financially supported by one fundraiser. The annual plant sale occurs on the opening Saturday of the Downtown Farmers’ Market, this year on May 4.
“The club partners with Tri-Valley Developmental Services to sell a wide variety of plants, all of which are geared to our area’s growing conditions,” she said. “Club members offer plants freshly dug from their own gardens, and Tri-Valley provides plants and hanging baskets from the agency’s greenhouse.”
About one-third of the members have chosen to further their gardening knowledge by taking the K-State Master Gardener course through the K-State Extension Service.
“The class is offered via Zoom in the fall, with occasional in-person meetings,” she said. “Master Gardeners are required to share their knowledge through area activities, and the local club offers some of those opportunities.”
Many Projects
In addition to increasing in number, the number of community projects has increased.
The partnership with the City of Fort Scott has been vital for many of these projects.
“The city installed the watering system for Heritage Park (at First and Main Street) which members designed and planted in 2006,” she said. “That garden features a mix of annuals and perennials and is a colorful backdrop for Friday night concerts, photo shoots, and downtown gatherings.”
“Later, the city added a watering system for the downtown hanging planters and for the island gardens at the pool,” Gentry said.” In addition to those projects, the club has planted, cared for, and watered gardens in the North Main area.”
“A recent project is the island garden at Riverfront Park, a collaboration with the Fire Department and Riverfront volunteers,” she said.
The newest project is outside the downtown area.
Residential pocket gardens were expanded last year through the club. Several members had already planted corner/pocket gardens, and the club decided to expand the project. Two local homeowners won free gardens from drawings through the club’s Facebook page and at the plant sale.
“A pocket garden is a small planting plot or large pot tucked into a convenient corner of your property,” according to www.bobvilla.com>articles>pocket-gardens.
“I do the four corners at 8th and Crawford as part of the pocket garden project,” she said. “There are bulbs currently blooming”
A club committee collaborated with those homeowners in the fall, before planting the garden.
“Look for Garden Club Pocket Garden signs throughout Fort Scott to see what can flourish in small areas with challenging conditions,” she said. “For all gardens, the plant selection focuses on choices that are drought. Both the city staff and club members are committed to minimal water usage.”