Iola Garden Club celebrates 75 years
The Iola Garden Club is beginning its 75th year of serving the community.
The club was founded in March 1936. Members designated the rose as the club flower and chose the motto: "A garden - where ill thoughts die and good are born." The club was committed to caring for the planters at the village parks and to carrying out the goals of the constitution as follows:
•To stimulate a knowledge and love of gardening.
•To aid in the protection of native plants and birds.
•To create interest in the development of home grounds.
•To encourage and promote civic beautification.
These four points remain the foundation of the organization today.
The Iola Garden Club was known as the Clara Larson Garden Club for a number of years and was affiliated with the Garden Clubs of Wisconsin from 1937-1963. At that time both the Iola and Scandinavia clubs withdrew from the state organization, teaming up with Town and Country Garden Club of Ogdensburg to form Tri-Valley Gardeners. This affiliation continues today and features two flower shows each year, as well as a joint field trip annually.
A review of the programs documenting the 25th, 35th and 50th anniversaries of the club reveals the hope of its members to see the club continue on to "perhaps even a 75th" anniversary, and here they are. Membership in the club requires only a sympathy with the goals of the organization and a willingness to work toward its accomplishment.
The Iola Garden Club currently has 10 active members. The club also honors two longtime members Mary Klug and Doris Sweet with permanent, honorary membership in the organization. Their examples serve as inspiration to all members as they strive for "the wisdom to cultivate our minds as diligently as we nurture tender seedlings."
The Iola Garden Club meets on the second Thursday of the month for a bag lunch, gardening tips and companionship. Members of the club believe in the importance of human relations and cultivate friendships as well as plants. The members thrive on good conversation.
Anyone interested in joining the club is encouraged to contact President Joanna Rheingans at 715-445-3336.
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