NEWS

Rainbow Garden Club turns 60

Amy Grisak
Past presidents celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Rainbow Garden Club, including Lucille Johnson, Sharon Winchell, Ivy Jackson, Kathy Austin, Virginia Piatt and Verna Kessner.

The members of the Rainbow Garden Club take their effort beyond the borders of a traditional flower or vegetable plot. They understand the importance of conservation efforts and do their part every year by planting a tree on Arbor Day.

The club planted its first spruce tree at the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind in 1966, and it continues to plant trees either at the school or in parts of the city.

Ivy Jackson, Rainbow Garden Club president, said they planted a veritable forest at the school so they could move and transplant the trees as needed.

“We planted the last one there seven or eight years ago,” she said.

The Rainbow Garden Club celebrated its 60th anniversary this month at a luncheon Dec. 8.

The Rainbow Garden Club held a luncheon in the atrium at the Rainbow to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Lynne Mahan, recording secretary of the Rainbow Garden Club, said in past years they’ve planted them at the Veteran’s Memorial Park and in other areas of the city. This year the tree, a small leaf linden, will take its place among the beautiful landscape of Gibson Park.

She said instead of adding a memorial plaque to commemorate members who have passed, they are providing one with the name of the tree “so people who love the tree will know what to ask for.”

As the skies gradually cleared after a week of gray and drizzly days, Great Falls City Commissioner Fred Burow read the Arbor Day proclamation recounting how J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska proposed this tree-planting holiday to benefit the landscape. It’s reported that during the first Arbor Day, a million trees were planted in his state.

Burow also read, “Trees are a source of joy and spiritual renewal,” a fitting statement considering another beautiful tree was added to Gibson Park for the enjoyment of everyone.

Afterward, each of the garden club women took turns shoveling soil on the already planted tree, all the while enjoying the day and each other’s company.

This endeavor is one of many projects spearheaded by the Rainbow Garden Club.

“It goes way beyond gardening,” Mahan said.

Besides planting trees to beautify our city, the group plants flowers at the Cascade County Courthouse.

“We plant two shades of purple petunias (to recognize) women and children abuse. We also plant marigolds up and down the staircase. They are very showy,” Mahan said.

The Rainbow Garden Club also works closely with the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind. It’s creating a butterfly garden at the school this spring, and in the fall they provide pumpkins for all of the children to carve.

Patty Schlaeger holds up the awards Rainbow Garden Club members won in the Rocky Mountain Region.

The members are quick to assist efforts financially to support greater projects beyond the city or county lines. What might appear to be a humble effort on the surface is the group’s “Penny Pines” fund where members donate loose change during meetings. Once the amount exceeds $50 it is turned into the state organization where it’s used for reforestation projects.

Each year they donate well over $100 for Montana trees.

One of their biggest fundraising projects of the year is the style show in October to raise money for their scholarship fund.

“The money is used to sponsor a scholarship for students who are getting their degree in horticulture,” said Eddie Wilson, membership chairperson.

Last year $3,000 went to a Montana student demonstrating the garden club’s focus on the future.

The members of the club are encouraging anyone interested in civic activity and lifelong fellowship to join.

“I like the social aspects of it,” said Wilson. “We do a lot of things.”

Mahan said you don’t have to be an avid gardener to be a part of the garden club — or even have a yard — to belong.

Even the meetings, besides providing excellent food, offer an element of education. From talks by local experts on topics ranging from backyard beekeeping to wildlife conservation projects, there is something for practically any interest.

“I thoroughly enjoy the meetings,” Wilson said. “I learn something every time.”

Their current membership is at 55 people with roughly half of those who regularly attending the meetings, so the Rainbow Garden Club would like to see more, and younger, people interested in the organization.

Since they realize it’s difficult for people with young children to attend, members are considering options to make it more feasible for them. Not only would the garden club benefit from the influx of new blood and new ideas, but the new members enjoy the advantage of these knowledgeable ladies who are more than happy to share.

Meetings are once a month at the Eagles Club at 1501 9th St. S. on the second Thursday of the month from September to May. Membership dues are $18 for the entire year, and the monthly lunch costs $10.

For more information on becoming a member, call Eddie Wilson at 406-452-7366.

One of the many activities of the Rainbow Garden Club is hosting a standard flower show in coordination with the Great Falls Flower Growers and Dearborn Garden Club.

The “Montana Homesteaders” flower show is scheduled for July 15-17 at the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind, but now is the time for gardeners to plan their entries.

The ladies created a memory board with just a few of their many projects over the past 60 years.

Pat Biggs of the Great Falls Flower Growers said the public, especially the children, is encouraged to participate in this annual event.

“Last year a girl made the most beautiful wolf out of zucchini. Kids are really creative with this stuff,” she said.

This year the theme for the kids’ creative design is bugs, which should lend itself well to a variety of fruits and vegetables. There are also categories for all ages representing individual flowers, as well as arrangements of all sorts.

Biggs notes that growers do need to have most of their flowers and vegetables in their possession and growing six weeks prior to the event. For indoor creations and houseplants, it’s 90 days.

This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to display their botanical talents and be part of this exceptional flower and garden show hosted by the knowledgeable members of our local garden clubs.