Area Clubs Foster Community and More
You may be familiar with the phrase “having a green thumb” when it comes to plants thriving. And while that’s been touted as the pinnacle in gardening, it’s also a myth that it’s a natural gift bestowed upon a lucky few. It may seem like it comes organically to certain people, but in actuality, the art of gardening can—and should—be taught. Education is vital in terms of growth (no pun intended!).
“Just start small. Try a plant you like, see how it works one year, listen to others and how they ‘fix’ the plant or the soil and learn from there,” Mary Heiting, President of the Paper Valley Garden Club in Appleton, urges.
“The ‘art of gardening’ can be taught through shared hands-on experiences, lots of trial and error, listening to garden-related podcasts, and/or viewing YouTube videos,” Cheryl Pagel, Publicity Chair of the Oshkosh Garden Club, adds. “Novice and experienced gardeners alike acquire skills through trial and error. They also enjoy gardening as a whole as they find creative ways to maximize smaller spaces with container and vertical gardening.
“Most gardeners will report that their skills have been passed down from their parents and grandparents. Many were active members of FFA and took horticulture classes in high school. Plants and flowers often teach and cultivate us, not so much the other way around. It’s essential to their survival. Gardeners, plants, and flowers share a symbiotic relationship that extends a long way back into evolutionary history.”
Researching and starting with native plants of the Fox Valley also tends to help with ease and expense.
“When done right, native plants are relatively easy and much less expensive than many other types of landscaping,” Dr. Shannon Davis-Foust, President & Education Chair of Wild Ones Fox Valley, explains. “We are all gardeners in the sense that anyone who intentionally cultivates a landscape, even a lawn or a field crop, is a gardener. Some people focus on gardening for what is deemed beautiful to the human eye. Some focus their gardening on food. Many of our members do these types of gardening, but we also focus on protecting and restoring wildlife habitat.”
It helps to join likeminded individuals enthusiastic about plants and seeing them thrive.
Garden clubs offer guidance and foster community—not to mention beautiful landscapes and flourishing florals.
“Garden clubs can be a valuable part of any community life, offering shared experiences through education, discovering the health benefits of gardening and enjoying a unique sense of community,” Pagel explains.