Spring is a busy season for many as they cultivate their gardens with the hope of seeing blooming dividends. One organization dedicated to the pursuit of gardening is the Kansas Associated Garden Clubs. At one time, more than seventy-five individual garden clubs belonged to the KAGC.
In 1926, a garden club in Emporia, Kansas was formed and became the founding member of the Kansas Association Garden Clubs. Six years later, the Emporia group joined the National Garden Club, Inc. In the next several decades, several groups throughout the Midwest joined the KAGC. The Kansas groups were broken into districts based on their location: East Central, Mid East, North Central, Northeast, Northwest, South Central, Southeast, and Southwest.
One of the many highlights from the KAGC is the annual garden shows that take place among the various groups. The Johnson County Museum houses several artifacts and photographs from various garden shows, particularly those of the East Central District. I was able to speak with KAGC historian Sheila Miller on the history of garden clubs in Kansas and several of their traditions.
Sheila Miller has spent decades with the Kansas Garden Clubs and belongs to the Bonner Springs Group. The group in Bonner Springs joined the Kansas Associated Garden Clubs in 1960, and Sheila joined in 1964 after getting a recommendation from a friend. Being new to the community at the time, she saw joining the group as an opportunity to get to know her fellow gardeners. For the past seven years, Sheila has worked diligently as the historian for the KAGC, preserving official documents, memorabilia, and general history of the organization. These include yearbooks from the different Kansas clubs, which can provide inspiration for club members. Some of the fond memories include working together on projects, visiting nursing homes, planting flowers at Kelly Murphy Park, and other gardening events (like the yearly garden shows).
The annual garden shows are intended to educate the members and community about various gardening techniques and showcase the plants and flowers that are on display. Members have the opportunity to show off ‘the very best of their garden’. It takes a great deal of careful planning and preparation to be able to enter the show.
The majority of the flower shows are open to the public, with family and friends of the members coming to show their support and learn a little bit about gardening in the process.
While there may not be monetary prizes involved with winning at a local garden show, there is a great deal of pride and honor that goes with the title. Ribbons are given out to the winner in each group. The JoCoHistory Collection houses over 40,000 historical photographs and maps, including many garden exhibits and flower gardens.
The Kansas Associated Garden Clubs has gone through many changes over the past several years. There are currently nine local Kansas gardening clubs that fit under the KAGC banner, and the impact of the 2020 pandemic has forced groups to meet virtually for the time being. The Bonner Springs Garden Club is one of the nine that continue to meet and discuss various garden topics including horticulture, health and environmental issues, and participation in projects for the benefit of the local community. Though the club may seem different, their goal of beautification and education remains the same.
-Heather McCartin, Johnson County Library
Author note: The author offers her deepest gratitude to historian Sheila Miller for her cooperation and knowledge of the Kansas Associated Garden Clubs.
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