Verndale Country Garden Club Marks 75 Years of Growing Community
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- 2 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
What began in 1951 as a small group of rural women wanting to start a garden club has blossomed into a 75-year tradition of friendship, flowers, and community service in Verndale and beyond.
The Verndale Country Garden Club met at the home of member Vicki Thompson in July, where they combined regular business with education. Members participated in a quiz about fireflies, finalized plans for their Verndale parade float, and discussed an August 5 garden tour. They also debated potential donations and shared updates about their travels and health. Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Hanna Milligan concluded the meeting with a presentation and quiz on the rigorous floriculture contests and greenhouse projects her Verndale students are undertaking.
The Verndale Country Gardens Club has been meeting and growing for 75 years.
The Verndale Country Garden Club was established on August 12, 1951, by eight rural women. Lucille Miller, a charter member, served as the club’s first president. Other charter members included Miller’s mother, Ethel Wood, Loreda Hines, Lucy Miller, Edith Larson, Helen Baker, Bertha Anderson, Vernie Sorenson, and Nella Wellman.
When the club started, membership was limited to 25 women to keep it manageable.
Within a year, additional members such as Arlene Baker, Gwen Ford, Gladys Grondahl, Ruth Jenson, Luella Mack, Jolene Peterson, and Agnes Tetrault joined.
While the club includes “Verndale” in its name, members come from various areas. Many members were from the townships of Aldrich, Thomastown, and Wadena, specifically the Oak Grove-Central area.
The club’s color is purple, and their club flower is the purple iris. They also has a longstanding motto: “Like a rainbow, the garden is a promise.”
The club initially met at Oak Grove Hall and later at the Verndale Civic Center.
Education remains central to the club’s mission; the group hosts a program at every meeting, often focusing on a specific plant or gardening topic. They also take annual trips to tour local gardens and nurseries...
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