[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
The Wellesley Garden Study Group celebrated their 65th anniversary with a festive holiday luncheon party. It was a wonderful occasion to honor some of the original charter members - Ms. Polly Gardener and Ms. Libby Bachman were the honored guests representing the original charter members. Both ladies have contributed creatively to the club’s life and horticultural engagement within the town of Wellesley.
In May 1953 after long informal discussions of the possibility to start a new garden club in Wellesley, 35 members started The Wellesley Garden Study Group. Temporary officers were voted in to continue for the next year. The dues were set for $3 per year. Ms. Betty Ferris became the first WGSG president. In 1957, the Club became a member of the “The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.”
At that time, there seemed to be a growing demand for another garden club in Wellesley, since the only garden club was the Wellesley Garden Club. The Club’s membership was full and there was little prospect of admitting new members. It was the time after World War II, when a lot of young families moved to beautiful, tree-covered Wellesley homes. The prospect of a garden study group seemed to be very timely and appropriate as the young ladies were, for the most part, novice gardeners and were very interested in studying and learning about gardening. Meeting the demand for knowledgeable gardening, the newly founded club was named “The Wellesley Garden Study Group.”
Today, The Wellesley Garden Study Group is an active garden club following its mission to educate in horticulture, landscape design and conservation topics. Actively involved in the town’s civic and sustainable improvements, the group has reached out to the elderly with garden therapy and educational programs, has organized garden tours, and has forged relationships with Art in Bloom, MFA, Boston and with local organizations and has spearheaded noteworthy fundraising auction projects. WGSG’s latest member cookbook edition was dedicated to Ms. Polly Gardener, the honored guest for this year’s Christmas luncheon.
Wellesley Garden Study Group programs are open to the public, and visitors are warmly welcomed.
