78 Years of Making The Community Bloom: Village presents appreciation plaque to Gouverneur Garden Club

by Rachel Hunter

The Village of Gouverneur Board of Trustees at its Nov. 19 meeting presented an appreciation plaque to the Gouverneur Garden Club for their decades-long work of “making the community bloom.” The honor was bestowed to Gouverneur Garden Club President Miki Hopper by Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, joined by Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine, Trustees Floyd McAdam, Troy Besaw, and Shelly Simons-Washburn. Thunderous applause sounded as the plaque was presented to the Gouverneur Garden Club.

Did you know? The Gouverneur Garden Club has been dedicated to civic improvement for over 78 years. On April 10, 1946, the Outlook Club invited representatives of different clubs to meet with them at the home of Louise Anderson to discuss the organization of a Garden Club. Stella Rogers of Somerville and a Mrs. Milligan of Lowville were guest speakers. The first meeting of the Gouverneur Garden Club was held at the home of Eva Hodge on May 22, 1946 with 15 members present. Civic improvement has always been the main interest of this club, with a proven record over the course of its history.

The Gouverneur Garden Club’s active membership total is now at over 30 persons strong and has experienced much growth over the last several years. The 2024 club officers are as follows: President Miki Hopper, Vice President Marylou Trop, Recording Secretary Christine Betrus, Corresponding Secretary Carol Venton, and Treasurer Ruth McClure. The Gouverneur Garden Club’s mission is “to share knowledge and experience, promote interest in all varieties of gardening, provide community beautification and environmental conservation, and instill civic pride.”

The Gouverneur Garden Club was busy as bees in 2024 with their beautification work and more. It all started on March 7 with an organizational meeting at the Eldon B. Conklin Gouverneur Community Center. The club met in April and May with educational presentations on hydroponic gardening (presented by Chris Gates of Gouverneur) and “My Favorite Tools” (presented by Club Member Lea Dickson).

On May 24, the Gouverneur Garden Club held its Spring Plant Sale fundraiser, with generous support from the North Country community. It was held in the Gouverneur Village Park, near the fountain due to the Village Park Improvement Project. This fundraising event has been a staple in the Gouverneur community since at least the early 1980s. Hundreds of plants (ground covers, houseplants, perennials) were available for sale. The funds raised went to help the club beautify the Gouverneur community.

In keeping with the Gouverneur Garden Club’s motto “Making Our Community Bloom,” committee members maintain gardens throughout the Gouverneur community during the spring, summer and autumn months. The Gouverneur Garden Club worked hard to beautify the local gardens. This includes the following: Rock Island Planters (Sponsored by the Gouverneur Garden Club), Aubuchon Hardware Planter (Chairperson Miki Hopper), Riverview and Grove St. Cemeteries (Chairperson Connie Stowell, Ruth McClure, Kathy Rust, Bonnie Porter, Brenda Willard, Roxy Boyd), Beckwith Street Garden (Chairperson Connie Stowell, Ruth McClure, Kathy Rust, Roxy Boyd, Brenda Willard, Bonnie Porter), Gouverneur Museum Planters (Lea Dickson), Village Park, Gazebo, Barrels, Clock Stand (Chairperson Shelly Bush, Linda Betts, Lea Dickson, Cande Houghton, Laurie Scott, Karen Green, Donna Lawrence, Roberta O'Neill), Harry Mills Park (Chairperson Connie Stowell, Ruth McClure, Kathy Rust, Brenda Willard, Roxy Boyd, Bonnie Porter), Tractor Supply Planters​ (Chairperson Carol Venton and Laurie Scott), Sandbox Garden And Park Street (Chairperson Miki Hopper, Co-Chairperson Linda Hull, Irene Gardner, Joan Mason, Lynn Nicholl, Marylou Trop, Carol Venton, Sharon Villeneuve), Community Center (Chairperson Christine Betrus, Glenda Bickford, Julie Henry, Phyllis Myers, Roxy Tyler). The Gouverneur Garden Club in 2024 painted paving stones, and placed them as signs by the local gardens. Much appreciation is extended to these Gouverneur Garden Club members for their beautification efforts.

This spring, faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that the Gouverneur Garden Club received a donation of inmate labor from the Gouverneur Correctional Facility to grow 110 geraniums, 70 dusty millers, 40 zinnias. All materials were provided by the Gouverneur Garden Club, and the plants were added to the local gardens by the Gouverneur Garden Club members. Much gratitude was extended to the Gouverneur Correctional Facility for their continued support.

The Gouverneur Garden Club took an educational field trip in June to the Willow Tree Nursery in Potsdam, and enjoyed a picnic lunch at Riverview Park in July. The August meeting was held at the 2024 Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair. The club once again had its booth under the grandstand, and had several submissions in the “Creative Containers” educational exhibit. In September, the Gouverneur Garden Club had a mum and plant sale and basket raffle at the 2024 Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival, presented by the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association and the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce. In November, the Gouverneur Garden Club received a presentation on making ground pine wreaths by Club Member Cande Houghton.

Last Friday, November 22, the Gouverneur Garden Club assisted the Gouverneur Hospital by decorating its evergreen wreaths in advance of the holiday season.

The Gouverneur Garden Club has a Christmas luncheon planned on December 5, and will have a program planning session on January 3. The Gouverneur Garden Club continues to seek new members to help keep up the tradition of beautifying the Gouverneur area. Those interested in flora are always welcome at Gouverneur Garden Club meetings. The Gouverneur Garden Club is inclusive of all genders, and anyone interested in joining is encouraged to contact any Gouverneur Garden Club member. Meetings are regularly announced in the community calendar section of the Gouverneur Tribune Press. For more information on the Gouverneur Garden Club, visit www.GouverneurGardenClub.com or visit their page on Facebook.