Soil Mates Garden Club is among several garden clubs in the Lexington, Ky area.
Established in 2000, Soil Mates Garden Club is affiliated with the Garden Club of Kentucky, which means they are encouraged to do a Civic Project each year as a way to give back to the community. Past civic projects have included a plot at the Arboretum, the Beulah C Nunn Garden at the Mary Todd Lincoln Home, and gardens at Hope Lodge in Lexington.
Their community project since 2018 has focused on the gardens at Liberty Ridge Senior Living. None of the members of Soil Mates are actually members of the Liberty Ridge community and that is why the club chose this location to focus their project.
“The first year we just did one garden; but we have expanded to 2 gardens for the last couple years. We design the plantings, then plant and care for the gardens throughout the summer months,” explains Joanne Fortson, who serves as the club’s secretary and historian.
“I moved to Kentucky from Colorado about 4 years ago. Within my first couple weeks in this city, I contacted the garden club to learn about membership. I was looking for new friends with a shared interest in gardening. She continues, “I found much more than I was looking for in this group! I love my Soil Mates ‘sisters,’ and have learned a lot about gardening in Kentucky through this club.”
Soil Mates Garden Club typically holds brief business meetings once a month with a program or activity to follow. Programs include gardening basics like a pruning demonstration and exotic how-to tutorials like planting and caring for bonsai. In past years, the club has toured specialty gardens, greenhouses, and farms including a garden designed by Joseph Hillenmeyer, the gardens at Castle and Key Distillery, a hemp farm, and a hosta farm.
“Working the gardens at Liberty Ridge allows me to contribute to a community project that brings happiness to the residents and staff of Liberty Ridge,” says Debra Feheley, Treasurer of the club.
Anyone who is interested in being a part of the club is welcome. Prospective members can email at soilmatesgardenclub@gmail.com.
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