We also strive to better the Portage Community through educational initiatives, conservation efforts at historical sites and organized plantings. Our Portage Garden Club was first organized in 1969 and federated in 1970 as a member club of the Michigan Garden Clubs (District III) and the National Garden Clubs. We are a group of friends that share a passion for gardening and enjoy making a differen
ce in our community. We meet February – December on the third Thursday of the month around noon, often at the Stuart Manor in the Celery Flats. Each program includes a presentation on a gardening related topic of interest to our members. We either have a guest speaker or a field trip
Following are some examples of the activities and projects of our Portage Garden Club:
· Coordinating with the Portage Parks Department, we have planted and maintain the perennial gardens around Stuart Manor in the Celery Flats.
· We have our annual plant sale and fund raiser the third Friday in May at a member’s home. The perennial and outdoor plants we share are ones from our own (and friends’) gardens that have done so well, we have extra. If there are any leftover plants, we donate most of them to Habitat for Humanity.
· We also donate and plant the annual gardens at the Tendercare Nursing Home in Portage.
· We participate in Kalamazoo in Bloom by adopting and maintaining/weeding two annual beds near the Portage Public Library.
· We purchase, collect, and donate many mittens/gloves and hats to the Senior Center Needlers who then distribute them to those in our community that are in need of them.
· We also contribute money to other community charities and organizations such as the Michigan Garden Club Scholarship Program, The Kalamazoo Nature Center, Portage Community Center, Kalamazoo in Bloom, and others. We have a wonderful Club and always enjoy getting together to learn, work and play in our gardens!
