Stevensville Garden Club -- Over 70 years of service -- 1939-2009

President: Mary Baughn, phone 777-4196

President Mary Baughn moved to Stevensville in 1995 and chairs the downtown flowerbox project for both winter and summer decoration. Mary lived in the state of Washington where she worked at Keyport Naval Torpedo Station, Puget Sound Naval Yard and Sub-Base Bangor. She worked on carriers, destroyers, Trident submarines in painting and sand blasting the sea vessels while in dry dock. She recently retired from Wal-Mart sales. Besides gardening, floral arranging, Mary has 2 show horses, is involved with Faith Therapeutic Riding Services and the Missoula Equestrian Park. She is a quilter and recently chaired the Pollinator Garden Project near the Stevensville Ranger Station. She is a flower show student judge.

First Vice President Jerry Sue Buckingham is well known in the community with her involvement and interesting experiences traveling with her husband, Buck, and four daughters from Oregon to Valley Forge, PA in a horse drawn “gypsy wagon” with the Oregon Trail Bicentennial wagon train. Buck was the Pastor and MC and Jerry Sue was the head cook. Her love of gardening was nurtured by her grandfather and it is hard for her to see “unplanted dirt”.

Glenda Edwards, Secretary, is a Katrina survivor from Mandelle, LA. Her gardening began with the love of making mud pies and proceeded to being a kumquat grower assistant to her father. Glenda is a retired music teacher, CRFF certified and worked as a discipline based facilitator. She brought her talent to our area and is using her time as a choir director, pianist, and band teacher in the Lone Rock School.

JoAnn Notti continues as the Club’s treasurer and is the Western District Director for 2011-13.

The Stevensville Garden Club recently undertook a project to research and install a native plant pollinator garden (pictured above) at the Stevensville Ranger Station. It was expanded in 2011. Read more about this major educational project here.

A Brief History of the Club

The 3-Mile Garden Club was organized in 1939. In 1948, there were 11 Charter members, with over 60 club members. Dues were $1.20, then went to $1.50, then to $5.00 and now they are $20.00. If, dues weren’t paid, after 3 months, you were suspended. They had a Garden Creed, in the front of their Yearbooks. Some time later, probably in the 1960’s, the club name was changed to Stevensville Garden Club. In 1955, the 3-Mile Garden Club took on the Civic Improvement Project on Main Street in Stevensville. The rectangle shape of property at the corner of Eastside Highway and Main Street was basically a dump. The property measured 137’x104’. In co-operation with City Council, a plan was presented, to rid the area of trash and use as a dumping site - planting flowers instead. Engleman Ivy was used to trail on the brick wall and planters were added along Main Street [see picture].

A pleasing entrance to the city became a rest area where people visited. The Future Farmers of America built 32 planters at a cost of $2.25 each. They were filled with soil and planted with lovely flowers. The Project Chairperson was Vivian Stewart. The Boy Scouts and Lucky Horse Shoe 4-H club helped.

Under both club names, the ladies designed and constructed floats for the Creamery Picnic parades in August. Members have planted flowers in town: at St. Mary’s Mission, (the 1st church in Montana); Wayside Park (Now called Veteran’s Park); Stevensville’s Swimming Pool; Native Pollinator Gardens #1 and #2 at the Ravalli County Forestry Office, Stevensville District on Main Street; North Valley Public Library and the Stevensville Museum.

In 1996, in collaboration with the National Federation of Garden Clubs, club members planted a White Crab Apple tree at the Stevensville Museum, in memory of children who died in the 1995 Oklahoma bombing. Members continue working these on-going projects: along with Pantry Partner donations; public Workshops; Stevensville Yard-of-the-Year; Garden Therapy at the North Valley Nursing Home; Creamery Picnic Garden Party; Blue Star Memorial Park; public Christmas Luncheon; North Valley Library Children’s Garden; Ravalli County Fair Horticulture and Floral Design Show; Stevensville Community Pool; Historic Tree Project/Walking Tree Tour with Brochures; and the Daffodil Project. Meetings have an Information Spotlight on Horticulture and/or Design mini-programs.

The Garden Club worked with the American Legion Post #94 to place a National Garden Club's historical Blue Star Marker, a memorial for all who have served in the military services, in the Veterans Park which was dedicated on Armed Forces Day, May 20, 2006.

The Garden Club meets the first Wednesday of each month and we extend an invitation to anyone who would like to see what a club who has been around for 70+ years has to offer. We'd love to have you join us.