Gloria Tillman, President
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We'd like to tell you a bit of our history and future plans. As early as 1906, the Havre newspapers wrote of the need to put in gardens. In 1922 a local garden club was formed as a branch of the then all-encompassing Women's Club. The initial club asked for the designation of the Nasturtium as the official flower of the city. Forthy years later, that flower lost out to the Petunia as the official flower of the city. It wasn't until January of 1942 that a local garden club was officially organized under the name "Bullhook Blossoms". It functioned until the late 1960's (Bullhook was the unofficial name for the original settlement at the confluence of Bullhook Creek and the Milk River.)

In December of 2008 Montana Federation president Darlene Skari and Lynne Mahan of the Chinook Jumping Juniper Garden Club met with and urged Gloria Tillman and myself to revive a garden club in Havre. A brief "coffee break stop" in Havre by Darlene, Phyllis White and Norm DeNeal reinforced their request. Therefore, early in March of 2009 a newspaper article advertised an "expression of interest" meeting at the Havre/Hill County Library. Eight ladies showed up and the club was launched. It was established that meetings would generally be held at 2pm on the last Tuesday of the month and at the Library, unless otherwise noted.

In April, a short organizational meeting took place identifying temporary officers, choosing a name and submitting brief operational bylaws. Suggestions for subsequent meeting programs were solicited. A tour of a nearby greenhouse followed. The May meeting featured a program on container gardens. In June, Vicki Neidregger of the Jumping Junipers Club reviewed the State Convention in Billings and shared pictures of the beautiful gardens toured there. In July, six members spent a wonderful day in Malta touring the formal gardens around the Robinson House and also a contrasting informal garden on the SE edge of the city.

The August meeting featured members' illustrations and comments on successes or failure of certain plants in their yards or gardens during the summer. Guest speakers at the September meeting were owners and developers of a new, especially beautiful garden in a newly developed area of Havre. They shared their experiences with landscape planning, soil preparation and plant placement. Floral arrangement specialist, Susan Billmayer enchanted us at our evening meeting in October with her illustration of native plants used in floral arrangements.

Club members participated in two public service efforts: in May trimming peonies and rose bushes on the Hill County Courthouse grounds and in August joining in the acquisition and planting of a large and heavy(!) decorative planter in front of the Library (see photo of club members Gloria Tillman, Toni Hagener and Carol Spolar below).

In 2011, our club hosted the Hi-Line District meeting and helped the Chester Garden Club host the MFGC state convention. We worked hard and had a wonderful time meeting gardeners from all over Montana!



We welcome newcomers to our meetings. Please call Gloria for information on upcoming meetings and locations.