LOS ANGELES GARDEN CLUB
SINCE 1932
PROJECTS
The Los Angeles Garden Club supports various projects and causes. We encourage you to participate, share your skills and expertise, or volunteer your time to ensure continued success. Every helping hand or donation is welcome! Please click on the button below, if you would like to be part of a project.
LOS ANGELES GARDEN CLUB PROJECTS
Los Angeles Garden Club 90th Anniversary
Preserving History by Creating a Digital Archive
As the years go by and long-standing members are leaving the LAGC, parts of the Club's history leaves with them. Countless cherished memories, photographs, vintage mementos, special expertise, and personal tips can no longer be shared with future generations of Club members.
While all of our Club's activities and events have been captured and documented digitally since 2001, there are no digital records available of prior years, with one exception:
For the LAGC's 75th Anniversary, Ashkhen Evrard, Historian and former Co-President, established a 75-year timeline, which includes detailed portraits of three women, who played a pivotal role in the success of the Los Angeles Garden Club.
This documentation is published on our website losangelesgardenclub.org Go to Page
This new project will entail the collecting and scanning of yearbooks, photos, and administrative records from years prior to 2000, and storing them on a cloud (online) platform, where the files can be accessed and enjoyed by current and future LA Garden Club members.
Chairpersons: President and Webmaster
Planting Trees/Shrubs in Honor of the LAGC's 90th Anniversary and Beyond
Members are asked to plant trees and shrubs either in their own gardens or by participating in public events such as LA's CITY PLANTS, etc. Donating to reputable organizations such as Tree People to sponsor or dedicate trees is yet another great way to support the planting of trees.
Chairperson: Martha Hunt
Botanical Gardens
Classes and projects of both the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, and Descanso Gardens are shared and member participation encouraged. Several members volunteer at these organizations.
Horticultural Education
Our Club improves members' knowledge through horticulture "Show and Tell" and presentations by experts during meetings, in addition to sharing plants and growing tips. The Club maintains a membership with the Theodore Payne Foundation.
State and National Objectives
Our Club encourages its members to understand and practice the principles and objectives of California Garden Clubs, Inc. and National Garden Clubs, Inc. by participating in its projects and fundraising efforts.
Bus Trips
Our Club takes bus trips or car-pools to historic estates and gardens, botanical gardens, nurseries, growers, and Club members' own gardens, to educate its members on all phases of horticulture and conservation.
ONGOING CIVIC / EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS
Holiday Donations
Our Club continues to support Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, a unique organization providing services for homeless children, families, and persons with co-occurring health issues, including mental health and substance use disorders.
Monetary donations are collected at our Club's November meeting. Member participation is approx. 85%. Homeless Health Care Los Angeles will mail donors a donation letter that serves as tax receipt. Your support of our Club means that we can continue to help people in need.
Chairperson: Vicky Hansen
Penny Pines
We continue to give memorial contributions in the names of recently-deceased club members to the Angeles National Forest. The Forest Service plants and maintains approximately one acre of trees for each donation made. Members can also contribute to the Penny Pines Reforestation / Restoration Program. The program focuses on support to help the forest recover from fires, insect and invasive plant infestation.
Chairperson: Helene Jacobs
LA River and Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects
Community efforts have helped to give the Los Angeles River a new lease on life.
Members participate in river cleanups together with Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR).
Chairperson: Vicky Hansen - Members volunteer on their own terms.
Scholarship
In 2024, two LAGC Scholarships at $750 each were awarded to two horticulture students from Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in Walnut, CA. See all winners here
The college was originally selected, because it met all of the criteria established by the Los Angeles Garden Club Scholarship Committee. Contributions to the Scholarship Fund are received from Club members, as well as other groups and individuals, and through fundraising activities.
Chairperson: Randa Skorzanka
Taking the Reins
In 2018, our Club partnered with Taking the Reins to help support this
community-based non-profit organization in Los Angeles that serves hundreds of at-risk girls, ages 8-18, to help them excel and achieve their fullest potential in a safe and diverse environment.
Thanks to the Equestrian, Seed-to-Skillet Garden, Animal Husbandry, and Learning Center Programs, girls learn the value of teamwork and responsibility, in addition to valuable skills. TTR inspires and encourages girls to self-advocate, helping them grow into future leaders.
TTR also offers workshops in the arts, personal development and life skills, college preparation, and career opportunities.
Partnering schools report TTR teens have higher in-class participation and school attendance. All students who are with TTR for 2+ years graduate from high school on time, and 98% of students who are with TTR for 4+ years are the first in their family to attend college. 83% of TTR students show an increase in self-esteem and leadership.
Our members enjoy volunteering and participating in the garden classes. Whenever TTR provides us with their schedule, our members can sign up during our regular membership meetings. Occasionally we'll organize luncheons, tea parties, and tours to keep the connection with the TTR team and their girls.
Thanks to donors like our members, Taking the Reins has served more than 5,000 L.A. girls in the organization's 26-year history! Donations are very much appreciated.
Chairperson: Vicky Hansen Volunteer Coordinator: Carla Silvers
CONSERVATION PROJECTS
Through its programs, newsletter tips/solicitation of member suggestions, and poster display, our Club encourages members to practice water conservation, composting, and the environmental “three Rs”:
Reduce waste
Reuse repair for same use, or repurpose
Recycle reprocess into a new raw material
Useful resources include:
SoCal WaterSmart: socalwatersmart.com and bewaterwise.com
Rebates to encourage wise water use and conservation.
Rain Water Harvesting and LA’s Watershed Protection Program: lastormwater.org
Greywater Systems: greywateraction.org Reuse water from bathroom sinks,
showers and washing machines to irrigate trees, shrubs and flower beds.
City of LA Residential Recycled Water Fill Station Program: ladwp.com/rwfs
Compost Green Waste: calrecycle.ca.gov/organics
Turn Brown into Gold by keeping yard waste of leaves, grass clippings,
vegetable and kitchen waste on site by composting.
Vermicomposting: calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/worms
Recycling and S.A.F.E. Recycling Centers: lacitysan.org
Bins, Organics, Bags, and Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, Electronics
1-888CleanLA: cleanla.lacounty.gov
Environmental Programs within the City of LA:
lacity.gov/residents/community-assistance/environmental-programs