Garden clubs offer educational, social opportunities

Nevada Garden Clubs Inc. often goes unnoticed and yet the association of clubs does so much good for the valley. The various clubs share gardening knowledge with those who want to defy the phrase, "You can't grow anything in Las Vegas!" With their help, the impossible becomes reality.

The Nevada Garden Clubs came about because of Linnea Miller Domz. She was a member of the Rose Garden Club started in 1945 by Adeline Bartlett, who once wrote this column. Domz "discovered" a National Gardener magazine on vacation and wanted something more for the valley than just the Rose Garden Club. The magazine advertised a Flower Show School in Tucson, Ariz., so she and Hobby St. Denis attended. They came back enthused about "federating" with the National Garden Club, which happened in 1963, along with 10 clubs across the state.

One of the main things to come out of federating was certification of judges, who are eligible to go to other states to judge shows. Our judges also enter their specialties in shows and come home with the big ribbons.

Fourteen clubs from Southern Nevada belong to Nevada Garden Clubs, with a combined membership of more than 400. The clubs have a variety of interests, from general gardening to specific plants to flower arranging. Barbara Roe, who offers information about each club to pique your desire to join, said to go to the organization's Web site -- www.nevadagardenclubs. com -- to find out more.

Cactus & Succulent Society of Southern Nevada: This is an active group of about 75 members who enjoy sharing an interest in these special plants and educating people about them. They actively support conservation and the protection of their habitats. They bring in guest presenters at monthly meetings, publish a newsletter and take occasional field trips.

Carnation Garden Club: This is an all-purpose garden club. Members grow a variety of plants and have an interest in many phases of gardening. They bring in special speakers to help gain knowledge about gardening in our unique area. As an ongoing community service project, they maintain a section in the Park of the Pioneer Women.

Greater Las Vegas Orchid Society: This society is an enthusiastic group as its numbers increase with each meeting. Before every meeting, members have plant and supply drawings, sales, show and tell, education, food and fun. After the fun, they hear from a spectacular orchid specialist.

Growers Study Guild: The purpose of this club is to encourage gardening throughout our valley, with the main focus on houseplant care. For the fourth year, members will be showing third-graders how to "plant one seed" (radish and marigold) so they can bring plants home for Mother's Day.

Ikenoba Ikebana Society: This society is the Nevada chapter of Japanese Floral Art, Ikenobo, which has a recorded history of more than 500 years. The group puts on workshops under the direction of a professor from Japan and takes study tours to Japan.

Las Vegas Bonsai Society: This is a group that has a lot of fun in a relaxing atmosphere. Members literally age a tree over a period of time, keeping it in miniature form. They put on two demonstrations a year that are well attended

Las Vegas Chrysanthemum Society: It is a group of people with diverse backgrounds who have a love for chrysanthemums. They'll show you how to grow mums from A to Z, with much of it done in members' yards to end with a fall mum show that tops off the season.

Las Vegas Flower Arrangers Guild: The object of the guild is to promote interest in and further the knowledge of flower arranging and its allied arts. Members learn the art of arranging, such as how to use decorative wood in an arrangement and then exhibit them in the flower shows. It is great for people who love working with fresh and dried plant materials. However, the group does not work with silk arrangements.

Las Vegas Iris Society: This group teaches members how to grow and propagate irises. Tours of members' yards are taken to critique their growing habits. Flowers are shown off at the group's spring show. Members teach youth how to garden and are donating Christmas gift cards to teenagers at Safe Nest, a place for battered women and children.

Las Vegas Valley and South Valley Rose Societies: These societies educate their members by bringing in respected speakers to help them grow roses in the desert. They also provide pruning demonstrations to take the mystery out of pruning, and have a spring flower show to exhibit their successes to the public.

Pahrump Valley Garden Club: It is made up of enthusiastic gardeners willing to share ideas. The club maintains a demonstration garden with creative ways to show off the names of the plants.

Rose Garden Club: This club is the oldest of the clubs. It maintains a "touch and smell" garden for horticulture therapy near the Garden Club building in Lorenzi Park that's free to visit. Members study elements and principles of flower arranging. They also learn about shrubs. The group places equal emphasis on social activities, such as formal dinners.

Sunset Garden Club: This club was organized to educate, create and stimulate interest in all phases of gardening. It advises the Henderson Parks and Recreation Department on the care of the Julia A. Menasco Rose Garden at Silver Springs Recreation Center.

Southern Nevada Iris Society: This group has been in existence for more than 35 years. Members help people grow irises in our soils. In the spring, the society has a show and in July, a sale, offering those award-winning irises. The group tours members' yards to help each person improve their skills.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Christmas tree recycling: Plan to recycle your Christmas tree. The drop-off points will open Wednesday and continue through Jan. 15. Go to www.springspreserve.org for the site nearest you. The preserve turned last year's recycled trees into rich humus now used in its vegetable garden.

Plant giveaway: The Springs Preserve is anxious for homeowners to incorporate native plants into their landscape. It is giving away 12 species of plants as well as native plant seed packets Friday and again Monday between 10 a.m. and noon. Come early to get yours.

Linn Mills writes a garden column every Thursday. You can reach him at linn.mills@springspreserve.org or at the Gardens at the Springs Preserve at 822-7754.