“Train up a fig tree in the way it should go, and when you are old sit under the shade of it.”

— Charles Dickens

Heard on the town

DEDICATED TO keeping the Scenic City scenic, members of the Chattanooga Council of Garden Clubs have been working year-round to help make Chattanooga beautiful.

According to member Nancy Belk, the council was founded in 1925 as an umbrella organization for 20 local garden clubs that had been around since 1898.

The objective of the council is “to promote the advancement of gardening, development of home grounds and the extension of city and county beautification,” Mrs. Belk said.

Members also are dedicated to creating public opinion and “a deeper consciousness on the part of all citizens toward cooperative efforts in the development of the program of planting, cultivation and appreciation of all growing plant and wildlife,” she said.

“Through the years, as more Chattanooga area garden clubs were organized, the council increased its membership to about 65 clubs, all of which have been involved in many types of garden club work in this area,” Mrs. Belk said.

The group is involved in community beautification efforts such as conservation, roadside clean-up, historical preservation and tree plantings.

“Some of these programs were the forerunner of government involvement, producing many government programs and jobs, including the Scenic Cities Beautiful Commission.”

On Aug. 22, the council will celebrate its 83rd anniversary with a tea honoring former presidents and members of the council, Mrs. Belk said.

The 2009 board members are Mrs. Belk, president; Mrs. Boyd Rheay, vice president; Mrs. J.E. Croft, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Laury Weaver, historian; Mrs. W.F. Maclin, treasurer; and Mrs. Gloria Lee, chaplain.

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