Down & Dirty
(One in a series of articles by Nancy Burgess originally printed in the no longer published
HOMETOWN Lake Zurich magazine.)
There is something about spring flowers that lets us know the wait for warmer temperatures
and longer days is almost over. Those first bursts of color prepare us for the transformation of
the landscape from a barren winter scene to that of a lush, prairie grassland.
For the garden club of Lake Zurich, flowers are a year round activity. Garden club members,
both men and women, spend winter months experimenting with plant cuttings, seeds and
garden plans for the impending season of bloom.
Many garden clubs have more to do with socializing and less with get-in-the-dirt work. The first
Illinois garden clubs were formed as floral arranging societies, as clubs for getting together and
sharing decorating tips and friendships. Not coincidentally, back issues of the Frontier
Enterprise, have photographs showing ladies of the club at various social functions.
The Garden Club of Lake Zurich was established around 1974, when a group of women decided
to form a local organization with the serious purpose of developing the practical art of
gardening and landscaping. The first civic project maintained by the garden club was the area
just east of the old seawall. The women created a small walkway where they did some planting,
weeding and mulching. For people entering Lake Zurich from the east, the sight of the flowers
gave Lake Zurich an added charm. The maintenance of these plots was taken over in recent
years by the Village due to the difficulty keeping the plots watered, particularly after one
member strained her chest muscles trying to lift a bucket over the railings of the seawall to
water the beds.
In 1981, the new Ela Area Library was built. The plans for landscaping were nearly scrapped
when the money for building costs ran dry. The Garden Club stepped in, reviewed the plans,
and suggested a more cost-effective garden plan. Working with the Library Board and Friends
of The Ela Library, the Garden Club solicited the community; for donations. Area businesses
donated funds and plants and the Garden Club modified the plans to work with the over $6,000
worth of donations that they received. Thus was created the garden that now adorns the
library. It is the sort of garden one would expect to see conceived by a garden club. The garden
club continues to maintain the beds which have through time become a friendship garden. Each
season club members can be seen digging, weeding and caring for this community plot.
Throughout the year, the Garden Club of Lake Zurich works on community projects. They have
sponsored 4-H scholarships, contributed books to the library, and at every meeting they work
on educating themselves on various other horticultural topics, including species that could be
introduced in this area.
Hard work does have its rewards. The library garden has received several awards from the
Garden Club of Illinois, and residents always compliment the club on its hard work. Many of the
now 28 members are considered to be self-educated experts and their advice is often sought.
Last spring, the Club sponsored the Centennial garden contest for the Village, and awarded
prizes to five beautiful area gardens. They are proud to say that there were entrants from every
part of the community.
Considering that the organization was formed by the hard work and dedication its foundermembers, the garden club of Lake Zurich has grown and blossomed into one more organization
that helps keep Lake Zurich beautiful. Every spring brings its own rewards as the work of the
Garden Club of Lake Zurich pokes forth from the ground at the Ela Area Public Library.