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MARYLAND

Gardeners plant deep roots in Bethany community

JENNIFER POPIEL
DELMARVANOW CORRESPONDENT
A photo collage of members of the Gardeners by the Sea in Bethany Beach taking part in various community outreach activities that the club promotes each year.

Gardeners by the Sea, founded by Lisa Arni in 2004, is a highly-active gardening club in the Bethany Beach area that is affiliated at the local, regional and national levels where club members range from beginner to master gardener. 

The club promotes a wide-range of community outreach focusing on native landscapes, environmental causes, youth education, fundraising for scholarships, garden therapy, and many other notable projects. 

Arni speaks about the club's vision and how you can join this community outreach group.

As the founder of the club, what was your initial vision?  

When I first built our home here, I did not know anyone and wanted to meet new people. I was particularly interested in what is native to the area that grows here and I wanted to increase my knowledge in horticulture and design in addition to participating in community outreach.

When I was looking for a garden club to join I learned that there were not any open to join unless you knew someone to sponsor you or vote you in. 

That is when I decided to start Gardeners by the Sea and my goal was to become affiliated with the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs, Central Atlantic Region and National Garden Clubs to incorporate more than just my ideas, but also collaborate with highly-skilled professionals. 

I especially think this area is ripe for new garden clubs because all of these new communities are being built and there is minimal, if any, landscaping. 

Are you and members self-taught or do you have horticulture training?

Our members range from beginner to master gardener. If you absolutely know nothing about gardening, but are willing to learn, we welcome you. We offer many wide-ranging themed workshops from September through June for members and their guests.  

What type of recognition has the club received? 

In 2016, we received 13 awards from the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs. In the past we have received some awards at the regional level and one at the national level.  

Can you elaborate on the youth programs and what you do to encourage interest and appreciation for nature and gardening? 

We have a partnership with the second graders at Lord Baltimore Elementary School.  We have 22 students who have made terrariums, built bird houses, started garden journaling and worked on environmental issues such as migration, wetlands and pollinators. 

They also painted and planted four chairs which were displayed at our flower show along with all of their thank-you notes to the committee – it was adorable.  

In what aspect are you involved with Habitat for Humanity?

After the house is finished, we usually present planters for outdoors. One year, we went into the house that was dedicated and brought additional floral designs to decorate inside of the home and our members also provided gift cards for the family.  

What impact have you seen from providing Garden Therapy?  

Garden therapy brings nature to a person who cannot otherwise do on their own. They seem to smile every time they complete a project. We do a lot of flower designs that they can place in their own room or home. It truly seems to brighten their day.  

What are some other programs or events that you are involved in?

We host a flower show at the Salt Pond, a garden tour at our location and a plant sale.  We decorate a Hospice tree every holiday, maintain and work on the Lord Baltimore Elementary School Garden, our Sunshine Committee provides handmade cards with well wishes once a month to go on the trays of recipients of Meals on Wheels.

We play hosts at homes on the Bethany Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, we participate in a coastal cleanup twice a year and provide a scholarship each year to a horticulture student or students in the amount of $2,000.  

How many members can join?

We cap off our members at 55. We have a few openings at this time (not many), but we are open to starting a new club. 

We are willing to be a mentor to any new club at the state level to help them get started if they join the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs. If we reach 55 and someone is interested, we put them on a waiting list. 

We are an active club so therefore if one of our members cannot be active — able to attend 5 out of 10 meetings, actively serving on a committee and paying club dues — then you move on to the associate list. 

If we get a big waiting list, however, we would like to start a new club; not just here locally, but we would like to expand statewide.

On Wednesday,. Aug. 30, from 6-7 p.m. at South Coastal Library, we are going to have a meet and greet for anyone who would like to come and hear about starting a new club or joining an existing club.  

 

IF YOU GO

Gardeners by the Sea
Where: 36478 Wild Rose Circle, Selbyville 
When: 2nd Friday of each month at 12:30 p.m. from September through June
Info: Call 302-537-6238 or membership.gardenersbythesea@gmail.com