Club History
Oct 21, 1949 – First meeting at Dorothy Hardee’s home where she, Margaret Harper, and 10 other interested Southport Women’s Club members attended. Officers chosen, with Dorothy Hardee as the first President.
1950 – Club became federated with the State Garden Club. Membership limit 20, dues $5.
Feb 16, 1950 – First big project: scale cleaned from camellias and shrubs planted around Brunswick Courthouse on Moore St.
July 1, 1950 – Rooted azaleas and camellias at greenhouse in Franklin Square Park, which were later planted in the park and distributed to members and other citizens.
Dec, 1950 – Participated with other groups in first Christmas House at Community Building; included holiday gifts and crafts. Started Yard-of-the-Month contest.
1953 – First Club constitution adopted; membership limit raised to 30. Camellia designated as official flower.
Oct 15, 1954 – Hurricane Hazel caused destruction of waterfront, piers, shrimp houses, and Yacht Basin.
1958 – Official flower changed to Gaillardia.
1959-1960 – Club split to form two additional clubs, Woodbine Club and Live Oak Club.
1961-1965 – Worked with Woodbine and Live Oak Garden Clubs to get Colonial Gardens and Nature Trail at Brunswick Town adopted by GCNC.
Dec, 1965 – Made wreaths for churches, library, rest home, Brunswick Town, City Hall, and Christmas House event.
1967 – Contributed 9,000 bricks for walkway and Live Oak trees for parking area at Brunswick Town.
1970s – Projects included Christmas House, 4th of July floats, wreath-making, Yard-of-the-Month, and flower shows.
1974 – Adopted Keziah Memorial Park Garden.
1975 – Donated memorial plaque at Keziah Memorial Park.
1976 – Donated $500 toward “Revolution,” an outdoor drama celebrating the Bicentennial.
1979 – Received congratulatory letter from President Jimmy Carter on Club’s 30th anniversary and for becoming Honorary Trustees in the American Land Trust.
1980 – Contributed to Bonnet’s Creek marker installed on Moore St.
1981 – Donated funds for new flagpole and bricks for walk at City Hall, Moore St.
1982 – Gavel presented to Club by Mrs. Ruth Houghton.
May, 1983 – Membership dues raised to $10. Discontinued June meetings and, instead of luncheon, held picnic and workshop at Brunswick Town.
1983-1984 – Continued perpetual care of Keziah Memorial Park by planting dogwood trees and 100 daffodil bulbs.
Sept, 1984 – Hurricane Diane: worked with the city to assess damage and help with recovery of Franklin Square Park.
1984-1985 – Continued May workshop and picnics at Brunswick Town.
March, 1986 – Club vote to remove membership cap did not pass.
1989 – Restored Whittler’s Bench and planted garden in center, then added it as a continuing project until 2015, when city took over and planted a cedar tree.
1989-1990 – Membership dues raised to $15.
1990 – Planted Triangle Garden on Moore St. 1992 – Margaret Harper became Life Member.
1996-1997 – Memorial tree or shrub planted in memory of deceased members.
1998 – Membership dues raised to $20.
1999 – Garden Club 50th anniversary. By-laws changed on memorials, from planting trees or shrubs, to donating garden book for library or charity of family’s choice.
Sept, 1999 – Hurricane Floyd caused extensive flooding.
2000-2001 – Landscaped around the Community Building.
2001-2002 – By-laws changed to add annual auction fundraiser.
2003-2004 – Hosted District 11 meeting at the Community Center. Created garden walk areas with marker dedicated to Southport Garden Club. Started a $250 scholarship for a South Brunswick High School graduating student in a Horticulture or related program.
2004-2005 – Garden enhancement to south side of Community Garden.
2006 – Marble bench added to Triangle Garden in memory of Sue Jones.
2006-2007– Cooperative project with Club, city, Boy Scouts and Curb Appeal to plant wooden boxes located on Moore and Howe Streets; Club to replant seasonally and maintain. Developed a brochure for new members.
2007 – Scholarship recipient was changed to a second-year student in Horticulture or related program at Brunswick Community College.
2007-2008 – Renovated Keziah Garden plot, rebuilding sides with brick donated from Dosher Hospital. Restored memorial plaque.
2008-2009 – Membership cap raised to 40 Active Members. Scholarship raised to $500. Mrs. L.J. Hardee Memorial project added. Dorothy Hardee passed on Dec 28, 2008. Margaret Harper passed on Oct 11, 2009.
2010 – By-law change expanded options for fundraising, in addition to annual auction. Archival case for Club history built and installed at City Hall.
2010-2011 – Dues raised to $25. Added projects: 50/50 raffle and Art in Bloom.
2011-2012 – Garden of the Month re-established. Two bluebird houses built and installed at Lowe White Memorial Park, to be maintained by Club. Garden Club Garden Tour added as fundraiser.
2012-2013 – Safe Haven movie filmed in town. Coordinated all planters in red, white, and blue for 4th of July filming.
2013-2014 – Second Garden Club Garden Tour fundraiser. Fire Station planter boxes added as new project; Club to plant and Fire Station to maintain.
2016 – At Club’s request, Downtown Southport, Inc. purchased new planter boxes to create a pleasing streetscape and replace worn wooden planter boxes; approved by Board of Aldermen.
2016-2017 – Hurricane Matthew caused extensive flooding at Yacht Basin and inland (Oct, 2016). Scholarship increased to $1000. Discontinued Fire Station planter box project. Added Plant Sale as new fundraiser.
2017-2018 – Dues increased to $35. Discontinued Club auction as fundraiser and continued annual Plant Sale. Completed planter box project. By-Laws changed: dropped cap on membership, adopted gender-neutral language. First male member joined Feb, 2018. Finance Committee obtained a tax ID number and sought 501(c)(3) status.
2018-2019 – Obtained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Hurricane Florence caused extensive flooding and damage to city infrastructure. $1000 BCC scholarship awarded. Yearbook format changed to 3-ring notebook. Field trip to Airlie Gardens. Successful Plant Sale.
2019-2020 – Challenged by COVID-19 pandemic, Club continued to move forward safely. Increasing membership by 25% resulted in a District 11 award. Community outreach enhanced by establishing plot at Caswell Community Garden, in support of their food-share program. Provided wonderful bouquets for Meals on Wheels trays on Valentine’s Day. Hosted District 11 annual meeting October, 2019. Teamed with Beautification Committee to design, procure plants and install new garden in front of the Indian Trail Meeting Hall. Held a successful fundraiser selling live wreaths and garlands in November. Successful launch of The Southport Gardener newsletter – included Committee reports (saving meeting time); Garden Journal column; Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators column; Birds column; calendar of events; birthdays; member “Glories”; and Yard of the Month. COVID-19 pandemic halted monthly meetings in April, caused cancellation of Plant Sale and May Luncheon. Voted on 2020-21 leadership via email, per revised By-laws.
2020-2021 – The COVID-19 pandemic continued to present challenges for the Garden Club. Due to restrictions, no in-person meetings were held unless social-distancing and mask-wearing were maintained. Members became comfortable with technology and moved committee meetings to online events. Despite these obstacles, the Club remained active and thriving – once again holding a successful Christmas wreath fundraiser and raffle, providing bouquets for Meals on Wheels recipients on Valentine’s Day, maintaining and enhancing gardens and planter boxes around the city, and taking on a second garden at the Caswell Community Garden, to the delight of the food-share folks. The newsletter has become our membership touchstone, keeping all informed and connected, and providing us with gardening tips and a way to share our glories with one another. We look forward to coming together as a Club once again.
2021-2022—Returned to in person outdoor meetings held at Dorsett Farms on Airport Road. Added decorating of the Garrison on Fort Johnston in a patriotic display of red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July. Held a successful live wreath and garland fundraiser. Candy Cane Garden was created and held
in Keziah Park as a fundraiser. Continued our December and February outreach to Meals on Wheels with Christmas Mugs of fresh flowers and a bud vase with a red rose for Valentine’s. The Garrison was featured on the cover of Southport Magazine’s July issue. Ricky Evans Gallery rendition of the Garrison
Decorations appeared on his annual Christmas Card for purchase as a card and as a framed print. Began the development of a club website.
2022-2023—Returned to in person indoor meetings at Southport Presbyterian Church. Re-landscaping of the Triangle Garden began. Our annual fundraiser continued with the sale of wreaths and garland. Again this year we offered custom bows for decorating. Candy Cane Garden continued. The Meals on
Wheels outreach continued in December and February. We had an entry in the Camellia Show in Wilmington. Our Club was represented at the Spring and Fall Garden Club of North Carolina Meetings. We were presented the Ruth Yarbrough Publicity Press Book Award in 2022. In 2023 we were presented
a Certificate of Honor for Outstanding Service to the Garden Club of North Carolina. The Southport Garden Club had the honor of having club president, Tish Hatem, nominated to serve on the executive board of the North Carolina Garden Club. Our city gardens and planter boxes continued to thrive.
Website successful, up and running, able to promote our club, to assist with fundraisers, and collection of annual club dues.
2023-2024 – The Triangle Garden Committee applied for a grant from the National Garden Club; the grant was awarded to our club. Landscaping of the Triangle Garden continued with the planting of a large live oak. Perpetual care of Keziah Memorial Park continued with the planting of additional azaleas and
magnolias. Four planter boxes were also replaced at Keziah Park. The Fourth of July decorations were enhanced by adding two large American flags in between the columns of Fort Johnston. A QR Code was added to our Garden Club signage and was displayed on the lawn of Fort Johnston during the months of June and July. A commemorative brick was purchased from the Southport Historical Society and placed along the walkway of Fort Johnston. It reads “WITH OUR HEARTS IN FULL BLOOMSOUTHPORT GARDEN CLUB EST.1949 – SOUTHPORT, NC “
2024-2025 – Additional planter boxes were purchased by DSI and were placed on crosswalks. The committee is maintaining these boxes with seasonal plantings. Partnered with Wrightsville Beach Club to host the District 11 Meeting. Plant sale in partnership with DSI was held at Brunswick Community
College Campus in Southport. Tish Hatem completed her term as Recording Secretary for the Garden Club of North Carolina and was elected Parliamentarian. Candy Cane Garden Party, Winterfest Event, continued with the addition of fresh florals and handmade bows for purchase. There was also an auction of three candy canes painted by local artists held during the event.
2025-2026 – The club year was marked by service, fellowship, education, and community involvement. Members dedicated countless volunteer hours to projects that beautified the community, promoted environmental stewardship, and strengthened friendships. A highlight of the year was the introduction
of Festival of Trees in Franklin Square Park. This inaugural community event brought together residents and visitors to celebrate the holiday season in a festive setting, creating a new tradition that reflected the club’s spirit and commitment to community. This commitment was also evident at our Elementary
School, where 67 second graders hand painted flowerpots, planted sunflower seeds, and learned about the life cycle of a plant. The Community Outreach Committee played an active role in the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival, supporting one of Southport’s signature celebrations. The return of Art in Bloom
showcased floral artistry and earned our club Honorable Mention.
We continue to welcome new members and informative speakers with engaging programs. Club members remain active at the state level including Sharon Benson, Tish Hatem, and Club President, Kay Ross. The club earned two prestigious awards—the Elma K. Bowden Yearbook Award (Third Place) and
the Ruth Yarbrough Publicity Press Book Award (Second Place). Members also engaged in a field trip to the Green Swamp Preserve in Brunswick County noted for its longleaf pine savannas, wetlands with diverse carnivorous plants like the Venus Flytrap and Pitcher Plants.
