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Published on 10/13/1999 All articles from this issue

Hardy roots of Garden Club flower at 70th anniversary

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By Donna Schoemaker

Voice of the Past

Los Altos Historical Museum

Back in the 1920s, Santa Clara Valley was proclaiming its beauty in events such as Saratoga's Blossom Festival, San Jose's Festival de las Rosas and Campbell's commemoration of "Old Settlers Day."

Los Altos first took its place in displaying nature's beauty in a 1929 garden show under the "tranquil oaks" on the former Costello property, located on University Avenue, adjacent to what is now Milverton Road. The event was spearheaded by the Rev. Thomas E. Landels and the Los Altos Men's Club, together with a small group of local women. Ribbons and silver cups were awarded to participants. In later years, the garden show was held at Shoup Park.

The group reorganized in 1930, as the Los Altos Garden Club, in order to give the show more substantial backing and guidance in the growing community. The minutes stated, "One of our activities will be informing newcomers on plants that will thrive in Los Altos, since many people from other California cities and the East were beginning to move into our community."

In 1933, pets and their young owners held forth for the first time at the show. This later evolved into the traditional Los Altos Pet Parade. In 1934, a round table discussion format was inaugurated with Albert Wilson, a prominent botanist, radio commentator and columnist, as moderator. The 1935 Garden show was graced by the presence of Mrs. Herbert Hoover who opened the show by cutting a broad pink ribbon across the entrance to Shoup Park.

The Garden Club's first civic project was planting and maintaining Depot Park near the train station at Main and First streets. A man was paid $12 a month to take care of it, but the project had to be dropped because of insufficient funds.

The war years and Depression ended Garden Club meetings for a time. The strong roots of the club were nurtured through those years by Mrs. M. O. Adams and her gardening friends.

The 20th Anniversary celebration in 1949 was a noncompetitive show for local green-thumbers, club members or not. The Club was again reorganized, and the name was changed to the Garden Club of Los Altos. Open membership was adopted, and monthly meetings were held in the homes or gardens of the 125 members.

This year, the Garden Club celebrates its 70th Anniversary. One of the oldest existing Los Altos community organizations now has a membership of more than 200. The Club holds nine guest-speaker meetings, as well as spring and fall plant sales at the Creekside Room of the United Methodist Church on Magdalena Avenue and Foothill Expressway. The meetings are open to the public.

- Adapted by Donna Shoemaker for the Association of the Los Altos Historical Museum