Pooler Garden Club

by Cindy Reid

The Pooler Garden Club is an innovative, educational, and entertaining group that has been meeting for almost 90 years. The Pooler Garden Club was formed in 1933 by officers wives to brighten up and improve the city of Pooler. They have consistently met throughout the years except during WWII. Even during the Covid-19 lockdown, the club held meetings safely outside.

Louise Schindler, club Co-President with Barbara Rawlings, has been with the club for 10 years and says she enjoys the educational aspect and the camaraderie.

“For most new members, the first step is ‘what to plant?’ People move here and they want to learn what grows, when to plant, how to garden in our area.” She says the club always has a learning session at their meetings, because there is always something new to learn even for the most experienced of gardeners.

Anyone is welcome to attend a meeting and they would love to have new members join. They also host public events and teas where you can come, meet the club, and learn “who we are and what we do.” They occasionally meet at interesting outdoor local locations such as the Georgia Southern Botanical Garden, the Savannah Bee demonstration cottage on Wilmington Island and local plant nurseries.

The members enjoy teaching the younger generation about nature and contributing to their community. Past projects include helping plant shrubs and flowers for the three local Habitat for Humanity homes. Recently the club made and donated multiple flower arrangements for the senior living facility Wisteria Gardens. In April, the City of Pooler, Pooler Garden Club, and Greenery Inc. collaborated on the third annual Plant a Tree for Free event, where 340 trees were given out, free of charge, to Pooler residents.

Honoring Armed Forces

On May 11, the club will rededicate a Blue Star Memorial marker in honor of our nation's Armed Forces on I95 South. Several years ago, the existing sign was taken down, and the club has been instrumental in cleaning the sign and having it reposted.

The Blue Star Memorial Program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs (now NGC, Inc.) adopted the program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Garden Clubs throughout the country maintain these patriotic memorials in their hometowns.

Louise says, “We appreciate the gift we’ve been given; we are proud of our country, and we love our flowers.”

Savannah Botanical Gardens

The Pooler Garden Club also wants to spread the word on one of the area’s loveliest attractions—the Savannah Botanical Gardens. The Savannah Area Council of Garden Clubs—of which the Pooler Garden Club is a member—owns and operates the botanical gardens located just outside the Savannah historic district.

The site was conceived and designed in the late 1980s as an all-volunteer effort. It includes both formal and naturalistic plantings as well as a two acre pond, amphitheater, nature trails, archaeological exhibit, and the historic Reinhard House. Both the garden and historic Reinhard House are available for weddings, meetings, or other special events.

Access to all public areas of the garden is free, however, a small fee may be required for groups of ten or more.

Upcoming events include the Annual Spring Plant Sale on May 7 and a Night of Opera al Fresco (making opera fun!) on August 29th.

Open to All

The Pooler Garden Club meets monthly on the second Wednesday of every month. They normally meet at 10:30am at the Community Room at Pooler City Hall but lately the club has been taking advantage of the beautiful spring weather and is meeting outside and at local historic homes. (To get the most current meeting information, follow the club on Facebook.) They are educational, community spirited, and welcoming. As they say, “Friendship is grown here!”