"I should not want a garden so perfect that I could not change it in some character each year."
--SJI Garden Club Motto upon forming in 1947 according to handwritten minutes
The San Juan Island Garden Club was organized and founded in 1947 with 46 members and a motto indicating "I should not want a garden so perfect that I could not change it in some character each year." Some of the founding members and ongoing supporting members are Surnames you might recognize and respect as valued gardeners, friends and longtime contributors to our island culture.
The first meeting was held on August 8, 1947 and was led by Mrs. C. Smoots as President, Mrs. H. Egeland as Vice President, Mrs. B. Hannah as Secretary and Mrs. H. Carter as Treasurer. The full roster included: Grace Archambault, Edith Arend, Frances Baker, Helen Boteford, Almira Boyce, Annie Buchanan, Lily Carter, Minnie Carter, Mary Cary, Mrs. Chartrand, Ella Dightman, Luella Dixon, Etta Egeland, Batty Guard, Emily Guard, Avy Groll, Marian Hannah, Pat Hannah, Irene Hastings, Verna Hemphill, Mable Hitching, Jean Hook, Sophia Jackie, Alice Jensen, Emily Jensen, Doria Johansen, Ida Jones, Mya Kauffman, Nellie King, Doris LaBer, Phebe Loring, Gladys Madden, Grace McKnight, Mary Moffet, Clara Murray, Irene Nelson, Ida Nielsen, Margaret Price, Norma Rehm, Ethel Sandwith, Aileen Smoots, Sedie Smoots, Lottie Sutton, Bess Suttles and Betty Wolfley.
These pioneering ladies created and nurtured a club promoting beauty in the islands which has endured for more than half a century. Their heritage is being carried forward each year with our activities and commitment toward making our own Community Garden commitment which is not so perfect that we cannot change it in character each year, but to make it better.
The first meeting was held on August 8, 1947 and was led by Mrs. C. Smoots as President, Mrs. H. Egeland as Vice President, Mrs. B. Hannah as Secretary and Mrs. H. Carter as Treasurer. The full roster included: Grace Archambault, Edith Arend, Frances Baker, Helen Boteford, Almira Boyce, Annie Buchanan, Lily Carter, Minnie Carter, Mary Cary, Mrs. Chartrand, Ella Dightman, Luella Dixon, Etta Egeland, Batty Guard, Emily Guard, Avy Groll, Marian Hannah, Pat Hannah, Irene Hastings, Verna Hemphill, Mable Hitching, Jean Hook, Sophia Jackie, Alice Jensen, Emily Jensen, Doria Johansen, Ida Jones, Mya Kauffman, Nellie King, Doris LaBer, Phebe Loring, Gladys Madden, Grace McKnight, Mary Moffet, Clara Murray, Irene Nelson, Ida Nielsen, Margaret Price, Norma Rehm, Ethel Sandwith, Aileen Smoots, Sedie Smoots, Lottie Sutton, Bess Suttles and Betty Wolfley.
These pioneering ladies created and nurtured a club promoting beauty in the islands which has endured for more than half a century. Their heritage is being carried forward each year with our activities and commitment toward making our own Community Garden commitment which is not so perfect that we cannot change it in character each year, but to make it better.