History
June 13, 1927
In the garden of Mrs. H.C. Quest. Five garden-lovers were there. Lamenting that there were almost no garden organizations in the Southland, someone in the group said, "Why don't we for a garden club?" and they did. Mrs. Quest was chosen as president because of her background of study and experience at the Amble Horticultural School in Pennsylvania. The name decided upon was Southern California Garden Club.
1931
The Southern California Garden Club became a member of California Garden Clubs, Inc. which then affiliated with National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. (changed to National Garden Clubs in 2001) to become a part of the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world.
1940
For many year the club had a large membership (nearly 200 members) from all over Southern California that continued until the gasoline rationing of the 1940's during World War II.
1984
Club member Helen Minor founded Encino Floral Art in September 1984. After disbanding they became a Design Section of Southern California Garden Club
1993
The Southern California Garden Club moved to the Sepulveda Garden Center.
1994-1996
Sponsored first Gardening Study School at the Sepulveda Garden Center.
1994-1996
Held a 5-part Flower Show School at the Sepulveda Garden Center.
June 17, 1997
A 70th Anniversary Gala was held June 17, 1997 at the Van Nuys Woman's Club with over 100 guests and dignitaries. History of the Southern California Garden Club was published commemorating our accomplishments.
2000
In January 2000 a Blue Star Memorial Marker was dedicated at the Sepulveda VA Medical Center in North Hills in a memorable ceremony.
June 18, 2002
The club marked its 75th anniversary with an "Anniversary Tea" on June 18, 2002 with 80 embers and guests celebrating our clubs illustrious past, its dynamic present, and its promising future.
2002
A Petals Project, "Loaves and Fishes Beautification" was completed and a plaque dedication ceremony was held on October 15, 2002 at the Loaves and Fishes facility in Van Nuys.
2003-2004
We sponsored our second Gardening Study School (CGCI Series 17) at the Soka University of America Campus in Calabasas.
June 15, 2004
Our American Red Cross Memorial Garden was dedicated at the Van Nuys Center as a tribute to Red Cross Volunteers. June 2004 also saw the beginning of our new Junior Youth Group, the "Gledhill Gardeners."
2006
We gained 501 (c) (3) nonprofit statues under the California Garden Club Inc., Group Tax Exemption Program.
2007
In April 2007 we completed installation of the landscaping at the new MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) facility in Pacoima. The project received a CGCI Landscape Design Commendation. Robin Pokorski was installed as the 40th CGCI President in June 1007.
2008
In June our second Blue Star Memorial Marker was dedicated at the VA facility in Woodland Hills during the CGCI convention.
2009
The club began development of a public butterfly garden at the Sepulveda Garden Center and donated landscaping at ARC (Activities for Retarded Children) in North Hollywood. Robin Pokorski was installed as the National Garden Club Recording Secretary.
October 2010
Members Provided landscaping and maintenance for the butterfly garden which was dedicated with more than 100 in attendance.
2011
In April we participated in the Earth Day Fair at the Boeing Environmental Health and Safety facility in Sylmar. We hosted San Pedro Garden Club's bus tour with a docent led tour of the Sepulveda Garden Center and a soup-to-nuts lunch for 50 attendees. We expanded our maintenance of the Sepulveda Garden Center's Rose Garden with regular work days of fertilizing, mulching and replanting of multiple roses.
2012
We began the sponsorship of a $1,000 scholarship named in honor of our club at California State University Northridge. Our 2nd Grade Smokey Bear/Woodsy Ol Poster Contest winner, Jagger Young, won 1st place at CGCI. We began our third Gardening Study School, (CGCI Series 22) at the Sepulveda Garden Center.
2013
We concluded our third series of Gardening Study School, graduating 22 Gardening Consultants for our club. Our 4th Grade Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Poster Contest winner, Crystal Baik, won 1st place at CGCI, Pacific Region, and NGC to become the NGC Grand Prize winner from over 24,000 entries. Robin Pokorski was installed as National Garden Club Corresponding Secretary (and again in 2015 and 2017). Rita Desilets was installed as the 43rd California Garden Club Inc. President.
2014
Our district hosted a successful CGCI 83rd Convention in June at the Glendale Hilton. Club members made items for La Petite Boutique and manned the various stations. Smokey Bear Poster Contest entrants won 1st place in 1st through 4th grades. members of Oasis Garden Club of Indian Wells Valley (Ridgecrest) visited our May meeting.
2015
Club members judged CGCI Yearbooks in January. Our Smokey Bear Poster Contest entrants won 1st place in 2nd grade at the national level. In October, the clun partnered with California Native Plant Society to present a two-day workshop (Ditch Your Lawn!), approved by NGC as a Tri-Refresher.
2017
We contributed to the Vin Scully Garden at Nobel Middle School, funded the pre-school gardens at Mid-Valley YMCA, honored our Poster Contest participants at Los Encinos State Historic Park, began sponsorship of "Ghost," a bald eagle at Anerica's Teaching Zoo and celebrated our 90th anniversary at the June 20th club meeting.
2018
Our club sponsored a Tri-Refresher, "Its a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," which 33 attended. Our Smokey Bear Poster Contest entrant, 4th grader Rylee Jackson, won the National Grand Prize for her poster which was the cover of the 2018 yearbook. Our club voted to host the 2019 CGCI Convention and work began on the project in 2018.