A house RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor the Garden Club of Aiken, to congratulate the members upon the occasion of the club's centennial anniversary, and to express deep appreciation for their preservation of the state's horticultural history and for their contribution to Aiken community's natural beauty.

Whereas, the Garden Club of Aiken was established in March of 1924 when a small group of women met at Rose Hill, the home of Mrs. Sheffield Phelps, to set the club's course for the future of community support and civic beautification. It is dedicated to promoting the love of gardening, the knowledge of horticulture, community service, and beautification, and to the protection and preservation of natural resources; and

Whereas, in its first year, the Garden Club organized a rose show, the proceeds from which were used for the purchase of a lantern, or slide projector, that would be available for use by the County Home Demonstration Agent. Today the club's fundraisers support scholarships for students and community horticultural projects; and

Whereas, the Garden Club has been instrumental in preserving South Carolina's rich horticulture history, donating rare horticultural book collections to the Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina, the South Carolina Library Society, and the Aiken County Public Library, and its members have maintained the minutes for every meeting since its inception; and

Whereas, members of the Garden Club of Aiken have been active as Aiken's civic leaders. Since its founding, the club has campaigned against eyesores like unattractive signs, destruction of Aiken's parkways, littering, destruction of holly trees at Christmas, and development projects that destroy the natural beauty of Aiken and the State. As early as 1936, members of the Garden Club of Aiken contacted elected officials about protecting green and natural spaces like parks and public spaces; and

Whereas, the garden beds surrounding the Aiken County Public Library, which the club first planted in the late 1990s and have maintained, received state and national recognition for beautification of an historic building. A garden created at the Aiken Historical Museum to honor the club's founder received an award from the Historic Aiken Foundation, as well as state and national recognition; and

Whereas, in 2015, club members rallied the community to protect an ancient Champion Tree, named Maid Marion, an initiative that led to the development of a survey of Aiken's diverse and impressive trees. In 2023, the club was recognized as a Silver contributor to the Hitchcock Woods Foundation for its donation towards an educational interactive walking trail; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the Garden Club of Aiken as a legacy club blessed with a distinguished heritage and with members who are stewards of cherished traditions that are held in trust for future gardeners. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Garden Club of Aiken, congratulate the members upon the occasion of the club's centennial anniversary, and express deep appreciation for their preservation of the state's horticultural history and for their contribution to Aiken community's natural beauty.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Garden Club of Aiken.

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