On September 27, 2023, the Bethesda Community Garden Club celebrated 100 years of our club, its members, and its pursuits.

We enjoyed a catered luncheon at the Chevy Chase Woman’s Club. Sharon Southerland was the emcee and started our celebration off with a toast to all and recognized long-standing members of the club. During the lunch, we enjoyed music selections and a slide show of club of activities that spanned the years. The tables were decorated with runners and small arrangements of flowers, appropriately cut from members’ gardens.

Attendees were fascinated with the display of historical records that included timelines over the100 years our club has been in existence.

To mark the occasion, each member received a booklet highlighting the club’s early days and the projects the club has supported over the years.  “Brightening Lives and Landscapes” is an appropriate title of the booklet compiled in honor of this occasion.

A striking characteristic of this Garden Club is how members work well together to accomplish a task. This was obvious again, thanks to the wonderful efforts of the 100th Anniversary committee: Sharon Southerland, chair, Jeanne Weiss, Judith Graef, Carolea Logun, Susan Lass, Gwen Stewart, Candy Kessel, Nina Stark-Slapnik, Carol Meyers and Mary Horan.

A huge thanks to all who made our celebration so special and to all who were able to participate. It was a convivial party and an engaging way to begin our next 100 years as a Garden Club!

Photo credit: Dawn Landsman