The History of the Mountain Laurel Garden Club
The Mountain Laurel Garden Club (MLGC) was a dream for Kathie Smith for 15 years. Moving to the area in 1974 and having left a garden club in Charleston, WV she focused on getting to know the community. By 1988, Kathie had met enough people to get a club going. With those charter members and sponsorship from clubs in Frostburg and Cumberland, MD, the MLGC became officially federated with the Maryland organization (Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland) and affiliated with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. in 1989.
The national organization focuses on horticulture and conservation and they have become the base of the club's standing committees. Varieties of programs include an introduction to flower arranging, learning about native plants, visiting the landfill, and anything relating to the gardening world. Other standing committees have devloped since 1989 that reflect the members interests. Some are still functioning while others have been retired. The most complete history can be found in the secretary's minutes and in the scrapbooks maintained by the historian.
With the leadership of nine presidents since Kathie, the MLGC has expanded it's boundaries and prospered in Garrett County. From a small group of women meeting in homes, the club has grown four fold and includes men and women in all walks of life who have one common objective - to share with others a common love of gardening while supporting good conservation practices.
The Mountain Laurel Garden Club is a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., the Central Atlantic Region, and the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc. The mission of National Garden Clubs, Inc. is to provide education, resources and national networking opportunities for it's members, to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.
The objectives of the MLGC are to stimulate the love of gardening, encourage home and community beautification, promote better horticulture practices, and support the practice of conservation; to affiliate with The Federated Garden Clubs, Inc.; and to share our knowledge with the others through the friendly interchange of information.