Countryside Gardeners

Countryside Gardeners was founded in 1933 after much discussion by three women interested in the art and science of gardening. These women were members of the Doylestown Nature Club. Some women felt the need for a smaller club in the Bucks County area. On September 6, 1933, fifteen women met to discuss club names. Garden Rakes was proposed, but many felt it was too rakish for such earnest gardeners. Countryside Gardeners was the accepted title.

The club was accepted into the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania. Some early members were Mrs. William Mercer Jr. (Aldie Mansion), Mrs. Charles Harper Smith, Mrs. Welsh Strawbridge (Graham Park), and my grandmother, Mrs. Henry C. Parry of Langhorne, PA. The club participated in many Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve projects such as planting maiden hair ferns, Christmas ferns, wild columbine, and dogwood trees.

Our club continues the affiliation with the preserve. Mary Parry was elected President of the Federation in 1937 with the motto: “Give to the world your best and the best will come back to you.” She was also instrumental in the establishment of Bowman’s Hill. Mrs. Atlee Burpee (Lois) of Burpee Seeds joined the club in 1938. I remember having lunch and a meeting at her home at Ford Hook Farm in Doylestown. I have a photo of her in my home. I knew all the aforementioned women.

In 1940, several club members went to the New York World’s Fair Gardens on Parade. Mrs. D. Bruce Moyer entered a colorful mass flower arrangement of pyracantha, azalea, and dried cryptomeria in a painted tin container. The club held a Federated flower show every year and entered the Philadelphia Flower Show several times, and that tradition still stands. The club decorated the chapel at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station beginning in 1944 using a lovely large wooden crèche belonging to Margaret Strawbridge.

I remember years later helping to decorate the chapel and having a delightful luncheon hosted at the base. The membership of the club is now limited to 40 members. We continue to meet the first Monday of the month except for July and August. In early years, meetings were held in private homes serving a delightful luncheon with hats and gloves a must. Several years ago, the club became affiliated with Newtown Historic Association, and we now meet at the Half-Moon Inn on Court Street in Newtown, PA.

We serve coffee and tea with breakfast goodies. Hats and gloves are not required. We have a business meeting and a speaker, and we go on excursions. We learn about a variety of topics like gardens, flowers, design, birds, herbs, and famous gardens, and we take trips to local gardens. In addition, we take care of the NHA gardens and decorate the Half-Moon Inn in Williamsburg style for the NHA Holiday Open House Tour in December. Using fresh greens, fruits, vegetables, and other natural cuttings, club members spend a day working together creating wreaths for the doors, swags for the fences and many centerpieces that decorate the windowsills, tables, mantles, and shelves throughout the Inn. We continue to grow as individuals and together as a club. The founders would be very proud of the continuation of their club.

For more information or to join Country Side Gardeners.