Editor’s note: “Making a difference,” presented regularly by Pendleton News, explores the wealth of individuals and organizations that go the extra mile in the South Madison area to make it a great place to live.

PENDLETON — With warm weather arriving soon, members of Pendleton Garden Club are anxious to begin working on the many meaningful projects for which their group is known. Like a well-oiled machine, the club’s 55 active members work together to carry out their number one stated objective of improving the beauty of the community.

The history of the group dates back to 1937 when 12 interested individuals met to form the organization. According to club historian Ellen Elliott, who is now state president, the minutes of the early meetings are fascinating to read, particularly those from the 1940s, when World War II food rationing prompted club members to grow their own vegetables and fruits in “victory gardens” in the name of patriotism.

That same patriotic spirit was displayed in April 2007, when the garden club planted an aurora dogwood tree on the grounds of Pendleton Public Library and dedicated it to the Pendleton Police Department, the Pendleton Fire Department and Pendleton Emergency Ambulance.

Last spring, the group also landscaped the area around the Community Building in Falls Park, using native plants and grasses to complete the project. As Americans, Pendleton Garden Club members pledge to save from waste, the natural resources of the country, its soil and minerals, its forests, waters and wildlife.

Visitors to Falls Park will soon enjoy the beauty of spring flowers planted by the garden club at the park’s entrance. Later in the season, flowering annuals will continue to bloom as a welcome sign to guests.

Summer tour

When the club conducts its Summer Garden Tour on June 28, the gardens of six members will be on display for area residents to see, enjoy and ask questions.

“We are a very informal club — blue jeans and flip flops,” said president Linda Briar. “We don’t do flower arranging at our meetings. We have informative speakers on subjects of general gardening that would be of interest to just about everyone.”

Several of the members have completed master gardener classes. Some do presentations at Pendleton Public Library and for other area gardening clubs such as the Madison County Master Gardeners and the SmallTown Garden Club in Alexandria, Briar said.

Membership to Pendleton Garden Club doesn’t require that individuals are Madison County residents. Briar said anyone was welcome, adding that she and her husband joined in 1994 because they were avid gardeners and wanted the fellowship of others who enjoyed gardening.

Steve Doty, a member for seven years, said he was an advanced master gardener in name, but just a rookie in comparison to most of the members. “These people are very experienced and knowledgeable,” Doty said. “They do not keep their knowledge to themselves. There are experts in about every field.

“Don’t be intimated by your lack of knowledge. This is a fun group to be with. Just come, relax and learn.”

Ermal Kuhns, a member of the garden club since 1961, said he used to grow 100 tomato varieties.