Club History
In 1929, under the leadership of Hazel Bourne and Helen Fuller, a group of Foxboro ladies decided to form a garden club to meet and learn more about gardening. An article was placed in the Foxboro Reporter with a telephone number to be called if anyone was interested. This was the birth of the Foxboro Garden Club.
Three decades later, Hazel Bourne would serve on the first Foxboro Conservation Commission and as first president of The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. The seeds had been planted and what started small, with meetings in member’s homes, grew. In 1966, with the expansion of membership, meetings were moved to larger facilities; Town churches, the Boyden Library, St Alban’s Lodge, Cocasset River Recreation Area, and the McGinty Room in the Town’s new Safety Building have all welcomed us over the years.
The purpose of the Foxboro Garden Club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, develop an appreciation of floral design, aid in the protection of trees, plants, and birds, and encourage civic planting in the Town of Foxboro.
Civic projects established from the inception of our club continue today: Junior Gardeners, Civic Beautification, and in 1989, in honor of our founder, the Hazel Bourne Scholarship was established. Through the efforts and participation of every club member, we are able to financially support this annual scholarship. Members shop, bake, store, work at the booth, both setting up, serving and breaking down for Founders Day. We have become one of the highlights of the festivities – who could resist one of our truly famous homemade Strawberry Shortcakes!
The Foxborough Garden Club has long served the Town. In 1967, the grounds of the Boyden Library were designed, planted with decorative trees, shrubs, and ground covers. These grounds were maintained until the recent library expansion project of 2012.
Foxboro Garden Club, with membership of fifty-six (56) strong, designed and planted a native Wildflower Garden in 1997 on the Town’s property known as the Sallie Conservation Land on Main Street, Route 140. With the cooperation and support of various town departments, this monumental task was recognized by the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. with the awarding of the 1st place prize for our hard work.
Over the years, because of the dynamics of modern society, the size of the club has decreased and by 2011 the award winning garden had become overgrown and out of control. With spades, back and elbow grease, our now diminished band of twenty-six (26) members rose to the occasion, reworked the soil, redesigned and replanted. Our efforts were acknowledge by the Massachusetts Garden Club Federation with the awarding of “The President’s Bowl” for Civic Development.
In 2013, we received a small grant award from the Massachusetts Garden Club Federation. The Sallie Committee began the restoration of the unfinished side of the conservation driveway with mulching, plant selections, and planting. The Highway Department and Conservation Committee have acknowledged our efforts by providing a permanent sign stating “Created and Tended by the Foxboro Garden Club”.
The club history includes a Standard Flower Show held at Normandy Farms Campground in May of 2000. Seventy-four ribbons were awarded by the State Federation Judges, in the areas of design and horticulture. A tour of the gardens of four members and a Garden Tea were held in May and June of 1993. In 2004, a less formal Flower Show was held at the home of a member.
It is our hope that our high visibility within the community will encourage continued support and attract new members to join us. Our only requirement is a willingness to learn and participate in our various programs.
