Long Beach Garden Club

History

The Long Beach Garden Club was organized in 1936 by our first President, Francis Wilson to promote an interest in amateur gardening on all levels and encourage conservation. During our 80+ years our club has made numerous contributions to the beautification of the city of Long Beach as well as to the preservation of our natural resources in California.

A contest was begun in 1940 giving a prize to the most beautiful front yard in the city, but the contest was interrupted by World War II. It was then that we began to promote The Victory Gardens. Members guided and encouraged residents of the city to grow food for their families. The club also planted Jacaranda trees on 14th Street between Pacific Avenue and Long Beach Blvd. We also provided and landscaped an area for WACs stationed at our local air base.

During the 1950s members provided many programs including horticulture, flower-arranging, conservation, bird watching, etc. We actively campaigned against the erection of billboards and littering and helped in the development and of beautification of roadside rest areas.

In the 1960s the club cooperated with the Long Beach Hobby Council, providing exhibits of potted plants and cut flowers, and flower-arranging demonstrations. LBGC began supporting the Penny Pines program, a state program that provides for the reforestation of national forests within California. We also supported the newly established South Coast Botanic Garden; a garden created on a trash dump site.

In the 1970s members participated in the Fifth World Orchid Congress held in the new Long Beach Arena. The Long Beach Beautification Committee was formed and club members assisted in this project until it was disbanded. At the end of the 1970s LBGC was involved in the development of the Japanese Garden on the campus of California State University at Long Beach. Along with other members of the CGCI Costa Verde District, we turned over the first shovels of dirt on the garden site. The club also staged the first Garden Club   Flower Show aboard the Queen Mary in conjunction with the Long Beach Heart Association. LBGC provided small plant “tray favors” for patients on holidays and birthdays at Long Beach General Hospital as part of the Meals on Wheels program.

In the 1980s, the club produced several award-winning flower shows. Members continued to support the Penny Pines program with annual plantation purchases. Commemorative stamps were collected to aid the Nature Conservancy with the Baldwin Lake Preserve to save the bald eagle. From 1936 through 1989, the club planted 27 trees in Long Beach Parks. In June of 1986, members dedicated a Blue Star By-way marker on the grounds of the Long Beach VA Medical Center, the first By-way marker to be placed on VA property.

During the 1990s the club began supporting a re-cycling program. 7 trees were planted at El Dorado Park and trees were planted along Willow and Oakbrook Streets bordering St. Gregorys Church where the club has met for many years. LBGC also planted a cactus garden in the church’s parking lot. LBGC members toured the CSULB Japanese Garden, 20 years after breaking ground. The above LBGC history was compiled by Eunice Antosik, from Our First Fifty Years, and   by Rose Nelson.

Beginning in the 2000’s, the Long Beach Garden Club philanthropic efforts expanded to support the development and maintenance of Rosie The Riveter Park, including funding the planting of trees and providing volunteer work parties to prune, weed and generally tidy up the landscape of this wonderful park.

Current Philanthropic Ongoing Projects and Donations

Long Beach Poly High School sponsors a Festival of Gardens and Butterflies in the spring.
Long Beach Garden Club supports the weekly Poly Garden Club with supplies and donations from our members.

St. Gregory’s Church Native Landscape Beautification Project
A few years ago, we offered St. Gregory’s our experience with native plants and planted a section along the parking lot overlooking the Los Cerritos Channel. California natives would survive the heat and drought of this strip, as well as look attractive, provide a habitat for native insects, and require low maintenance by the gardening staff. The natives selected are Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat (Ergonium arborencense), Palmers Indian Mallow (Abultion palmeri) and Desert Museum Palo Verde (Cercedium x’Desert Museum’). This year, we replaced some mallows and buckwheat that had died. We planted clarkia in a nearby flowerbed with some success. The church has since added irrigation to the area so we will consider more wildflowers this winter.

El Dorado Nature Center
Long Beach Garden Club was requested to maintain the entrance sign garden for the Nature Center at El Dorado Park four years ago. This showpiece native garden is visible to all when entering the parking lot and serves as a demonstration native garden. We planted natives and many are thriving.

We meet the 4th Monday at 2 p.m. for one hour of work. There is shade and free parking on Mondays. Bring weeders, gloves, bucket and knee pads.
El Dorado Nature Center is at 7550 E. Spring Street, Long Beach.
This project was awarded First Place by the California Garden Clubs, Inc. and Pacific Region Garden Clubs, Inc. in June 2025. Chair is Cindy Kovacs.

Penny Pines Restoration
Our goal is to purchase four plantations each year. Additional plantations can be purchased through contributions from members at each regular meeting and by donations to honor life’s celebrations. Chair is Rosalie Rowe

Scholarship for LBCC Horticulture Student
Long Beach Garden Club has funded a $1000 scholarship to be awarded to a horticulture student at Long Beach City College since 2014. We select a deserving recipient annually in Spring, and the funds are distributed by the LBCC Foundation and Scholarship Office to that student in the Fall. This year, the committee selected Aaron Thum and he will receive his funds in the Fall of 2026. Chair is Cindy Kovacs.

Canceled Postage Stamp Collection 
Long Beach Garden Club collects used (canceled) stamps and sends them to the Postal Museum in Tucson, Arizona. CGCI is now partnering with the Postal History Foundation in Tuc-son, Arizona. The non-profit organization includes a library, stamp sales, museum and educational outreach programs. Stamps provide a little colorful window to a wider world through the foundation’s various offerings to teachers and home-schooling parents, scouting programs and community events. Your contributions do have an impact.
The website is https://postalhistoryfoundation.org Chair is Fran Woods.

St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church Food Bank and Feed My Lambs
Three years ago, we offered St. Gregory’s our experience with native plants and planted a section along the parking lot overlooking the Los Cerritos Channel. California natives would survive the heat and drought of this strip, as well as look attractive, provide a habitat for native insects, and require low maintenance by the gardening staff.

The natives selected are Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat
(Ergonium arborencense), Palmers Indian Mallow (Abultion palmeri) and Desert Museum Palo Verde (Cercedium x’Desert Museum’).
This year, palo verde trees were trimmed. New plantings of clarkia and milkweed in an adjacent flowerbed had moderate success. Chair is Peggy Brutsche

Philanthropy Donations –Philanthropy: Designated organizations for 2026-2027:

• CGCI President’s Project
• El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach
• Farm Lot 59
• Ground Education
• Long Beach City College Scholarship Fund
• Penny Pines
• Sowing Seeds of Change
• Sempervirens Fund

Small Donation Projects
We collect seeds for Altadena Seed Bank following the devastating wildfire in the area. All seeds will be sent in by December 2026.
Vases for VA Garden – clear glass vases are donated for floral arrangements at the Long Beach VA Garden.
One-pint plastic containers for children’s “rain makers” used by Ground Education.
Chair is Jane Kaylor