Lake Forest Garden Club History
Mrs. Walter S. Brewster (Kate) represented the Garden Club of Illinois (renamed the Lake Forest Garden Club in 1921) at the 1913 Founding Meeting in Philadelphia. She served as GCA Vice-President from 1913 to 1916 and President of the Lake Forest Garden Club from 1922-1924.
Lake Forest Garden Club was founded in 1912 by a handful of forward thinking women as a volunteer organization dedicated to horticulture and conservation. In 1913, it was one of twelve founding members of The Garden Club of America. The original mission has been expanded to state that the "objective of the Lake Forest Garden Club is the advancement of gardening, the promotion of horticultural knowledge, and the stimulation of community interest in conservation and civic improvement."
Lake Forest developed from a region of farms and large country estates. The trees and ravines of Lake Forest are of enduring interest to our members. From its earliest years, Lake Forest Garden Club has contributed to the maintenance and protection of our magnificent trees; documenting outstanding specimens, planting hundreds of bulbs and plants, and sharing horticultural knowledge with fellow citizens.
Today, one hundred-thirty members work to support vital conservation, education, and civic beautification projects through public-private partnerships.
During the Club's 113-year history, member projects have included the planting of elm trees along Deerpath Road from Green Bay Road to Waukegan Road in memory of soldiers who died in World War I, as well as the planting of thousands of daffodil bulbs that bloom in April on the Deerpath Middle School hill in memory of the victims of 9/11.
Since 2000, the Club has made philanthropic contributions of more than $1.2 million benefiting the local community. The Club has provided funds for landscape plans for Market Square, Gorton Community Center, both the former and new Lake Forest Hospitals, the Lake Forest Library, and Forest Park overlooking Lake Michigan.
In 2020 and in partnership with the City of Lake Forest, the Club funded a multi-year, city-wide program aimed at reducing recycling bin contamination. In 2022, the "Rethink Recycling" effort was recognized with a Community Sustainability Excellence Award from the International City/County Management Association.
From 2020 to 2023, LFGC provided additional support to Lake Bluff Open Lands, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Elawa Farm Foundation, and the Preservation Foundation of Lake County Forest Preserves in recognition of the important role these organizations play in providing places of peace and recreation, especially during the pandemic. In 2023, the Club provided significant funding to Lake Bluff Open Lands Association for the restoration of a six-acre wetland, and to the Elawa Farm Foundation to expand the Discovery Garden, its ADA accessible fruit and vegetable garden. Please see the "Grants & Community Impact" page for more details.
Club representatives serve as advocates for environmental protection in Washington, D.C. at the annual National Affairs and Legislation Conference. The Club supports local scholarships through the Center for Conservation Leadership at Lake Forest Open Lands Association, along with national initiatives and funding for Garden Club of America scholarships.
The club programs are focused on conservation, horticulture, floral design, photography, garden history and design, environmental education, and civic beautification.
Planting with Purpose: A History of the Lake Forest Garden Club
Lake Forest Garden Club has published a history of its first 100 years. Copies may be purchased from the Lake Forest Book Store at www.lakeforestbookstore.com or 847-234-4420.