Listen, learn, engage, and embrace the experience. These are the lessons I have learned from my 22 years of belonging to a garden club. They are woven into the fabric of 40 years of scheduled rhythm in my white jacket behind a pharmacy counter and also the challenges and joy of raising four daughters who are very good wives and mothers to my 5 grandchildren.

Along life’s way, I volunteered in professional and civic organizations and while in Junior League of Dallas and Les Passees of Memphis, I learned to love community service work. Merging that love with the simple rhythms of gardening and nature, I helped my club to establish 2 bluebird trails, a student garden for garden therapy, and refurbished, moved, and rededicated our 20-year-old Blue Star Highway Marker while serving as president.

We all can grow by investing our time in rhythms that move us forward into new challenges, experiences, and relationships that endure the twists and turns of life. The coronavirus came in 2020 and disrupted our human plans and forced us into new rhythms, both good and bad. Regardless of the circumstances and conditions we have all experienced, I hold fast to hope for what the future will bring.

At this time, I feel we all need some healing. Depression and various levels of stress came with lockdowns. I know many found comfort in the rhythm of nature surrounding us when exploring on walks, watching the ocean waves, or sprucing up our yards and gardens. Healing ourselves and others is the first step in opening our hearts to the way we are to go.

Theme: Embracing New Rhythms
Project: Create a Healing Garden or Engage in Garden Therapy

I look forward to the next 2 years serving as District I Director, and I am excited to move forward alongside you. Our President’s meeting is June 8 at Memphis Botanic Gardens, and all clubs will participate in a joint National Garden Week activity. I would love to know about the club activities you are doing and projects you are planning so I can include them in my future writings on this page.

I also hope to visit your club project in action or a monthly meeting when possible. We are all volunteers and together sharing our various talents, we can be a force for positive healing in our communities.