April was the last meeting for a special garden club in Yuma. Pecan Grove Garden Club closed after more than five decades of service to the community. Aging members and a lack of interest by the public in attending evening meetings, since covid, hurt the club’s membership.
Since 1950, Pecan Grove Garden Club made annual donations of funds to help landscape public areas within the city. From parks and pool areas to school grounds and riverfronts, PGGC donated funds to make Yuma a more beautiful and greener town.
Their projects included donating trees and/or landscape plants to Habitat for Humanity, Arbor Day events, West Wetlands Park, Deyo Tennis Court Complex, Yuma Crossing Park, Kennedy Pool and Park, Kiwanis Park, Yuma Co. Fair grounds, Sanguinetti Park and many other locations.
The club’s goal has been to help beautify Yuma and they succeeded very well.
In her president’s message for 2023-24, Karen Lynn O’Brien stated, “Maybe we will learn (about gardening) and take care of Mother Earth.” Pecan Grove Garden Club definitely helped take care of Mother Earth through their funding of so many city landscape projects.
Besides their valuable donations to city beautification projects, for many years, the club conducted floral design workshops for local Girl Scouts and provided dried materials for them to create their own flower arrangements entered at the Yuma Co. Fair’s flower show sponsored by Federated Garden Council of Yuma (comprised of all of Yuma’s garden clubs).
The public looked forward to PGGC’s annual Garden Tour that offered the public a glimpse of some of Yuma’s beautifully landscaped gardens.
The club, under the guidance of PGGC member, Marlena Parrott, sponsored the annual NGC Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contests for school children. Marlena also created the club’s yearbook for many years.
Long-time club member and past-president, Cindy Carey, summed it up when she stated, “Pecan Grove Garden Club has done so much for our community; and with that, we have gained a sense of appreciation, pride, and knowledge that we are providing a valuable service and that we truly are making a difference.”
Sarah Carey, Cindy’s daughter, was part of the dynamic duo that helped PGGC make a difference in the Yuma community. Together, they helped club members paint and decorate birdhouses, hunted for gardens to tour, helped Girl Scouts make flower arrangements, and held offices within the club year after year.
Through the years, Pecan Grove Garden Club members truly made a positive difference in the Yuma community, and their club will be greatly missed. Thanks to all present officers ( Karen Lynn O’Brien – president; Cindy Carey – treasurer; Sarah Carey – Secretary). Thanks to all present and past members who made PGGC such a strong and active club.
By Karen Bowen
Karen is a member of Yuma Orchid & African Violet Society and is the Pacific Region butterfly chairman.
Photo 1 Karen Bowen
Cindy Carey held all offices within Pecan Grove Garden Club and was president of the club for many years. Her strong leadership helped the club accomplish their many community service projects. These decorated birdhouses were their main fundraising activity.
Photo 2 Karen Bowen
The club’s annual Garden Tour was popular with the public and helped raise funds for their community landscape projects.
Photo 3 Karen Bowen
Funds were donated to landscape the Kennedy Athletic Complex.
Photo 4 Karen Bowen
Funds were donated to help landscape the Clymer Community Center.
Photo 5 Karen Bowen
Countless Girl Scouts were taught the basics of flower arranging and created flower arrangements entered in the annual flower show held at the Yuma Co. Fair. Sarah Carey and Marlena Parrott help Girl Scouts choose materials for their flower arrangements.
