Alta Vista Garden Club

Since it was organized and federated in 1951, the Alta Vista Garden Club has had as one of its purposes to promote general civic improvements in the city. Today, we continue to strive to encourage community beautification through a multitude of garden projects.

Community Beautification has included planting daffodils and hyacinths in Veterans Memorial Park. This park is at the entrance to the city, and the cheery blooms of the daffodils, fronting the pioneer statue commemorating Prescott as the Territorial Capitol of Arizona, greeted visitors.

Alta Vista Garden Club also collaborated with the Yavapai Regional Medical Center to develop a Healing Garden to be used by the staff for stress relief and communing with nature. Many hospital employees use this garden to take a break, eat lunch, and just relax.

Other past projects have included planting trees on Arbor Day, spreading mulch at the Smoki Museum, cleaning up planters and adding flowers at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, and replanting the large planter box outside of the Prescott Fire Station on White Spar Road.

The club has also supported school gardens at Coyote Springs School and Mountain Oak Elementary School with donations of time, funds, and supplies. Alta Vista members have demonstrated planting and pruning techniques at various schools over the years.

Garden of Merit

Members of this committee scour Prescott and the surrounding communities for outstanding gardens that are visible from the street. The purpose of this program is to encourage homeowners and businesses to beautify their landscape. Garden of Merit awards are made periodically during the Prescott growing season, June through September.

To advertise the award a sign is erected in the garden visible from the street, an article is published in the local newspaper and pictures of the garden are posted at local garden centers.

Habitat for Humanity

The club contributes plants, books, and expertise to new “Habitat for Humanity” homeowners. The goal of the Habitat for Humanity Committee is to assist new Habitat homeowners in the planning and selection of landscaping materials for their new homes. Since many Habitat homeowners have not owned a home before, the planning phase encompasses an introduction to gardening in a harsh climate, waterwise and firewise plant selection, and what is involved in the maintenance of the selected plants. Funding is provided to purchase the selected materials. Members also provide planting assistance.

Youth Activities

School Activities
National Garden Club Poster Contests
Alta Vista Garden Club encourages local children from first through fifth grade to participate in the annual National Garden Clubs, Inc. Poster Contest! This contest allows students to demonstrate through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl, their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles.

Smokey’s message, “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!” encourages personal responsibility for fire prevention. Smokey Bear teaches children and adults to be careful with campfires, barbecues, trash fires, and matches.

Woodsy Owl is America’s icon for the conservation of the environment. Woodsy has helped parents and teachers inspire children to observe, explore, and care for the environment. He challenges children to “Lend a Hand, Care for the Land!” and to take an active role in caring for the land through recycling, reusing, and reducing waste, planting and caring for trees, using resources wisely, and not littering.

Alta Vista recognizes all local students who submit a poster with a Certificate of Participation and the students whose posters are selected to advance to the State competition are awarded a $10 gift card. In 2011 Alta Vista awarded 12 gift cards and one of the local students won 1st place in state and regionally with their poster.

School Gardens
The club works with local schools, both public and private, to assist them with landscaping and gardening activities. Local schools have been assisted in planting native plants, firewise plants, and plants that attract bees and butterflies. Long-term projects are being considered at several locations.

National Garden Club’s Poetry Contest
Alta Vista also encourages local youth to express & explore their creative thoughts through different types of poetry. The subject for the 2012 contest is “Colorful Fruits and Tasty Vegetables.” Eligibility: Special Education & English as a Second Language: Kindergarten through Ninth Grade. General Education: Kindergarten through Ninth Grade. Two participants in 2010 and one in 2011 were awarded the top prize at the National level. The poem at the right won National in 2011.

Field Of Daffodils
by Tiffany W

The picture-perfect view
Oh, the beauty of this place
They have their gorgeous smiles on
Full of joy and grace

A beautiful field of daffodils

They’re swaying in the wind
In each in every way
The winds blow them hour by hour every single day

A beautiful field of daffodils

Colors, joined by the breeze
They’re a rainbow in a blur
You wonder where they’ll go
And maybe where they were

A beautiful field of daffodils

Their seeds will fly away
And land in some other place
To grow another flower
And smile to a face

A beautiful field of daffodils

I enjoy the moment while it lasts
My happiness in a chime
But if I had it my way,
I’d be there all the time

In this beautiful field of daffodils

Additional Projects and Activities

Ongoing projects/activities of club members include:

• A donation is made to the Prescott Public Library in memory of deceased members.
• A tree is planted at a public space somewhere in the area each Arbor Day.
• Food and contributions are made to the Yavapai Food Bank and “Open Door” Project and every Christmas, members collect donations of food and money for the Prescott Community Cupboard.
• Pennies are contributed to the National Garden Club’s reforestation & forest education programs (Penny Pines).
• Gardener’s Day Out is a day each month when we visit a location associated with gardening as a fun way to discover new Arizona locales and socialize with other members.
• Vision of Beauty calendars are sold annually