Perennial Planters

Club Name: Perennial Planters
Club Location: Providence Rhode Island
Profile by Rebecca S. More, Ph. D.
Year Established: 1952
Membership: 46 active; 4 other
GCA Membership: 1967
Perennial Planters is a small club established in Providence, RI by four expert horticulturalists in 1952. Within two years, the membership reached twenty-six women and had initiated its first civic project. The club has maintained its small size in order to foster an effective community of horticulturalists dedicated to the improvement of the urban landscape through education in horticulture, conservation and preservation. In addition to its membership in the GCA and ongoing collaboration with the other three RI GCA clubs, the Perennial Planters has been actively involved with the RI Federation of Garden Clubs, often working in conjunction with colleagues from other clubs to produce the greatest possible benefit for the community.
From its founding in 1636, the history of Providence has been shaped by its landscape. Its location at the confluence of three rivers at the head of Narragansett Bay gave rise to vibrant community. By the 1950s, the inherent beauties of the landscape and water resources were in peril and as a result, the club has been actively involved with a wide variety of endeavors to
improve the urban landscape and watershed throughout the city. These include landscape design projects, historic landscape preservation, reclamation and conservation projects, and public education initiatives, as well as the participation in flower shows, both local and regional. These activities have been recognized with various awards from the RI Federation and the GCA.
The many civic projects in which The Perennial Planters have invested their energies since 1952 have benefited: Women & Infants Hospital, RISD Museum, Roger Williams Park (Zoo and Botanic Garden), India Point Park and the Providence Children's Museum amongst others. The Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Park was designed by the club in 1986 to conserve rare green space in the urban landscape. Its establishment and maintenance represents the collaborative commitment of club members, the City of Providence, the Benefit Street neighborhood residents and the RI Foundation. The Perennial Planters received the Founder's Fund Award in 2000 to support the educational garden for the Providence Children's Museum.
Many members have served on RI Federation and GCA Zone and National committees, ensuring that the club sees its work in a broader civic context. The club has hosted two Zone II Meetings, one in 1972 and an innovative one-day meeting in 1989 and introduced members of the GCA to the beauties of Providence at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Club Location: Providence Rhode Island
Profile by Rebecca S. More, Ph. D.
Year Established: 1952
Membership: 46 active; 4 other
GCA Membership: 1967
Perennial Planters is a small club established in Providence, RI by four expert horticulturalists in 1952. Within two years, the membership reached twenty-six women and had initiated its first civic project. The club has maintained its small size in order to foster an effective community of horticulturalists dedicated to the improvement of the urban landscape through education in horticulture, conservation and preservation. In addition to its membership in the GCA and ongoing collaboration with the other three RI GCA clubs, the Perennial Planters has been actively involved with the RI Federation of Garden Clubs, often working in conjunction with colleagues from other clubs to produce the greatest possible benefit for the community.
From its founding in 1636, the history of Providence has been shaped by its landscape. Its location at the confluence of three rivers at the head of Narragansett Bay gave rise to vibrant community. By the 1950s, the inherent beauties of the landscape and water resources were in peril and as a result, the club has been actively involved with a wide variety of endeavors to
improve the urban landscape and watershed throughout the city. These include landscape design projects, historic landscape preservation, reclamation and conservation projects, and public education initiatives, as well as the participation in flower shows, both local and regional. These activities have been recognized with various awards from the RI Federation and the GCA.
The many civic projects in which The Perennial Planters have invested their energies since 1952 have benefited: Women & Infants Hospital, RISD Museum, Roger Williams Park (Zoo and Botanic Garden), India Point Park and the Providence Children's Museum amongst others. The Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Park was designed by the club in 1986 to conserve rare green space in the urban landscape. Its establishment and maintenance represents the collaborative commitment of club members, the City of Providence, the Benefit Street neighborhood residents and the RI Foundation. The Perennial Planters received the Founder's Fund Award in 2000 to support the educational garden for the Providence Children's Museum.
Many members have served on RI Federation and GCA Zone and National committees, ensuring that the club sees its work in a broader civic context. The club has hosted two Zone II Meetings, one in 1972 and an innovative one-day meeting in 1989 and introduced members of the GCA to the beauties of Providence at the 2009 Annual Meeting.