Community Work
Donations made to
Yearly to the BCCGC Scholarship Fund
Each year we donate approx $500 to the scholarship fund managed by the BC Council of Garden Clubs. This helps horticulture students throughout British Columbia with their financial costs. Here is the link with more information: BCCGC Scholarship Fund
Musical Garden at Diefenbaker Park (Rotary Club of Tsawwassen)
In 2017 President Ursula Schmelcher and Past President Hilary Sanders presented a cheque for $2500.00 to the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen for their Musical Garden at Diefenbaker Park. Rotary provided volunteers for our 2017 garden tour.
Farm Roots Programme
In July 2016 we donated to the new Farm Roots programme offered by Delta School District to Grade 10,11,12 Students. To learn more about the program, visit http://www.deltasd.bc.ca/content/programs/farmroots
In September 2016, 23 students from grades 10 to 12 started in the program accomplishing much in their early days. A half-acre was tilled and prepared for spring planting and they designed and built raised garden beds for over-wintering crops. They are learning about crop choices and many other aspects of farming in addition to their regular academic studies. Over the winter they delved into their Independent Studies projects and worked on indoor projects such as building composts and worktables. In December they made Christmas boxes. Currently they are getting ready for their spring planting by studying crop planning and designing seed starter systems and cold frame beds.
Mountain View Manor
In 2013 we donated a large Coral Bark Maple tree in a concrete planter to provide shade for residents enjoying the afternoon outside on the west patio.
Ladner Community Garden
In 2012 we donated to the Ladner Community Garden to help them get started. The donation went toward the costs of an arbor, fencing and drought resistant plants for the successful community garden. Click here to see their blog.
Community Volunteering
The members at the South Delta Garden Club tends three gardens.
Mountain View Manor
The Flagpole garden was overgrown and needed a good spring cleanup. It is in the front parking lot. Yes, we did have to use that axe! And that is just one of the small piles of stuff we pulled out, there was much more. There were a lot of laughs that day and the residents enjoyed watching one of us tumble as she pulled out that 5 foot stubborn root.
We have been regularly maintaining this area and others throughout the year. Plants have been donated by the club as well as individual members.
DSS Memorial Garden
A Memorial Garden for four Delta Secondary School students who were killed in a fatal car crash in Delta in 2002 was started by parents of these teens to encourage students to take time in the garden to remember and remind themselves to drive safely. The parents approached the Club for help in maintaining the garden at DSS. Click here to see the article in the Delta Optimist. Click here for some photos in the Delta Optimist of the clean up.
In front is Susan Marshall, one of the parents who originally started the garden
This photo shows the completed work in March 2014
Renovation Project - Fall 2016
It was determined that many of the donated plants had outgrown their space and the garden had developed into more of a shade garden with the growth of many planted trees.
In September with the help of the Tsawwassen Rotary Club we dug out and removed many of the unwanted plants and distributed 6 yards of topsoil. The garden was then re-designed and we planted more suitable shrubs and perennials with the purpose of reducing maintenance for the future. The school board gave us access to the wholesale nursery that they use so it made it more affordable for us to choose appropriate plantings. The funds for this project came from the profits of our Spring Plant Sale last May.
Great work party - big thanks to the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen!!
New soil and new plants
April 2017 - new plantings under Pin Oak tree at DSS
Healing Garden at Delta Hospital
In 2008 the Delta Hospital Foundation, in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Ladner and Tsawwassen, installed the Healing Garden in the courtyard of Delta Hospital. As a space of quiet beauty it is a place for patients, visitors and staff to relax and enjoy the fresh air and scenery and listen to the water in the stream. Fast forward a few years and the South Delta Garden Club (The Evergreen Garden Club at that time) was asked to help with the ongoing garden maintenance. Two of our members made regular trips to weed, prune, and tidy the garden on a regular basis during the years with major clean ups involving many club members in the Spring and Fall.
After several hot dry summers, a number of shrubs and trees have failed while other plants have outgrown their space. In 2016 a major renovation of the space was started to replace under-performing plants with ones more suited to the space. The goal is to maintain the spirit of the garden while reducing the amount of maintenance required. The renovation project is expected to take a few seasons as time and funds are available to do the work so do have a look at the progress if you are in the area.
April 2017 Newly installed Rhododendron bed