Clubs and organizations have always played an important role in developing Vashon-Maury Island’s social network. As the island was settled in the 1880s, churches, fraternal organizations, social groups and community clubs all helped to provide the social glue that held together a diverse island of separate water-based communities.
The first church — The Methodist Church — was organized in 1884, and the first fraternal organization was formed the same year when The Woodmen of the World built their lodge at Burton (the current Masonic Hall and former Silverwood Gallery).
There have also been a number of horticultural and agricultural-focused organizations on Vashon beginning with the formation of the Vashon Horticultural Society in 1892, the first in the state. But it was not until 1941 that a club focused only on gardens was formed. The Vashon-Maury Island Garden Club (VMIGC) brought together gardeners from all parts of the island.
Since its formation, VMIGC has been active in supporting gardeners and their passion for gardens through flower arranging demonstrations and contests, community beautification efforts, community garden awards, support of horticultural education, flower fairs, participation in the annual Strawberry Festival and a variety of activities to enhance the fellowship among its members.
Flower arranging was such an important focus in the earlier days of the club that in 1952, members were required to bring three flower arrangements to each meeting. There was a 25 cent fine per arrangement if they did not. The club participated in numerous regional and state flower arrangement competitions and while the club does not participate in off-island competitions today, it still has demonstrations at meetings, and members take turns bringing arrangements for each of the lunch tables.
The garden club has always supported beautification of the island and has used money from sales and flower shows to purchase plantings for gardens at the food bank, the former Nike site, Vashon Town, the Vashon Library and others. The club has planted bulbs at Point Robinson, cleared brush and debris from Inspiration Point, landscaped Ober Park, supported the Heron Rookery, supported purchasing the Glacier site and cared for the gardens at Vashon Community Care.
In 1974, the Garden Club started the annual Community Garden Awards. Still happening today, three residential gardens and one business garden are selected as winners, and the gardeners are invited to an awards dinner.
Flower fairs and the annual plant sale have also been an important part of the club. In 1948, the first plant sale earned $8.65. That same year, $4.69 in donations was collected for “Seeds For Peace,” a program that sent seeds to a recovering post-World War II Europe. Today, the annual plant sale generates over $7,000 each year to support many of the club’s activities.
Horticultural education is also part of the club’s mission that has lived on through the ages. The 1962 photograph (top right) shows the award ceremony when Paul Fitzpatrick won first place and a prize of $5 in the club’s essay contest for seventh- and eighth-graders about island beautification.
The 2012 Terry Donnelly photograph (bottom right) was taken in the Chautauqua Elementary School garden, which has been supported by the club and other community volunteers. The garden functions as an outdoor classroom for Chautauqua students and is used in the school’s inquiry science curriculum.
