Local club works to beautify community

The Bourbon County Garden Club has beautified streets and gardens throughout Fort Scott.

Though the city of Fort Scott did donate the flowers, the members of the club spent time and effort developing a plan, amending the soil, arranging the flowers and planting them. The city keeps the plants watered while the club keeps the flower beds weeded and also takes care of the dead-heading (cutting off spent blooms). Together they keep the flower beds looking superb.

The garden club is made up of Master Gardeners, men and women who have gone through a Kansas State University training program, and people who just have a passion for gardening, Bourbon County Garden Club President Judy Orton said.

Both have one purpose -- to give back to the community, master gardener Becky Mann, a garden club member, said.

The Bourbon County Garden Club is one of the first organizations to participate in a new program that is a collaboration between K-State and the Kansas PRIDE organization. The theme of the program is "Our Community, a More Colorful Place," and encourages the promotion of "horticulture and beautification in public places," Mann and Orton said.

In addition, the club has used PRIDE to help with amending the soil and planting the flowers.

The garden club has conducted several functions that have helped the city of Fort Scott. Every year, the club sponsors a gardening forum that is free to the public. Through this forum, members of the community can become more educated on horticulture matters. Also, the garden club participates in the Fort Scott Farm, Home and Garden Show each year, and members hand out horticulture literature during the annual Secret Gardens of Fort Scott Tour in an effort to better educate people in the community.

The proceeds from the 2007 Secret Gardens Tour were donated to Tri-Valley Developmental Services Center this year to aid center officials in the development of a new greenhouse near the Fort Scott facility.

Two years ago, the garden club raised $1,000 that was donated toward the construction of the downtown Heritage Park and Pavilion. All money generated by the club is put back into the community, Mann said. Flowers that are purchased have been purchased from local businesses, Orton said.

Members have planted flowers at the Fort Scott Public Library, the Fort Scott Municipal Pool, Heritage Park and Pavilion, Skubitz Plaza, the Bourbon County Courthouse, and the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.

Their most important objective is to "help beautify the city," Orton said.

For more information about the Bourbon County Garden Club, contact Orton at (620) 223-3800 ex.t 34.