“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work, reporting or approval of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.
On Spring and Chapel Hill Gardens
A perspective from Jan Dean
Perhaps there is no season more welcome in Chapel Hill than Spring. Finally a chance to enjoy longer hours outdoors. The cool mornings give way to abundantly sunny days where a riot of color blooms against a Carolina blue sky, and includes, if you’re lucky, some time to stroll in a garden. Did you know that for over 95 years, the Chapel Hill Garden Club has been intricately linked to many of our town’s beautiful gardens? Ours is a story brimming with local and university history, but possibly unknown to many.
Back in 1931, when Chapel Hill was a charming village, our Club’s leaders, with surnames like Coker and Totten (wives of the renowned UNC Botany professors) paved the way for what would become an award-winning garden club and a leader among garden clubs throughout the state. These 43 charter members formed a common bond in gardening. Today, 115 members carry on the Club’s traditions and have their hands in work that over the years has included garden tours, plant sales, flower shows, “how- to” booklets on plants and trees, garden classes at elementary schools, garden therapy at rehabilitation centers, flowers for the infirm, plant rescues, anti-litter campaigns, healing gardens, downtown Chapel Hill planters, conservation and numerous beautification projects around town.
The Club’s signature event, the Chapel Hill Garden Tour, an ever-popular town-sanctioned April event, uniquely showcases our town’s beauty. It’s a harbinger of Spring, a collegial union of town and gown, a weekend where the novice mingles with the seasoned garden enthusiast, impressive historical properties join forces with carefully curated themed gardens and where local creativity and ingenuity is on full display.
This marks our 30th year of planning and presenting the Chapel Hill Garden Tour. We take great pride in knowing that, thanks to enthusiastic crowds and generous community support, we have presented our primary beneficiary, UNC’s North Carolina Botanical Garden $295,500 to date! We value our longstanding collaborative relationship with the Garden, a stunning 1,100 acre public garden just south of campus that has served as a leader in native plant conservation, horticulture, and education in the southeastern United States for 60 years.
Thinking you might like to join in on the fun? Unlike the common notion of “by invitation only” the Chapel Hill Garden Club, from its inception, has always been open to anyone interested in joining. Want more information about us or more details on this year’s Garden Tour on April 25th & 26th? Be sure to check out our website: chapelhillgardentour.net and follow us on Instagram and Facebook . The women and men of our Club share a motto of laughter, learning and lending a hand. We can’t wait to meet you!
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
