Sugar Loaf Garden Club was founded on Nov. 11, l959. In 50 years, fashions have changed, new plants have found their way to Roanoke gardens and even rules for floral designs have changed. Researching our history we have discovered, through written records and anecdotes from long time members, that the goals of our garden club have not changed and are still relevant.

We provide opportunities to study horticulture and techniques of artistic design through speakers, demonstrations and workshops. We participate in community activities including civic planting and we support organizations with similar goals.

The club's first civic project, in 1960-61, was the construction of a gravel path along Grandin Road Extension at Oak Grove Elementary School in cooperation with Roanoke County Schools.

In 1999-2000, we renewed our partnership with Oak Grove Elementary School. At the suggestion of Helen Terry, a current member, and Elaine Williams (president 1997-99), a butterfly garden was planned. Our longtime member and master judge, Marion Danco, designed the butterfly garden. Oak Grove PTA volunteers constructed the free-form berm from Marian's design and they supplied 12 tons of top soil. Sugar Loaf provided 93 perennial plants which our members planted. Our club members continue to maintain the garden, by planting, weeding and watering throughout the year.

The butterfly garden won the following awards:

Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs -- "Beauty Spot of the Month"

Blue Ridge District, VFGC -- Landscape Award -- 1st place

Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs -- Landscape Award -- 1st place

National Council of State Garden Clubs -- Landscape Award -- small club section -- 2nd place

The 1962-63 club project was a "progressive" flower show, held in homes of members. That year a fashion show was held at Oak Grove Elementary School to raise money for our club projects.

In the last three years our flower shows, which are free to the public, have been held at the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs building on Colonial Avenue. This year the show will be on Wednesday, April 1.

The education section will include Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl posters submitted by Oak Grove Elementary School students.

In the fall of 2008, Sugar Loaf Garden Club sponsored Oak Grove students in grades three to five who participated in the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Poster Contest offered by the National Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the U.S. Forest Service. Forty-eight students completed their posters and they were entered into the competition. On April 22, Earth Day, all the participants will be recognized at an assembly at Oak Grove Elementary School.

The l962-63 project was the sale of 460 dogwood trees sold in the neighborhood to beautify the area. If you have one of these trees on your property or you know where one is located, we would like to hear from you.

In 2007 our members decided to expand our fundraising for community projects in order to include a scholarship for a horticulture student at Virginia Western Community College. We chose to do a fall fashion show/luncheon. The success of three shows has allowed us to raise our contributions to community organizations and our projects. In addition, we were able to increase the amount of the scholarship award. We are planning a fourth show on Sept. 30.

Our present members decided that a 50th anniversary is special and a one day celebration is inadequate. Therefore, we have planned several events throughout the year. The public will be invited to some including our flower show on Wednesday, April 1, and our fashion show/luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

If you were a member of Sugar Loaf Garden Club and have lost contact with our members we would like to put faces on the names we hear when past events come up in discussions. Call 540-774-2425 or leave your name at the Garden Center. Their number is (540) 343-4519 or email RCGC3640@gmail.com.

Sugar Loaf Garden Club is a small club, with fewer than 25 members, but we are a very active club. We try to provide for every member's interests and we welcome new members.

Submitted by Linda Slaughter and Lydia Celin