Tulsa Garden Club Honored for Youth Gardening Education

What’s old is young again! Oklahoma’s oldest garden club received Keep Oklahoma Beautiful’s (KOB) Environmental Excellence award in November 2023. Tulsa Garden Club was named KOB’s nonprofit serving populations greater than 40,000.

Organized in 1929, Tulsa Garden Club has beautified Tulsa and presented and supported formal and informal gardening education programs.

Future Gardners

“Young gardeners are our future, tomorrow’s leaders in environmental stewardship,” said Club President Kathi Blazer. “Last year the Club’s Youth Team transformed a corner of the Barn & Visitor Center for the Teaching Garden in Woodward Park.” 

Now, the Club’s “Buds & Blooms” programming engages youngsters in home gardening through books and hands-on seed-starting and other activities.

In partnership with National Garden Clubs, district, state, and regional clubs, Tulsa Garden Club sponsors Youth Contests, including poetry, essays, and annual Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest.

Young people are invited to exhibit their plants, creative floral designs, botanical arts, crafts or photography in the Club’s public educational flower shows.

The Youth Team Chair Susan Foust announced, “Tulsa Garden Club’s Buds & Blooms nature exploration and STEM-oriented activities for young gardeners will be offered in Woodward Park and other locations.”

The Buds & Blooms calendar includes:

March 5: Springtime Launch, Teaching Garden

March 8-10: HBA Home & Garden Show, Expo Square

April 6: Showing for Tulsa! Design Specialty Flower Show, Garden Center

April 12-15: Springfest, Teaching Garden

April 22: Earth Day on the Hill, Chandler Park

April 26: Arbor Day, Arboretum at Woodward Park

May 4: Plant Pollinator Sale, Teaching Garden

May 11: Tulsa Heart & Soil, 73rd Annual Garden Tour

June 2-8: National Garden Week, Teaching Garden

July 13: Pond Plant Sale, Teaching Garden

Visit TulsaGardenClub.org/Gardening-Education to learn more. Become a Member and join the Youth Team to help support young gardeners’ learning. Charitable gifts may be PayPal or by check to Tulsa Garden Club Gardening Education and mailed to PO Box 521003, Tulsa OK 74152-1003.