* History of The Club

* River Bend Garden Club History

The River Bend Garden Club began when 25 women who were new to North Carolina gathered to learn about how to garden here.  “Where’s the dirt?” they said about our sandy soil. “Everything’s wilting!” they said about our steamy summers.  “When do I prune my roses, how do I get rid of fire ants, and what’s a Crepe Myrtle?”

The year was 1973, a few years before River Bend was incorporated. The women decided to form a new club dedicated to gardening. A slate of officers was elected, annual dues were set at two dollars, and monthly meetings were planned for the first Tuesday of every month beginning at 8 p.m.

At first the club met at the town-owned tack shop, a building where horse-riding equipment was stored. When that building burned down in 1976, meetings moved to different members’ homes, and then to the Country Club in 1978. Beginning in 1986 meetings were held at Town Hall, and after 2022 they have been held at River Bend's Municipal Building.

Besides educating themselves about the best local gardening practices, members wanted to make the relatively young town of River Bend a more attractive place to live. Encouraging homeowners to make their landscapes attractive, the club sponsored a Yard of the Month award, a program that continued until 1986.

In 1989 the club was incorporated as a non-profit organization. At one point in its history the club was a member of the North Carolina State Garden Club Federation but later became an independent club. Bylaws have been revised four times to reflect societal changes over the years. For example, when most members were connected by the Internet, the Telephone Committee was renamed the Communication Committee. 

Sometimes the early club meetings were attended by just six or seven members. They often brought plants, flowers and craft supplies to share and to create projects during the meeting. Sometimes each person brought a floral arrangement, and they sent these bouquets to area rest homes and hospitals. As time went on, their charitable work expanded and became more organized.

They sent home-cooked meals to River Bend’s older citizens and donated to New Bern’s “soup kitchen” in 1985, gave money to less advantaged in the area, including “mental patients” in 1975, sponsored an “underprivileged child” at Christmas in 1976, contributed money to tornado victims in 1984, and bought or crafted seasonal gifts for assisted living facilities, a practice that continues today.

Other charities that have received financial support over the years have included Friends Helping Friends, The Linus Project, Guardian ad Litem, Cedar Grove Cemetery, the horticulture program at New Bern High School, Neuse River Foundation, Coastal Women’s Shelter, Humane Society, Beirut Memorial in Jacksonville, New Bern Historical Society, American Cancer Society, Ben Quinn Elementary School butterfly garden, the Beaufort Maritime Museum, the River Bend Community Organic Garden, and the Community Appearance Committee. 

Husbands were often present at workshops, trips, special events, meetings, picnics and covered dish suppers the club organized. In 1979 the club voted to approve men for membership. Residents from surrounding areas were invited to become members. In 1993 membership had to be restricted to 120 people because of limited meeting space.

The meeting format has not changed much in the club’s existence. A business meeting still follows the guest speaker’s presentation. Refreshments and socializing are always part of the gathering.

The speakers over the years have included local landscapers, nursery owners and growers, extension agents, horticulturists, Master Gardeners, chiropractors, photographers, entomologists, florists, artists, birders, museum curators, beekeepers, herbalists, rosarians, and other plant specialists. Often the speaker was a club member who shared her special craft or area of expertise.  

The club at times encouraged its membership to support town causes. For example, in 1976 they urged members to report to law enforcement authorities any animal abuse or discharging of firearms that they noticed. And they were asked to educate neighbors and “our young people” that these practices are illegal.

At another time the club asked River Bend residents to plant crepe myrtles and dogwoods in their yards to beautify their properties. They also urged all members to promote anti-litter efforts. They tied red bows on street signs during December in the 1980s. In 1996 they sewed fabric flags to decorate town during the holidays. They reminded residents that pesticides can contaminate well water, gave away flower seeds to beautify lawns, planted 1000 daffodil bulbs with the Community Appearance Committee, built bluebird houses, donated books to the Red Caboose Library, and made Christmas wreaths for Town Hall and to decorate the sign at the entrance to town, and created the Memorial Garden near Town Hall.

For the Bicentennial celebration in 1976 the club asked residents to fly the American flag, and also to plant “appropriate colored flowers” around their mailboxes. In the early years, members donated pyracantha trimmings to be planted around the fence at the Country Club swimming pool and they purchased shrubs and flower boxes for the clubhouse in return for allowing the club to meet there. They paid for trees and flowers at the town’s main entrance, and contributed funds for the retaining wall around the center garden in Town Hall’s parking area. 

In 2003 the Club began landscaping around the town's gazebo to create a memorial garden. Over the years, this garden has become larger and more remarkable for its variety of perennials, shrubs, and annuals.    

Today’s members look forward to future projects, speakers, trips, and service to the community.