Projects & Awards

A goal of the Arlington Garden Club is to be involved with the community and give back.  Projects and activities are ways our members can reach out and participate. We also honor those in the community who have shown a commitment to ‘keeping Arlington green’.

Continuing Projects & Awards

ANNUAL PLANT SALE – We hold our annual plant sale in the City of Arlington in April.  Members dig up and divide plants from their own gardens as well as gardens of friends and neighbors (with permission of course!) to contribute to the plant sale. This event is a major fund raiser for our club with a large turn-out from the community.

ANNUAL END of YEAR FUNCTION – Each year in June we wrap up our garden club year by gathering members together in a festive atmosphere complete with food and an entertaining program.  We have a silent auction and door prizes.  Last but not least we present the annual winner of our Myrtle Ruckert Award (see below).

ARLINGTON COMMUNITY GARDEN – In 2002 our club started work on building a new community garden. By the summer of 2003 it was in full production. There are 20 raised beds available at no cost to the public. The only requirement is that 50% of the produce raised be donated to the local food bank. We maintain the garden by pulling weeds, watering and harvesting.

‘TURN YOUR THUMB GREEN’ WORKSHOP SERIES – Since September 2003 we have presented a series of workshops for gardeners. These workshops are held Saturday mornings in the city’s community room. They are taught by Arlington Garden Club members, Master Gardeners, and others knowledgeable in the field of gardening and the environment. The series is responsible for adding many new members to our club and fills a need for those unable to attend our monthly Monday meetings. In December we hold a popular holiday wreath making workshop.

Myrtle Ruckert Award

The Myrtle Ruckert Award is presented annually in May to the person(s), organization or company chosen by the Arlington Garden Club members for extraordinary effort and commitment to keeping Arlington green. The award was first presented in 2001.

Past honorees include:
Terry Littlejohn & Sarah Hegge 2001
Margaret Larson 2002
George Boulton 2003
Bill Blake 2004
John Evans 2005
John & Joann Gray 2006
Brian & Connie Foster 2007
Duane Weston 2008

Past Projects Completed

TREE CITY USA – Our club assisted and motivated the city in making Arlington a ‘Tree City USA’ in 2003.

DOGWOOD TREES – We planted ten Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ dogwood trees along the Centennial Trail and other areas of downtown Arlington.

Other Projects & Activities

MAYOR’S FLOWER GARDEN – In the spring of 2006 we planted an area outside the new Arlington City Hall with an old-fashioned flower garden at the request of Mayor Margaret Larson.

ARLINGTON LIBRARY PLANTING – In 2005 our club, in cooperation with the City of Arlington, planted the south side of the Arlington Library with summer and winter blooming heather.

WAYS & MEANS – At each of our monthly meetings we encourage members to bring in small garage sale type items for our W.A.M. table. All monies received are used to support various charitable donations the club makes each year.

We support the City of Arlington by donating and planting dogwood trees, purchasing benches for the Centennial Trail as well as 2 benches at bus stops in Smokey Point and we participate in other city activities.

We also support WSFCG, State & Evergreen District activities & goals as well as help maintain the Blue Star Memorial area at the Rest Stop on I-5.

Lebanon Park in downtown Arlington was designed and planted by the newly formed garden club in the 1930’s which we continue to maintain.

Members bring horticultural specimens and designs to our monthly meetings. During the summer months we meet for workshops, garden tours, nursery visits, etc. We distribute flowers, swags & wreaths to nursing homes, shut-ins and public facilities. Contributions of food, money and plants are made to the Arlington Food Bank. We also join other community groups for cooperative activities.

FOOD BANKS - In 2008 we are kicking off a project to supply items for Food Banks in local areas where our members live, Oso, Arlington, Stanwood and Marysville.