Soil Mates ‘Sisters’

Digging in for fun

Soil Mates Garden Club was first organized in early 2000. More than two decades later, gardening continues to be anything but a mundane hobby for members of the club.

The club is affiliated with the Garden Club of Kentucky, which means they are encouraged to do a Civic Project each year as a way to give back to the community. Past civic projects have included a plot at the Arboretum, the Beulah C Nunn Garden at the Mary Todd Lincoln Home, and gardens at Hope Lodge in Lexington.

In recent years, their project has focused on the gardens at Liberty Ridge Senior Living, but none of the members of Soil Mates are actually members of the Liberty Ridge community.

“The first year we just did one garden; but we have expanded to two gardens for the last couple years. We design the plantings, then plant and care for the gardens throughout the summer months,” explains Joanne Fortson, who serves as the club’s secretary and historian.

“I moved to Kentucky from Colorado about six years ago. Within my first couple weeks in this city, I contacted the garden club to learn about membership. I was looking for new friends with a shared interest in gardening. She continues, “I found much more than I was looking for in this group!  I love my Soil Mates ‘sisters,’ and have learned a lot about gardening in Kentucky through this club.”

The club has toured specialty gardens, greenhouses, and farms including a garden designed by Joseph Hillenmeyer, the gardens at Castle and Key Distillery, a hemp farm, and a hosta farm. Other programs include gardening basics like a pruning demonstration and exotic how-to’s like planting and caring for bonsai.

Anyone who is interested in being a part of the club is welcome. Prospective members can email soilmatesgardenclub@gmail.com.

Forston adds, “The Lexington Council of Garden Clubs lists five other garden clubs besides ours here in the Lexington area. Everyone has quite a choice of clubs if they are interested in gardening. Half of the clubs meet in the daytime (we do), and the others meet in the evening; so you are sure to find one that meets at a time that is convenient for you.”

 

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This article also appears on page 29 of the 2021 print edition of Lexington Families Guide.