We focus on carrying out the NGC mission and making the community more aware of our club and what we have to offer. The NGC mission statement reads, “National Garden Clubs Inc. provides education, resources and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral design and civic and environmental responsibility.”
When our club was given the opportunity to become part of the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway community, by carrying out a project on one of its corridors, we jumped at the opportunity. Since I had not utilized our Greenway, that is striving to connect people and places together, I and another member decided we would start walking a part of the Greenway one afternoon to get a better feel of what it had to offer.
We began our walk at the Cooke’s Food Store on Keith Street and successfully made it to the underpass on 25th Street. Through no surprise, we found it to be rewarding to our health, but also seeing the beauty of the area adorned with trees that had been planted in memory of a loved one or dedicated to the Greenway project.
In addition to smelling the sweet fragrance of the honeysuckle vines and enjoying the calming feeling of the water running in the stream, the Greenway gave us a very relaxed feeling even though we were not used to the exercise. There were all age groups of people walking, listening to music on their earphones, riding bicycles, babies being pushed in strollers, people using canes — like myself — or just sitting down resting.
This area solidified the beauty of the Greenway and gave us even more excitement in deciding what our contribution would be as personal gardeners and nurturing the beauty of the earth.
Since that day, we have walked on two other areas of the Greenway and are encouraged to continue our walking as much as possible. As we move forward on this project, we are reminded that it is all of our responsibility to help beautify and protect our world.
In honor of National Arbor Day, the Aldersgate Garden Club will be planting three dogwood trees on the Greenway Monday (April 16) at 10 a.m. The ceremony will take place between 20th and 17th streets in a location where thousands of people drive by on Keith Street every day. We are excited about making this donation.
(NOTE: Any person or organization interested in making a donation to the Greenway may contact info@cbcgreenway.com).
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Online:
www.cbcgreenway.com
