The Pottawatomie Garden Club is celebrating 85 years in 2013.

In 1928, when the first bylaws were written by the Junior Garden Club of St. Charles the object was to “cultivate the spirit of gardening in its broadest sense – to beautify home grounds and to encourage community gardening.”

  The organization that began in 1928 as the Junior Garden Club of St. Charles – used to cultivate the spirit of gardening, beautify home grounds and encourage community gardening, according to a news release – evolved into the Pottawatomie Garden Club in 1930. Now – 85 years later – the objective remains the same with the addition of a commitment to education, according to the release. 

During the club’s anniversary year, there will be programs scheduled beginning with the first of the season, which will take place Monday, Feb. 25. The program will feature the presentation “Step into Spring with Tulips.”

  “I’m so excited to be president in the club’s 85th year,” said Karen Masus in the release.

Masus along with incoming vice president Lanny Salvati, secretary Diane Winkler and treasurer Louise Cruse, will call to order the fist meeting of the Pottawatomie Garden Club’s 2013 season.

Members will be busy in the spring and fall planting flowers at various locations throughout St. Charles, including planters on Main and Illinois streets, the Municipal Center, the public library and the Tri-City Health Partnership.

Recently, the Pottawatomie Garden Club teamed up with the Geneva Garden Club to install and maintain plantings at the Living Well Cancer Center and the new CASA Grow a Healthy Child Garden – both in Geneva.

  Meetings are held in the lower level of PNC Bank, 2600 E. Main St., St. Charles. The meet-and-greet will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a business meeting and presentation to follow.

Refreshments will be  provided and guests are welcome. For more information, visit www.pottagardenclub.org.