Our Rumson Gardens At Spring Peak!

Do you know who plants and maintains our beautiful Rumson public gardens? It's the 100 member Rumson Garden Club! A member club of the Garden Club of America, RGC was founded in 1914 by eight ladies who had an interest in design and horticulture. Over the years, civic projects became a very important part of the club's history and community involvement. In 1942 members began landscaping at the Forrestdale School, restored its cow pond in 1955, and undertook a major upgrade in 2005 to tie in with environmental studies. At Deane Porter School a courtyard was installed in 1987. Back at Forrestdale in 2000, a Millennium Garden was planted in conjunction with a greenhouse and educational programs. The Club installed window boxes at the Oceanic Library in 1962 and continues to plant and maintain them, along with traffic islands (such as West Park, photographed here), park sites and various buildings in the community. Christmas workshops to bring holiday cheer to area hospitals and senior centers have been an annual event since 1930 and since 1996 scholarships have been awarded to local students. In 1977 and 1978, RGC received the Founder's Fund runner-up award for the renovation of Historic Twin lights in the Highlands. The club also pursues conservation efforts such as the publication of educational water brochures in 1978 and 2003; ongoing programs on the importance of planting trees and native plants; and informative lectures on ocean and beach preservation. For more information, go to www.rumsongardenclubnj.org.