LEXINGTON, S.C. — The Lexington County Garden Club is back in bloom. The group of about 20 members had their first meeting of the season Wednesday, and they've only existed as a club for about a year.
They are now looking for new members. The group ranges from novices to master gardeners.
The group started thanks to a dozen men and women who all shared the same interest: Gardening. Several of them had gone to the Garden Club of SC website to find a local group, but there wasn't one for Lexington. However, there was enough interest via email to the Garden Club of SC that they started a Lexington chapter, with their first meeting at a local Panera Bread.
"For me, gardening is very important because it not only is therapeutic, and it’s a fun hobby, it also connects me with other people," club president Kerry Hershey said.
In addition to meeting monthly from September through May, they take field trips to local gardens in the summer, do service projects, and will have their first-ever plant sale on Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 413 Hendrix St. in Lexington.
In every meeting, the group hosts a speaker to discuss things like medicinal plants and native plants in South Carolina and the Southeast, among other topics.
"In addition to actually gardening and planting flowers or bushes, we learn about pollinators and bees and butterflies and how to take care of caterpillars so that those butterflies continue to exist," club member Cynthia Swann said.
Residents interested in learning more or joining the club can email the group at info.lcgarden@gmail.com.
"I’m more of a house planter than an outside person, but I love the challenge, so I’m learning how to grow something. I did grow tomatoes," club member Cynthia Wilson said. "The price of food is high now. Gardening club, they're teaching you how to raise your own food."
Organizers said the group also has social media, fundraising, civic projects and program committees.
The group meets at Saxa Gotha Presbyterian Church in Lexington at 5503 Sunset Blvd. on the first Wednesday of the month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.