The Big Woods Garden Club
The Big Woods Garden Club began in 2002 as part the Delano Dream Team’s initiative to beautify Historic Downtown Delano. Debbie DeBeer the chairperson of the Dream Dream contacted Jackie Singer, Wright County Master Gardener, to ask if there were any garden clubs that could help. Jackie recommended Peggy Zimmerman-Belbeck, a Master Gardener Intern to take on creating a garden club as her intern project for the task. They invited community members with an interest in gardening to join the first meeting was July 25, 2002, held at Stienmetz Realty.
The first executive board included:
President - Peggy Zimmerman-Belbeck
Vice President - Debbie De Beer
Secretary - Bridgette Scheppat
Treasurer - Judy Vanderlinde
Members at large: Jackie Singer, Betty Rieder and June Sutton
The members met once a month. Each meeting had a educational speaker, demonstration or a tour, and often a new members.
The Big Woods Garden Club is dedicated to providing a variety of gardening related programs including: education of club members; planning, installing and assisting in maintaining community plantings for the beautification of park, building and open spaces; raising awareness and funds for community horticultural programs and efforts; and providing a social environment for convening of individuals sincerely interested in and demonstrating a willingness to work and to share their horticultural knowledge with others. The Big Woods Garden Club services the areas of western Hennepin County, Eastern Wright County and northern Carver County of MN.
First Plant Sale was held May 17th, 2003 to provide funds for a their first community project, a flower garden on River Street north of Bridge along the fence on the river bank. The site had 3 buildings on it that house many business over the years but all were gone, leaving an area perfect for a garden.
Dream Team Adopt-a -Pot - incouraged businesses and individuals to plant and maintain one of the large planters downtown. The planters were judged by Master Gardener Club members and continued the tradition for many years.
National Honors Society, and club members and their husbands helped in the two day project of clearing sod, prepping the soil, planting the garden and mulching. Trees and shrubs were purchase from the plant sale proceeds and members and the community donated plants.
In 2004 the Garden Club landscaped the new Delano Public Library
First Big Wood Garden Club Tour and Lucheon was held in July 9, 2005. Proceeds from the garden tours were donated to various community organizations such as Love INC.
The Club adopted a section of County Road 6 from 2003-16. In 2016 the club has adopted County Road 30 and picks up any debris in the spring and fall.
When the flood walls were installed in 2017 and the River Front Park was established the Big Woods Garden Club donated money for the plants and “women” power to the area once more.
Big Woods Garden Club Annual Dinner
Over the years the club provided gardening education through expert speakers, workshops and tours. The group has helped beautify a number of areas in the community and has provided many social hours with like minded people with green thumbs.