Hilltop Gardeners Tend to Flowers, Friendships

For more than 50 years the Hilltop Gardeners have enjoyed adding beauty to the Oswego community while exploring their gardening passion and learning from each other.

There are about 40 members in the Hilltop Gardeners, which began in 1959 with the goal “to promote beautification of the home and grounds in Boulder Hill.”

The club “adds beauty to the community,” said Kathy Balc, publicity chair for the Hilltop Gardeners. They maintain the Heritage Garden at the Little White School Museum and provide flower barrels at , and . They also tend the entrance into Boulder Hill, adding to the berm.

The club meets once at 9 a.m. the second Thursday of the month at the .

Marge Traughber joined the Hilltop Gardeners in 2000 when she retired and had more time to dedicate to gardening. Traughber most enjoys the camaraderie among club members and the interesting speakers that present at the monthly meetings.

In March 2007, Ronda Bennett saw an advertisement for the Hilltop Gardener’s meeting and decided to check it out.

“Everyone was very welcoming, and I felt part of the group from the beginning,” she said. “I have learned a lot from the programs and speakers and enjoy the fellowship with members who have shared interests and have become friends.

Bennett said the club utilizes the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. to find a variety of speakers and also seeks out local experts. One month, club members learned about maintaining beehives, the life cycle of the bee and making products from honey. A different speaker discussed how to attract butterflies to your garden and the life cycle of the butterfly.

Other topics have included perennial gardening and organic gardening, said Traughber. The last speaker spent his time answering questions on how to handle gardening problems, said Traughber. Whatever the topic, Traughber said the speakers are “very good and interesting.”

The club organizes an annual each June “to enjoy each other’s gardens, to appreciate everyone’s different style, to enjoy and to learn,” Balc said.

The Hilltop Gardeners also organize an annual the Saturday prior to Mother’s Day. The proceeds from the Plant Sale pay for year's various speakers.

Club members often organize trips to garden shows or to Redbud Creek Farm in Sandwich, said Bennett.

"It’s fun to get together with others who share your passion. If you enjoy gardening on any level, then I highly suggest joining our club," said Bennett.

For more information on joining the club, call 630-554-2847.