STILL BLOOMING AFTER 65 YEARS

The Deerpath Garden Club of Lake Forest celebrates a milestone not with nostalgia, but with new energy—and a new generation ready to dig in.

ONE AFTERNOON EARLIER THIS FALL, a man bent down over the Telegraph Road Gardens—continuously in bloom under the care of the Deerpath Garden Club—and clipped a single rose.

“It was so very sweet,” says Deerpath Garden Club President Connie Maines of that vision. “We love seeing people use and love these spaces of beautification that we have helped create.”

Certainly, it’s these simple but powerful moments that the members of Deerpath Garden Club feel lucky to witness as they move through Lake Forest and their own lives.

“The Telegraph Road Gardens at the train station have really evolved over the years,” explains Nancy Stack, who has proudly served as a member of the Deerpath Garden Club for the past 24 years. “It’s really so different from when it started. Originally it was a daffodil garden, and now it’s so much more—because of us.”

And while the members of the much-loved organization never learned who that man standing among the Telegraph Road Gardens was or why he chose that moment to take home that particular rose, it was in his quiet and thoughtful act that reminded them of their purpose.

But make no mistake—this group isn’t as subdued as one might think.

“I think there is still a little bit of a stigma associated with garden clubs,” laughs Deerpath Garden Club member Sherri Nichols. “I think a lot of people say, ‘yeah, all the old ladies at the Garden Club are having another get together,’ but it’s so much more than that.”

Indeed, the Deerpath Garden Club finds its membership evolving right along with them as they continue to celebrate their 65th anniversary this year. As digital fatigue sets in, more and more young people are being drawn to the Garden Club—to learn, to socialize, and to unplug.

“We’re always welcoming new members,” says Nichols, who has been a member of the Deerpath Garden Club for the past 10 years. “And you don’t have to be a gardener to join the club. You just have to have a desire to learn.”

“Civic beautification and horticulture education have been a part of our mission statement since 1960 when the club was organized,” adds Maines, explaining that the group, in partnership with the City of Lake Forest, began as two modest, hand-dug gardens laden with spring flowering bulbs. “And it takes all of us to continue to grow and contribute to keep doing what we do.”

Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of the Deerpath Garden Club is how it has grown to become such a philanthropic force in the community and beyond, making significant donations toward not only beautification projects, but also by providing funds for other worthy projects across the North Shore.

“We’re so lucky that the city listens to us,” says Maines. “There’s a committee made up of local garden clubs and city representatives that meets every other month. It’s just so important to have the city partnering with us. And now that the Deerpath Road project is almost finished, the city has already asked the garden clubs to come up with other prospective projects that we can start working on.”

And there are many prospective projects swirling in their minds going into 2026.

“We’ve recognized that a lot of people are downsizing, so they don’t have as big of gardens as they once did,” explains Stack. “So, we’re looking at some programs that show how to best grow your garden on your terrace or your balcony or your smaller backyard.”

“While we do have some really talented and actually master gardeners in the club, many of the people who have joined in recent years are just people who are interested in learning about gardening,” adds Maines.

And even after 65 years, there’s always something new to learn.

“I tried to grow tomatoes for 45 years, and this summer one of our members brought in some four-to-six-inch seedlings,” exclaims Nichols. “And by god, that thing grew about six feet tall this year and I got huge tomatoes.”

Having the ability to celebrate each other’s successes is yet another reason the members of the Deerpath Garden Club feel so blessed.

“Aren’t we so lucky to live where we live?” concludes Nichols. “We have so many nature preserves and walking paths and people are going outside more to enjoy all the little areas that we’ve put together and put benches at. We see it as an appreciation for what we are doing.”