BALTIMORE, Ohio — The Basil Garden Club can trace its roots back to 1913, making it the oldest garden society in Ohio. 

The club was established by Professor E.E. Ray, the superintendent of Basil Public Schools. It was originally known as the Flower Culture Club and began with just 10 members. The club was devoted to cultivating beautiful community landscapes, educating Baltimore residents on the mitigation of weeds and the cultivation of healthy flowers.

In 1933, the club joined the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs (OAGC), with its programs and members winning numerous awards in the subsequent decades. Ultimately the club changed its name to the Basil Garden Club in 1942, and the society geared itself towards a slew of community projects.

Surprisingly, not one monthly meeting has been skipped. Not even a pair of World Wars postponed their meetings, nor did the recent COVID-19.

 “In the early days of the Basil Garden Club, members would hold daytime meetings,” said first-year club president Melissa Bader. “Now we hold evening meetings so more can attend.”

 As with any club, members often age out and participation dwindles. But the Basil Garden Club is trying to change that downward trend.

 “Today we have 24 active members, including a few men, with many elderly members remaining on the inactive role,” Bader said, “but we also have some young members now. One of those young members gives us tips on everything from gardening outside to working with house plants. We’re open to a lot of different ideas. One gentleman is more into his vegetable garden, but he incorporates flowers with his food garden. Times change and we have to be open to change to whatever is presented to us.”

Just like garden clubs of old, this group is one of mixed skills and backgrounds, from self-taught gardeners to trained master gardeners. The club meets on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m., at the Johnson Park Shelter House, for shared learning and hands-on activities.

 “At our meetings, we always have an educational program,” said Louise Smith, a dedicated Basil Garden Club members. “Topics have included houseplants, spring bulbs and other areas of interest to plant and flower enthusiasts.”

The Basil Garden Club members provide planters for two major intersections in Baltimore as well as long Market Street. They also help with annuals and perennials at (Basil Park and Johnson Park), as well as the library and post office.

One of the most widely recognized projects associated with the club is historic Basil Park. The club helped purchase the grounds, as well as pieces of playground equipment and an entrance arch, in 1924. Joined by the support of the Edward N. Sands Fund and the Rotary Club of Baltimore, the Basil Garden Club restored the Basil Park’s arch and flowerbeds in 2011, purchasing park benches for both parks to hallmark their centennial celebration in 2013.

 The club held its 110th anniversary on  April 22 (Earth Day), and hosted an exhibit in partnership with Juniper & Ivy Coffee Shop on Main Street in Baltimore. The club used this event to entice new members, promote its current beautification efforts and its upcoming plant auction later this month, and an opportunity to enter a raffle for a flower-filled planter.