City Salutes Concord Garden Club; Club Hosts Plant Sale Saturday

Concord’s long history as a city that values its urban landscaping was reaffirmed on Earth Day last week when the City Council recognized the long service of the Concord Garden Club as the founder of the City’s memorial tree planting program.

At the same meeting, the City Council also adopted an official policy to provide City oversight and a consistent approach to requests from the public for not only memorial trees but also other commemorative items in public places, such as benches and plaques.

In 1968, the City Council approved a motion launching the Concord Women’s Garden Club’s memorial tree planting program. 

The first tree, a eucalyptus, was planted on June 1, 1968 in Willow Pass Park. Since that time a total of 396 trees have been planted by club members.

The City Council presented 92-year-old Phyllis Wanamaker with a special commendation as the long-time coordinator of the memorial tree program. Wanamaker alone coordinated the planting of 192 of the 396 trees, beginning in 1989 when she was 67 years old.

“I commend Phyllis Wanamaker for her tireless work with the Concord Garden Club to make the Memorial Tree Planting Program such a great success, providing all those trees in our parks to be enjoyed by residents for years to come,” said Mayor Tim Grayson.

The Concord Garden Club is conducting a plant sale on Saturday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army Community Church parking lot, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord.  

Drought-tolerant plants and a variety of perennials will be offered at reasonable prices.  Plant sale proceeds will be used to help support ongoing Garden Club activities.

The club meets the third Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Community Church Social Hall, 3950 Clayton Rd. 

For more information, call (925) 676-6180. 

Visitwww.cityofconcord.org to learn more about the City’s new policy on memorial and commemorative items.