The National Garden Clubs, the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world, works on about a dozen different programs and projects around the country and the world, so many in fact that it’s hard to keep up with all of them. Luckily, we’ve got insider access because the president of the international organization is longtime Smithville resident Renee Blaschke.

Blue Star Memorial Marker

Blaschke, the first female alderman and former Smithville mayor, is particularly proud of some of the things the Smithville Garden Club has been doing.

“Our local club has been working very hard to get a Blue Star Memorial Marker for Smithville,” Blaschke said. “It honors all individuals who have served, or ever will serve in the armed forces of the United States.”

Blaschke recently had a look at the new marker as it was pulled from its crate at the city warehouse.

“All the writing is correct and it’s ready to go,” Blaschke said while standing next to the large monument with its gold type and bright blue star. “We’ll have a presentation to the mayor and the city on Saturday, May 8 at Oak Hill Cemetery.”

The Blue Star Memorial Program, sponsored by the National Garden Clubs, has honored the men and women of the armed forces since 1945.

“The marker and its meaning is very poignant given the current state of affairs,” Blaschke said. “It has renewed significance given the wars our young men and women are fighting now.”

Local garden club enthusiasts have generously underwritten the cost of the marker and worked with the mayor and the city on the location and the installation. Blaschke says the club hopes to have speakers, scouts, bands and more at the unveiling.

Bark Park Tree Planting

Appreciative patrons of Smithville’s newest park will get a red oak, courtesy of the Smithville Garden Club, as they commemorate Arbor Day with a planting at the Bark Park along NW 1st Street on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 11:30 a.m.

“The club has been in existence since 1935,” Blaschke said. “We have planted a tree in Smithville every year to commemorate Arbor Day. Trees have been planted at the post office, city hall, the railroad park, Riverbend Park and the library and other locations around town.”

Penny Pines Program

Blaschke took the helm of the international organization in May of 2009 and the official theme for her administration is “The world around us: Love it, beautify it, protect it.’ The theme promotes a wide range of projects designed to promote clean air and water, recycling and green practices.

“We are very strong on environmental issues and reforestation projects are part of that,” Blaschke said, referring to the Penny Pines program, designed to rejuvenate forests across the country in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

“Our membership is very dedicated to this,” Blaschke said. “It is very much in line with our interests nationally. We support all state and national parks and the over 80 national and state forests.”

The NCG has collected over $75,000 on the local and state level for the program to help replant damaged forest areas.

“The national forests are under great stress due to wildfire and drought.” Blaschke said.

Donations made to the NGC Penny Pines effort can be designated to benefit a specific state or national forests and can be made in memory or in honor of an individual, organization or theme. The NGC requests that donations be made in multiples of $68.

“When the program started in California in 1941 children would collect pennies and contributors would give in multiples of $68. That was the cost of planting ten acres,” Blaschke said. “It buys about 350 seedlings now.”

More information on donating to the Penny Pines program can be found at the National Garden Clubs Web site at www.gardenclub.org.