Hopp Ground Garden Club celebrates a golden milestone

Hopp Ground garden club members at a civic beautifucation project in 1994. 

Hopp Ground Garden Club members celebrate Earth Day in 2024 with an information booth and flowers.

The Hopp Ground Garden Club of Bedford this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, a milestone marking a half century of enriching the town’s natural beauty, sharing a deep appreciation of gardening, and cultivating friendships and civic pride along the way.

In 1975, a small group of residents started the club with the mission of inspiring a love of nature through horticulture, floral design, and conservation. It took its name from “Hopp Ground,” a historic spot on Bedford’s Village Green once covered in wild barley hops.

Susan Goldsmith, a member since 1978, reflected on enduring legacy and the early days. 

“Our entire membership was small enough that we held monthly meetings in one another’s living rooms and each of us had a comfortable seat,” she said. “I have such good memories and so happy we continue the club’s traditions today.”

Today, the club has almost 50 members and has become a cornerstone of Bedford’s community life. Its impact is visible in the public gardens it has maintained across the town —  the colorful entrances at Bedford Village Memorial Park and Bedford Hills Memorial Park, to the vibrant beds at John Jay Homestead, Katonah A-Home, Katonah Memorial House, and Katonah Village Library and the Bedford Free Library.

Over the years, members have planted thousands of annuals and perennials and hosted many local events to help people discover the joy of gardening. The club supports programs such as Meals on Wheels, Holiday Wreaths for Veterans and Dig Deep.

The mission of the Hopp Ground Garden Club is rooted in education and connection. Monthly workshops and lectures bring together experts and enthusiasts to explore topics from native pollinator plants to creative botanical arts. The club has also sponsored many flower shows as a way to showcase members’ artistry and horticultural expertise.

After leaving corporate life and joining in 1982, Karyn Henschel says it was one of her best decisions. 

“It opened up a whole new world for me in terms of friendships and learning about floral design and horticulture through hands-on workshops and great lectures,” she said. “I’m proud of our club for all the community outreach and contributions we continue to make.”

The club is excited about its next fifty years. 

New members like Elena Dobrovolskaya, a local artist and the club’s program chair, bring new ideas to ensure it remains strong and relevant for the future. 

“I want to contribute my part in enhancing our public gardens and bringing more beauty in our everyday life,” she said. “I’m eager to share my knowledge of landscape design and horticulture with the wonderful and welcoming members of Hopp Ground.” 

Another new member and the club’s vice president, Joanne Zuckerman, joined because she wanted to make a positive difference in the community.

“As a retired social worker, I truly believe in the greater good,” she said. “Working with the garden club is my way of giving back.”

All anyone needs to join the club is a personal interest in gardening and a willingness to help Hopp Ground with its mission. No green thumb required. For more information, visit  hoppgroundgardenclub.org.