The River Oaks Garden Club

In 1927, not long after the River Oaks subdivision was created, a group of residents formed River Oaks Garden Club. Its avowed purpose was "to stimulate knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs" as well as "to aid in the protection of native plants and birds, and to encourage civic planting". The garden club's first project was to plant crepe myrtles at River Oaks Elementary School.

Today, 84 years later, River Oaks Garden Club includes over 400 memebers who provide hands-on community service through maintenance of the 14-acre gardens of Bayou Bend, and who raise funds that are returned to the Houston community for civic beautification, conservation, and horticulture projects. Two annual fundraisers, the Pink Elephant sale, and the Azalea Trail raise the majority of these funds. The Pink Elephant sale, held in October, is known as "Houston's oldest rummage sale". The Azalea Trail is a tour of homes and gardens that is held in March.

River Oaks Garden Club´s community service has not always been directly related to gardening. Shortly after purchasing the Forum of Civics Building for use as its headquarters in 1942, ROGC converted it into a surgical branch of the Harris County Chapter of the American Red Cross. For the duration of World War II, ROGC members operated knitting machines and rolled bandages for the injured.

The River Oaks Garden Club has received numerous awards through the years from the Garden Club of America, of which it is a distinguished member, including the 1993 Montague Medal in recognition of civic achievement. The club has also received awards for civic contributions from the Governor´s Community Achievement Awards Program, the Environmental Improvements Awards program, and the Texas Society of Architects. The garden club also received the 2005 Beautification Award from Keep Houston Beautiful.

The River Oaks Garden Club offers the community a free environmental lecture each January. The Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Seminar is held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and features speakers who enlighten and educate the public on horticulture and the environment.

Proceeds of several million dollars have been returned to deserving organizations in the Houston area over the past 38 years. Recently the Pink Elephant and the Azalea Trail proceeds have benefited: Armand Bayou Nature Center, Bayou Bend Gardens, Bo’s Place, Brookwood Community, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Camp for All, DePelchin Children’s Center, the Heritage Society, Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, Memorial Park Conservancy, Neuhaus Education Center, Mercer Conservation Foundation, San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Park, Trees for Houston, Urban Harvest, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Ronald McDonald House, Star of Hope, Student Conservation Association, Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas, University of Houston, and Upper Kirby District Foundation.

Florescence is a collaborative effort of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, The Garden Club of Houston, and the River Oaks Garden Club. Your support will directly benefit Houston and our community.

For More Information, please visit:

www.riveroaksgardenclub.org