Germination

Organized in 1950 by thirty prominent business and community leaders.

Cultivation

Key to the strong growth of any plant is the care, nourishment and protection it receives.

Community

Promoting enduring friendships and civic activities.

Welcome to the Men’s Garden Club of Los Angeles...

Organized in 1950 by thirty prominent business and community leaders led by Charles Jones, the Men's Garden Club of Los Angeles has remained true to the Founder's remarks at that founding meeting:

"Men, since time began, have been the world's greatest gardeners... In fact, today, the very pressure of living is causing an ever increasing number of men in every profession to turn to gardening. For a garden is the most basic of all creations, a place of solitude where strength may be restored and problems resolved. And it is natural that men on discovering the ''fruits" of gardening feel a need to share with their fellow men and to exchange experiences and knowledge. The Men's Garden Club of Los Angeles satisfies that need."

Our By Laws express the Club's objectives and purposes:

The promotion of the full appreciation of gardens

The cultivation of higher ideals among garden devotees

The development of the love of growing plants in the hearts of children, particularly those whose opportunities are restricted

The development, promotion and completion of enduring friendships, civic activities and a general interest in individual or private gardens, community planting and parks.

  History

In 1948, while lunching at the Biltmore Hotel, Manfred Meyberg and Lovell Swisher were impressed by the flower arrangements in the mezzanine. They invited Charlie Jones to see the arrangements. Charlie was impressed too. Late in 1948, building on Charlie Jones' concern for Los Angeles, the ideas of Manfred Meyberg, head of Germain's Seed Company, the enthusiasm of Lovell Swisher, an insurance man, and Roy Wilcox, owner of a wholesale plant nursery, these men began talk about organizing a garden club for Southern California business and civic leaders.

Learn More

  Civic Horticultural Projects

From its first sprouting 70 years ago, worthwhile civic horticultural projects have been a reason for the Club’s existence. If the Club saw a need in the community, the board would begin to research it and discuss what the Club could do to initiate a responsive project. Through their connections, members were able to communicate directly with the local authorities to explore what was possible and acceptable in the community.

Learn More

Descanso Gardens Memorial grove and boulder

In 2010, Norm Mitchell, Bob Volk, George Brumder and Dennis Poulsen began work on establishing a permanent memorial to recognize deceased Club members. Norm met with David Brown, director of Descanso Gardens, to discuss the project. The Club Board decided that a permanent boulder be placed in what is currently the Descanso Oak Woodland area. Dedicated on November 14, 2014, the boulder is engraved with the Club name and has a QR code linked to the memorial list of names on this website.

LEARN MORE