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For 35 years, the Heritage Garden Club members have been working diligently to soften and civilize Saratoga’s urban spaces.
Their legacy endures all around us.
Improving Visitor’s First Impressions
The grounds of the Saratoga Heritage Area Visitor Center were the first project the Heritage Garden Club took on in 1987, when they became a District IV member of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.
They looked beyond the beautiful historic Beaux-Arts style building at 297 Broadway, recognizing that around this “gateway to the city” was an opportunity to establish environmental conservation as a community priority.
“It was in disarray, all full of weeds, and just nothing there. We’ve developed it into the beautiful garden it is today,” said Mariann Gold, Vice President of the Heritage Garden Club. Among the many gorgeous flowers in the garden there, you’ll also see a plague dedicated to Maki Jacknowitz, one of the club’s founding members.
Saddened by the fact that the area has been closed since September 2021 because of damage to the patio roof, Gold said she is hopeful the outdoor space, which has several picnic tables, will reopen soon.
“People really enjoy going back there, so that would be wonderful,” she said.
Growing the Good
The tenacity and commitment of the club’s members led to the creation of the Garden of Hope at the Saratoga Hospital - a place where people can lessen their tensions by coming in direct contact with nature.
Their efforts can also be seen fostering a sense of civic pride at the Gideon Putnam Burying Grounds.
Although mostly known for their public gardens, the Heritage Garden Club has a broader purpose; it is where those seeking a social outlet can exercise their talents to shape the world beyond their homes.
“You don’t have to be a gardener to be in the garden club,” said Gold.
Agents of Change
The Heritage Garden Club effects change in the community by offering education, resources, and networking opportunities for its members.
They collect donations for area food pantries, gifts for the Saratoga County Children’s Committee Empty Stocking Project, as well as clothing for students and those in need throughout the community.
The club hosts garden therapy sessions, an annual bar-b-que, a Harvest High Tea, and decorate wreaths and trees for the residents of the Woodlawn Commons assisted living facility.
At the Home of the Good Shepard, they distribute gifts and fundraise for Water for South Sudan, a project that provides people in remote villages access to clean, safe water.
The Heritage Garden Club activities are funded by donations, a grant from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, sales of garden crafts during the Soroptimist International of Saratoga County Secret Gardens Tour, and their annual plant sale.
Mark Your Calendar
The Heritage Garden Club is always looking for new members who want to join a group of approximately 40 people creating a legacy to be proud of.
• Club meeting are held at 12 p.m. on the second Monday of the month, at the Knights of Columbus, 50 Pine Rd, Saratoga.
• The Annual Spring Luncheon will be May 10 at the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club, 301 Church St, Saratoga Springs. The public is welcome.
“America’s Newest National Historic Landmark – Saratoga County’s Grant Cottage,” will be presented by event speaker Tim Welch, President of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage National Historic Landmark.
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served at 12 p.m. Lunch choices: Cobb Salad or Vegetarian Cobb Salad served with bread and butter, cheesecake dessert, and beverages. Cash bar. A gift baskets raffle will also be held.
Tickets $30/each. Reservations must be received by May 4 with choice of meal selected. Make checks payable to: Anne Hunscher, 209 Daketown Rd, Greenfield Center, NY, 12833.
• June 11 Plant Sale featuring perennial and annual plants, herbs, and garden décor. Get there early! Begins at 9 a.m. and goes until they sell out (usually by 11 a.m.). Italian American Center, 247 Grand Ave., Saratoga
For more information about membership or events, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.heritagegardenclub.org
