NM Museum of Art Legacy Courtyard Garden
Breaking ground for the redesign and installation of the new courtyard garden at the Museum of Art
The entire courtyard garden was torn up and replanted–financed by the Santa Fe Garden Club
A Growing Legacy
The Santa Fe Garden Club and the New Mexico Museum of Art’s Courtyard Garden
Founded in 1917, the New Mexico Museum of Art was built around a Courtyard Garden. The garden was first tended by the SFGC in 1951. Over the years, dedication to this garden forged a partnership between the Museum staff and SFGC members.
Entering its centennial year, the Museum recognized that 100 years had taken a toll and extensive repairs were required to the infrastructure that would require the near total destruction of the garden. SFGC members rallied to form a committee, establish a budget and appropriate funds for the garden’s redesign and installation. Plans included a modern irrigation system to prevent any future water damage to the offices below. The garden features plants indigenous to New Mexico as well as other hardy perennials and small evergreens. The lawn and enlarged walkway that borders the garden will insure that the space continues to be the center of many Museum events.
Member Featured in Local Magazine
Member Mary Delgado was featured in Local Flavor Magazine for her conservation efforts
The text reads:
I am a member of the Santa Fe Garden Club, and within the club, I am on the Conservation Committee. Besides dispersing money to worthwhile organizations within the community and state, this committee is also dedicated to an area of river to clean on a regular basis. Originally, I would sign up and occasionally clean the area, and [I] eventually just started handling the whole operation. It takes some coordination, including arranging two volunteers twice per month, making sure they have the necessary tools and training. Then there are reports to write! Sometimes, when no one volunteers, I’ll just go down and clean it myself. Occasionally, my husband Dan will stand on the Delgado Street Bridge and watch over me! I want to see the river be a beautiful, safe place that all of our citizens and visitors can enjoy.
National Affairs and Legislation
Delegates to the National Affairs and Legislation meeting in Washington, DC
Garden Club of America NAL and Conservation Committees
The National Affairs and Legislation Committee (NAL) was established as a committee of the Garden Club of America (GCA) in 1969. Its focus is to bring matters of national legislative importance to the attention of 200 GCA member clubs. Conservation and NAL Committee delegates meet annually in Washington, D.C. to review significant legislative proposals as articulated in the GCA Position Papers and support the GCA’s mission to “restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement .” During the Washington meetings, conservation and NAL club delegates meet with their respective state legislators to discuss the GCA Position Papers and legislative issues; attend conferences and lectures; and exchange ideas with 400 other delegates. The Conservation Committee publishes CONWATCH, a quarterly online newsletter that highlights timely national conservation and environmental issues.
Garden Projects at Public Schools
Kindergarten students exploring gardening. A Santa Fe Garden Club provisional project.
PBS movie Volcanoes in New Mexico
Funding by Santa Fe Garden Club
