Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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80 Salem Garden Club Since 1928, the historic city of Salem has benefitted immensely from the civic involve- ment of the Salem Garden Club (SGC). Com- prised of over 70 active members, the SGC has spread its horticulture deeds far and wide across this diverse city. For example, they plant and maintain many areas including the large urns on the traffic island on Washington Street. Perhaps the SGC is most known for its garden tours that started in 1937. Today its garden tour is a biennial event. "On 'off ' years we do scouting missions throughout Salem looking for the next neighborhood to feature," says board member Meg McMahon. In 2019 the Salem Willows area was where the tour was held. Past sites include the McIntire Historic District, Salem Commons, and South Salem neighbor- hoods. Most of the SGC monthly meetings are open to the public and usually take place at the Community Life Center on Bridge Street. For more information, visit salemgardenclub.com Seaside Garden Club e Seaside Garden Club (SGC), in Manchester- by-the-Sea, was gathered in 1969 so that townswomen could tend to their own gardens without hiring a professional. Flash-forward to 2020 and education, hands-on workshops, and civic beautification are the main goals. e SGC North Shore Garden Clubs' Tips for Your Garden • Plant native plants that are drought- resistant (oaks, viburnums, ferns, black-eyed Susans) • Use a pH meter to check your soil regularly • Use dehydrated cow manure (not composted) to augment the soil • Try hot pepper wax spray as an alternative to Roundup • Self-watering containers are a good investment • Daylilies are great for harsh seaside environments • For big civic beds, must use plants with color • Mandevilla is a good plant to use in containers because they can transition from summer to fall • Mix annuals in with perennials in order to keep the colors coming throughout the season meets on the second Tuesday of each month (September-June) at the Manchester Commu- nity Center. Recently, they invited lecturer Susan Guest to give an evening talk, "Your Body in the Garden: An Ergonomic Approach to Gardening." Members brought nibbles and drinks for social time beforehand. But the SGC is much more than just a social club; they tend to many flower containers in town, create Mother's Day bouquets for elderly residents, and run an annual plant swap. Scheduled for May 12 at the Manchester Community Center, the swap raises funds for a $2,000 annual scholarship awarded to a deserving Manches- ter/Essex High School student. For more information, visit seasidegardenclub.wordpress.com PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF SALEM GARDEN CLUB Above, Over the years, the Salem Garden Club has designed, planted, and maintained the spectacular window boxes that grace the entrance to Salem's historic City Hall. Left, Images from Salem's Garden Club Garden Stroll in 2019