California Garden Clubs, Inc. is celebrating its 75th birthday, but most people know little about this organization that is working hard to beautify California, along with dozens of other projects.

For anyone interested in gardening, this is the mother lode. With 22,000 members statewide, most of whom are talented gardeners, floral arrangers and plant-lovers, California Garden Clubs is a treasure-trove of education and friendship.

Since the state organization was founded in 1931, its official mission has been to promote interest in horticulture and to encourage civic beautification and conservation.

But if the South Bay garden clubs that belong to the state umbrella group are any indication, the mission statement should also include: have fabulous luncheons and great parties, stage garden tours, hold bus trips to botanical gardens, create container gardens for hospital patients, learn flower arranging from fellow members (some of whom are master judges), create and deliver a fresh floral arrangement to the local library every week, have monthly meetings with speakers, and so much more.

Member clubs also work to raise awareness among the next generation of potential gardeners by helping develop gardens in elementary schools and by planting trees on Arbor Day. The list of projects is seemingly endless – from reforesting pine groves to offering landscape design courses.

Perhaps one of the most visible efforts of a CGCI member locally was the contribution in the 1960s by a former Costa Verde district director, Francis Young, a local garden club member who worked to bring the South Coast Botanic Garden into existence. The garden’s main auditorium is the Frances Young Hall of Horticulture named in her honor.

The CGCI is open to all gardeners through membership in a participating local garden club or plant society. Most garden clubs belong, but not all. In the South Bay’s Costa Verde District, 10 garden clubs and/or plant societies are members, but at least two clubs and several plant societies operate independently of the umbrella organization.

Robin Pokorski, incoming president of CGCI, was the guest of honor at a recent English tea/vintage fashion show and meeting of the Costa Verde District of the CGCI, held at the South Coast Botanic Garden and hosted by the Riviera Garden Club.

She brings a vitality to the state organization, which tends to be populated by mostly senior women, although some men belong these days. At 50, she’s representative of a small but enthusiastic middle-age (and younger) group of gardeners who are bringing new energy into the organization.

She seems to be equally admired by all ages for her diplomacy, friendliness, tireless work ethic, can-do attitude and sense of humor.

South Bay members at the recent district tea and installation of officers sang her praises. They say she brings to the job diplomacy and an inclusiveness that is refreshing. She also has a secret weapon that endears her to even the most reserved, old-guard state garden club members – her 93-year-old mother, Roberta Brischke, who lives next door to Robin and her husband in San Fernando.

Brischke accompanies Pokorski as she attends state functions.

“She allows me to drive in the carpool lane,” Pokorski quipped, adding, “and she’s my best friend.” Indeed before the luncheon was over Brischke was everybody’s best friend.
California Garden Clubs, Inc. is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc., which is made up of 50 state garden clubs and the National Capital Area – a total of 7,251 member garden clubs and 217,233 members. In addition, the NGC has 447 International Affiliates as well as 49 National Affiliates within the U.S.

CGCI is divided into regions and districts. The local Costa Verde District (in the Pacific Region) includes Riviera Garden Club (in Torrance), Hermosa Beach Garden Club, San Pedro Garden Club, Las Gabrielinas (at the South Coast Botanic Garden), Long Beach Garden Club, The Gardeneers (based on the Peninsula), South Bay Geranium Society, South Bay Orchid Society and South Coast Dahlia Society.

The newly installed Costa Verde District Director is Judy Unrine of Torrance, who is outgoing president of Riviera Garden Club. She took over the district director role from Lorraine Ornelas of the San Pedro Garden Club.

Like Pokorski, Ornelas and Unrine are dedicated leaders, heavy on organization. Both have a knack for inspiring members to say “yes” to taking on committee chair positions or to volunteer even when not asked.

Unrine contends she has received much more than she has given from working on the district and state levels. The state and national organizations offer conventions with dinners, keynote speakers, workshops, flower arranging seminars, master classes and flower shows of the highest caliber.

Among their speakers have been internationally known rose hybridizers, world-class floral designs, top horticulture writers, nursery owners and other key people in the horticulture world.

Local garden club members share volunteer responsibilities in their individual clubs, and some take on district and state jobs on top of that. Sometimes the responsibilities are huge – such as the recent tea and vintage fashion show chaired by Riviera’s Mary Varieur.

Varieur not only oversaw a committee that put on a tea but she organized 25 ensembles for a vintage fashion show. Eleven of the past district directors of Costa Verde were honored at the tea, each with her own tea table for 10. These included Diane Charbonneau, Doris Nagy, Gloria Jacobs, Jessie Varalyay, Ruth Brooker, Martha Ann Walter, Virginia Kohl, Gudy Kimmel, Gloria Jacobs, Helen Gates and Irene Anderson.

Active in the district for more than 40 years, Gates was one of the models at the fashion show, wearing a bright multicolored Diane Freis silk dress from 1939. She, along with master judge (and former Costa Verde district director) Gudy Kimmel, leads a monthly flower arranging workshop through Las Gabrielinas, a group of floral design enthusiasts. Many students have gone on to compete in district and state flower shows.

In addition to Unrine, the 2007-2009 Costa Verde officers are Evelyn Greene, first assistant director; Betty Saunders, second assistant director; Kathy Snider, recording secretary; Sunny Garland, corresponding secretary; Lorraine Ornelas, treasurer; and Gates, parliamentarian.

Meredith.grenier@dailybreeze.com