The happiest people are often the ones who never outgrew their fascination with birds, gardens, clouds, wildflowers, and all the quiet wonders most people hurry past.
About Us
The LKN Garden Club was officially organized on February 29, 1968, in the Terrell/Sherrills Ford area of Catawba County, North Carolina. Under the leadership of its first president, Mrs. C. W. Hollar, twelve charter members established the club with a shared commitment to gardening, civic beautification, conservation, and community service.
For more than five decades, the club has fulfilled its mission of promoting excellence in gardening, protecting natural resources, beautifying public spaces, and serving the community through education and volunteerism. Members continue to foster an appreciation for trees, wildflowers, birds, and native plants while encouraging environmental stewardship for future generations.
History
Throughout its history, the LKN Garden Club has completed numerous community beautification projects, including:
- 1996 – Development of the Uncle Billie’s Memorial Garden at the original Sherrills Ford/Terrell Branch Library.
- 2011 – A $15,000 donation to create a Serenity Garden at the Palliative Care Center & Hospice of Catawba County.
- 2025 – Design and installation of the Native Pollinator Garden at the Sherrills Ford/Terrell Branch Library (new location) , providing habitat for pollinators while educating the public about the importance of native plants.
Additional projects over the years have included landscaping at the Sherrills Ford Branch Library, Sherrills Ford Elementary School, the Terrell Post Office, the Duke Energy Explorium, the Terrell Mini-Park, and numerous tree-planting and community beautification efforts. Since its founding, the club has celebrated Arbor Day annually by planting trees throughout the community.
The club’s commitment extends beyond landscaping. Members have participated in garden therapy programs for nursing homes, worked with students with special needs, brightened the lives of shut-ins through floral arrangements, and partnered with local organizations to enhance the beauty and quality of life throughout western Catawba County.
In 1993, the club celebrated its Silver Anniversary with a tea honoring members and District II officers of the North Carolina Garden Club organization. Through the years, the Lake Norman Garden Club has received numerous district, state, and national awards recognizing its outstanding achievements in conservation, civic beautification, horticulture, education, and community service.
Today, the LKN Garden Club continues its tradition of service by meeting on the third Monday of each month in the Sherrills Ford/Terrell area. Welcoming gardeners of all experience levels, the club remains dedicated to friendship, lifelong learning, environmental stewardship, and making the Lake Norman community a more beautiful place to live.
Planting Hope
Scholarships and Grants
LKN Garden Club provides financial scholarships for graduating seniors from Bandys, East Lincoln and North Lincoln High Schools. Scholarships are awarded to a student entering horticulture, agriculture, conservation, environment studies, landscape architecture or a related field.
Annual Plant Sale
Over the years, the LKN Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale has grown into much more than a fundraiser—it has become a cherished community tradition. Members share their gardening knowledge and passion while offering a wonderful selection of native plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, garden treasures, and crafts.
The event features on-site Master Gardeners who provide planting advice, a children’s craft and planting table to inspire young gardeners, and homemade baked goods lovingly prepared by club members. Through the years, the Plant Sale has brought together families, friends, and neighbors, reflecting the Garden Club’s mission of promoting horticulture, beautification, education, and fellowship throughout the Lake Norman community
Educational Programs
We promote education by providing opportunities for members and the community to grow in their knowledge and appreciation of gardening, horticulture, conservation, and the natural world. Through inspiring guest speakers and educational programs at our monthly meetings, members gain valuable insights from experts in areas such as native plants, pollinators, floral design, landscaping, and environmental stewardship.
The Garden Club also extends learning beyond our meetings through sponsored classes at the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Library, where community members of all ages can explore topics related to gardening and sustainability. Educational field trips to gardens, nurseries, and other horticultural destinations provide hands-on experiences that inspire creativity, encourage new ideas, and deepen our connection to the beauty of nature.
Through these educational efforts, the LKN Garden Club continues to share knowledge, inspire lifelong learning, and encourage a greater appreciation for the plants, landscapes, and ecosystems that enrich our community.
The 2026 LKN Garden Club Scholarship Award recipient is Freya Gustis from North Lincoln High School. We wish her the best as she pursues her interest in the field of Environmental Science.