“My grandmother, Dess Kidwell, and my “other mother” Bert Price always took me with them when they planted flowers for the Club”, Kennetha Greenlief, long time member and former President of the Mountaineer Garden Club from 1995 through 1997, remembers with great fondness.
The joy of being with her grandmother, Dess, and Bert recalls halcyon days of planting flowers in the Harry Harner Memorial Garden between Croston’s gas station and the town bridge on Front Street. “It was just fun for a kid” she said with a smile on her lips. Kennetha was also a member of the Junior Garden club at Parsons Elementary School, which was sponsored by the Mountaineer Garden Club. She remembers participating in picking up litter in Mill Race Park with the club. Learning about plants, trees and their importance to the planet as well as our part in stewardship of the planet left a lasting impression on Kennetha.
This environment of giving and beautification of the community has continued to enhance Kennetha’s adult life. She remarks on the number of trees that have been lost in the city parks in the past five years due to disease. She emphasizes that as the biggest plants on the planet, they give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilize the soil and give life to the world’s wildlife. They also provide us with the materials for tools and shelter. Kennetha has been spotted hanging pine cones coated with peanut butter and seeds on the town Christmas tree to feed birds during the winter.
As a business woman, community volunteer and President of the Parsons Park and Recreation board she remains dedicated to the Mountaineer Garden Club as another means to contribute to the beauty of the town of Parsons and to improve the environment. She invites former and new members to attend a meeting and become involved in community pride.
Celebration of the Mountaineer Garden Club’s 60thanniversary will be held Sept. 6 from 4-6 p.m. at Piccolo Paula’s. The public is invited to attend, door prizes and light refreshments. For more information about the garden club contact President Vivian Shomo at vshomo72@gmail.com.
