History
On June 8, 1928, two members of what would become the Lullwater Garden Club, along with representatives from Twenty nine other clubs, attended an organizational meeting for the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. held at the Biltmore Hotel in Atlanta. The Lullwater Garden Club was founded on June 28, 1928 by a group of young matrons in the Druid Hills neighborhood. Our club, which has charter status, began with twenty-six members.
The Lullwater Garden Club has always been involved with civic projects of landscaping and flower shows as well as contributions of horticulture, time, and money for worthy causes. During the war years our efforts were directed toward patriotic activities. We planted Victory Gardens and canned harvest surplus. Club members visited and served as hostess at Lawson General Hospital. WE distributed flowers, magazines, and clothes. We even donated the bridge in our Conservation Garden for scrap metal.
Over the years, Lullwater ladies have participated in activities sponsored not only by the Lullwater Garden Club, but also by organizations on local, state and national levels. Many members hold or have held high positions in these organizations. We compete in flower shows, learn through workshops, present programs for our club as well as for other garden clubs, and take many field trips. We have proudly sponsored both junior and high school garden clubs in the past and have worked to beautify school grounds. We have won several silver trophies for our achievements. Four are in our permanent collection.
Our most ambitious undertaking is the Lullwater Conservation Garden. The Lullwater Conservation Garden is a six and one half acre tract of land, which has been maintained by the Lullwater Garden Club since 1931. Located in historic Druid Hills, the property originally belonged to the Dan Johnson family and later to the Candler estate. In 1964, the Lullwater Garden Club purchased the garden from Emory University for $1,500.
This garden is a beautiful stretch of natural woodland between Lullwater Parkway and Lullwater Road and bisected by Lullwater Creek. The original landscape plan provided for the planting of more than one thousand trees, shrubs and bulbs. A cedar tree was planted as a permanent Christmas tree for the birds. This garden has developed into a splendid profusion of Georgia’s native trees, shrubs, flowers, and ferns.
Today, a rustic stone entrance welcomes visitors to enjoy our bird sanctuary, wildflower refuge, memorial garden, footbridges, stone benches and natural paths. The Garden is a serene “green belt” bordering a busy city. Open to the public, it is an all-encompassing project which involves all facets of garden work.
We believe that by honoring our past and by being diligent custodians of the present, we can make a difference in the future.