LOS JARDINEROS GARDEN CLUB OF TAOS was founded in 1949.  From the beginning the Club presented programs on horticulture, conservation, world gardening and flower culture. Local experts, government agents and outstanding state gardeners served as speakers. The hollyhock was chosen as the official flower.  The club collected hollyhock seeds for widespread planting along streets and alleyways and throughout the countryside around Taos.

The Club vigorously opposed the cutting down of trees on North Pueblo Road.  From the beginning the Taos Garden Club has continued programs and projects of education, conservation, beautification and protection of historic and scenic treasures.

Los Jardineros is a non-profit organization. Proceeds from the home and garden tour will be used for civic beautification projects.


2005-2006 Projects

Habitat for Humanity - Purchase of a tree and plants for each of two Habitat homes.

Foothills Neighborhood Association - Purchase of native seed mix for use in Higgins Grove, located near Higgins and Blumenschein.

Millicent Rogers Museum - Phase 3 of master plan for landscaping. Location is the lawn/garden landscape on east side of museum.  An irrigation system will be extended to lawn area.  Replacing some dead trees, adding shrubs, perennials and some agricultural specimens are included in project.

Community Wellness Center: Girl Time - Removal of Siberian elms, installation of an irrigation system, purchase of plants, and labeling for area bordering Kit Carson in front of Community Wellness Center.

Friends of Taos Charter School - Purchase tree, shrubs, and plants to landscape new charter school on Paseo de Canon.


2004-2005 Projects

Ranchos Elementary School - Extending landscaping in courtyard to the area between the parking lot and main entrance to school.

Discovery Plus Project - This is an expansion of the grant previously funded for school grounds beautification project.   The program would be the Junior Master Gardener’s Curriculum.  At the end of the 6-week session the middle School Students would become certified Junior Master Gardeners.

Taos Center for the Arts  - Completion of the garden restoration project previously funded.  This would be a redo keeping the 3 plum trees and the bulbs and hiring a professional landscape designer to do this work.

Millicent Rogers Museum - This is the continuation of a project funded last year for the completion of the plantings in the interior courtyard.  Also included is a drip irrigation system for 2 outside spaces on the east and north of the Museum .

The Taos Project - Plantings for the 4 beds in the newly repaved John Dunn parking lot, totaling 524 square feet of planters.  Plants would include bushes and perennials in the planters which already have irrigation built in.  They would be maintained by local businesses, etc. who would “Adopt a Planter” 


2003-2004 Projects

Millicent Rogers Museum - Educational pods to be placed in the xeric garden which will focus on the traditional uses of native plants by Hispanic and Native American people of Northern New Mexico.

Taos Center for the Arts - Continuation of work previously funded including removal of dead lilacs, planting of evergreens and other drought tolerant trees, mulch, planting materials and labor.

Enos Garcia School establishing La Bella Club - In cooperation with the Discovery enhancement program. La Bella Club members will learn about plants, seeds and seed collecting and sowing, learn and work outside further developing the front and side yards. The students will make presentations during the school year.


2002-2003 Projects

The Phil Lovato Senior Center with the AARP Taos Chapter #3367 - Shrubs and plantings with supporting irrigation for the Phil Lovato Senior Center.

The Taos Center for the Arts - Maintenance of the lilac bushes including the installation of irrigation, and plant material for a special Hollyhock Garden.

Town of Taos-North Plaza Enhancement - Funding support to assist with the plants and planters to be installed on Juan Largo and Scheurich Lanes as a part of the revitalization of the Taos Plaza and Historic District.



Membership

If interested in membership contact the Membership Chair at membership@gardencluboftaos.com . Meetings are held in Taos on the third Thursday of the month between February and October. At each meeting topics are presented to meet the needs and interests of our high desert gardeners. Past topics have included: creating bird & butterfly havens, flowering vines, selecting the right tree, native and flowering shrubs, raising organic and non-organic herbs and vegetables, xeriscape principles, beneficial insects, beautification and protection of historic and scenic treasures. Membership includes admission to the annual Garden & Home Tour, as well as to our Members-Only Tour.


Garden Club Flower

HOLLYHOCKS - LAS VARAS DE SAN JOSE

Growing Conditions
Hardiness zone: 4 - 7
Size: 4 - 8 feet
Bloom time: June - September
Blossoms: Single or double flowers in pastels or deep hues
Leaves: Medium sized, green to gray-green and fuzzy
Soil preference: moist
Light preference: Sun
Problems: Leaves get scraggly in late summer

Hollyhocks like moisture with sunshine. They like support and warmth reflected from a wall. Since they are biennials, they do not bloom until the second year. Each plant will generally live for three to four years. When the seed heads are ripe, break them open and scatter the seeds on the ground, pressing in lightly. A hollyhock bed will reseed for decades.

Hollyhocks can be started indoors in the spring.  The seeds germinate in about 10 days when kept moist and warm.  The plants can be transplanted to the garden when danger of frost is past.  More on hollyhocks from Los Jardineros co-founder Ruth G. Fish.



Photographs on this page courtesy of Rick Finney.

For further information, or for problems or comments on our website, send e-mail to info@gardencluboftaos.com.