The Aiken Council of Garden Clubs hosted the West Low Country Annual Conference on Saturday, March 5 at the Midland Valley Church of the Nazarene in Graniteville.
The conference is for South Carolina garden clubs, said Beth Cronk-Horch, co-director of the West Low Country District and president of the Garden Makers.
She added that there are seven districts across the state, each with its own conference. Aiken is in the Low Country district, which is the largest and stretches from North Augusta to Hilton Head.
“This conference is to recognize all the work and community activity and to recognize different garden clubs and what they have done over the past year in their communities and the scholarships they sponsor,” Cronk said. -Horsch. “Once a year, they recognize people who have put their heart and soul into dedicating their work to the community.”
The conference had 95 attendees, including vendors, she said. The theme of the conference was In the garden with our friends.
Awards were presented to members at the event, and included civic awards for community activism and volunteer work, as well as conservation and holiday attendance, Cronk-Horch said. She added that former president Trish Bender gave a presentation at the event.
The Aiken Council of Garden Clubs includes the Country Gardeners Garden Club, Cereus Garden Club, Garden Makers Garden Club, Suburban Garden Club, Green Gardeners Garden Club, Sunshine Garden Club, North Augusta Council of Garden Clubs, and Aiken Garden Club – all of whom were involved. in the build-up to the meeting, Cronk-Horch said.
The district has 42 clubs and the conference usually has more than 100 attendees, but because of COVID-19, attendance wasn’t as high as it usually is, she said. She added that all Aiken clubs were present.
“It was great for everyone, everyone was really happy to see each other,” Cronk-Horch said.
The conference location changes every year, and Cronk-Horch said next year’s conference will be in North Augusta.
