The Marathon Garden Club was organized in 1955 to educate its members and the public in gardening and related subjects.  One of its first projects was to landscape the Chamber of Commerce property.

During the sixties beautification of the airport strip led to it being named a Monroe County Park.  The Club established a memorial garden at Fishermen’s Hospital and vegetation at Sombrero Beach.

During the seventies funds were raised toward establishing a Garden Center through house tours, plant and craft sales, flower shows, book sales and other events.  Mahogany trees were planted at the animal shelter and action was taken to help stop the Lethal Yellowing palm disease.

During the eighties trees were planted along U.S. 1, Sombrero Beach Road and at Marathon High School.  The White Heron civic beautification award was established.

During the nineties the Club was awarded the Governor’s Environmental Education Award for its efforts to save the Queen Conch.  The existing Garden Club Center was purchased and renovated, and today it is used for a variety of meetings, workshops, exhibits, flower shows and educational programs.

During the new century, the Club sponsored Floral Design and Flower Show Judging Classes. Horticulture seminars were held and a Christmas Tree exhibition, begun in the nineties, continued through 2007. Hurricane Wilma, in 2005, did extensive damage to our landscaping, from which we are now recovered.

Today.   If you were to compare the Marathon of 50 years ago with today’s city, you might be surprised to learn that many of the beautification and environmental improvements were due to the efforts of our garden club.  A variety of projects continue, as club members work with local businesses and other organizations to beautify the area and protect our fragile natural environment.

Listen to radio interview with MGC President Sande Neiditz below.

Marathon Garden Club Blue Star Highway Marker

The Blue Star Program honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs (now NGC, Inc.) adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Blue Star Memorial Highway Markers were placed along the way. The Blue Star was adopted because it had become an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war as well as in churches and businesses.

Since the Blue Star Memorial program began over 75 years ago over 3,300 Blue Star Memorial Markers have been dedicated. There are more than 70,000 miles of highways across the country designated as Blue Star Memorial Highways. The markers and their living memorial gardens may be seen in all 50 states.

The Marathon Garden Club’s Marker was placed on May 29, 1968, under then-president Linnea Cunningham. It is located near US 1 intersection with 122 Street Ocean, Marathon, in the median across from San Pablo just over Vaca Cut heading north. You will see that the marker is from the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. In reading the detailed version about the markers, they were originally painted to have the red center revealed over time.

To learn more about the Blue Star Highway, set aside some time to read the following detailed history by clicking here.