Eastland Gardens Civic Association

4010 Lane Place NE
Washington, DC 20019
webmaster@eastlandgardensdc.org

Eastland Gardens Flower Club

The Eastland Gardens Flower Club meets every second Saturday of the month at 1 pm.
Email webmaster@eastlandgardensdc.org to find out location.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR 2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS & MEETINGS

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THE GARDEN CLUB HAS PUBLISHED A BOOK FEATURING FAMILIES AND HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
EMAIL US TO FOR MORE INFORMATION!

A special thanks goes out to DENNY'S OF BENNING ROAD WHICH PROVIDED LUNCHES FOR OUR GUESTS DURING OUR ANNUAL ARBORETUM TRAM TOUR!

Download the Eastland Gardens brochure on which explains the historic legacy of our community by way of its architecture.

The many seasons of Eastland Gardens & the Eastland Gardens Flower Club

(Scroll down for events & announcements)

The Eastland Gardens Flower Club was formally organized in 1956 around a group of neighbors who shared their common interest over back yard fences. Mrs. Rheudine Davis brought the group together and was elected President. Thus, began a long history of community service and beautification. Through the years, the club has worked to keep Eastland Gardens beautiful. The club has sponsored lectures, workshops, tours, etc. They also worked with the children at Kenilworth Elementary School and planted flowers and shrubs around the school.

Perhaps the most important project of the club is the park at the entrance of the Eastland Gardens Community. Through the effort of Mrs. Davis, this small park was given National Park Status and is maintained by the National Park Services. Mrs. Davis was involved with First Lady, Mrs. Lyndon Johnson and her beautification project. Click here for archives on Ms. Davis.

The club is a member of the National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and has received many awards. The Flower Club is an organization that cares about the community.

Club President is Javier Barker 202-450-3155 or j58barker@yahoo.com

Eastland Gardens Flower Club Produces Brochure on HIstory of Architecture in Our Community

Quotation Source
Eastland Gardens Flower Club Celebrates 53 Years with Garden Tour & Tribute
The Flower Club wass proud to return to its tradition of hosting an annual garden tour Saturday June 20 which was followed by a 53rd anniversary tribute to late founder, Rhuedine Davis. The morning began with a walking tour of several homes and gardens in the Eastland Gardens community. The anniversary program held at the National Aquatic Gardens featured a brief program which included junior planting for kids, a historical briefing on the club's activities and a reception for community members and guests. Mayor Adrian Fenty delivered a special greeting proclamation congratulating the club on 53 years of success as various Capital area garden club representatives were in attendance. Thanks everyone for your volunteerism and participation!
David Healy, District One Director of the National Capital Area Garden Clubs posted the following blog, with photos by Bill Dean which can be found at: http://ncadistrict1.blogspot.com/2009/06/eastland-gardens-flower-club-celebrates.html:

Eastland Gardens Flower Club Celebrates 53 Years
June 20, 2009: The rejuvenated Eastland Gardens Flower Club, the first African-American garden club in metropolitan Washington DC, celebrated its 53rd anniversary with an homage to its founder Mrs. Rhuedine G. Davis. Mrs. Davis was on Lady Bird Johnson's committee for the "beautifying" (today we'd call it "greening") of Northeast Washington and worked tirelessly in the Eastland Gardens community. The celebration occurred under a steady rain at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens , but during the proceedings the storm passed and we had a sunny interlude to see the water lilies, lotus and Kenilworth Marsh.

Violinist Danielle Davis performed for the assembly:

Zerline A. Hughes [sic] gave the welcome and Erman T. Clay, Sr., discussed the history of the club; Mr. Clay regularly presided at the installation of club officers when it was a women's club:

Club president Javier Barker recognized special guests and thanked those who organized the event; Delores Crim-Neal spoke about club founder Rhuedine G. Davis, whom she had known:

The program closed with a recitation of the club's Gardener's Creed:
The club history display:
The hats of early club members (Mrs. Davis's on the left):
A luncheon followed the meeting:

Canada geese in the rain:

Shine:

District 1 Director David Healy and NCAGC 2d Vice President Babs McClendon pause at the end of the boardwalk into Kenilworth Marsh.

This view of Kenilworth Marsh is looking west towards the Anacostia River which is hidden by the distant trees. The river of brown plants are nuphar, which are believed to be the ancestor of both water lilies and lotus.
Two bees on pickerelweed blossom and a dragonfly:

Butterflies:

Smoky Bracket (Bjerkandera adjusta) on a decomposing tree:
Red-winged blackbird and an osprey:

A turtle:
Photos by Bill Dean.
Eastland Gardens Featured in Historic Preservation Newsletter

The spring edition of the Landmarks, a quarterly publication of the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office, features an article that mentions Eastland Gardens and the DC Community Heritage Project. Click here to read and find out more or go to: http://planning.dc.gov/planning/cwp/view,a,1284,q,570832.asp and look under “HPO Guides, Reports, and Publications.”
Beautification Grant Awarded to Flower Club
Congratulations to the Eastland Gardens Flower Club for being awarded a Parks & People beautification grant. The grant helped supply plants, sitting areas and shrubs to three areas in our neighborhood. Residents are needed and encouraged to volunteer their time, garden tools, pick up trucks and donations to clean up and plant throughout our Eastland Gardens community. For more information, contact Eastland Gardens Flower Club President Javier Barker at 202.388.1108.
The May 10th meeting began the neighborhood beautification as Javier Barker, Delores Crim-Neal, Thelma Jackson and Greg Williams (aka Koogaloo) and Althia Harris dug, weed-wacked, planted and mulched the triangle island at Kenilworth, Meade and 44th. Click here to see their progress.
More projects are on the way. Email or call Javier. If you can’t volunteer your muscle, volunteer by dropping off water and goodies for the volunteers. Click here to see more photos of the project.
Delores Crim-Neal, Thelma Jackson, Javier Barker and Althia Harristake a break and strike a pose.
Hard at work. Youngest, honorary members
Jobe & Jaylah Jennings pitch in.
Jobe Jennings shows off the club's nearly finished product!
Click here to see more photos of the project.

photos courtesy Zerline Hughes Jennings
Eastland Gardens Flower Club Brunch Fall 2007
Click here to read Eastland Gardens Flower Club Bylaws