Cape Fear Garden Club’s 100th year celebration
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One of the oldest and largest garden clubs in North Carolina, the Cape Fear Garden Club, celebrated its 100th anniversary on Tuesday.
In 1925, the first Cape Fear Garden Club meeting was held in Saint James Episcopal Parish.
On Tuesday, a celebration was held in the same church, 100 years later.
The president of the club, Dolores Hawes says the goal has remained the same.
“The things that the founding ladies of the Cape Fear Garden Club, things that are important. We still hold those very same values. Enhancing the environment, beautifying the land, and beautifying the land using the proper plants,” Hawes said.
Hawes says 12 people started the club but now it has expanded.
“Now 360 of us members working together with them towards a common goal is just awesome. They are hard workers, and they get things done,” Hawes added.
The club is known for the Azalea Garden Tour, which takes place at the weekend of the Azalea Festival and features local gardens.
2025 Azalea Garden Tour chair, PiaAnn Robison says with everyone working together, the club has come a long way.
“To see what the previous garden tour chairs have done as well as what the club has done over the last 100 years. How the club and the Azalea Garden Tour worked together to put on this beautiful event,” Robison said.
To commemorate the first meeting held at the church, a yaupon holly tree was planted in the lawn. This is part of the Cape Fear Garden Club’s centennial native tree planting initiative.
