Though people join the San Jose Garden Club to learn more about horticulture and to visit local gardens and nurseries, a big function of the club is to support the community.
To that end, the club is holding its annual spring plant sale and garden boutique April 25-26 to raise money for various local charities. Club members work all year to grow plants and prepare for the sale, and to strengthen their green thumbs.
“There are some very special women who spend many, many hours year-round to organize this fundraising event,” says Ansilla Barrandeguy, plant sale chairperson and a club member since 2002.
The club is an all-volunteer nonprofit that was founded in 1972 to address local food insecurity, promote the study of horticulture and landscape design and participate in civic beautification projects.
Its annual sale has become a major community fundraiser: Last year’s sale raised over $28,000. The sale began in 2001 as a way to augment the club’s small budget.
This year’s plant sale, held at a Willow Glen residence, will feature homegrown pelargoniums, vegetables and herbs, and also succulents and professional quality house plants.
“Vegetables and herbs are always popular with backyard growers,” says Barrandeguy. “Succulents are still very popular, as is anything that is showy and blooming.”
Barrandeguy herself has planted a variety of large aloes and agaves instead of a lawn at her home.
“People in my neighborhood know me as the succulent gardener,” she says. “I love planting succulents for their simplicity and variety of form.”
Barrandeguy says another popular sale item is an organic soil enhancement made from kitchen waste.
“Last year we sold over 100 three-pound bags,” she adds.
Several club members are Master Gardeners—trained volunteers who educate the public on horticulture, pest management and sustainable landscape practices. They are certified by universities after completing a rigorous training program and passing an exam. Master Gardening programs are active in all 50 states.
Other members have gardening in their blood.
“I come from a family of gardeners and always enjoyed the activity,” says Kathy Argabright, a club member for 21 years. “I wanted to share that passion with others and increase my knowledge of the hobby.”
The plant sale includes a garden boutique featuring a variety of yard art and other garden-themed gifts. Barrandeguy says the big sellers at the boutique are tomato knives, bamboo cutting boards and garden gloves.
“Members transform Aurelia Gill’s lovely backyard into an oasis for garden pots, whimsical plant stakes, patio sets, benches and metal wall hangings,” she adds.
“I love the large number of the residents the sale draws,” says Argabright. “Our prices are very, very reasonable, which makes gardening affordable to all.”
Argabright says she appreciates the club’s emphasis on civic beautification. One such project involves maintaining over 100 climbing roses along the walls of the overpass at Lean and Calero avenues.
“The city was going to pull them out so the club adopted them,” she explains.
While the club arranges visits to local nurseries, Barrandeguy says she also enjoys hearing from the organizations it supports.
“I love the friendships I’ve made, the club outings and the informative guest speakers,” she says. “The monthly hosts do a great job setting up interesting places for us to visit (and) I always learn something new from our speakers.
“We recently had a moving speaker from a migrant worker group and another from Loaves and Fishes, who serve the needy.”
A longtime supporter of Loaves and Fishes, the club has a donations committee that researches various groups and presents the list to the membership for approval.
All proceeds from the 2025 plant sale will benefit the following charities: Sacred Heart’s La Mesa Verde Garden Program; Our City Forest; Loaves and Fishes Kitchen Garden; Lean/Calero Rose Project; Valley Verde; Sempervirens-Big Basin; Second Harvest-Silicon Valley and Second Harvest-Santa Cruz.
“The club donates all proceeds to groups who help and support San Jose residents,” says Argabright. “It’s a win-win for me.”
To learn more about the San Jose Garden Club, visit sanjosegardenclub.com. The plant sale and garden boutique will be held Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at 2470 Richland Ave., San Jose. The club accepts cash, credit cards and Venmo.