Betty Evans, a former member of a Minnesota garden club, was inspired to form a similar club in her current hometown of Clayton.  In 1997, she and a few other Claytonites met at a local restaurant to discuss her vision.  As a result of that first informal meeting, on July 16^th, 1997, a larger meeting of interested individuals convened at the Oakhurst Country Club.  Sixteen attendees signed on as Charter members.  The new garden club joined the Diablo Foothills District that same year.  Of the original Clayton group, four members, Dorothy Bradt, Jean Cain, Jan Rubiales, and Mitzi Schenke, are still actively involved.

The Clayton Valley Garden Club met in the homes of members until July 1998.  Later that year the Club moved to Old City Hall on Oak St.  However, the increasing membership made a move to a larger space necessary.  Our next home was the Clayton Community Library, until rental issues forced another move, this time to the Presbyterian Church on Kirker Pass Road.  Unfortunately, the lighting at the church was inadequate for our needs, and when the opportunity arose to utilize St. John’s Episcopal Church on Clayton Road, we again changed venues.  In June 2003, the Garden Club moved once more to our current location at Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center Street, Clayton.

Soon after the Garden Club was formed, members began brainstorming ideas for community service projects.  One of our first activities was to participate in the 4th of July parades and festivities.  The Garden Club floats always have been interesting and colorful.  Seed packets are distributed to delighted bystanders.  Another one of our projects involved the planting of daffodils, iris, and other plants on a large hill near the downtown area.  That hill is now known as Daffodil Hill.  In the near future it will be transformed into a drought tolerant garden with rocks, walls, and even a tractor on display.  The Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) donated $60,000 toward this project!

The Clayton Valley Garden Club has undertaken numerous other projects to enhance the community.  We donated a $250 scholarship to the Diablo Valley College Horticulture Club.  We designed and maintain the Butterfly Habitat at the Clayton Library.

We upgraded and maintained the 24 raised planters on Main and Center Streets in downtown Clayton.  The CBCA gave us a $500 grant for this project.  We filled the planters with red, white, yellow, and blue flowers.  We also spent a day planting flowers around the large fountain at the entrance to the city.  Our most recent activity involved our $500 donation to teacher LeeAnn Saunders’ Special Education class at Diablo View Middle School, for the purpose of building raised beds and planting vegetable and flower gardens.  Most of the funds for our activities are raised during our annual Spring Plant Sale.

The Garden Club as an organization, and our members as individuals, have won a number of awards and commendations.  In 2001, Sharon Peterson won a design contest for her logo, depicting Mt. Diablo with poppies in the foreground.  Also, under the guidance of Elaine Billeter we built Vignettes for the San Francisco Garden Show in 2001 and 2002.  This is a large show and we were honored to be part of it.

Three of our members have won Navlet’s Gardener of the Year, Marie Schell in 2003, Sue Fletcher in 2005, and Peggy Arundell in 2007.  Elaine Billeter, a former Clayton Valley Garden Club President, is now Director of the Foothills District.  Judy Bates, our former newsletter editor, took first place at the State and Regional levels of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., for the 2007 District Yearbook.  The City of Clayton recognized our organization for Daffodil Hill and the raised planters in the downtown area.

On September 1st of 2008, the Garden Club, with permission from the City of Clayton, placed a Blue Star By‑Way Marker, honoring the men and women of the Armed Forces of America in Grove Park, downtown Clayton.

Betty Evans’ original inspiration and the dedication and hard work of our many wonderful members have resulted in years of public service, donations, and community enhancement.  We thank all those who have been with us thus far, and invite anyone who is interested in joining us to help turn our vision into reality.