Meet a Long Time Member of the Shore Garden Club

By Marge McCarthy

The Shore Garden Club is celebrating its 70th anniversary in Belle Harbor and Neponsit, and what a perfect time to interview one of its founding members, Nan Knebel. Nan, now 100 years young, has been active over the years in many civic activities especially the American Cancer Society. In 1956, when she was unable to join the Belle Harbor Garden Club because it was full, she and her friends created the Shore Garden Club with Jo Falk as its President.

The dues were $25 and meetings were held once a month in members’ homes. They received guidance from Rae Golson, a lecturer from the Second District of the Federated Garden Club of New York State, who helped them follow the bylaws of the state organization.  They learned the various styles of flower arranging, and how to make beautiful arrangements for all occasions, including table centerpieces, holiday bouquets, and even creative designs. One of Nan’s favorites was mini­ature design which required keeping the flora in scale with the container.

Every two years, the members held a flower show at which their designs were judged. They had to adhere to all the criteria: freshness of the flowers, proportion and rhythm of the design. Nan was a master of it all and over the years,  received multiple blue ribbons. She willingly shared her skills with new members and held workshops to teach the basics and the tools necessary to make successful designs.

She passed down her enthusiasm and expertise to her daughter, Phillis, who was first a member of the Jr. Garden Club and then a long-time member of the adult club. She followed in her mother’s footsteps, winning multiple awards along the way.

Over the years, the club included activities that benefitted the community, such as making arrangements for those in the hospitals, or nursing homes. There were also flower shows that were benefits for the American Cancer Society.

When asked what she enjoyed the most about the Garden Club, Nan replied that she had made friends with many people that shared a love of flowers and gardening.