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Take a drive through downtown Natchez and it’s hard to miss the dozens of hanging baskets adorning our lampposts, planted with spectacular pink petunias. Baskets of green ferns will soon be added. They are indeed beautiful – and the story behind them is one that goes back 75 years and serves as an amazing testimony to what volunteerism can mean to a city.

The story begins in late spring of 1949, when Natchezian Mary Louise Kendall Goodrich Shields spearheaded the effort to have the Pilgrimage Garden Club become a member organization of the national Garden Club of America.

In 1990, the civic-minded ladies of Natchez Garden Lovers became an autonomous entity, and in 2014, they took on the name they are known by today, Garden Lovers of Natchez, member GCA, returning to the original name of a group of ladies who first expressed interest in the civic improvement of the landscape of Natchez in 1928.

They are one of 200 member clubs across America that devote their energy and expertise to projects in their communities and across the United States.

Over the years, the Garden Lovers of Natchez have become a valuable partner to our city, helping beautify public places in ways that we as a city could never do alone. Teams of dedicated members prune and fertilize the beautiful antique roses in the Natchez City Cemetery, keeping them healthy and preserving their historic legacy for all to enjoy. In addition, members periodically replant, trim, and fertilize the beautiful hanging baskets that adorn streetlamps downtown and along the bluff. With the help of city employees watering the plants, these colorful flowers enhance our city, adding further appeal to our community’s historic attractions. An upcoming project includes adding native fauna and pollinator plants as additions to the Trails Project below the bluff.

The Garden Lovers of Natchez are funded entirely through honorarium and memorial donations, as well as through their Fall Amaryllis Sale. Theirs is a story of a public-private partnership that is heartwarming – and profound. These Garden Lovers are a prime example of the impact volunteerism can have. Imagine our city without their steadfast contributions and truly there would be a void of beauty all around.

Next time when strolling downtown, driving through our historic cemetery, walking along our beautiful bluff and riverfront, take time to notice the beautiful plants and flowers. And while you’re at it, notice the names on the newly-installed bronze plaque along the sidewalk on Broadway, a short distance from our Historic Depot and Downtown Visitors Center. Pause to give thanks for these selfless volunteers, and for the many who have gone before them for over three quarters of a century. Countless blooms have greeted countless visitors thanks to their efforts, and for that we should be grateful. Because Natchez Deserves More.

Dan M. Gibson is mayor of Natchez.