History Continued

Susan Hardtner’s vision took root on April 24, 1997, when The Shreveport Garden Study Club (SGSC) was officially formed with 23 founding members. With Susan Hardtner serving as SGSC’s first president, the club established a foundation built on purpose and possibility. The purpose of SGSC, as outlined in its bylaws, is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantages of association among its members, and to encourage civic beautification, conservation and preservation. From the beginning, the club pursued the long-term goal of affiliating with the Garden Club of America (GCA) and contributing to its broader mission.

In December 2005, Hardtner formally submitted a request for SGSC to be considered for admission to the GCA. The long-awaited decision came three years later, in December 2008, when then-president Celeste Wedgeworth received the official letter of invitation welcoming The Shreveport Garden Study Club as the 199th member club of the GCA.