Dunwoody was primarily farmland in 1960 when corporate America moved in and the residential developers discovered the beauty of the land.  Rapid growth presented numerous opportunities for school ground projects, the first of which was Dunwoody Elementary, which remained our only elementary school until 1972.  The county had allocated no funds for the grounds and our club completely landscaped the property.  We also convinced the county to install sidewalks.  The property was sold to DeKalb County and due to a huge community effort, was converted to the Dunwoody Library and North DeKalb Arts Center in August 1989.  The Dunwoody Garden Club hosted the opening of the library.  In 1994, we planted an interior atrium garden in the library vestibule.  We have maintained that garden for over 20 years and plan on continuing our commitment to this central meeting spot in Dunwoody.  In the spring of 2009, we partnered with the Friends of the Dunwoody Library to improve the exterior landscaping.  For several years, we coordinated children’s gardening projects at the library.  We also worked on the grounds at Peachtree Middle School, Dunwoody High School and all the elementary schools.  In fall of 2008, we distributed 250,000 daffodil bulbs.  Students planted 300 and the remaining were planted on Ashford Center Parkway.

 

The Dunwoody community successfully fought for medians during the widening of Ashford-Dunwoody Road.  Our club led the effort to insist that this median be landscaped.  We raised $60,000 and to this day enjoy the beautiful maple trees on this well-traveled road.

 

We have also supported and worked in the Dunwoody Nature Center and restored the New Hope Cemetery (55 volunteers, over several workdays, hauled 11 truckloads of overgrowth to the dump!).  The Cheek Spruill 1906 landmark of Dunwoody Farmhouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.  Our club watered its trees for four years and worked on the grounds to help save it.  We have raised money and contributed financially to a host of other community projects and our members have been active in virtually every local civic organization, often taking leadership positions.

 

In 1998, a tornado dealt Dunwoody a terrible blow: 3,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and thousands of trees lost.  The entire community came together to support “Replant the Dunwoody Forest.”  Our club donated $1,000 and led the effort to replant.  The project lasted for three years and 25,000 trees were planted.

 

In 2011, at Brook Run Park, we began the pollinator garden work to attract butterflies and bees to the area.  The garden was so successful, in 2013 we renamed this award-winning garden, “The Butterfly Garden”.  The same year, we were offered the opportunity to completely redesign the main entrance to Brook Run.  We accepted and quickly decided this garden was large and would be our signature project.  So far, we have planted over 75 plants at the entrance.

 

As in 1967, we are still committed to keeping Dunwoody beautiful!