About Us

100!  WE ARE AIMING FOR YOU!!
 

     The year was 1932; a group of like-minded people decided to start up a garden club devoted to the study of a particular Fall flower called the Chrysanthemum.  Befitting their primary interest, the group named themselves, the Chrysanthemum Study Group.

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     The year was 1932; the Chrysanthemum Study Group held its first flower show that same year in a feed store in Pasadena.  Keep in mind, it would be another fifteen years before the National Chrysanthemum Society would come into existence.

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     When the Chrysanthemum Study Group held shows way back when, members used painted Spam cans and glass jars to hold their blooms.  Later on, soda pop bottles were used for bloom entries while wine bottles were used for the table of honor winners.  Years later when Ted King, the original owner of King’s Mums, visited one of our annual shows he suggested eliminating those wine bottles.  The club took his advice and the following year changed over to the wooden bases and plastic tubes still used today.  It should be mentioned that those first bases and tubes were constructed by Ron Hedin using instructions provided by the National Chrysanthemum Society.

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     We do not know why or exactly when, but sometime between 1946 and 1978, the study group would change its name to the Glendale Chrysanthemum Society, a name it would keep for many years.  In the 1950s, the Glendale C.S. would hold shows in the historical Glendale Civic Auditorium.  The photograph in the upper right was taken at the 1951 show; the girls are in front of a 300-bloom example of the 1000-Bloom form.  The cultivar used was the yellow spider Lorraine which is no longer available to mum growers.  In the 1960s the famous Queen Anne cottage at the Los Angeles County Arboretum became their show venue for a few years.  That was very fortunate for them because that building is now open to the public only twice a year.

 

     Finally, in the late 1970s, the club began holding its annual shows on a regular basis at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge.  Yes, I used the word “club” because at that time the Glendale Chrysanthemum Society was still more of a garden club and not yet associated with the National Chrysanthemum Society.  That change was yet to come.

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     In late 1988, after attending the National Chrysanthemum Society Show in Sacramento, Ron Hedin began his campaign to convince the Glendale C.S membership to join NCS.  Ron invited judges and other officials from NCS to speak at their club meetings; plus, he shared magazine articles, programs and growing information from NCS with the members.  Ultimately, in 2001, the Glendale Chrysanthemum Society members voted to join the National Chrysanthemum Society.  Given that Descanso Gardens had been hosting the Glendale C.S. annual shows since the late seventies, the chapter decided to honor Descanso’s sponsorship in 2007 by changing their chapter name to the Descanso Chrysanthemum Society.  That same year, the Descanso C.S. hosted their first NCS Convention and Show at Descanso Gardens in their Van de Camp Hall.

     

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     During its long lifespan, this chapter has acquired a few interesting anecdotes regarding its history and progress. For instance, back in the seventies, this chapter used to sponsor a Chrysanthemum Queen; possibly the only chapter to do so. Prof. B. Yarnick, who taught Botany at Glendale Community College was a member of Glendale C.S. at the same time and got his students involved. The queen was selected from among students enrolled in his Botany classes at the community college.

     The Chrysanthemum Queen would guest at the chapter’s annual show with her two Chrysanthemum princesses and ride a float with her court during Glendale’s Days of the Verdugos annual parade. The above picture was taken during the 1974 parade; Prof. Yarnick is standing at the back of the float in full professor attire. 
 

     In the 1980s, the Sunnyslope Nursery in San Gabriel still existed. For mum growers in the Los Angeles area, this was THE GO-TO place to get chrysanthemum cuttings and plants. This chapter established a good working relationship with the owner, Mamoru Tashima. Tash, as he was called, would sell mum cuttings to Glendale for $.40 each. Ahhh, those were the good old days.  By the way, if the Tashima name rings a bell. . .well, it should.  Especially, if you grow the spider cultivar named Alice Tashima. 
 

     The chapter’s latest undertaking is the Kid’s Club, a section of SGVCS dedicated to children, ages 6-18. The Kid’s Club was first conceived by Renee Wherley and Pat Stockett Johnston in 2016 under the mentorship of Jay Pengra (Renee’s father). Its purpose, to introduce young people to the wonders of growing and showing exhibition chrysanthemums. Since its inception, this group has continued to grow; its young members happily and eagerly participate in both the Orange County C.S. and San Gabriel Valley C.S. annual shows.  
 

     The first president of the Chrysanthemum Study Group was Ethel Last in 1932. In later years, both her husband, Arend, and her daughter Virginia Hadley would serve in the same position.  Unfortunately, our records are incomplete so we’ve lost the names of presidents from our chapter’s early years but starting with the late 60s the presidents have been: Bob Corker, Bill Andree, Prof. Burnell Yarick, Lorna Cederblom, Linnea Bjorklund, Bruce LaRue, Janet Field, Bill Loesch, Dave Walley, Jay Pengra, Ellen Walley, Ron Hedin, Georgene Hedin, Pat Stockett Johnston, George MacDonald and Renee Wherley.  By the way, Bill Andree also has a living memorial to his name.  Pictured here is a chrysanthemum cultivar named after him; a Class 4, Decorative, named Bill Andree.  This cultivar is still grown by members in the San Gabriel Valley chapter.
 

     






 

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     In 2023, the chapter name was changed one last time to the San Gabriel Valley Chrysanthemum Society. Like so many of our fellow NCS chapters, SGVCS has experienced its peaks and valleys.  Our membership has been as high as 90 members. 

     Currently, we are at a respectable 59 members and growing.  San Gabriel Valley has managed to survive for over nine decades -- due mainly to the continued interest and dedication of its leaders and members and the enthusiastic efforts of our Membership Lead, Christine Leidelmeyer.
 

     So, God willing and the river don’t rise, San Gabriel Valley will reach its 100th year in 2032 – at least, that’s what we are aiming for!