The Ceres Garden Club and the Ceres Chamber of Commerce invited the community to attend a ribbon cutting for the Ted Hawkins Memorial Community Garden located on the corner of 6th and Magnolia in Ceres on a recent Saturday morning.

The late Ted Hawkins was instrumental in obtaining the original garden site at another location and the current site which is much larger. Hawkins was an avid gardener and belonged to the Ceres Garden Club, Master Gardeners of Stanislaus County and the San Joaquin Iris Society.

The Garden Club has spent the last few years preparing the site for community use. The club is celebrating the near completion of the garden and 30 years as a club.

The celebration included a flag salute, invocation, and information about the club’s projects. Since the event was held the day after September 11, local military veteran Scott Johnson shared information about the club’s Blue Star Memorial Marker located at the Ceres Community Center. Local office holders attended the event or sent representatives who provided the club with proclamations and certificates.

The Ceres Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization which promotes gardening and has numerous projects throughout the year. New members are welcome. Meetings with learning forums are on the 3rd Thursday every month (except July and August) at 10am at Ceres Community Center. Dues are $25 per year and meeting attendance is not required. The club maintains the community garden. Garden boxes are available for rent at $30 per year.

For more information contact Stephanie Pino at 209-303-1318 or email: ceresgardenclub@yahoo.com