Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Halyak.
Hi Kim, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2015, I retired after 34 years of teaching. Cooper-Young had no garden club, so I found interested neighbors and formed the Cooper-Young Garden Club. We became a 501(c)3 and grew from 11 members to 42. Our club’s mission it to have fun and beautify our neighborhood.
To fund our many projects, we held our first Cooper-Young Garden Walk in 2016. It showcased 23 gardens and business green spaces and had 200+ visitors. Since then, we’ve grown to 100 gardens and green spaces, and 1200+ visitors.
This year’s walk was a fabulous success. Our garden hosts outdid themselves with new screen porches, more landscaping ideas, and delicious treats. Visitors learned how to grow mushrooms and natives, plant trees, and make compost. The demonstrations included: building a green wall, making a terrarium, and growing in tower gardens. The Memphis Area Master Gardeners answered gardening questions and many homeowners shared plants. The Museum of Science and History set up animal displays. The Kiwanis provided activities for children.
39 art vendors set up throughout the neighborhood and at Arrow Creative Studios. They sold paintings, jewelry, birdhouses, houseplants, wind chimes, pottery, hats, and flowers. Visitors enjoyed watching Savannah White, artist and garden host, paint gorgeous watercolor landscapes.
The club’s completed beautification projects were on display. Visitors toured the recently planted, “Southern Avenue Gateway” Project. They saw how to turn weed-strewn “hell strips” into native plant “hello strips”. Judi Shellabarger discussed the level 3 arboretum. She explained why native trees are vital to birds.
Yearly, we add new elements to the walk. 11 musicians serenaded our visitors with acoustic, jazz, flute, and Spanish music.
Backbeat Tours, the official shuttle, drove visitors from one quadrant to another. The two-tone vintage bus did a figure-8 loop every twenty minutes. It made it easy for visitors to hop on and off to see the gardens.
This year’s theme was, “Hats ON to Gardeners”. We invited everyone to wear a garden derby hat. The entries received so far have run the gamut from chic to madhatter zany. June 5th, winners will be awarded fabulous prizes. If you didn’t wear a hat this year, start planning for the 2023 walk.
Visitors watched Kirsten Sandlin paint a “Memphis Is Blooming” mural. The 60’ raised flower bed makes New York Street pop with color. Part of the funds came from the garden club’s “C Y We Beautify” grant program.
Each year, we earmark $2,000 to fund beautification grants from Cooper-Young residents. It’s a chance to “seed” creative ideas. Murals, pet stations, historic signage, art, and benches all enhance our community livabilty. Submit your idea: https://www.cooperyounggardenclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/C-Y-We-Beauty-Grant-2021.pdf
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We are an all-volunteer group of happy gardeners, many of us retired. Figuring out WordPress, social media, Mailchimp, and marketing strategies, has been tough. Everyday, technology platforms change. We’d love to collaborate with talented people to grow our vision of spreading city-wide.
One of the biggest obstacles is getting the word out about our educational event. Even after seven years, I am amazed how many neighbors and Memphians don’t know the walk exists. This year was special though, as we had visitors from IA, PA, GA, TX, MO, and CA. American Gardener magazine listed our walk. A Florida radio show interviewed me. It feels like we are finally getting traction.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I see myself as a community builder. Beautiful gardens and spaces change the way people view their neighborhood. My goal is to shine a spotlight on the imaginative gardeners of our city. I love the quote by Dean Kamen, “You get what you celebrate”. It’s about focusing on all that is positive. The beauty of a garden walk is that it doesn’t depend on city money to fund it.
If you give gardeners a chance to share their creations, they pour money, effort and time into it. They’ll put in new sidewalks, driveways, landscaping plants, and whimsical touches. Beautifying our outdoor spaces raises property values and decreases crime and blight. It enhances our everyday lives and creates neighborhood pride. Before you know it, the whole block is sprucing up.
Next year, we plan to expand our garden walk beyond the boundaries of Cooper-Young. To create a summer-long event of garden tours throughout Memphis. We’ll showcase gardens in all parts of Memphis. Arlington, East Memphis, Soulsville, Orange Mound, Bartlett, and more. Come discover private and community gardens, aquaponic + hydroponic farms, farm-to-table experiences, and nurseries.
Our goal is to bring Garden Tourism dollars to Memphis. Garden Tourism is the 2nd fastest-growing tourism sector behind food tourism. Memphis is rich in both. We’ll reach out to interested gardeners in June and welcome anyone who wants to grow this idea with us. Show your garden or share your marketing, branding, or organizational skills. We welcome your ideas and participation. You can contact me at cooperyounggardenclub@gmail.com
What were you like growing up?
I was city born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa. My father was in the navy, so we also lived in Massachusetts and South Carolina. At the age of 11, we moved to a 21-acre farm, 72 miles north of Pittsburgh. My 6 siblings and I adored country living.
Deer sightings, blackberries, apples, fresh produce, and dairy milk were daily occurrences. We subscribed to Organic Gardening Magazine, which I devoured monthly. That’s where I developed my green thumb. After college, I lived in Arlington, Va. Marriage took me to Savannah, Georgia then Memphis.
I’ve lived here for 42 years and love it. Southern hospitality, long growing season, fabulous food, and so many hidden gems. I’d like to see all Memphians appreciate what a wonderful city we have! We’re famous for our bbq, Elvis, and the river. Let’s add being a premier garden tourist destination next!
Pricing:
- $25 for 2-day ticket.
- Children free.
Contact Info:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/
MemphisGardens
Image Credits
Kenzie Campbell
