H.C.R. No. 2
                              HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, Each year, the first full week of June is recognized
    1-2  as National Garden Week in many states throughout the nation, and
    1-3  with society's ever-increasing interest in the environment and its
    1-4  conservation, it is an idea whose time has come; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, The observance of National Garden Week was initiated
    1-6  in the 1980s by the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc.,
    1-7  to emphasize gardening and its many contributions to all who reap
    1-8  its benefits; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, The national council is thought by many to be the
   1-10  largest volunteer organization of its kind in the world today, with
   1-11  a membership of 8,488 clubs composed of 264,440 members who reside
   1-12  throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, In the Lone Star State, Texas Garden Clubs, Inc., is
   1-14  responsible for countless gardening programs that have helped to
   1-15  make this state one of the most popular vacation destinations in
   1-16  our country today; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, These gardening enthusiasts sponsor numerous
   1-18  environmental seminars, educating the public on such important
   1-19  topics as clean air and water, releafing for conservation measures,
   1-20  landscaping for energy conservation purposes, and litter control;
   1-21  and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Garden club members work closely with youth groups
   1-23  and devote many hours to garden therapy as well, working with the
   1-24  elderly, terminally ill, and infirm to share the tranquility and
    2-1  serenity that gardening has to offer; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, Instrumental in much of the initial planting of
    2-3  wildflowers along Texas highways, garden club members have given
    2-4  generously of their time and resources through the years to
    2-5  preserve and support many fragile ecosystems that are unique to
    2-6  Texas, including the Big Thicket, the Wild Basin, and the Wildlife
    2-7  Corridor, as well as to support numerous other parks, wildlife
    2-8  preserves, and historic preservation efforts; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Many small towns across Texas also depend on the
   2-10  philanthropy of garden clubs for beautification projects that can
   2-11  give new life to a community; members serve on park boards,
   2-12  beautification committees, Keep Texas Beautiful, the Texas Forest
   2-13  Service, and conservation groups throughout the state, ensuring
   2-14  that our state will be able to preserve the rich legacy of its
   2-15  abundant natural resources for future generations of Texans to
   2-16  enjoy; and
   2-17        WHEREAS, The members of Texas Garden Clubs, Inc., are indeed
   2-18  deserving of our appreciation and support for their outstanding
   2-19  efforts to promote gardening, conservation, and preservation
   2-20  efforts within our state, and it is appropriate that one week each
   2-21  year be set aside to pay tribute to this healthful, enjoyable
   2-22  hobby; now, therefore, be it
   2-23        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-24  hereby recognize the first full week in June of each year as
   2-25  National Garden Week.