Sharing the Love of Gardening tells the stories behind 75 years of Kansas City’s Westport Garden Club.

Kristie C. Wolferman, who also wrote The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: A History, and professional photographer and club member Marianne Kilroy, discuss how the group evolved from a women’s garden club into an organization focused on education and action in conservation, horticulture, and native plants.

The Westport Garden Club initially concentrated on landscaping projects to enhance the beauty of Kansas City during the post-World War II housing boom. The members expanded their efforts, forming partnerships with city governments and parks departments on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line. Notable collaborations include the Linda Hall Library and Arboretum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Loose Park Garden Center.

Sharing the Love of Gardening provides a history of the Westport Garden Club and the influence of a small number of dedicated women. It also features stunning photography and previously unpublished images from the club’s archives.