Giant hosta plants grow behind the Bartholomew County Courthouse. These simple plants hold an exhilarating story as the members recalled a time back in September 1996 when their president, Judy Nichols, discovered a pipe bomb hidden among the plants. Katelin Gephart | The Republic
The gardens surrounding the Bartholomew County courthouse hold more than just eye-catching blooms. They hold the story of the Mudlarks, a Garden Club of Bartholomew County. Since the club’s founding in 1969, the Mudlarks have designed and developed the courthouse’s gardens, growing it from three rose bushes to the perennial beds they are today. During the over 55 years of participating in the project, members encouraged the city to build the bicentennial fountain/seating area, sponsored the leaping limestone bass sculpture, and some members have even served on the design committee for the Veterans Memorial.
Mudlarks, a Garden Club of Bartholomew County, was founded by Jacque Chambers, Sylvia Kiel, Mary Lu Fouts, Bonnie Baya, Shirley Rogers, Judy Henricksen, Susie Trautman, Lynn Bigley and Dee Yount, after sisters Jacque and Sylvia were unable to find a local gardening club with any vacancies. The club was sponsored by Juliana Kiel of Flower Lane Garden Club, and the group became affiliated with The Garden Club of Indiana, Inc. and National Garden Clubs, Inc. As the club has continued to live on, some Mudlarks have even gone on to serve on numerous committee chairs and/or held officer positions at the district and state level for the Garden Club of Indiana.
Developing and maintaining the courthouse gardens isn’t the only community interaction for the Mudlarks. According to club member Nora Mitchell, the Mudlarks conduct an educational or service community event every two years.
“Over the years, Mudlarks have sponsored numerous garden tours and flowers shows,” says Mitchell. “In 2024, Mudlarks hosted their first educational conference called ‘Spring into the Woods.’ 150+ people were in attendance. Conference speakers spoke on the topics of The Surprising Secret Life of Spiders, Attracting Birds to Your Backyard, and Woodland Flowers in Indiana.”
The Mudlarks 2026 event has yet to be announced, but you can keep an eye out for details on their Facebook page, Mudlarks of Bartholomew County.
Another project the Mudlarks take on is participating in the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair Open Class Flower Show. Not only do members submit their own entries for judging; they also help register other participants’ entries, place exhibits for viewing, and assist the judges. This year’s entries will be on display from now until the end of the fair, June 28.
For the upcoming 2025–2026 school year, the Mudlarks will be partnering with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. and Garden Club of Indiana, Inc. to sponsor the K – 12 Youth Poetry and Essay Contest. The goal of the contest is to excite and encourage local youth to express their creativity through original writing. For more information about the contest, go to gardenclub.org/poetry-contest. This year’s theme is “Plant America for the Next 100 Years.”
It’s clear that the Mudlarks work hard to benefit the community around them. However, being a Mudlark also comes with some personal benefits for its club members. Mitchell explains how being a Mudlark enhances members’ lives by creating a sense of community among the members.
“We provide educational opportunities, promote social interaction, and offer avenues for creative expression and community involvement. Our club creates a space for learning, sharing experiences, and contributes to a clean environment,” says Mitchell.
While the club offers experiences members will hold on to for the rest of their lives, it also offers some tasty experiences that might not last as long. “Surprisingly, most of our members are skilled chefs and bakers. Our homemade lunches are fabulous!”
Currently, the Mudlarks are not accepting new members. The group caps off at 25 due to meetings being hosted in members’ homes. However, anyone is still welcome to attend a meeting to learn more about the club.
In order to become a Mudlark, guests must attend at least three club meetings within one year. Potential members must be interested in the purpose of the club which is to “promote interest in gardening, to preserve the environment; to exchange information, plants and seeds; and to enrich our lives through self-expression and creative use of natural materials,” says Mitchell. They must also be willing to actively engage in club projects and commitments.
For more information about the Mudlarks and how to become one, check out their Facebook page, Mudlarks of Bartholomew County. There, they also post information about their community work, local gardening events, as well as general gardening tips.
