For members of the Lititz Garden Club (LGC), every season is a growing season. For LGC members, gardening isn't a hobby or a passion; it's a way of life.

Apparently, there is something very spiritually moving and satisfying about coaxing and nurturing life from a seed planted on the same planet that we all inhabit.

"When you're gardening, you're connecting with the earth," said Sallie Rihn, who's been LGC's secretary for 15 years. "It's creative. I actually read that there is good bacteria in soil, and it aids in our feeling good. It's like when you're doing any creative project, and you see something beautiful come from it. It's fulfilling."

A social club for gardening enthusiasts of all backgrounds and levels of experience, LGC meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz. The informal meetings are designed to bring together like-minded individuals with similar interests in an educational setting that stresses a sharing of ideas and experiences.

The meetings can include speakers and hands-on activities. During the summer months of June, July and August, tours of private and public gardens sometimes take the place of those regular meetings.

"We are a welcoming group," said Rihn. "People with all interests in gardening are welcomed and encouraged. We encourage everyone to come together and share in the fun of gardening. The main thrust of our club is educational learning. We're mainly focusing on native plants."

LGC is made up of 56 members, mainly from Lititz, but also from Manheim Township, Ephrata, Akron and the city of Lancaster. Many LGC members are older than 60, and many are women.

Most of the LGC members maintain and nurture their own gardens at home, everything from vegetable gardens to flower gardens, from fruit gardens to spice gardens, from English cottage gardens to shade gardens.

"(The members) clearly have a passion for (gardening)," said Rihn. "We do have some members who don't garden because they don't have the space, but they want to learn. We do have a large number of couples. We definitely have people who are knowledgeable, but we consider ourselves enthusiasts because there's always something new to learn."

"I can simply get lost in (gardening)," continued Rihn. "I've spent up to eight hours in my garden in the spring sometimes. It's a rebirth. It's a stress buster. I like nature and wildlife, and it's fun to see what's out there. Gardening is a big part of me."

Originally, LGC sprung from an educational nature program of the Lititz Public Library in 2005. While it focuses on the art and science of gardening, as well as the educational experiences of its members, the club does engage in a few community outreach initiatives.

"I don't know too many gardeners who have complete success," said Rihn. "I think it's fair to say that it's hit or miss. But that's the fun of it. If it doesn't work, you get to put in something new. If you were able to plant perfect gardens, you wouldn't have garden clubs. In that way, it's kind of a support group."

For additional information about the Lititz Garden Club, go to https://lititzgardenclub.wixsite.com/website.