The Lakeside Garden Guild celebrates the bounty of Mother Nature and the creative talents of its members at the Festival of Flowers, an annual display of floral arrangements scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2 to 5 p.m.
The flower show will take place at a private Ajijic residence located at Calle Juan Álvarez #1. Tickets are on sale at the Fenix Real Estate office on the highway at Calle San José. The 500-peso price includes appetizers and a complimentary beverage.
Guests will be able to purchase any of the flower arrangements put on display. They will also be treated to a live painting demonstration by Efrén González.
As is customary, proceeds from the flower fest will go toward supporting a worthwhile community project. The 2025 show benefited the construction of the new Cruz Roja clinic and the development of a local botanical garden. In other years, funding has been provided for beautification and revitalization of public spaces, educational and environmental endeavors, and efforts to feed hungry families.
In 2009, the Guild spearheaded the Ajijic “Wipe Out Graffiti” program. With brushes, paint and dedication in hand, volunteers regularly got out in the streets to repaint walls, clean up defaced surfaces, and help restore the town’s colorful charm. This outstandingly successful initiative has not only improved the area’s visual appeal, but also encouraged civic responsibility and combated vandalism
Lakeside Garden Guild was founded in September 1968 by a group of 14 women who gathered monthly to share plants and information regarding when and how to best grow plants at Lakeside. As there were no local nurseries at the time, the best way for gardeners to acquire plants was to exchange them and share cuttings. The Guild's focus eventually shifted to include floral arranging methods.
To this day, approximately 30 Guild members meet each month at a designated member’s home where a program is presented. Topics include many aspects of gardening, as well as the design and preparation of flowers for arrangements.
In 1979, the Garden Guild published a bilingual gardening guide and a monthly planting calendar specific to the lakeside climate. The guide has been reproduced in editions issued in 1989, 2001, 2004 and 2014.