For decades, the venerated Fort Worth Garden Club, organized in 1926, has hosted a spring Flower Show. The club’s early events sometimes included fashion shows and art exhibits, and thousands of people attended.

But over time, the club shed those time-consuming public gatherings, opting instead for more intimate and manageable members-only shows.

This year, FWGC president Teresa Hubbard and Flower Show co-chairs Michelle Marlow and Wendy Hunsaker pulled back the curtain on the club’s exclusive spring celebration. More than 300 members and a few guests attended the Flower Show’s evening preview, a progressive cocktail party that began in one Westside home and ended in the house next door.

This year’s theme was “Lady Liberty’s Garden Party,” and the Big Apple was the inspiration. The floral arrangements in the first house fit into categories such as Broadway, Sexy Flowers in the City, Fifth Avenue and The Plaza Hotel.

A wide auto court at the second house was dubbed “Central Park.” Partygoers sampled nibbles and refreshed their cocktails before heading inside to see the whimsical horticulture offerings displayed in categories such as Street Food, The Bronx Zoo, and Iconic Landmarks.

There are dozens of garden clubs across the Metroplex, but the Fort Worth Garden Club is perhaps the largest, with overall membership capped at 625 and active members capped at 550. Members represent many neighborhoods and several municipalities, from Aledo to Southlake and beyond. There is a waiting list for those who want to join, the club president says.

The Fort Worth Garden Club’s mission has remained unchanged in its 97 years. It centers on cultivating knowledge of gardening, horticulture and design, advocating for environmental protection and supporting the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.