Over 100 years ago in Athens, Georgia, 12 friends came together to share their plants and cuttings with each other. Soon enough, these meetings snowballed into a movement for women to share their plants and also advocate for the conservation of natural habitats in their areas.
A garden club is simply a group of people who enjoy all things pertaining to plants, flowers, and horticulture. Many clubs give back to their communities and some may have an emphasis on certain topics like landscaping or wildlife. Overall, garden clubs simply offer a space for individuals with common gardening interests to gather and share tips, ideas, and resources for projects.
A bit removed from its origins, garden clubs now come in all shapes and sizes. Your age and gender are no longer defining factors when you join! These clubs are a great resource for anyone and everyone to unwind and become even more enthusiastic about gardening.
It isn’t difficult to find local garden clubs, and many are affiliated with the National Garden Clubs (NGC) — which is the largest volunteer organization of its type in the world that works to connect communities, teach individuals about horticulture, and promote environmental causes. When your local club is part of your state Garden Club Federation, you’re automatically a member of the NGC!
Whether you’re only just discovering your green thumb, or you’re a self-proclaimed plant parent, garden clubs can introduce you to new gardening techniques, others in your community with similar interests, and even opportunities to apply for grants. Even if you feel your green space can’t possibly get any better, sharing your expertise with others who are looking for help may be the type of growth you didn’t know you needed!
Among educational opportunities and the social aspect, there are plenty of other benefits to joining your local garden club. Using NGC’s given resources can help you expand on your creative design skills, and you can even become nationally certified as a flower show judge or a landscape, gardening, or environmental consultant.
Many clubs are also heavily involved in their communities. There are often large-scale projects that focus on beautifying town streets, schools, or hospitals. For example, NGC clubs often organize projects like educational garden tours for youth groups and nursery workshops at local libraries. Projects like these easily give you a sense of community, satisfaction, and fulfillment.
No matter your level of gardening experience, joining a club and befriending new people is always a great way to destress — which we all know is incredibly important right now. Joining is simple and will open endless resources for you and all your budding flowers. If you’re raring to join after reading this, roll up your sleeves, find your local garden club, and get ready to expand your gardening world!
