The Centennial: Celebrating 100 years of achievements

The Garden Club of America has a rich history of making major contributions of leadership, effort and funding throughout the country in support of the GCA Purpose—our collective commitment to the environment, civic improvement and love of gardening. Through June 2013, GCA and its 200 member clubs will honor GCA’s legacy with Centennial-inspired civic improvement and environmental projects.

Key milestones:

• 2008 - 2013: Nationwide launch and execution of Centennial Tree Project in recognition of the high impact of trees in our ecosystems   

• 2009 - 2013: Approval, implementation and dedication of 2013 Founders Fund Project in Central Park (click here for project overview) 

• October 2011: Groundbreaking Ceremony for 2013 Founders Fund Project (click link for article)  

• 2013: National distribution by the Smithsonian Press of The Garden Club of America: 100 Years of a Growing Legacy, authored by renowned historian and preservationist William Seale (click here for a video overview of the book)

• April 30 - May 2, 2013:  Annual Meeting celebrating the founding of the Garden Club of America

• May 15 - July 27, 2013:  Gardening by the Book: the Garden Club of America Celebrates 100 years of Collecting. A major exhibition of the GCA rare books collection at the esteemed Grolier Club, 47 East 60th Street in New York City (open to the public)

• June 2013: Celebration of completion of 2013 Founders Fund Project and Centennial Tree Project

Published in the Quintessential America column in the March/April 2012 edition of Quintessential New Trier is an article featuring GCA’s first 100 years. A Living Legacy highlights some of GCA’s major events and accomplishments. Also in this publication is an article about a GCA member club in suburban Chicago, Garden Guild of Winnetka. Click here to link to the Quintessential New Trier website. Click here for a PDF version of the article.