News

Five Common Ground Collaborative Grants Announced for 2024
Projects in Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania awarded $10,000 grants
Torrie Larson, 1st Vice Chair, Communications
April 10, 2024

Five projects that emphasize food supply and environmental infrastructure ranging from cemeteries to blighted urban landscapes were awarded The Garden Club of America’s 2024 Common Ground Collaborative grants. Local garden clubs in collaboration with community groups plan to use the $10,000 grants for supporting the planting and cultivation of trees, building greener cities in depressed areas, supporting green infrastructure in urban areas, and growing food for people who do not have access to or are unable to afford healthy, fresh produce.

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GCA’s 41st Annual NAL Conference – March 17-20, 2024
Events in Washington, D.C. and online spur advocacy
Kathryn Pritchett, Vice-Chair Communications and Christy Millet, Vice Chair NAL
April 03, 2024

The GCA’s National Affairs and Legislation (NAL) conference took place March 17-20 in Washington D.C. More than 280 delegates from GCA clubs around the country attended in person and 153 watched virtually while 228 people tuned in for the virtual Advocacy Day the week before. Over the past 41 years, the GCA has convened annually in our nation’s capital to advocate for a wide number of environmental legislative priorities with a shared goal of “working for a beautiful, healthy planet.”

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The Garden Club of Honolulu Receives Prestigious AFP Award
Recent flower show celebrated for “deepening horticultural knowledge”
Lindsey Meyersieck, Member of the Communications Committee
March 27, 2024

In 2023, The Garden Club of Honolulu (GCH) was the deserving recipient of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) prestigious President’s Award. Annually, the Aloha Chapter of AFP celebrates philanthropic leaders who offer time, talent, and financial support to their community. Current and former GCH Presidents were honored to accept this award on behalf of their club at the AFP’s 40th anniversary celebration in November. The fundamental spirit of The Garden Club of Honolulu is Mālama āina, meaning “caring for and honoring the land.” Since 1930, the GCH has been doing just that. What began as a small group of passionate garden enthusiasts, now includes 167 members, and embraces a multitude of activities designed to support their mission of restoring and protecting the environment through conservation, civic improvement, and education. The Garden Club of Honolulu joined The Garden Club of America in 1932.

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GCA Restoration Initiatives Provide Disaster Relief in Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, and Texas
Little Rock Garden Club, Shreveport Garden Study Club, St. George’s Garden Club, Magnolia Garden Club awarded funds for reforestation, restoration, replanting, clean-up efforts
Torrie Larson, Communications Committee, Vice Chair
March 20, 2024

In 2024, The Garden Club of America (GCA) awarded $10,000 grants to four clubs that assisted in restoring areas affected by natural disasters. These included the Little Rock Garden Club (Little Rock, AR), Shreveport Garden Study Club (Shreveport, LA), St. George’s Garden Club (Baltimore, MD), and the Magnolia Garden Club (Beaumont, TX). All four clubs proposed initiatives to restore areas devastated by extreme weather including hurricanes, severe rainstorms, epic freezes, and droughts.

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First-in-the-Nation Law Passed to Restrict Dangerous Neonicotinoid Pesticides
Twenty-three GCA member clubs work to ban neonics in New York State
Christy Millet, National Affairs & Legislation Committee, First Vice Chair
March 13, 2024

Pollinators in New York State can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Thanks to the efforts of twenty-three Garden Club of America member clubs and hundreds of other environmental advocates, Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed into law the Birds and Bees Protection Act (S.1856-A/A.7640), a first-in-the-nation law to dramatically restrict the use of dangerous neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics), chemicals typically applied to corn, soybean, and wheat seeds as well as on golf courses and lawns.

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Garden Club of Dayton’s Tree Legacy Committee Lives On
Even as it notes the passing of a treasured ally in neighborhood beautification
Kathleen Outcalt, Member of the Communications Committee
March 06, 2024

The City of Dayton and all who love neighborhood beautification have lost a true friend and leader. Mr. Herbert Burton passed away on Friday, February 16, 2024, at the age of 95. Several years ago, Mr. Burton was instrumental in a neighborhood clean-up and enhancement project in partnership with the Garden Club of Dayton (GCD), the City of Dayton, and CityWide Development. These groups, along with many others in the community, honor Mr. Burton’s steadfast leadership and the transformational impact he had on Dayton’s Pineview community. In recent years, GCD’s Tree Legacy Committee worked with Mr. Burton, the Pineview Neighborhood Association, local partners, and community volunteers to clean up the area around Lakeside Lake in Dayton’s Pineview neighborhood. The Pineview area was developed by a GCD member’s grandfather and in the 1950s it was the only community in Dayton willing to sell homes to Black families. Mr. Burton had purchased his home there after returning from the Korean War. From the beginning, Mr. Burton was very engaged in making his neighborhood a nice place to live.

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Garden Club of Englewood Maintains National Historic Landmark
Projects include herb garden, restoration work at Palisades Interstate Park
Tracy Johnson, Member of the Communications Committee
February 28, 2024

For over 75 years, the Garden Club of Englewood (GCE) has worked in close partnership with the Palisades Interstate Park (PIP) Commission to maintain the park’s gardens. In 1948, with the help of a GCA Founders Fund grant, GCE created a Sphagnum Bog in the Greenbrook Sanctuary, located on top of the famous Palisades. More recently, the club developed an herb garden at The Kearney House, an original 1760s family homestead and tavern that sits on the Hudson’s shoreline within the park.

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Centennial Tree Project Continues to Thrive Ten Years Later
Projects in Texas and Tennessee still going strong
Jenne Williams, Member of the Communications Committee
February 21, 2024

In 2013, The Garden Club of America celebrated its centennial in numerous ways to promote horticultural knowledge and sustainability to members and the public. The GCA Horticulture Committee’s Centennial Tree Project aimed to preserve the past while growing the future. This resulted in more than 22,550 trees being planted around the country. Projects often required creativity, extensive research, and restoration of historical sites—a fitting celebration for the GCA’s Centennial year. Fast-forward over ten years and you’ll find that many of these projects continue to make a difference in their communities. Here are two examples from GCA clubs in Texas and Tennessee.

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Albemarle Garden Club Sponsors Down by the Bog Children’s Festival
GCA grant facilitates nature-focused play in Charlottesville, VA
Benny Williams, Member of the Communications Committee
February 14, 2024

The second annual Down by the Bog Children’s Festival was held at the Booker T. Washington Park in Charlottesville, Virginia this past October. Thanks to a grant from the GCA Common Ground Collaborative program, the Albemarle Garden Club (AGC), along with community partners, sponsored a fun day offering several activities to promote nature play – a critical element for healthy social, physical, and mental development. Kids explored the wetland garden and discovered hidden stone frogs. They learned about the pollinator hotel, created leaf etchings, had a forest story time, played musical instruments, and created floral bouquets with flowers donated by AGC members. In addition to pop-up play stations, the activities were designed not only to be fun, but to specifically boost cognitive and social-emotional development of children in a natural setting. More than three hundred children enjoyed a carnival-like atmosphere where the focus was learning about Nature.

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2024 Floral Design Conference For the Love of Flowers
Floral Design Experts Share Tips & Tricks
Kathryn Pritchett, Vice-Chair Communications
February 08, 2024

On February 6, For the Love of Flowers, the 2024 GCA Floral Design Conference, showcased innovative floral design professionals and their work. German designer and publisher Klaus Wagener demonstrated bold ikebana-inspired contemporary designs. California innovator and instructor Dundee Butcher introduced Phoam, a natural alternative to traditional floral foam. Designer and urban gardener Dee Hall created a lush arrangement using materials grown near her home in Norfolk, Virginia. Other presentations on botanical arts, flower shows and principles of design rounded out the virtual conference. In between presentations, GCA Floral Design committee members shared their favorite flowers—a delightful way to kick off the month of love.

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