The purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of educational meetings, conferences, correspondence, and publications, and to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.
Founded in 1913, The Garden Club of America is a volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization comprised of 199 member clubs and approximately 18,000 club members throughout the country.
Peachtree Garden Club Opens the Doors to its 2023 Christmas Home Tour
Proceeds benefit organizations emphasizing conservation, horticulture, and landscape design
In 2008, members of Peachtree Garden Club (PGC) in Atlanta, Georgia, revived a beloved club tradition—an early December tour of local homes adorned with greenery and floral design to celebrate the Christmas season. To produce the annual Christmas Home Tour, PGC club members enjoy the camaraderie of collaborating with multiple generations to design and create decorations that complement each homeowner’s own holiday ornaments. Atlantans flock to the festive and uniquely decorated houses.
The GCA Announces Scholarship Collaboration with National Tropical Botanical Garden
The Garden Club of America is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) on two GCA scholarships related to tropical botany. "National Tropical Botanical Garden is delighted to collaborate with The Garden Club of America in awarding scholarships in tropical botany,” said Janet Mayfield, director and CEO of NTBG. “This collaboration signifies a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of botanists and conservationists dedicated to preserving our irreplaceable tropical ecosystems. Together, we aim to empower and support scholars who will drive innovation and stewardship in tropical botany for a sustainable future.”
Inaugural Garden History & Design Conference Celebrates Visionary Garden Design
First ever Garden History & Design Conference showcases historic and contemporary gardens
The inaugural Garden History & Design Conference was held virtually on November 16, 2023. Presentations featured visionary gardeners who shared their love of gardening and the planet. Presenters toured attendees through a wide variety of gardens to show how gardens past and present address the challenges of their times. The conference was dedicated to Eleanor Weller Reade, a longtime GCA member who worked tirelessly to collect over 3000 glass lantern slides of historic gardens. These slides had once been used in GCA club presentations but had been dispersed around the country. Reade spearheaded a campaign to restore the collection and these slides became the foundation for The Garden Club of America Collection at the Smithsonian’s Archive of American Gardens (AAG).
In Memoriam: Katherine Turner Mears
Garden Club Of Virginia, Zone VII
2023 Conservation Study Conference Celebrates and Explores Georgia’s Golden Coast
The 2023 Conservation Study Conference was held on beautiful Jekyll Island, GA from November 7-10. GCA club members from around the country gathered to learn about the hundred miles of shoreline-– including a third of all the remaining salt marshes in the Eastern United States–that make up Georgia’s Golden Coast. Through presentations and excursions, attendees delved into understanding the conservation efforts taking place in the area and how they can translate these programs for their own communities.
GCA in the City Event Attracts a Sold-Out Crowd in NYC
New program engages young people in urban centers
GCA in the City – a new and exciting opportunity for participation in The Garden Club of America–officially debuted in NYC on October 24th with a sold-out event celebrating the magic of mushrooms! Speaker John Michelotti, mycologist and founder of Catskill Fungi, shared the fascinating connection between fungi and the important role they play in the health of the ecosystem while also sharing some delicious possibilities for dinner. Michelotti’s knowledge and humor inspired the audience to learn more about the natural world of fungi.
2023 Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference Highlights Historic Gardens of Hawaii
Looking to the past to address future challenges
After watching reports of the devastating fires on Maui this past August, it was hopeful to explore rebirth and regeneration in this year’s virtual Shirley Meneice Horticulture Conference—Historic Gardens of Hawaii—held October 18, 2023. The one day virtual conference featured tours of public botanical gardens, a private nature reserve, and an arboretum affiliated with the University of Hawaii. A demonstration of traditional lei-making and the presentation of this year’s Freeman Medal for the Plant of the Year rounded out the event.
The Garden Club of America offers 29 merit-based scholarships and fellowships in 12 areas related to conservation, ecology, horticulture, and pollinator research. In 2022, over $350,000 were awarded to 78 scholars. Follow GCA Scholarships on Twitter for the latest news about pollinators, coastal wetlands, native bird habitats, and much more. Connect to a larger world of horticulture and conservation through the Garden Club of America scholars. Learn more about the GCA Scholarships. Browse the scholarship offerings.
Since 1995 the GCA has identified a stellar North American native plant to receive The Montine McDaniel Freeman Medal: GCA Plant of the Year.
Passiflora incarnata commonly known as Passionflower or Maypop, is The Garden Club of America's Plant of the Year.
The 2022-2023 GCA Annual Report is now available. Click here to view the digital version.