A Moment in GCA History, February 2020
The Student Conservation Association — An inspired idea.

The Garden Club of America enjoys a rich conservation history, particularly in terms of its passion for collaborating with organizations that foster respect for natural resources and protect the quality of the environment. Nowhere is this ideology better illustrated than in an innovative proposal created by a young Vassar student in 1955.

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300+ GCA Club Members Advocate for the Environment on Capitol Hill
NAL delegates will “speak for the plants.”

More than 300 club members of The Garden Club of America are in Washington, DC this week. With passion and knowledge they are advocating on behalf of the environment on Capitol Hill. The 37th annual National Affairs and Legislation (NAL) Conference will focus on promoting the GCA’s legislative priorities: financing national park maintenance, promoting the use of native plants along highways and in national parks, and saving the seas from plastics debris.

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Annual Report 2018-2019
Documenting the GCA's Accomplishments

The Garden Club of America celebrates accomplishments made during its 106th year in this 2018-2019 Annual Report. The report highlights its efforts to restore a pipeline of plant scientists as featured in the Wall Street Journal; meaningful financial support it offers through the Partners for Plants program as featured in the New York Times; and public support for the Healthy Yard Project and a garden aesthetic devoted to native plants and without synthetic pesticides. A special highlight was the receipt of the Rachel Carson Women in Conservation Award from the National Audubon Society. The report also emphasizes the exceptional work of the GCA's 201 member clubs and almost 18,000 club members who made significant, positive change to landscapes across the country.

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GCA Flower Shows See What’s Trending in 2020
GCA flower shows will be held across the country.

With spring just around the corner, the flower show season is about to begin. The Garden Club of America’s flower shows are unique educational forums that showcase an area’s distinct horticultural specimens, traditional and contemporary floral designs, photography, and the creative arts. Conservation and educational exhibits are often included to increase the visitor’s awareness about community-related environmental issues.

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The GCA’s 2020 National Affairs and Legislation Conference
Over 300 Delegates to Hear Educational Speakers and Visit Legislators on Capitol Hill

Since 1913, The Garden Club of America (GCA) has been advocating for the safety of our environment. The efforts continue to this day. This month, the GCA will host over 300 delegates from around the country at its annual National Affairs and Legislation Conference in Washington, D.C. Throughout the three day conference, delegates will hear expert speakers from conservation nonprofits, scientists, scholars, and members of congress from both sides of the aisle. One day is dedicated to meetings with members of Congress and congressional staff on Capitol Hill. The agenda will include important issues covered in the GCA’s position papers as they pertain to relevant legislation and federal administrative actions.

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GCA Scholars Study Native Plants
The Montine M. Freeman Scholarship in Native Plant Studies

The GCA’s newest scholarship is the Montine M. Freeman Scholarship in Native Plant Studies. Established in 2018, it encourages the understanding, development, and use of underutilized native plants as well as encouraging development of research, documentation, and teaching skills in horticulture. Read about this year’s four outstanding recipients via read more, below.

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An Unexpected Treasure - Temple of Flora by Robert John Thornton
From the GCA’s Rare Book Collection

Little did Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) know, the book that caused him to lose his inherited fortune would now be one of the most treasured books in the GCA Rare Book Collection. The Temple of Flora, Part III of New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Von Linnaeus, includes 30 stunning colored botanical illustrations of flowers. Used by physicians, pharmacists, botanical scientists, and gardeners, botanical illustrations of plant life captured the imagination of the western world during the 18th century. The GCA's Rare Book Collection is housed at the New York Botanical Garden's Mertz Library.

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