A Moment in GCA History: December 2019

December 17, 2019

Holiday Club Traditions Thrive, Nationwide!

With the advent of the holiday season, The Garden Club of America member clubs have traditionally provided charitable support to their local cities and towns. These contributions have taken many different forms from beautifying communities, to “hands-on” enrichment activities for residents and children, and fundraising for civic and philanthropic projects.

Making festive food trays for grateful recipients, designing outdoor pots for botanic gardens, and municipal planters, and “decking the halls” of museums, churches, and city centers are a few of the decorative endeavors that clubs undertake. Additional holiday cheer also beautifies many senior centers and hospices. 

Across the country, the Newport Garden Club delivers wreaths to the Historical Society as its holiday donation to the City of Newport, and the Orinda Garden Club enhances its California community with its “Wreaths Around Orinda” project.

Creating holiday workshops that raise awareness about horticulture are abundant as well. The Stonington Garden Club hosts a holiday children’s workshop; the New Canaan Garden Club assists seniors with holiday arrangements; and a class of special-needs middle school students attends a workshop hosted by The Garden Club of Englewood.

Holiday auctions and bulb sales raise significant funds that clubs donate back to their communities. The Boston Committee of The Garden Club of America uses holiday wreaths to raise funds for its Blossom Fund which supports local horticultural projects. In California, The Pasadena Garden Club fundraises to give holiday presents to a local children’s center as well as other community projects. 

Enriching the lives of local communities throughout the holiday season remains a cherished tradition of The Garden Club of America’s 201 clubs.   

Top left caption: Wreaths Around Orinda, California

Right caption: Newport Historical Society

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