THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA

July 14, 2020

Redwoods’ Ability to Store Carbon Determined Invaluable

California old-growth redwoods, including The Garden Club of America Grove, have long been admired for their girth, age, and beauty. Researchers have discovered their impressive carbon storage capacity, deeming them invaluable in future climate discussions. A joint study by the Save the Redwoods League (STRL), a GCA collaborating organization for nearly 90 years, and Humboldt State University demonstrates that old-growth redwood forests “store more carbon per acre than any other forest type.”

July 09, 2020

Announcing a New GCA Scholarship!

A new Garden Club of America Fellowship in Conservation Horticulture has been established, endowed by a generous gift from a GCA club member and her husband. This fellowship will promote plant conservation capacity and coordination among botanic gardens and/or public gardens in the United States through the programs of Botanic Gardens Conservation International - U.S. (BCGI-US). Each year, this new fellowship will award up to $5,000 to an undergraduate to study conservation horticulture

July 07, 2020

The GCA’s 2020 Founders Fund Winners Announced

The Garden Club of America’s (GCA) Founders Fund was established in 1934 to provide financial support, through a competitive grant program, to projects proposed by GCA member clubs. The projects are designed to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement. This year the $30,000 winning grant was awarded to Crossnore School & Children's Home, a child welfare organization supporting children and families in crisis in Winston-Salem, NC.

June 29, 2020

In Memoriam: Gina Miller Bissell, Twenty-First President of The Garden Club of America

Gina Bissell, president of The Garden Club of America from 1975-1977, passed away on June 3, 2020, in Greenville, Delaware at the age of 99. We mourn the loss of this generous mentor, consummate horticulturist, avid gardener, world traveler, inspirational leader, and dear friend. Current GCA President Debbie Edwards said, “Gina Bissell lived a life of service to others. Her contributions to the GCA were exceptional, and she was loved by all who knew her.”

June 25, 2020

Fake It ‘Til You Make It: Faux Bois

The Archives of American Gardens is a wealth of information for researchers and garden enthusiasts looking to understand trends in gardening history. Over 6,500 gardens and landscapes are documented in the archives; they illustrate the work of hundreds of landscape architects and garden designers. One unique gardening trend is faux bois, which has its roots in trompe-l’oeil, the tradition of ‘deceiving the eye.’

June 23, 2020

The Garden Club of Jackson … in the News

Ah, the signs of Spring ... singing birds, blooming trees, and community garden tours. But what happens when “stay at home” orders force the cancellation of public events? In Jackson, Mississippi, a local TV anchor brought the gardens to the public. Read about what happened when The Garden Club of Jackson cancelled its biennial Spring Garden Tour.

June 22, 2020

Great American Outdoors Act Passes in the Senate

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) with bipartisan support. It is considered the most important conservation legislation since the Land and Water Conservation Fund was created in 1964. The Garden Club of America believes that our country’s national parks are irreplaceable treasures whose value is incalculable. The GCA was a significant force along the bill’s journey to passage.

June 16, 2020

The GCA Celebrates National Pollinator Week, June 22-28

National Pollinator Week 2020 will be celebrated the week of June 22-28. Pollinators are critical to food and ecosystems. The U.S. Senate’s designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” in 2006 marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. The Pollinator Partnership, which was awarded The Garden Club of America’s Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal in 2011 for championing pollinators, manages the initiative.

June 11, 2020

2020 Plant Mash-up Winners Announced

This spring, Seed Your Future’s “Plants to the Rescue: Plant Mash-Up! Contest” inspired thousands of middle-schoolers across the country to imagine and illustrate a multi-plant hybrid that would solve a community problem. Debra Oliver, GCA first vice president and Seed Your Future board member, helped judge the entries which included illustrations and essays describing the challenges and the proposed plant-based solutions. The 7th grade grand prize winner took on the issues of carbon dioxide and water pollution, definitely a contender for Superhero status.

June 09, 2020

Columbia River Gorge Suffered Devastating Fire

A devastating fire destroyed 48,000 acres in the John B. Yeon Scenic Corridor of the Columbia River Gorge in 2017. With a longtime commitment to the Gorge, The Portland Garden Club (PGC) immediately moved into planning mode. The PGC applied and received a $10,000 grant from The Garden Club of America Restoration Initiative. The initiative was designed to enable GCA member clubs to respond to catastrophic weather-related disasters. Currently the fire restoration work continues with The Portland Garden Club and Friends of the Gorge planting native species across the gorge in the Nancy Russell Overlook.