Start a Gardening Club

Start a Gardening Club

Avid gardeners can share their passion with others by starting a garden club, which can provide a great opportunity for sharing information and resources. They can swap plants and seeds, help each other with labor-intensive garden projects, and tour area gardens and nurseries. And don’t forget about those group discounts.

In addition to sharing resources among club members, garden clubs can participate in community projects such as beautifying parks, roadsides, schools, nursing homes, and any other place that needs a pretty flower garden.

The 5 Seasons Garden Club in Marshall County, Ky., maintains annual and perennial beds at the county park. "We get the members to participate by dividing into groups, each caring for the beds for one month at a time," says Gary Brown, club president.

Service projects are big draws for garden clubs. "Our club maintains the public library grounds, plants flowers in areas around town, works with seniors and mentally challenged individuals," says Nancy Segall, treasurer for the Poplar Bluff (pop.16,651) Garden Club in Missouri. The club also has helped with planting about 2,000 crepe myrtles, making Poplar Bluff the "Crepe Myrtle Capital of Missouri."

Consider affiliating your club with a national, state or regional garden club, which can provide stability, support and advice. "Many national organizations are a nonprofit under 501(c)3 of the IRS code. This status can be extended to the affiliate club, usually with nominal paperwork," says John Hunt, former president of the First Men’s Garden Club of Dallas, which is affiliated with The Men’s Garden Clubs of America and The Gardeners of America.

"Publicity is the key to starting a club and getting it up and running with a very strong membership growth the first year or two. If that is not accomplished, the club could stagnate or even fail," says Hunt, whose club attracts new members by hosting seminars and plant shows.

Other considerations, he says, include choosing a good meeting place and determining the organization’s focus. Whatever your club’s main interest may be, it’s important to stay on track. A resource such as Robert’s Rules of Order can provide the information needed to establish officers and follow proper meeting procedures.

"Keep a good age mix in your club and try to attract people who like to work together," says Segall, whose group currently has 13 members but is always looking for new ones. "The biggest reward is feeling that you are doing something for the community. It’s also a nice way to meet your community."

Whether your club is a small group of friends or a large community service organization, a garden club is a great way to learn more about your hobby, educate others and socialize. When members come together with a common goal, there is no end to what your club can accomplish.

Pamela Kock is a frequent contributor to American Profile.

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