About The CLub

The Garden Club of Wilmington
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The Garden Club of Wilmington

Founded in May 1918, The Garden Club of Wilmington has played an active role in horticultural and conservation projects throughout Delaware for more than a century. The Club has a proud tradition of supporting civic and community programs, and its members are widely recognized for their expertise in horticulture, floral design, and environmental stewardship.

In 1920, the Club became a member of The Garden Club of America (GCA), and it is also affiliated with the Delaware Federated Garden Clubs and the National Garden Club (NGC). These affiliations provide members access to a wealth of resources and opportunities that enrich the Club experience.

The Garden Club of Wilmington currently has approximately 100 active members, along with additional membership categories for long-serving members who wish to stay connected with less day-to-day involvement. Membership is by invitation only.

Through the GCA and NGC, members attend national meetings, garden tours, and workshops in horticulture, photography, and floral design across the country. The GCA is nationally recognized for its leadership in horticulture, conservation, creative arts, historic preservation, and environmental protection, and many of our members have served as GCA leaders at the regional and national levels—a reflection of the depth and talent within our Club.

Community involvement is a cornerstone of our mission. The Club maintains the entry garden at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, creates holiday bedside arrangements for a local long-term care facility, and helps care for the Marion Coffin Garden at Gibraltar—a historic treasure currently listed on The Cultural Landscape Foundation's "At Risk" registry. We are honored to play a role in preserving this special place.

Our members are also avid competitors in Flower Shows around the country including at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, one of the nation's premier horticultural events, where many have earned ribbons and national recognition for outstanding horticulture and floral design. Beyond exhibiting, several members serve as Floral Design, Horticulture and Photography judges in regional flower shows.

Throughout the year, the Club offers hands-on workshops on propagation, pruning, floral design, trough-making, and more. Members regularly share plants at Club meetings and open their gardens for informal tours, creating opportunities to learn from one another and deepen their horticultural expertise.

The Club meets monthly from September through June, typically on the first Monday morning of the month, with meetings often featuring guest speakers on horticulture, floral design, and environmental issues. Standing committees organize workshops, projects, field trips, plant sales, and annual shows in horticulture, floral design, and photography. Active Members are expected to serve on two or three club committees, contribute to flower shows, and take part in community programs. Annual dues help sustain these activities and the Club's ongoing contributions to Delaware's communities.