About The CLub

The Garden Club of Wilmington, founded in May 1918, has taken an active role in both horticultural and conservation projects in Delaware.  For over 100 years, the Club has been actively engaged in supporting civic and community programs in the state.  The breadth and depth of horticultural and design knowledge among Club members is impressive, and the Club’s long-standing commitment to the communities of Delaware is well respected.

In 1920, the Garden Club of Wilmington became a member of The Garden Club of America (GCA). The Club is also a member of the Delaware Federated Garden Clubs and the National Garden Club (NGC).  Today, members enjoy the enormous benefits both these national organizations.

The Garden Club of Wilmington currently has 93 members, 56 of whom are listed as active members; other membership categories allow for less involvement by long-serving members. Membership is by invitation.

Members have the opportunity to attend the GCA and NGC meetings, garden tours, and horticulture photography and floral design workshops, held all over the country. GCA’s website (www. gcamerica.org) provides numerous links with information on conservation, horticulture and flower design. Club members have been active leaders over many years in the Garden Club of America at a regional and national level, thanks to our varied and talented membership.

Community involvement centers on maintaining an entry garden and arranging fresh flowers throughout the year at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, providing holiday bedside table arrangements at a local long term nursing care facility and maintaining the gardens at Gibraltar's beautiful Marion Coffin Garden This garden has been placed on The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s “At Risk” list; gardens on this list are considered threatened and at-risk due to deferred maintenance and/or neglect, or for substantial alteration or outright destruction. We are thrilled to help protect this treasure.

Many members are avid competitors in both horticulture and flower arranging classes at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, staged each spring for the benefit of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Our members are enthusiastic exhibitors and they have a long tradition of winning numerous awards and ribbons and presenting prize-winning entries in the Show’s Competitive Classes. Club members exhibit and judge flower shows held around the country. 

Members are encouraged to attend hands-on workshops held throughout the year on a variety of topics, including propagation, flower arranging, pruning and trough-making. Plant sales are held during club meetings enabling members to broaden their plant collections or share special plants they have grown through propagation or division. Horticultural knowledge is also shared when members open their gardens to the Club for informal touring.

The Club holds a regular monthly meeting from September to June, typically during the morning of the first Monday of the month.  A speaker is usually featured, presenting information and insights on topics related to horticulture, flower arranging or environmental issues.  The Club’s standing committees sponsor speakers, offer workshops and projects and plan field trips and plant sales.  The Club holds two horticulture shows, two floral design shows and two photography shows annually; novice classes are often included. Members are expected to attend meetings, be actively involved in at least two to three committees and participate in flower shows whenever possible. Annual dues support club activities and our community programs.