Recently, more people are interested in gardening. People are turning to nature because they have more time, they are interested in growing their own food, and/or they would like to beautify their immediate surroundings. Many people find that plants, nature, and gardens help to ease anxiety and stress. Others are getting involved in gardening to help the environment by planting to support pollinators and fight climate change.
One way to learn more about how to garden is to join a local gardening club or plant society. By joining, novice gardeners can learn about plants that do well in their area, feel more confident as they continue to garden, make new friends who have similar interests, and get more involved in the local gardening world.
In addition to the master gardener program (another article entirely), there are many gardening clubs, societies, and organizations to join in the DC metro area. Check out their websites to learn more and contact them to find out about membership, activities, and meetings. This is not all inclusive, if an organization is missing, put it in the comments section to include next time.
The American Horticultural Society
The American Horticultural Society is a national membership organization and its physical location is River Farm, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA. The property was part of George Washington’s tract along the Potomac River. The organization has numerous benefits, a magazine, and virtual workshops and events.
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
The National Garden Clubs, Inc., has 50 state garden clubs that are further broken down into regional clubs and local clubs. The National Garden Clubs is headquartered at 4401 Magnolia Avenue, St. Louis, MO. In this area, the state level clubs are: Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, headquartered at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA; and Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc., at 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. The local regional unit is the National Capital Area Garden Clubs. Within the National Capital Area Garden Clubs are many “neighborhood” clubs with differing meeting times so it is best to contact them for a local unit near you.
Garden Club of America
The Garden Club of America is headquartered at 14 East 60th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY. There are only a few local clubs in this area which is Zone VI according to their map. There is the Garden Club of Chevy Chase, MD; and the Trowel Club and the Georgetown Garden Club in DC.
Garden Club of Virginia
The Garden Club of Virginia is headquartered at the Kent-Valentine House, 12 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA. There are many local units across the Commonwealth so contact headquarters for one near you. The Garden Club of Virginia is famous for its annual Historic Garden Week in April when private and public gardens are open to the public and the local units’ volunteers not only help to put on this event but make floral arrangements for the homes.
Local Chapters of Plant Societies
There probably is an association for every type of plant and most have local chapters. These are the local chapters in order of the boldfaced plant name.
Local African Violet Society Clubs
Northern Virginia Chapter of the Azalea Society of America
Potomac Branch of the American Begonia Society
Northern Virginia Bonsai Society
National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society
Camellia Society of the Potomac Valley
Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society
Maryland, Virginia and DC Daffodil Societies
National Capital Dahlia Society
Northern Virginia Daylily Society
National Capital Area Chapter of the Gesneriad Society
American Gourd Society. There is a Virginia Lover’s Gourd Society
Potomac Unit of the Herb Society of America
American Iris Society, Region IV
National Capital Orchid Society
Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society
And Potomac Chapter
Potomac Valley Chapter of the Northern American Rock Garden Society
Local Chapters of Native Plant Societies
There is a Maryland Native Plant Society headquartered in Silver Spring and a Virginia Native Plant Society located at 400 Blandy Farm Road, Unit 2, Boyce, VA. Check them out for local chapters.
Private Garden Clubs
Annapolis Horticultural Society
Bethesda Community Garden Club
Greenbelt Community Garden Club
Horticultural Society of Maryland
Hyattsville Horticulture Society
Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club
Friends of Organizations
There are opportunities to volunteer at public gardens, which is like being a member of a garden club. For example, there is a Friends of Green Spring in Alexandria, VA; Friends of Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD; and the Friends of the National Arboretum. There is a similar organization called the All Hallows Guild of the Washington National Cathedral, which has extensive grounds and a garden at Massachusetts & Wisconsin Avenues, NW, Washington, DC.
