There are many local garden clubs, plant societies, and horticultural organizations in the Washington DC metropolitan area, too many to list here. But here is a start for those of you who are new to the capital region or new to gardening. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, search the internet for a larger umbrella organization to inquire about the local unit or search by plant name or city for a neighborhood garden club. If you know of a local club that I missed, feel free to let me know via the comments section.
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. It is open to the public but best to call first as they also rent their space for weddings and private events. River Farm has a beautiful view to the river, gardens, a children’s garden, and a gift shop. They also have annual events such as plant sales and sometimes they have special lectures.
River Farm in Alexandria, home to the American Horticultural Society
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 the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, headquartered at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA; and the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc., at 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD. The local regional unit is the National Capital Area Garden Clubs and 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 in this Zone VI area (according to their map). There is the Garden Club of Chevy Chase, MD; and the Trowel Club and the Georgetown Garden Club in DC.
Clubs can often gain access to visit private gardens
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 for a week 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
Many clubs have plant sales and are great resources for unique plants
There probably is an association for every type of plant and most have local chapters. Search the internet for the plant and related association or call your local public garden or extension office. These are the local chapters in order of the plant name in boldface type.
Mid-Atlantic African Violet Society and the Baltimore African Violet Club
Northern Virginia Chapter of the Azalea Society of America
Potomac Branch of the American Begonia Society
Northern Virginia Bonsai Society
Potomac Bonsai Association
Baltimore Bonsai Club
The American Boxwood Society
National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society
Camellia Society of the Potomac Valley
Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society
Potomac Chrysanthemum Society
American Conifer Society
Maryland, Virginia and DC Daffodil Societies
National Capital Dahlia Society
National Capital Daylily society
Free State Daylily Society
Northern Virginia Daylily Society
American Fern 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
Colonial Virginia Holly society
Potomac Hosta Club
Chesapeake and Potomac Iris Society
National Capital Orchid Society
Mid-Atlantic Peony Society
Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society
And Potomac Chapter
And Mason-Dixon Chapter
Potomac Valley Chapter of the Northern American Rock Garden Society
Potomac Rose Society
Arlington Rose Foundation
Local Chapters of Native Plant Societies
There is a Maryland Native Plant Society in Silver Spring and a Virginia Native Plant Society headquartered at 400 Blandy Farm Road, Unit 2, Boyce, VA. Contact them for local chapters.
Private Garden Clubs
Annapolis Horticultural Society
Bethesda Community Garden Club
Burtonsville Garden club
Beltsville Garden Club
Falls Church Garden Club
Four Seasons Garden Club
Greater Brookland Garden Club
Greenbelt Community Garden Club
Horticultural Society of Maryland
Hyattsville Horticulture Society
Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club
Silver Spring Garden Club
Takoma Horticultural Club
Friends of Organizations
The All Hallows Guild takes care of Bishops Garden at the National Cathedral in DC
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 an organization called the All Hallows Guild of the National Cathedral, which has extensive grounds and a garden at Massachusetts & Wisconsin Avenues, NW, Washington, DC.
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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.
