Tag Archives: native plant societies

Garden Clubs and Plant Societies in the Washington DC Metro Area

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.

Join a Gardening Club in the Washington DC Metro Area

Joining a gardening club is a great way to learn about gardening, make new friends, learn about our local gardening resources and possibly get free plants! There are many local garden clubs, societies, and organizations in the Washington DC metropolitan area.  To find one that best fits your interests, it is best to go to a larger umbrella organization to inquire about the local unit, or search on the internet by plant name or city (for a neighborhood garden club), or visit related sites such as public gardens. See the pages on my website for local public gardens and nurseries.

The American Horticultural Society is a national membership organization but its physical location, River Farm, is in Alexandria on the banks of the Potomac River. The property is open to the public (call first). They have beautiful gardens, a children’s garden, and picnic tables. The web site lists plant societies including native plant societies, clubs, and organizations.  (703) 768-5700 or 1-800-777-7931.

The blog section of the web site for Behnkes Nurseries, in Beltsville, MD, lists Maryland garden clubs such as the Beltsville Garden Club, Silver Spring Garden Club, Takoma Horticulture Club, Brookland Garden Club, Burtonsville Garden Club, and Four Seasons Garden Club. There also is an Annapolis Horticultural Society, Hyattsville Horticultural Society, and a Maryland Horticultural Society.

The National Garden Clubs, Inc., is at 4401 Magnolia Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110; (314) 776-7574. There are 50 State Garden Clubs and the National Capital Area Club and hundreds of member garden clubs. In this area, the following are the state level clubs.  Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, headquarters is at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228; (804) 262-9887. Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc., is at 4915 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21209; (410) 396-4842.  National Capital Area Garden Clubs is at the Arbor House, U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002; (202) 399-5958. Contact them for a local unit near you.

The Garden Club of America is headquartered at 14 East 60th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022; (212) 753-8287. Membership is by invitation only but contact the headquarters to see if there is a club near you.

The Garden Club of Virginia sponsors the annual Historic Garden Week in Virginia in April. Their headquarters is at the Kent-Valentine House, 12 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219; (804) 643-4137. Contact them for a local club; there are many across the commonwealth.

There probably is a native plant society in every state. In this area there is the Maryland Native Plant Society, which has a Washington DC chapter, and the Virginia Native Plant Society. Contact the Maryland Native Plant Society via P.O. Box 4877, Silver Spring, MD  20914. Contact the Virginia Native Plant Society via 400 Blandy Farm Road, Unit 2, Boyce, VA 22620; (540) 837-1600. Both have several chapters in their respective states.

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. The American Horticultural Society has a list of plant societies that you can contact to identify the local unit. For example, in our area we have the:

  • Camellia Society of Potomac Valley
  • National Capital Dahlia Society
  • National Capital Cactus and Succulent Society
  • National Capital Daylily Club
  • Brookside Gardens Chapter of the Azalea Society of America
  • Mason-Dixon Chapter (MD) & the Potomac Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society
  • Arlington Rose Foundation
  • Maryland Daffodil Society and the Washington Daffodil Society

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 Springs 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. The Cathedral is located at Massachusetts & Wisconsin Avenues, NW, Washington, DC 20016; (202) 537-2937.

If you know of any additional information, please let me know so I can keep this current.