PROGRAMS

Membership with FFGC amplifies the opportunities for fun, learning, and creative expression beyond the borders of local clubs. We cover diverse programming to enrich our members’ garden club experiences as well as administer education and experiences to the public.

FFGC fosters educational courses to deepen our knowledge of gardening, conservation, floral studies, and beautification. We fund scholarships for college-bound or graduate students studying environmental studies. We also support extensive youth gardening activities and provide scholarships for youth camp activities. Our Youth Camp, Wekiva Youth Camp, is included in Newsweek's 2023 ranking of Best Summer Camps in the country.

 We are proud to be planning for our 100th anniversary in April 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida, and invite everyone to join the party.  Since 1951, we have produced the quarterly publication The Florida Gardener that brings it all together. 

ADOPT-A-PARK

FFGC encourages local garden clubs to collaborate with their local community parks that focus on civic beautification.  Contact Mickey Quigley

BIRDS, BEES & BUTTERFLIES

FFGC encourages Districts to recognize members and residents who have pollinator plants and trees in their yards. Do you know someone who helps Birds, Bees or Butterflies? Apply for certification online. Contact Jeri Decker.

BARTRAM TRAIL MARKERS

The Bartram Society educates the community about the travels of William Bartram throughout North Florida in the 1770’s and earlier with his father John Bartram. He gathered specimens of floral and fauna, recorded each, made detail drawings, and gave each a botanical name. We focus on developing, marking, and mapping his travels on trails by land and along the St. John’s River and connecting waterways. All seven northeastern Florida counties are now onboard with all the above activities. Contact Kalia Baillene.

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL MARKERS

Blue Star Memorial Markers is a National Garden Clubs initiative. The FFGC chairperson to contact is Rosita Aristoff.   

CORAL RESTORATION

We support the efforts of this organization that is actively restoring coral reefs on a massive scale, educating others on the importance of our oceans, and using science to further coral research and coral reef monitoring techniques.

FLORIDA WILDFLOWERS

In 1999, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs was instrumental in securing legislation that created the Florida Wildflower license plate. This legislation established a new Wildflower Advisory Council and named community leaders from different areas of Florida to oversee the implementation of the legislation. FFGC coordinates and promotes educational activities, events, programs, and information between both organizations and provides wildflower literature and pamphlets to FFGC members. Contact Carolyn Schaag

GARDEN THERAPY

Garden Therapy is a program inside Coleman Prison that teaches vocational horticulture to inmates with the goal of reduced re-incarceration. Contact Pat Schira.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

FFGC partners with Habitat for Humanity of Florida to empower new homeowners to engage in landscape projects and provides new homeowners with the necessary tools for tending to their new yards and gardens. Contact Pat Caren.

PENNY PINES

Penny Pines is an NGC program that works with US Forestry Service to replant damaged forested areas.  Garden Clubs and Circles are encouraged to collect pennies in $68 increments, which will purchase enough seedlings to replant approximately one acre of forest (about 350 seedlings).  Contact Andrea Finn, FFGC Penny Pines Chair.

ROADSIDE BEAUTIFICATION/PATHS OF SUNSHINE

The FFGC Roadside Beautification program and the annual Paths of Sunshine award program FFGC award is bestowed on a FDOT maintenance district for native landscape and wildflowers and planting/maintenance practices that are environmentally beneficial, beautify our state roadsides, and benefit the birds bees butterflies necessary for our ecosystem. Nominations are received, FDOT employees submit applications if they accept the nomination, a panel of judges including NGC/FFSJ Judges review the applications, and winners are determined. Contact Brenda Luedeman.

RECLAMATION AND RECYCLING 

TREES AND REFORESTATION 

FFGC encourages clubs to plant trees throughout the year and to keep track of how many and what kind to support reforestation.  Clubs, download the Tree Report form here.  Contact Kat Spieker

SEE ALL YOUTH ACTIVITIES

NGC PROGRAMS:        Blue Star Memorial Markers  |  Continuing Education Classes  |  Penny Pines  |  National Garden Week