ffgc 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. |
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 & BUTTERFLIESFFGC 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? Here's a simple guide to Pollinator Garden Requirements. Online Butterfly Course -- a free self-paced course on butterflies from the WWF - India. Apply for certification online. Contact Jeri Decker. One of the most important American literary and scientific books of the 18th century, Bartram Travels published in 1791, was written by William Bartram. The son of naturalist John Bartram, a botanist for the King of Great Britain, William (1739-1823) traveled through North and South Carolina, Georgia and East and West Florida. He recorded an extensive study of his travels giving an account of the soil and natural productions of those regions, together with observations on manners of several Indian tribes....read more. Contact Kalia Baillene. Blue Star Memorial Markers is a National Garden Clubs initiative. The FFGC chairperson to contact is Rosita Aristoff. Read more.... 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. 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. Here are 20 Easy Wildflowers to grow. Visit their website. Read more.... 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. 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. INVASIVE PLANTS & SPECIES An invasive species is any species that is not native to a particular area, that has been introduced by human activity, intentionally or unintentionally, and causes, or is likely to cause, harm to the environment as well as our human health and well-being. Florida is waging a war against invasive species. Reptiles, mammals, birds, fish, and plants continue to take over new habitats and wreak great havoc in the ecosystem. Trying to control all of them is costing Floridians over $100 million a year as they continue to spread into 1.7 million acres. There are resources available for help and information. Contact Chair Inger Jones. If you are exposed to a dangerous, threatening, venomous, or invasive species, CALL 1-888-IVEGOT1. Also, call your local County Extension Office. Additional information: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/python/patrol/ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW365 INVASIVE PLANTS The Florida Invasive Plants Society has a complete list of invasive plants by their scientific name with access to images, etc. which you can access here Plant List - Florida Invasive Species Partnership. We have that same list sorted by common name, updated in March 2024. Access that document here. PLANT-A-TREE Plant-a-Tree is an NGC program that works with US Forestry Service to replant damaged forested areas. Garden Clubs and Circles are encouraged to collect pennies to make donations of $50 minimum. Read more.... Contact Andrea Finn, FFGC Plant-A-Tree 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. Roadside Beautification Guide and Nomination Form Roadside Beautification Winners Presentations Information about the Florida Wildflower License Plate 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 |
FFGC is involved in a variety of projects and programs that focus on community, youth, special initiatives, and fragile ecosystems. national garden club programshttps://gardenclub.org/programs |