Asticou Garden, with Azaleas in Bloom photo by Michaeleen Ward

Photo by Melda Page ~ Red Roses in the National Botanical Gardens in Dublin

Garden Clubs and Botanical Gardens:
A symbiotic relationship

Garden clubs and botanical gardens in America have had a long and successful relationship.  It began in 1929 when the United States was in the throes of a depression. The government had little money beyond the necessities of running a nation.  It was evident that more had to be done than fix infrastructure and fund the military forces.  In order to entice others to provide services that the government could not, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.  The incentive came in the way of enabling organizations, which could provide these services, an exemption from paying income tax. Under specific restrictions, these not-for-profit businesses would be allowed to use their net profit for continued service.

Garden clubs, botanical gardens, and arboreta qualify under the Public Welfare part of this act.  That same year, individual clubs in thirteen states formed the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC)  Other states quickly followed and Maine joined the national movement in 1931.  Every state in the federation and each garden club within the state is affiliated with the NGC and operates under its charter.  The fourth objective listed under the NGC Charter. is “To encourage the establishment and maintenance of botanical gardens, arboreta …” In some states this is a very close relationship.  In fact, the headquarters of the NGC is located on the grounds of the St. Louis Botanical Garden. 

According to the membership directory of American Public Gardens, Inc. there are about two hundred major public gardens in the United States and Canada.  Almost all of them are affiliate members of the NGC continuing the long relationship between public gardens and garden clubs.  Northern New England is fortunate to finally have a botanical garden that is gaining in stature and world class recognition.  That garden is the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) located in Boothbay.  It was not by chance that five former garden club presidents of Boothbay, Wiscasset, and Bath were on the first full Board of Directors of the Gardens.  In addition, members of the GCFM from 2001 to 2003 donated over 2000 books from their own libraries to form the nucleus of the reference library at the Gardens.  Understandably, it is not unusual for many garden club members to feel a unique bond and sense of ownership with the CMBG.

This close relationship continues today as the CMBG offers Garden Clubs one free rental each year for a meeting.  Naturally, this is on a first come first served basis.  There are also special discount rates for groups of ten or more that would like to tour the gardens.  CMBG members are always admitted free of charge.

The Gardens offer a wonderful resource to Maine garden club members through magnificent garden displays, introducing new varieties of plant material, exceptional educational programs including opportunities to obtain horticulture certificates and many exciting special events throughout the year.

The friendly, professional staff at the Gardens is an extraordinary resource for Maine gardeners.  A visit to their web site, www.MaineGardens.org  will list a calendar of special exhibits and a preview upcoming events.

Claire Hunt Ph.D., Parliamentarian