Gardening Council

The Penny Jarvis Lovely Garden Award

About the 2022 Award

The Lovely Garden Award was established in 2006 through a generous gift of $5,000 bequeathed by past member Penny Jarvis of Portland/Old Lyme, CT. In the spirit of its benefactor, an award is presented to someone who has a love of gardening. Nominations are open to all FGCCT garden club members and may be made for one’s own garden or for another member’s garden. The winner is announced, and the Lovely Garden award presented, at The Federation’s Awards Meeting every October.

GUIDELINES:

  • The Garden nominated for the award must be established and maintained by the garden owner.
  • The garden will be visited and evaluated by members of the Gardening Council. If nominating another member’s garden, please advise them that their garden will be evaluated.
  • Supplying photos will help the Consultants see what has been done. Include 3-5 photos with the application (digital preferred), with a “before photo” showing the area prior to installation of the garden.
  • If significant changes have been made to a previous Lovely Garden, the garden may be nominated again after a five-year period.

Applications must be submitted four-six weeks prior to the date the gardener would like their garden to be visited. No applications will be accepted after August 24th.

The Gardening Council

Membership

The Council offers a variety of memberships.

  • Provisional Members are those having successfully completed two or more NGC Gardening Courses. They may remain a Provisional member for not more than five years before qualifying as an active member. Provisional members are not eligible to vote or hold office, but may serve on committees.
  • Active Members are those who have successfully completed all four of the NGC Gardening Courses and therefore, hold a certificate as a Gardening Consultant.

Active and provisional membership in the Gardening Council is limited to members of The Federated Garden Clubs and to affiliated professionals requesting membership. Affiliated members should meet the requirements for provisional status of the Council and intend to finish all four Gardening Study School courses. Pay Council dues and update personal information online .

  • Associate Members are those persons who wish to participate in Gardening Consultant activities, who have or have not taken Gardening Consultant courses, but who have professional or educational qualifications of equal merit. Associate members may not vote or hold office.

Join Our Fieldtrips! Have Fun with Fellow Gardeners

The focus of The Gardening Council is to help its members become accomplished horticulturists. The Council generally meets four times a year with programs and field trips with the goal of increasing the knowledge of, and stimulating interest in horticulture and keeping members informed of advanced gardening techniques. For information on current Gardening School Courses, click here.

Gardening Jeopardy

In the spirit of virtual meetings, on February 25, 2021 Gardening Consultants and friends tested their horticulture, insect and gardening knowledge in a game of “Garden Jeopardy” created by Renee Marsh.  As advertised it was great fun, entertaining and educational.   Thank you, Renee!

Katherine Patrick Gardening School Fund

The Katherine Patrick Gardening School Fund was established in 2018 with a generous donation from Jaclynn Patrick Lee in memory of her mother. Katherine was Chair of the Gardening Council and the Gardening School. Katherine’s love for the Gardening School and its dedication to providing the foundation courses in horticulture, makes this the perfect tribute.

Funds are held in a restricted account of the Gardening Council, and the Council shall determine the use of the funds.  A primary use will be to support the Gardening School by offering two “Gardening School Tuition Awards” each year.

For further information, click here.

To donate to the KP Gardening School Fund, click here.