The Garden Club of Trenton was organized with 10 charter members at the home of Mrs. Frederic A. C. Perrine in 1912 and became affiliated with the Garden Club of America in May 1913. Today, we are a small and spirited club that takes pride in our roots: from friendly competition in club flower shows with a reputation for excellence to floral design, to continuing longstanding civic activities on behalf of the 1719 William Trent House, the New Jersey State Museum, and Trenton school children. Our recent conservation efforts include establishing a garden at the Nelson House within Washington Crossing State Park and helping to revitalize the park’s George Washington Memorial Arboretum by planting native trees.
Competitions & Workshops
Summary of the three areas of competition
The Garden Club of Trenton includes several in-club competitions as part of our annual program year. The purpose of these collegial and fun competitions is:
to set standards of artistic and horticultural excellence,
to broaden knowledge of horticulture, flower arrangement, conservation, and other related areas, and
to share the beauty of a show with fellow club members and the public.
Our competitions promote artistic vision, horticultural mastery, engineering, and sophisticated craftsmanship, creating a brief but brilliant display of beauty in time.
Floral Design competitions welcome all members, regardless of expertise and experience in the art of floral design. We encourage all club members to participate in floral design activities, which helps to enhance the quality of the entries in other regional and national flower shows, and to share the beauty and artistry of this discipline. The Garden Club of Trenton has a long tradition of excellence in the area of floral design, especially the Botanical Arts, showcasing craftsmanship and design skills with creations constructed of all dried plant material.
Horticulture competitions nurture the knowledge and love of gardening, teach valuable skills in the care and feeding of plants, and educate members about plant history, conservation, and environmental issues. Our Horticulture competitions also educate responsible ways to propagate, grow and show a wide range of species.
Photography competitions are another way for club members to further their knowledge and love of gardening and the natural landscape. Our club promotes the art and science of photography and we include educational opportunities throughout the year and as part of our programs to enhance members’ knowledge and skills. Photography competitions offer club members an opportunity to put those skills into practice and learn from one another.
Garden Club of Trenton competitions are judged typically by individuals who are accredited by the Garden Club of America who maintain and promote national standards of excellence.
Membership
JOIN US
Come see what we’re all about! Contact us to attend one of our meetings as a guest. The Garden Club of Trenton is a fun and enthusiastic group which depends entirely on its members for all activities, including governance, civic projects and programs. Membership is through an application process, providing enough time to allow for prospective members to evaluate the level of commitment and to get to know members more personally.
MEMBER EXPECTATIONS
Primary member responsibilities include attending a minimum of five of the scheduled nine meetings, participating actively in a minimum of two Club civic project activities; participating in at least one Club Competition per year; supporting membership initiatives; and serving in a leadership position when requested.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Access to Visiting Garden series, Garden Club of America publications, trips and programming.
