Fern Valley
Fern Valley
Friendship Garden
Friendship Garden
Butterfly Garden
Butterfly Garden

HISTORY

The National Capital Area Garden Clubs (NCAGC) began as the National Capital Garden Club League (NCGCL) in 1951. The NCGCL was given permission by Congress, at the request of Arboretum Director Dr. Henry Skinner and Maryland State Senator Gilbert Gude, to have our headquarters at the Arboretum as a result of our hard work on Fern Valley.

The NCAGC members were instrumental in the establishment of the gift shop, Arbor House, as well as the Volunteer Guide Service.

Currently, the NCAGC is working with the Arboretum to install five rain gardens located in the R Street parking area and in the circle in front of the Administration Building. Each garden will have a different theme: Low Maintenance, Coastal Plain, Butterfly, Formal/Traditional, and Xeric. This current project was initiated under President Vickie Godwin in 2011 and supported by Past-Presidents David Healy and Jo Sellers as well as our current President Robin Hammer.

National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc.

Ten Year Historical Perspective
2001 – 2011
compiled by Danielle Brabazon, President Godwin’s Historian for NCAGC’s 60th Anniversary

Vickie Godwin

“Garden Our Community”
Installation of 5 Rain Gardens at the USNA 2011-2013

Betty Mosher : 2001 – 2003  “Catch the Joy of Gardening”
Joys of Youth in Gardens

Carol Carter 2003 – 2005 “Dedicated Stewards – Protecting our Living Legacy” Recognize and Control Alien and Invasive Plants

Dale DeFeo 2005 – 2007 “Garden Clubs Help Us Blossom!”
Friendship Garden Guide

Rilla Crane 2007 – 2009 “Stretching Our Wings ~ SOW”
Fern Valley – Native Plants

Mary Ellen Alden 2009 – 2011 “Beautify, Protect and Cherish our NCA Community” Fern Valley Entrance and Botanical Labelling

2002 Freedom Tree Dedication at the US National Arboretum (October 6)
2002 75th Anniversary of US National Arboretum (October 3)
2002 Fall General Meeting – Amended bylaws
2002 Freedom Tree Dedication at Washington National Cathedral (November 25)
2002 New Category of Federation Scholarship Established – “pass-through”
2003 Hosted NGC Fall Board Meeting
2004 National Garden Week Garden Tour – 6 properties (June 5th)
2004 Supported NGC’s “America A-Bloom” program with a tree at the Pentagon (11/9)
2004 Fall General Meeting – Amended bylaws
2006 Name change – National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc.
2006 CAR Host
2007 Friendship Garden funds transferred from NGC to NCAGC
2007 NCAGC Convention
2007 NCAGC Recycling Initiative is launched
2008 Job change for former Assistant Treasurer to Arbor House Treasurer
2008 Separated Directory from Fall Capital Gardener
2010 Fern Valley’s 50th Anniversary Celebration (May 27)
2010 Awards Changes and Additional 3 Flower Show Awards

2001 50th Anniversary Ornament
2001 Gardening Gloves selling began
2002 “Project Outreach” of Arbor House Gift Shop
2003 Box Tops for Education
2004 Dazzling Floral Design Program Presented by NCAFGC ($25 reservation) (October 23)
2006 “Did You Know…” Books
2008 Saks 5th Avenue Fashion Show (benefit for Fern Valley)
2010 Holiday Design Showcase for the Home (NGC Convention)
2010 Passport to Savings Coupon Books (NGC Convention)
2010 Jewelry Sales (NGC Convention)

2001 (September 25th) NCAFGC 50th Anniversary Luncheon Cruise
2002 (May 5 – May 12) NGC Convention Cruising to New Horizons
2002 (August 1 – 12) NCAFGC trip to Floriade (Holland and Belgium Cruise)
2004 (July 24) NCAFGC to Alaska – Denali National Park & Glacier Discovery Cruise
2006 (July 27) Mississippi Riverboat Cruise

2002 (March) It’s a Small World! Flower Show Presented by CAFSJ, NCAFGC
2004 (October) Autumn Splendor Presented by Judges Council
2007 (April) Growing and Blossoming in Lilliputian Magic Sponsored by CAFSJ, NCAGC

2001 (November) Officers’ Wives’ Garden Club of Ft. Belvoir Veterans Day ceremony recognized first Blue Star Memorial at Pence Gate (9/17/90)
(4 Blue Star Memorial ceremonies held during 2001-2003)
2003 (April) Montgomery Village Garden Club
2007 ( May) Centennial Garden Club
2007 (May) Willow Brook Garden Club
2007 (June) Cheverly Garden Club
2007 (June) Five Hills Garden Club
2007 (September) Tanta-Cove Garden Club
2008 (November) The Little Farms Garden Club of Potomac
2009 (May) Rock Spring Garden Club
2010 (September) New Carrollton Garden Club
2011 (May) NCAGC at Congressional Cemetery for NGC Convention

2002 6 Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl plus 2 Garden Party Posters submitted. Won 1st place tie Grade 4, Poetry won 2nd place Grade 7
2002 Indoor Classroom to 5 DC Public Schools
2002 5K at the USNA to benefit Youth Gardening
2003 2 clubs have sponsored posters for Smokey Bear/Woody Owl plus posters for “A Thing of Beauty – A Tree”
2003 Hands-on activities at National Cherry Blossom Festival (3/29 – 4/5)
2003 Betty Mosher received $1000 for Growing Green Dreams from the Washington Redskins Community Quarterback Awards Luncheon (12/2)
2005 Dig in Your Heels 5K at the USNA (November 6)
2007 Third Annual “Dig in Your Heels” 5K (November 4)
2007 Franconia Elementary had three Penny Pines Poster Contest Winners

2001 (April 24th) 10th Anniversary of Friendship Garden
2001 Poet Laureate Sandy Adams Poem Catch the Joy of Gardening
2001 Ellen Spencer wrote article Rain Gardens: The Natural Solution in Winter CG
2002 Garden Clubs Honored for Service to National Cathedral Flower Mart:Trowel (63y), Kenwood (54y), Evergreen (47y), Four Seasons (46y).
2002 (June 25 & 26) 15th Symposium by the Council of Accredited Flower Show Judges
2002 Poet Laureate Sandy Adams Poem For Always The Rose
2002 Entered Pentagon Memorial Design Contest (Mary Gregerson)
2002 Participated in EdenfernTM project
2003 Club Anniversaries:

  • 50 years: Aspen Hill, Hilltop, Oxen Hill, Rock Spring, Trowel, Woodmoor
  •  60 years: Woodridge
  • 70 years: Manassas

2003 National Project Two Million Trees, NCAFGC (48 clubs) planted a 3993 trees.
2003 National Park Service Workshop at the C&O Canal to remove invasive plants
2004 National Park Service Workshop at Theodore Roosevelt Island (invasive plants)
2004 Club Anniversaries:

  • 50 years: Cheverly, Five Hills, Four Seasons, Gardeners of the Junior League of Washington, DC, Hilltop, Marlan Forest, Stonybrook
  •  75 years: Ayr Hill
  •  80 years: Bethesda Community, Georgetown

2004 Planted a white ash Champion Tree from Mount Vernon in September 11 Memorial Garden at NGC Headquarters.
2005 Workday at Dumbarton Oaks Park (April 23)
2005 Welcomed Belle Haven Garden Club (June 10)
2005 Club Anniversary

  • 50 years: Gaywood Garden Club

2006 Club Anniversary

  • 50 years: Eastland Garden Club
  • 80 years: Garden Club Chevy Chase

2006 Patriotic Tree (White Ash) Dedication at River Farm from the “Branch Out and Blossom Contast” won by District II
2007 Nominated Stella Koch (a non-garden club member) for NGC Award of Excellence
2008 Club Anniversaries:

  • 75 years: Town and Country

2008 Welcomed Two new District III Garden Clubs: Centreville and Exeter
2008 Tour of Fern Valley with NGC President Barbara May, led by Joan Feely, USNA Curator (September 23)
2009 Club Anniversaries:

  • 40 years: Southwood Garden Club
  • 50 years: New Carrollton Garden Club

2010 Arbor House receives solar panels
2010 NCAGC, Inc. General Meeting at USDA Lincoln Library (September)
2011 Rally for the Azaleas and Boxwoods at the U.S. National Arboretum