Northbrook Garden Club - About Us

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The Northbrook Garden Club (NGC) was founded September 20, 1949.  (See OUR TIMELINE.) Our 2019 programs and events are planned around the history of our club and historic Northbrook in general.  The 2020 programs will be announced shortly. 

The objective of the Club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants, animals and insects, to encourage civic planting, and to further the programs of the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc., and the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

The NGC currently has 35 members, most of whom are Northbrook residents or former Northbrook residents.

Come for a visit; stay as a member. 

Membership Year: Sept to June

Membership Fee: Annual dues are $21 for individuals;$31 for couples. 

Meetings, unless otherwise noted, are held on the first Tuesday of each month, September through June. See our PROGRAMS & EVENTS for dates, times and locations. 

The NGC is affiliated with:

The National Garden Club, Inc.

Central Region of the National Garden Club, Inc. 

The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

District IX of the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc.

Chicago  Botanic Garden

SCHOLARSHIP:

 A $1000 scholarship is awarded to a Glenbrook North High School senior majoring in horticulture, landscape design, botany, biology, forestry, conservation or environmental concerns. 

ANNUAL PLANT SALE:

 Our sole fundraiser supports scholarships, contributions, and program expenses. Members dig perennials from their gardens and pot them to sell at the May sale.

COMMUNITY GARDENS,  PRAIRIE STEWARDSHIP and HISTORIC PEONY PRESERVATION

 Maintenance of two public gardens and a local prairie include spring and fall cleanups of sites, planning, and weeding throughout the summer. In partnership with the Northbrook Historical Society, the NGC is working to preserve historic peonies. Members are encouraged to participate with at least one garden.

Blue Star Memorial Marker Garden, 2490 Dundee Road - April thru November

Historical Society Garden, 1776 Walters - April thru November

Northbrook Garden Club Prairie, Woodhead Drive - As needed

Northbrook Peony Farm, Pfingsten Road - May thru November

GARDEN THERAPY: 

Visit Rosewood Care Center in Northbrook usually on the 3rd Tuesday of every month to assist residents with horticultural and nature-themed craft projects using materials provided by the Garden Club. 

EARTH & ARBOR DAY PARTICIPATION:

The NGC participates in Northbrook's event held in the Spring at the Village Green. Members give out seed packets and share gardening tips.

VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK FLAMINGO FRIDAY/NEW RESIDENT EVENT:

The NGC distributes milkweed saplings and other flowers to new residents. 

MONARCH PROJECT:

We support the state and national MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS project. The NGC initiated the "Let's Make Northbrook a Monarch Way Station Program". Since 2010, we have distributed over 700 milkweed saplings at our plant sale and other venues. 

The Northbrook Garden Club (NGC) was founded on September 20, 1949. As the club grew in membership, it joined The Garden Clubs of Illinois and the National Garden Clubs and continues to actively participate  in both. The NGC is a community of gardeners that provide opportunities to learn, participate in community service, and meet other gardeners. 

The NGC has been a vital part in establishing plantings for the Village, the Fire Department and the Park District throughout the years. The NGC assisted in establishing the Children's Sunshine Garden at the Leisure Center and in 2017 the NGC helped design the patio garden at Sportsman's Country Club.

Our environmental contributions to the stewardship of the native environment includes preservation of a local prairie site. We participate in the Village of Northbrook's Earth & Arbor Day festivities and initiate the "Let's Make Northbrook a Monarch Way Station" program to help save the Monarch butterfly. We have supported local schools in establishing organic gardens, environmental conservation and educational programs including planting milkweed. 

Continuing Education is a vital part of the club's membership. Monthly programs and workshops are planned throughout the year to share the best practices in all aspects of gardening and horticulture. 

Members participate in the four schools of  study sponsored by Garden Clubs of Illinois (GCI): 

Landscape Design

Garden Studies (Horticulture)

Environmental Science

Floral Design

NGC shares its love of flowers with a local skilled care facility on a monthly basis. We also work with the Glenbrook North High School Environmental Club on preservation projects. 

The NGC's rich history of award winning projects, the annual plant sale and civic beautification has laid the foundation for the NGC's future as it strives to meet the objectives of its charter "to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to encourage the artistic use of  flowers, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants and birds, and encourage civic plantings".