Northbrook Garden Club - About Us
The Northbrook Garden Club (NBGC) was founded September 20, 1949. (See OUR TIMELINE.) Our 70th Anniversary programs and events were planned around the history of our club and historic Northbrook in general.
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 NBGC 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.
Online meetings, unless otherwise noted, are held on the first Tuesday of each month, September through May. See our PROGRAMS & EVENTS for dates, times and locations.
The NBGC 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
CONTINUING PROJECTS 2020-2021
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 provide 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
GARDEN THERAPY:
Visits to Rosewood Care Center in Northbrook are on hiatus due to COVID-19. Members provide residents with horticultural and nature-themed craft projects using materials provided by the Garden Club.
EARTH & ARBOR DAY PARTICIPATION:
The NBGC 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 NBGC distributes milkweed saplings and other flowers to new residents.
MONARCH PROJECT:
We support the state and national MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS project. The NBGC 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.
OUR HISTORY
The Northbrook Garden Club (NBGC) 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 NBGC is a community of gardeners that provide opportunities to learn, participate in community service, and meet other gardeners.
The NBGC has been a vital part in establishing plantings for the Village, the Fire Department and the Park District throughout the years. The NBGC 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 initiated 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
NBGC 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 NBGC'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".
