Now in its 77th year, the Chapel Hill Garden Club's talented members have devoted themselves to learning all they can about gardening and have used that knowledge for the betterment of the community. From Victory Gardens to public gardens, from garden education at elementary schools to garden therapy at rehabilitation centers, from preservation of open space to plant rescue at development sites, the Chapel Hill Garden Club has been an integral part of the social fabric of the community.

The Club's mission is "to educate its members in horticulture, floral design, landscape design, and sound environmental practice, and to encourage public and civic beautification." The essence of the club's activities has remained the same throughout its history- teach ourselves for the purpose of helping the community.

An active and large membership has been essential in achieving the club's mission. From its inception, the Chapel Hill Garden Club has maintained a policy of open membership. Unlike many garden clubs in which membership is by invitation and limited in number, anyone interested in gardening was, and is to this day, welcome to join the Chapel Hill Garden Club.

The club has a long-term, special relationship with the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Club members benefit from the many learning opportunities available locally at this research facility, and the NC Botanical Garden benefits from an annual gift of funds raised by the Chapel Hill Garden Club.

Chapel Hill Garden Club

Highlights of community service: 1931-2007

1930s: Developed community demonstration garden; established bird refuges; placed flowers in the University Infirmary; beautified the community in difficult economic times.

1940s: Heeded the nation's call for Victory Gardens and established a community-wide canning project.

1950s: Published a plant selection guide for newcomers to Chapel Hill to utilize in landscaping their new homes.

1960s: Advocated conservation of open spaces, roadside cleanup and beautification, and landscaping of new schools and the public library.

1970s: Maintained strong ties with the North Carolina Botanical Garden through volunteer hours in the garden and fundraising for the Totten Education Center.

1980s: Adopted Jones Park, in which members cleared land for nature trails, identified and marked native flora, rescued plants, and landscaped the entrance.

1990s: Landscaped gardens at the Horace Williams House; provided plants and gardening tools for Habitat for Humanity; donated funds for the Alice Ingram Park at Franklin and Elliott Streets.

2000s: Made significant contributions to the NC Botanical Garden's building fund drive and to the Healing Garden at the Ronald McDonald House.