Blue Star Memorial Marker FGC's Meg Bremer, left, and Lois Gough, chairman, at the dedication of the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker. The marker is located at the Welcome Center of the I-95 Rest Stop in Westbook. As part of its roadside planting program, FCG established a bed of native roses on the same site in 2000 with a grant, in part, from National Garden Clubs and the Shell Oil Co. For more information about the National Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker Program as well as information about additional markers in Connecticut, click here.

70 Years of History

The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., is an educational, charitable non-profit organization made up of 8,143 individual members and 152 clubs. The strength and value of our clubs and their members has been gained from the accumulated knowledge of the past 70 years, and has enriched our homes, our gardens and our communities. These responsibilities we share have not diminished; there is still a great deal to be accomplished but as we work, compete, educate and learn, we will continue to meet these challenges with success.

The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., is one of thirteen charter members of the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc., now known as the National Garden Clubs, Inc., which was organized on May 1,1929, (two days after Connecticut's first meeting), and has had almost continuous representation on the National Board.

There are 39 members on the Board of Directors and 8 Honorary members.

National Garden Clubs, Inc. is a service organization dedicated to the development of gardening, the betterment and beautification of the community and the exchange of ideas. It is the largest gardening organization in the world and is comprised of 500,000 members from every state in the union and an equal number of International Affiliates. It is closely unified through the eight regions under a Regional Director, who serves on the Executive Committee.

As garden clubs have grown in Connecticut, The Federation has continued its interests in Civic Development, Conservation and Preservation, Environmental Awareness, Garden Therapy, Historic and Memorial or Public Gardens, Horticulture, Legislation, Public Relations, Scholarships and Youth Activities. It sponsors Flower Show, Landscape Design and Gardening Study Schools for the continuing education and benefit of its members.

Members who have taken advantage of the Flower Show Schools and become Flower Show Judges continue their education by attending Judges Council and Symposia (offered once yearly by the six states of New England Region of National Garden Clubs).

Our "NEWS" publication, which has been in existence almost since the beginning of the Federation, publishes 10 issues each year to keep our members informed of Federation activities. The "NEWS" received another of its many National awards in 2001.

Each year at our Fall Awards Luncheon, The Federation presents a Bronze Medal (our highest honor given) to an individual, club or group for outstanding accomplishments in upholding the aims and purposes of our organization.

Click here for our 2006-2007 Annual Report.

Our office is located in Branford, Connecticut and is open from 9 am to 2 pm, Monday to Wednesday.