The History of The Garden Club of Jacksonville
The Garden Club of Jacksonville was formed in 1922 in the Riverside home of Mrs. Ninah May Holden Cummer. While the first meeting had only 20 members, the Garden Club of Jacksonville has grown to include over 1477 members and 57 different local Clubs called circles.
Jacksonville Garden Club first flower show - April 1923 |
When the founding members created the original Club they envisioned a small organization to further their garden research and civic planting ideas. Because they did not have a Clubhouse they met in different members homes and had to keep enrollment to about twenty women. The Club was such a success that within a few months over 100 women asked to join and the idea of garden circles was invented.
1937 - Past Garden Club Presidents |
Each circle has about twenty members and meets monthly from October to May. From the original seven circles, the Garden Club has grown to over 57 circles including neighborhoods all over the greater Jacksonville area. The Garden Club of Jacksonville was also one of four Clubs founding the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and at one time was the largest Garden Clubs in the world with over 3000 members and 145 circles.
During the early years the Garden Club focused on civic projects and city planning in the formation and revitalization of city parks. The Garden Club was also instrumental in preserving many of the city's ancient live oak trees and even replaced many sycamore trees with live oaks in an effort to "Save the Trees and Make Jacksonville an Evergreen City."
 Exhibition Building, 1947 |
With the blossoming growth of the Garden Club it soon became clear a home base or clubhouse would be needed. After many years of planning and fundraising the Garden Club of Jacksonville was able to build their current headquarters on Riverside Avenue. The first building was a temporay shed known as the Exhibition Building and the Club House officially opened on January 3, 1948. As the Club continued to grow it was clear the Garden Club needed a space to hold larger meetings and the Ballroom was
opened in 1958. Since then the Ballroom has been used for meetings and is available as a rental hall for events and weddings.
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