Who We Are
The Garden Club of Chevy Chase, Inc. was founded in 1926, and its fifty members share the goals to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs; to aid in the protection and love of native trees, plants and birds; and to encourage civic planting and environmental responsibility. The Club meets in Chevy Chase once a month from September until June. These meetings cover Club business and present speakers and workshops to further members’ knowledge of horticulture, floral design, the environment, and civic awareness. The Club is a member of the Garden Club of America (GCA) and the National Garden Clubs, Inc.
In the nine decades since its founding, our Club has done many things to further its goals. We have supported the beautification of the Chevy Chase Circle since it became a park in the National Park system in the 1930s. During the 1940s, the Club was very active in supporting civic organizations in Chevy Chase and Montgomery County, both with money and deeds.
Along with other clubs, we planted a garden on the grounds of the Washington Home for the Incurables. In 1955, we became a member of the GCA, joining with national garden lovers. During the mid-1980s, we planted a garden in Triangle Park, formed by the intersection of Broad Branch and Brookville Roads, named the Betty West English Garden in honor of a notable club member. In the 1990s and since, we supported recycling programs in the Village, designed a rain garden in Laurel Park, designed and installed plantings at the Chevy Chase Library and the Village Hall, and contributed to the revitalization of Spring House Run at the US National Arboretum.
In 2019, our garden tour focused on eight gardens on the west side of the Village and proceeds supported the restoration of Chevy Chase Circle and the development of Western Grove Park on Western Avenue. The proceeds from our 2021 garden tour funded the preservation, restoration and beautification of our community gardens and projects which promote love of gardening, knowledge of horticulture, environmental protection and civic beautification.