Join Us

We invite you to join the Manatee River Garden Club! Whether you are an experienced gardener, new to gardening or just new to Florida; have a love of floral design or an interest in learning more; and, are interested in making new friends who are likeminded, we encourage you to join. The Club offers monthly meetings through the season with an educational speaker, with an opportunity to enjoy lunch with friends. Take advantage of our scheduled classes, field trips, fundraising events, flower shows and opportunities to give back to your community. If you don't have a garden to tend, you can volunteer to garden our Clubhouse grounds or even plant a garden for Habitat for Humanity. If you're looking for even greater participation, your membership will grant you access to the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and all of their offerings. There are many ways to enjoy and to serve within your membership to the Club. You can learn more about our purpose and our nearly 100 year old history! 

Check out our Calendar for our next event and contact our Membership Chair, Judy Boehm, about attending. Learn more and take the next step in joining the Manatee River Garden Club! 

Manatee River Garden Club participates in at least one community outreach project each year. In past years members worked with Manatee County Meals on Wheels Plus at their Daybreak Adult Day Care Center in Lakewood Ranch. During the COVID pandemic we provided floral designs to essential workers who put their lives in danger as a way to say thank you while most of us stayed home.

Our current community project is with Manatee County Habitat for Humanity in their Poling Gardens community. This is a building site for 16 new homes in the West Samoset area of Bradenton, where 22% of the population live below the poverty level. Habitat applied for monies through our Eaton Funds, which gives each new homeowner the opportunity to work with us in the purchase of one of four options:

• A fruit or ornamental tree
• Several planted EarthBoxes
• A decorative planter with flowers for the front door area
• Enhanced garden beds around the front of the house

Each new homeowner works with several Manatee River Garden Club volunteers to choose one of the above options, followed by the purchase, planting, and instructions for care. Also, a gardening gift basket is provided to each homeowner. We are excited that the first homes will be turned over to the new owners in November, 2024, after which the hands-on planting will occur. Learn more about our Habitat for Humanity project and view photos along the way. 

For those of you who want nothing more than to keep your hands in the dirt, we offer the Garden Angels! This group of amazing volunteers takes care of the grounds surrounding the Clubhouse. There's always something to do and new things to plant, like our newly planted butterfly garden is a National Garden Club certified Pollinator Garden. The Garden Angels meet the second Tuesday of the month at 8:00 AM.  Take a closer look at what makes our gardens so special. 

The Manatee River Garden Club receives money from the Elizabeth M. Eaton Charitable Trust Fund.  The money is to be used "for community beautification projects in and around public areas in Manatee County, Florida".  As an example, and not by way of limitation, such funds may be used for maintenance of plantings and beautification around libraries, parks, museums, art galleries, auditoriums, and similar places of public assemblage in the community. Learn more about applying for this Grant. 

The National Garden Club began working with the forestry service in 2004. During this time, the National Garden Club has contributed over $100,000 to replant areas damaged by fires and other natural disasters. All the money we donate will be put to good use right here in our state of Florida. Donating to Penny Pines is a great way to help improve our environment.

The Florida Keys are home to the world’s third largest barrier reef. It stretches approximately 350 miles. Some corals are as much as 100 years old. Since the 1980s, an estimated 80-90% of Florida’s corals have been lost.  They can still be saved. Many aquatic labs, such as those at the University of Miami, Mote Marine and the Florida Aquarium are working hard to save our corals.   Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and Manatee River Garden Club is raising money to help save these extremely important, tiny treasures. 

The Blue Star Program honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. The National Garden Club began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Manatee River Garden Club supports this program for maintenance of the Manatee Veterans Memorial marker. 

Manatee River Garden Club strives to promote and encourage a community of nature enthusiasts who share the love of gardening, horticulture, floral design, environmental concerns and other related endeavors. We are pleased to be able to offer scholarships to high school seniors who wish to pursue higher education goals in keeping with our mission. Learn more about applying for this scholarship program.

The Manatee River Garden Club Legacy Fund Committee (LFC) has been established to manage gifts to the Club and ensure that funds are used for substantial and sustainable projects as well as memorials. Planned giving matters because there is no better way to ensure the future growth and strength of Manatee River Garden Club. Learn more about your Legacy Fund gift options.

Leave a lasting legacy in the form of a commemorative brick that will edge the sidewalks of our gardens at the Manatee River Garden Club.  Honor a friend or loved one—or memorialize someone special—by donating a brick.  You can also order a brick to commemorate a special event such as a wedding, anniversary, or birth. Learn more about our Commemorative Brick Program.