National Garden Clubs Awards List

An overview of NGC Awards for 2015-2017

  • Awards of Excellence

    Award of Excellence

    The highest award of National Garden Clubs presented to a non-member of NGC and sponsored by a State Federation. It may be awarded to an individual, organization, or institution that has made a significant contribution toward the advancement of goals and purposes of National Garden Clubs.

    Award of Excellence for State Garden Clubs

    A State Garden Club may apply for the Award of Excellence for an outstanding project and may be submitted only ONCE unless a significant new phase has been added. A monetary award of five hundred dollars ($500) will be given to the winner from each membership division. If there are no applications in one membership category, that award may be given to another outstanding applicant in another category. A maximum of four (4) NGC Awards of Excellence may be awarded per year.

    Award of Excellence for Regions

    One Certificate of Merit and $500 may be awarded for distinguished work in a Region for coordinated activity in accordance with the programs and objectives of NGC in which all states in the Region have participated. Application is made in the second year of an Administration.

  • Civic Achievement Awards

    Kellogg Civic Achievement

    The Kellogg Civic Achievement Award and a silver tray donation by Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. may be awarded for distinguished civic or conservation work making permanent improvement for public benefit, e.g. establishing sanctuaries, experimental forests, municipal gardens, landscaping public buildings, etc. No commercial project is eligible.

    Garden Center Achievement

    The Fisher Garden Center Award and silver tray, in honor of Mrs. Frederick T. Fisher, may be awarded for a garden center, maintained by members, which in proportion to size has performed the greatest service to the community, e.g. library, lectures furthering NGC objectives, courses, exhibits, trial garden, youth involvement, and networking with other civic organizations.

    Special Civic Achievement

    A Certificate of Merit may be awarded for outstanding civic work furthering NGC objectives and projects throughout club year or special project not provided for in another NGC Award.

  • Conservation and Environment

    Conservation

    The Lucile Droege Mauntel Conservation Award in honor of Shirley Nicolai, $50 donation by National Capital Area of Garden Clubs, Inc., may be awarded for conservation activities, e.g. education or legislative activity; conservation field project; natural resource development, such as a watershed, erosion control, reforestation, wildlife refuge; overall excellence and well-balanced year's conservation activities.

    Roadside Beautification

    The Natural Lands Trust Roadside Beautification Award and $100 donation by California Garden Clubs, Inc. in memory of Hilda Fox may be awarded for outstanding, permanent roadside beautification within the state. The program may be continuous, but must have advanced degree of completion prior to making application. This award may be given only once for the same program.

    Litter/Recycling/Reclamation

    The Harriet Thomas Award and a $100 donation by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. may be awarded for the most outstanding community project on litter prevention, reclamation and/or recycling. Examples include organizing recycling programs or establishing community composting sites.

    Conservation Education

    The Hazel Johnson Award and a silver tray donation by The Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc. may be awarded for the most comprehensive work and/or study in conservation education.

    Bird Protection

    The Nanine C. Wallis Award and a $25 donation by The Garden Club of Kentucky, may be awarded for conducting the most comprehensive and effective project for bird protection and welfare, e.g. sanctuaries, providing food, houses, and promoting law enforcement relative to bird welfare.

    Butterfly

    A Certificate of Merit in honor of Deen Day Sanders and a $500 donation by Alice and LeRoy Overton may be awarded for conducting the most comprehensive and effective project on butterflies, e.g. habitat protection, protection of migratory routes, public education, establishment of butterfly gardens at school or community sites.

  • Historic Preservation and Historic Or Memorial Gardens

    Historic Preservation

    The May Duff Walters Achievement Award for Preservation of Beauty donated by The Garden Club of New Jersey may be awarded for historic preservation project such as the restoration of a park, a building and/or garden of importance to local, state or national heritage.

    Decoration of Historic Building

    A Certificate of Merit may be awarded for tastefully decorating a historic building/house/mansion. Decorations are not required to be of the period of the building, but should be creative, distinctive, and harmonize with the building's style. Designer's choice of all materials within purview of curator, official, or owner of the building.

  • Horticulture

    Horticultural Achievement

    The Evelyn Mooney Award for Creative Horticulture Achievement. A Purple Rosette and a Certificate of Merit may be awarded for the successful hybridizing of a new plant cultivar or for horticultural achievement of permanent importance. A statement from the respective plant society (if one exists) must be submitted to verify development of new plant cultivar.

  • Horticulture Therapy and Garden Therapy

    Horticulture Therapy

    A Certificate of Merit may be awarded for an outstanding program working with the physically or learning challenged in nursing homes, schools, prisons, etc.

    World Gardening

    The Dean World Gardening Award in honor of Mrs. Charles O. Dean, silver tray donated by The Garden Club of New Jersey, in honor of Helen Hull may be awarded for the most outstanding program or activity in other countries, e. g. continued support of international organizations that provide health, food, housing, fresh water, etc.; disaster relief; donations of seeds and animals; support of children in school or orphanage; conservation, reforestation, habitat restoration; support for student/s in study of conservation or horticulture related field; other.

    Horticulture Therapy Garden Project

    A Certificate of Merit may be awarded for establishment of a garden/s to benefit the physically or learning challenged, residents in nursing home, school, prisons, low income housing, Habitat for Humanity, etc. Includes barrier free garden, accessible gardening, community garden, meditation garden at hospital, etc.

  • Landscaping and Landscape Design

    Landscape Design Education

    The Lorena M. Spillers Award and silver tray donation by The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc., may be awarded to a state garden club for the most comprehensive and effective state program of education in landscape design, informing the public of proper landscape design practices, and benefits derived from developing plants for proper homes, schools, parks, roadsides,communities, cities, regions, etc.

    Landscape Design for Church Gardens

    The May Duff Walters Achievement Award and silver tray donation by Nancy Voyles, may be awarded for planning and/or planting of a church or synagogue garden that meets the needs of the congregation.

    Blue Star Memorial Landscaping Certificates of Merit

    May be awarded for the most outstanding Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker landscaping projects. The marker and landscaping may be part of a highway department rest area maintained by the department. The project may have been continuous, but major landscaping must be completed within two years. The project may be a replacement of a destroyed or long neglected landscape.

    Landscape Design Consultants

    The Hubert Bond Owens Silver Trophy donated by Robert H. Rucker may be awarded to a Council of Landscape Design Consultants for the most outstanding program of continuing landscape design education. The trophy may be displayed at the State Garden Club's headquarters, if any, or placed in custody of the Council's president.

    Community Landscape Design

    The Dr. William C. Welch Award may be awarded for the most significant contribution in providing planning and planting for: commercial property, church or synagogue, hospital, library, civic center, park, waterfront, etc.

    Landscape Design

    A Certificate of Merit and silver tray, donated by The Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs, may be awarded for an outstanding project in the field of landscape design.

  • Non-Competitive Awards

    Life Membership Award

    A Certificate and $100 each will be presented to each: the State Garden Club with the greatest increase in NGC Life Memberships from May 1 through April 30; and the State Garden Club with the greatest per capita increase in NGC Life Memberships from May 1 through April 30.

    Membership

    The Violet N. Gose Silver Trophies may be awarded to: A State Garden Club showing the greatest increase in paid membership, as of October 31 and/or A State Garden Club showing the greatest per capita increase (%) in paid membership, as of October 31.

    The National Gardener Award

    The Hazel O'Hern The National Gardener Trophy may be awarded to the State Garden Club having the greatest number of subscriptions to The National Gardener Magazine as of December 31, calculated on a state membership percentage basis and officially recorded number of paid subscriptions. The state must have a minimum of 150 paid subscriptions and a 10% increase for the year. No state may win the award for a third consecutive year.

  • Operation Wildflower Awards

    The Roadside Award

    May be awarded for notable environmental preservation and enhancement of roadsides and rest areas using wildflowers and native plants to your region. Project may be sited on rural byways, urban highways, roadside rest areas, entrances to towns, medians, etc.

    The Civic Projects with Native Plants Award

    May be awarded for establishing wildflower gardens, memorial gardens, or the restoration of historic gardens with emphasis on native plant material to your region.

    Outdoor Classrooms, Nature Trails

    May be awarded for establishing outdoor classrooms, nature trails, wildflower walks, etc. with the emphasis on wildflowers and native plants to your region.

  • President's Projects: Service In Action Awards

    Download List

    Click here to download President's Projects: Service In Action Awards

    Service in Action

    The first step to change is awareness, followed by the desire to make a difference, and finally, the necessary actions to make the desire a reality. The goals of the President’s Special Projects are to increase awareness of the seriousness of the demise of pollinators and amphibians and to encourage conservation and protection efforts by clubs, the general public and governmental agencies.

    Often called the first bio-indicators, amphibians and pollinators reveal the state of their ecosystems by their presence, abundance and activities. Pollinator and amphibian populations are declining worldwide through effects of pesticides, habitat destruction, diseases, parasites, global warming, and introduced predators. Education, habitat conservation, and protection of at risk populations are issues we can change through action.

    Clubs, states, and regions are encouraged to participate in the BeeGAP, Monarch Watch, The Frightened Frog, and Bee a Wildlife Action Hero! programs and projects designed to engage members in efforts to protect and conserve these important populations.

  • Promotion

    Radio and/or TV

    A Certificate of Merit may be awarded for the best garden-oriented programming including public service announcements, guest appearances or other qualified programming.

    Publicity Press Book

    Certificates may be awarded to winning books of evidence exhibiting quality, quantity and diversity of coverage in the print media promoting garden clubs and NGC goals and objectives.

    National Garden Week

    A Certificate of Merit and a $100 donation by The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. may be awarded for best overall promotion of National Garden Week; entry to show community awareness throughout the entire week and include local and/or state proclamations.

    Website

    A Certificate of Merit and a $100 donation (divided) by The Garden Club of Georgia may be awarded for the most outstanding website promoting the sponsoring organization and NGC objectives.

    Video/CD/DVD

    A Certificate of Merit and a $100 donation by The Garden Club of Georgia may be awarded for the best video/CD/DVD production on any NGC objective, e.g. Flower Shows, Flower Arranging, Horticulture, Landscaping and Gardens, Environmental Protection, Christmas Decorations, etc.

  • Publication Awards

    Literary Horticultural Interest

    The Helen Hull Award may be awarded for a literary production of horticultural interest, written within last three years. Eligible publications include: book, booklet, brochure, study course, or other similar publications.

    Publications I

    A Tommy Donnan Certificate of Merit may be awarded in the categories of Manuals and Handbooks; Educational Materials; Horticulture and Design; and History for publications that are published at least three times per year under one-editorship or management. Notices and flyers for one-time events do not apply.

    Publications II

    A Tommy Donnan Certificate of Merit may be awarded to the entry judged best in each of the following categories: Manuals and Handbooks; Educational Materials; Horticulture and Design; History; Membership Materials; Calendars and Cookbooks. Notices and flyers for one-time events are not eligible. Printed publications or those prepared for electronic distribution are acceptable entries.

  • Service and Recognition Awards

    Award of Distinguished Service

    May be presented by local garden clubs to businesses, industrial establishments, schools, youth clubs, civic organizations, etc., who are not affiliated with a garden club, for on-going or completed projects.

    Citation for Distinguished Service

    Will be awarded to a National Garden Clubs, Inc. President. NGC owes much of its program and development to wise leadership. In grateful appreciation of notable achievement and guidance by the NGC President, a citation for distinguished service and token of appreciation will be awarded upon completion of the President's term of office.

    Member Award of Honor

    May be awarded to one member in each region whose volunteer efforts during a period of five or more years, has made outstanding contributions to club and community, in one or more of the following areas: civic development, horticulture therapy, youth activities, conservation, landscape design, horticulture, floral design, or all around excellence.

    Presidential Citations

    Will be given by the NGC President to persons who have performed outstanding service to NGC.

    vision of beauty calendar

    Calendar Flower Arranger of the Year

    The Helen S. Hull Calendar Flower Arranger of the Year shall be determined by the NGC Vision of Beauty Calendar Committee. Garden club members and members of clubs affiliated with NGC may submit digital photos of all types of designs - traditional, contemporary, new trends and those appropriate for seasons of the year and holidays.