Since 1927, the Garden Club of Savannah’s mission has been to assist in the beautification and environmental preservation of Savannah, exemplified by our year-round work to maintain three significant gardens in our area- The Ronald McDonald House, Massie Heritage Center, and the Savannah Botanical Gardens. Our non-profit has awarded over $450,000 to local affiliated organizations over the past seventeen years. We are the oldest active garden club in the state of Georgia. Our history is directly related to the heart of what makes Savannah an outstanding place to live and visit.
The GCS is proud to award funding for grant applicants at the end of our fiscal year, following the NOGS Tour of Hidden Gardens, our sole fundraiser. Each April GCS announces that applications for grants are open and supplies a link via our website, and social media. In order to qualify for a grant, an organization must be a non-profit in good standing and produce a proposal that aligns with our criteria for beautification, education and conservation for projects located within Chatham County, Savannah. They must also include site plans and budget. Grant amounts range in value from $500 to $5000 and are approved by a committee. Committee members communicate with applicants and often do site visits for new applicants to build relationships. Our grants have yielded pollinator gardens at elementary schools, demonstration gardens, trees for the Savannah Tree Foundation, beautification of the entrance to Bonaventure Cemetery through a Master Gardener-led project, created a kitchen garden at the King-Tisdell Cottage, helped to landscape the homeless veteran’s Tiny House Project in partnership with Colonial Dames, developed children’s gardens at the Massie heritage Center and provided monies for historic preservation.
In 1975, the Garden Club of Savannah elected to replace the Christmas tour with a spring tour of gardens limited to the area North of Gaston Street (expanded to North of Gwinnett Street in 2012). This geographic area spans the area from Gwinnett Street north to the Savannah River. The Hidden Gardens Tour is our only fundraiser, which has a 100% active member participation. Funds from the Tour are donated to numerous organizations throughout Savannah.
Sharing the Art of Southern Hospitality with our guests for over 46 years.
Memberships
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Deep South Region
The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.
Oleander District-III
Savannah Area Council of Garden Clubs, Inc.
The NOGS Tour is an AWARD-winning event! Our 2022 NOGS Tour garnered both, the Garden Club of Georgia – Public Relations and Special Achievements awards. The club also won first place for our 2022 Yearbook at both state and the Deep South region. These awards both represent the commitment of individual club members to volunteer throughout the year and on the day of the event to make it spectacular. Additionally, our desire to serve and involve the community to share in both the success of the event and the proceeds through our mini-grant program. Grants range in value fro $500 to $5000. Applicants must meet the criteria as well as aligning with our mission to support beautification, education and conservation of Savannah, Georgia.
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Brick Garden Steps, Photo by Connie McCay
This year NOGS attracted visitors to Savannah from 39 states two provinces and three countries! We offered three levels of participation including a premium Trolley Tour package, the Traditional Southern Tea and Garden Tour and the Garden-Walking-Tour only. Added to the walking tour was an option to join a guided architecture and gardens tour through the Massie Heritage Center, one of the historic garden projects our grants fund each year.