How to Find and Join a Garden Club in Connecticut Through FGCCT

The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut (FGCCT), online at ctgardenclubs.org, is the statewide umbrella organization that coordinates local garden clubs across Connecticut. To join a club, you don't apply to FGCCT directly — you use its Find a CT Club page to locate a club near you, then contact that club. If nothing is nearby, FGCCT also provides a path to Start a Club. The site reports over 6,500 garden club members in the state.

What FGCCT Is and How Membership Works

FGCCT describes its mission as coordinating, stimulating, and encouraging higher standards in all aspects of garden club work, protecting and conserving natural resources, preserving heritage, and promoting civic beauty.

Membership is structured in layers:

So when you "join FGCCT," you typically do it by becoming a member of a local club that is affiliated with the federation.

Step 1: Find a Club Near You

1. Go to ctgardenclubs.org.
2. Open the Membership section in the main menu.
3. Select Find a CT Club.
4. Review the clubs listed and identify ones in your area or with interests that match yours.
5. Use the contact information provided to reach out to that club directly about joining.

If you're not sure which club fits, the Why Join page under Membership explains the general benefits of membership before you commit.

Step 2: Join an Existing Club

Once you've identified a club, contact it to ask about:

• Meeting times and locations
• Annual dues and any additional fees
• Whether they're accepting new members
• Any interest areas they focus on (horticulture, design, conservation, youth work, and so on)

FGCCT's site does not publish a single statewide dues figure, so confirm costs with the individual club.

Step 3: Start a Club If None Is Nearby

If the Find a CT Club list doesn't include anything practical for you, FGCCT offers a Start a Club option under Membership. This is the route to take when you want to organize a new local club and affiliate it with the federation rather than travel to an existing one.

Reasons to Join

FGCCT's Why Join section and the broader site point to these membership benefits:

• Education programs — schools for Environmental Study, Flower Show, Gardening, and Landscape Design
• Councils — Environmental, Judges, Gardening, and Landscape Design councils
• Events — the Connecticut Symposium, Creative Design Workshops, tours, the CT Flower Show, and the annual Awards Meeting
• Learning resources — articles on environmental and conservation topics and horticulture
• Youth education and scholarship programs
• Projects — President's Project, Blue Star Memorial, Healing Therapy & Senior Gardening, and World Gardening
• Awards — recognition across many categories and deadlines
• Practical club support — tips on increasing membership, publicizing events, financial management and taxes, fundraising ideas, and flower show guidance
• Regional Roundtables — monthly 1.5-hour Zoom workshops hosted by FGCCT board members covering membership, club finances, fundraising, events, flower shows, awards, social media, and youth

Getting Help With Membership Questions

The site's Contact page is the place to direct membership questions that a local club can't answer. Note that parts of the site, including member resources, sit behind a Member Login, so some content is reserved for members rather than open to the public.

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